Todd Woodworth field is the site of the first NLC matchup of the 2015 season. The legendary former Northridge coach is on hand to cheer on his Raiders along with a large Northridge student section. The Panthers have a large traveling fan contingent in the stands as well. The JV plays a decent game but does not get a result to match it, they lose 2-0 to go 1-2 on the season. The Panthers start the game for the first time in the new 2015 black and red striped kit.
FIRST HALF- With Skirts McGhee starting on the bleacher side as the AR, the game gets underway a few minutes late. NorthWood starts off with high pressure and conquers the ball from the Raiders quickly. High energy from the red & black in the early going gives us possession and in the 7th, Pipp takes the first shot at the NR keeper, the ball gets redirected in the box and Eli takes a hard shot that requires a save from the Raiders GK. For the first 15 to 18 minutes or so, the Panthers control the game. The rest of the half the game gets played mostly in the middle third and neither team threatens consistently. HALF TIME - Coach Duerksen talks about the work rate that needs to improve. It seems that when teams are fairly equal, the team with the highest workrate, has the best chance to walk off the pitch with a "W". Organization in the back needs shored up, especially since the bench (read: coaching staff) is not there to assist. SECOND HALF- Our best chance presents itself soon after play resumes when a Tony-Brayton combination sees the older Taylor take the ball thru the defense, in the box and at the goal. At the last second, the ball gets under Brayton's foot and he is unable to execute a shot on the frame. The 45th minute is the start of what would turn out to be the Cody Cripe Show. A long distance shot requires the Panther back stop to dive and make a save. Before the next Cripe intervention, it is Dennyz (or Denny if you are a Northridge announcer) who challenges late for a ball and as a reward, gets a yellow caution. The referee comes to the sideline and explains it was his third foul. Despite protests that it was more of an accidental foul, he insists it was his third. I am still going thru the IHSAA rule book and thus far have been unable to find the line "a third foul will and shall ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT, result in a yellow card, even if coaches contest it!!" Northridge takes the majority of the possession at this point in the game and starts to press. In the 50th, a nice cross in the box requires Cody to make another diving save. A free kick is awarded to Northridge in the 55th. Despite some warnings before the game, the NW defense falls asleep, does not pay attention to the quick restart. The entire center of our defense is left open. The gaping hole gets filled by a couple of NR forwards who, after an initial shot, place the redirect in the net, 1-0. In the 70th, the wheels seem to come off when a PK gets awarded to the Raiders after a NW foul inside the 18. But the wheels stay on thanks to Cody. The fairly well taken penalty to the keeper's right gets blocked by Cody and the rebound does not go in either. Jaron comes in the game in the 71st and one of his first encounters with the ball is the one that hits him in the eye. Jaron comes off, unable to open his right eye. With the deficit still at one, NR keeps the pressure on our defense. Cody makes unbelievable stops in the 73rd, 75th and 77th to keep us in the game. Coach Duerksen tells Douwsma that "we need a miracle!". Ask and you shall receive!!! A NW attack in the 80th nets us a corner. Eli, who has been spot on with corners all night, places the ball near post. Dennyz's foot meets up wit the ball and the shot makes the ball go across the goal line but comes back out to the right of the goal. The ball bounces around and several players attempt to strike the ball. The keeper is around the ball as well but the last redirect lands in front of David who decidedly places the ball against the ropes. 1-1 with 28 ticks left on the clock!!!!! A miracle it is!!! Play is not stopped by the center ref until the ball crosses the line the second time. Official scoreline; David goal, double assist to Eli & Dennyz. This is the one time we do not hear Coach Duerksen say that a tie is like kissing your sister. This draw feels much more like a great result. To come back after being down away at Northridge is not a bad way to start the NLC conference schedule! NOTES- The Varsity's record is 1-1-1 (0-0-1). Next up: Concord tomorrow at home. JV kicks off at 10 am, Varsity at 11:45. Referee Rating : B+.
