Concord-NorthWood 2-0 (2-0)

Another Match Day where the opponent is a 3A ranked team. This time we travel the short distance to Dunlap to play 3A #13 Concord. During the National Anthem we notice that Noah's heart is on the opposite side from the rest of us. The JV and Varsity starts are pushed back by an hour in order to allow about 4 Concord players and Kyle Luster to take their SAT's and still play some of the game. FIRST HALF - The Panthers have to do without Sebastian Guillen who received a red card in the game against Northridge. The game starts out with some back and forth play. In the 7th, Concord scores the first goal of the game after the NW midfield misses a mark coming up the field (video will be used to illustrate the defensive breakdown later this week). Three minutes later, after the Panthers have settled down some, Andre places a thru ball into Parker's feet. His first touch is away from goal but he does get the shot off. His effort misses the right post by only a few centimeters. Luke comes up big all day long. Despite the finger injury (glove was buddy taped), he is able to make a lot of diving stops. In the 23rd minute, Trent goes up for a defensive header in the box. The ball skips off his head and we are just unlucky to have it land right in front of a Concord player who scores the 2-0. Luster shows up in minute 31. HALF TIME- Overall we play well and the main topic of discussion is the organization in the back. SECOND HALF- The Minutemen's keeper punts the ball from outside the box and the referee award NW an indirect free kick on the 81 yard line. Parker touches the ball to Jerson. Jerson's shot is saved saved by the keeper at his right post. In the 60th minute Jerson receives a yellow caution. Minutes before that, Marshall getss the ball in the box and finds himself eye to eye with the keeper in stars and stripes. Marshall tries to chip the falling flag. The keeper saves the effort. Marshall might have had more success had he tried to go around the Concord backstop. Nine fingered Luke makes his final save in the 71st when he comes out on a dangerous Concord cross. The french referee blows his whistle for the final time in the 80th. A game well played by the Panthers and well officiated by the trio of arbiters. The JV loses 3-1. Marshall Beebe scores the lone NW goal. NOTES - The JV falls to 0-2 but is looking pretty good; results will surely come. The Varsity now owns a 2-2-0 record. Next game is tonight (Monday) at Bremen. The Varsity in the bleachers during the JV game.