The introduction of the team turns out to be a great opportunity to butcher some names. First the announcer switches first and last names ("Number 8..... Edwards Trent") and finally, when the names are in the correct order, we end up with Jadon Stingmetz and Juan Pantogia which sounds more like an aged Italian cheese but we came here to play and now that the announcements are out of the way we can start kicking the ball around. FIRST HALF- The game starts out with both teams playing a bit nervous and trying to feel each other out. It is obvious that the 19th ranked Chargers with their 12-4 record, are a skilled team. Their #10, # 12 (more about him later) and #13 are technically smooth and fast players. A breakaway in the middle of our defensive third gives their #10 a 1v1 opportunity but Micah saves the day, for now. Six minutes later we see Landon create NW's first chance. Outside the box, he turns and shoots. A great effort but his shot goes wide to the right but it gives us confidence and now we know that we will have opportunities with our counter attacks. In minute 20, Landon gets a target pass from the back. Landon serves Jerson who dribbles up and shoots for the first (but not last) Panther lead of the game, 0-1. We only hang on to the lead for 4 minutes. A quick Charger pass to #13 turns into a 1v1 with Micah. #13 slots the ball into the net for the first (but not last) tie of the game, 1-1. The West Noble fans behind the bench go nuts and would stay nuts for the majority of the game (except for the last 62 ticks on the clock). In the 37th, we see the first genuine flop, from #12. The grimace on his face makes you think his career is over, but minutes later he is back at it. 1-1 is the Half Time score. Before the game Coach Duerksen talked about "work"; putting in the work, working hard and working for each other as well as "Trust" (trust your touch, trust your instinct and trust your teammates). So at the half, only minor adjustments are necessary as we play well, have had some chances and just need to keep working hard. SECOND HALF- The second act starts out with a bang, a Jerson bang. A minute into the half, Jerson unleashes a unbelievable shot that finds the net from about 30 out. For all the times that he has missed some of these this season, this is the one that is as important as any goal we have scored this season. But again, the Panthers do not hold on to the lead long. In the 45th, West Noble ties the game again, 2-2. This game goes back and forth. West Noble has a lot of the possession but every time the Panthers get or steal the ball, they are dangerous and go in counter attacking mode quickly. The field plays fast. In the 51st, the Panthers are awarded a free kick on the right side from about 40 out. Landon Parker, with his left -of course-, sends the ball over the West Noble high line so NW can run onto the ball at the far post. Juan is the last one to connect with the ball and hits the ropes for the third NW lead (2-3). Taking a free kick like this, is one of the adjustments the coaches talked about at the half. Most free kicks did not go far enough earlier in the game and we needed it to go over the line towards our own players. In minute 53, Micah drops the ball in the box to waste some time but "inadvertently" touches the ball before dropping it and then picking it back up so a indirect free kick is awarded to West Noble right around the edge of the box. The shot bangs around the box and eventually gets cleared. Before and after this, WN #12 gets hurt about 7 times. It looks like he has suffered an ACL, broken ankle and three broken legs but is able to play on. In the 60th, Corbin plows over a WN midfielder inside the 18. West Noble gets the chance to tie the game for the third time. The well placed PK does just that, 3-3. The coaches are hoping but wondering if we can come back from this tie to go ahead one more time or is it a game destined for OT and perhaps even a PK shoot out. But just as we start thinking about preparing for OT, a foul inside the Charger box results in a PK call for NW. Juan, as a captain and leader of the team, places the ball on the 12. His confident shot finds the net, 3-4! With a little over a minute to play, the Panthers are able to hold on to the lead and earn a spot in the second round (Wednesday at 5 pm)! All season long we won the games we should win and were not able to get a signature win. But we got one now!
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
West Noble - NorthWood 3-4 (1-1)
The introduction of the team turns out to be a great opportunity to butcher some names. First the announcer switches first and last names ("Number 8..... Edwards Trent") and finally, when the names are in the correct order, we end up with Jadon Stingmetz and Juan Pantogia which sounds more like an aged Italian cheese but we came here to play and now that the announcements are out of the way we can start kicking the ball around. FIRST HALF- The game starts out with both teams playing a bit nervous and trying to feel each other out. It is obvious that the 19th ranked Chargers with their 12-4 record, are a skilled team. Their #10, # 12 (more about him later) and #13 are technically smooth and fast players. A breakaway in the middle of our defensive third gives their #10 a 1v1 opportunity but Micah saves the day, for now. Six minutes later we see Landon create NW's first chance. Outside the box, he turns and shoots. A great effort but his shot goes wide to the right but it gives us confidence and now we know that we will have opportunities with our counter attacks. In minute 20, Landon gets a target pass from the back. Landon serves Jerson who dribbles up and shoots for the first (but not last) Panther lead of the game, 0-1. We only hang on to the lead for 4 minutes. A quick Charger pass to #13 turns into a 1v1 with Micah. #13 slots the ball into the net for the first (but not last) tie of the game, 1-1. The West Noble fans behind the bench go nuts and would stay nuts for the majority of the game (except for the last 62 ticks on the clock). In the 37th, we see the first genuine flop, from #12. The grimace on his face makes you think his career is over, but minutes later he is back at it. 1-1 is the Half Time score. Before the game Coach Duerksen talked about "work"; putting in the work, working hard and working for each other as well as "Trust" (trust your touch, trust your instinct and trust your teammates). So at the half, only minor adjustments are necessary as we play well, have had some chances and just need to keep working hard. SECOND HALF- The second act starts out with a bang, a Jerson bang. A minute into the half, Jerson unleashes a unbelievable shot that finds the net from about 30 out. For all the times that he has missed some of these this season, this is the one that is as important as any goal we have scored this season. But again, the Panthers do not hold on to the lead long. In the 45th, West Noble ties the game again, 2-2. This game goes back and forth. West Noble has a lot of the possession but every time the Panthers get or steal the ball, they are dangerous and go in counter attacking mode quickly. The field plays fast. In the 51st, the Panthers are awarded a free kick on the right side from about 40 out. Landon Parker, with his left -of course-, sends the ball over the West Noble high line so NW can run onto the ball at the far post. Juan is the last one to connect with the ball and hits the ropes for the third NW lead (2-3). Taking a free kick like this, is one of the adjustments the coaches talked about at the half. Most free kicks did not go far enough earlier in the game and we needed it to go over the line towards our own players. In minute 53, Micah drops the ball in the box to waste some time but "inadvertently" touches the ball before dropping it and then picking it back up so a indirect free kick is awarded to West Noble right around the edge of the box. The shot bangs around the box and eventually gets cleared. Before and after this, WN #12 gets hurt about 7 times. It looks like he has suffered an ACL, broken ankle and three broken legs but is able to play on. In the 60th, Corbin plows over a WN midfielder inside the 18. West Noble gets the chance to tie the game for the third time. The well placed PK does just that, 3-3. The coaches are hoping but wondering if we can come back from this tie to go ahead one more time or is it a game destined for OT and perhaps even a PK shoot out. But just as we start thinking about preparing for OT, a foul inside the Charger box results in a PK call for NW. Juan, as a captain and leader of the team, places the ball on the 12. His confident shot finds the net, 3-4! With a little over a minute to play, the Panthers are able to hold on to the lead and earn a spot in the second round (Wednesday at 5 pm)! All season long we won the games we should win and were not able to get a signature win. But we got one now!
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