Todd Woodworth field is the site of the first NLC matchup of the 2015 season. The legendary former Northridge coach is on hand to cheer on his Raiders along with a large Northridge student section. The Panthers have a large traveling fan contingent in the stands as well. The JV plays a decent game but does not get a result to match it, they lose 2-0 to go 1-2 on the season. The Panthers start the game for the first time in the new 2015 black and red striped kit. 
FIRST HALF- With Skirts McGhee starting on the bleacher side as the AR, the game gets underway a few minutes late. NorthWood starts off with high pressure and conquers the ball from the Raiders quickly. High energy from the red & black in the early going gives us possession and in the 7th, Pipp takes the first shot at the NR keeper, the ball gets redirected in the box and Eli takes a hard shot that requires a save from the Raiders GK. For the first 15 to 18 minutes or so, the Panthers control the game. The rest of the half the game gets played mostly in the middle third and neither team threatens consistently. HALF TIME - Coach Duerksen talks about the work rate that needs to improve. It seems that when teams are fairly equal, the team with the highest workrate, has the best chance to walk off the pitch with a "W". Organization in the back needs shored up, especially since the bench (read: coaching staff) is not there to assist. SECOND HALF- Our best chance presents itself soon after play resumes when a Tony-Brayton combination sees the older Taylor take the ball thru the defense, in the box and at the goal. At the last second, the ball gets under Brayton's foot and he is unable to execute a shot on the frame. The 45th minute is the start of what would turn out to be the Cody Cripe Show. A long distance shot requires the Panther back stop to dive and make a save. Before the next Cripe intervention, it is Dennyz (or Denny if you are a Northridge announcer) who challenges late for a ball and as a reward, gets a yellow caution. The referee comes to the sideline and explains it was his third foul. Despite protests that it was more of an accidental foul, he insists it was his third. I am still going thru the IHSAA rule book and thus far have been unable to find the line "a third foul will and shall ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHAT, result in a yellow card, even if coaches contest it!!" Northridge takes the majority of the possession at this point in the game and starts to press. In the 50th, a nice cross in the box requires Cody to make another diving save. A free kick is awarded to Northridge in the 55th. Despite some warnings before the game, the NW defense falls asleep, does not pay attention to the quick restart. The entire center of our defense is left open. The gaping hole gets filled by a couple of NR forwards who, after an initial shot, place the redirect in the net, 1-0. In the 70th, the wheels seem to come off when a PK gets awarded to the Raiders after a NW foul inside the 18. But the wheels stay on thanks to Cody. The fairly well taken penalty to the keeper's right gets blocked by Cody and the rebound does not go in either. Jaron comes in the game in the 71st and one of his first encounters with the ball is the one that hits him in the eye. Jaron comes off, unable to open his right eye. With the deficit still at one, NR keeps the pressure on our defense. Cody makes unbelievable stops in the 73rd, 75th and 77th to keep us in the game. Coach Duerksen tells Douwsma that "we need a miracle!". Ask and you shall receive!!! A NW attack in the 80th nets us a corner. Eli, who has been spot on with corners all night, places the ball near post. Dennyz's foot meets up wit the ball and the shot makes the ball go across the goal line but comes back out to the right of the goal. The ball bounces around and several players attempt to strike the ball. The keeper is around the ball as well but the last redirect lands in front of David who decidedly places the ball against the ropes. 1-1 with 28 ticks left on the clock!!!!! A miracle it is!!! Play is not stopped by the center ref until the ball crosses the line the second time. Official scoreline; David goal, double assist to Eli & Dennyz. This is the one time we do not hear Coach Duerksen say that a tie is like kissing your sister. This draw feels much more like a great result. To come back after being down away at Northridge is not a bad way to start the NLC conference schedule! NOTES- The Varsity's record is 1-1-1 (0-0-1). Next up: Concord tomorrow at home. JV kicks off at 10 am, Varsity at 11:45. Referee Rating : B+.
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