#14 NorthWood - Concord 4-3 (1-2)

Today we will see how we perform on a Saturday. The weather is perfect, the scouting report has been absorbed and the stands are packed with fans. Despite the loss from a couple of nights ago, confidence is high. The game starts out high paced and in the 8th, Trent Edwards attacks by rolling up the right and shoots from far out. The shot goes over but it shows the danger Trent brings from the right flank. Six minutes later however, it is the Minutemen who nearly score first. Their shot fortunately ricochets off the post. In the 27th, Concord receives a favorable call from the referee when they are awarded a PK. The penalty hits the net and NW is behind 0-1. But a minute later, the ever dangerous Trent Edwards crosses a ball from the right into the box. The pass finds Andre's head. His snapping header goes past the Concord keeper and we are tied again. A defensive miscue in the 38th is being taken advantage of by a Concord striker who puts the Minutemen ahead; 1-2 which is also the half time score. Coach Duerksen reiterates the main points from the scouting report. The second half will have to show if the players listened. The second half presents Concord with more of the same from the Panthers. In the 47th, Trent again fires a ball into the box; Sebastian misses the sure assist but the ball lands in front of Andre who does not miss and places the screamer off the left end line into the far right to once again tie the game. A foul on a NorthWood player gets disputed by a fat fan in green that it "is not a foul" (response Duerksen ; "yes it is"). The man, who obviously knew we didn't have concessions and had on the way to the game already downed several breakfasts by the looks of him, then becomes more irate and vocal to which Duerksen tells him to shut up or get out. The exchange is enjoyed by most on the east side of the field! In the 54", a NW corner from Sebastian Guillen gets to Jerson who in turn gets the ball inside the six. Chandler Bontrager is at the right place at the right time and places the ball with the right instep over the goal line; 3-2. Concord's #25, by the looks of him, related to the screamer in the crowd, comes up lame after a missed shot on Graber. In the 62nd, Concord makes it 3-3 and for the 4th time the game is tied. When NW gets a throw in in front of the announcer tent, the Concord coach insinuates we are slowing the game down on purpose to which Coach Duerksen accurately replies that "believe me Shawn, we aren't going for a tie". To prove Duerksen's point, a late attack in the 7th, gives Andre one of the last opportunities in the game. Near the 6 and with a lot of Concord defenders in front of him, our #10 is able to get a shot off on the frame. The Concord keeper does not even get close and with 120 seconds left, NorthWood is ahead. NorthWood survives the last nervous 2 minutes to hold on for a big, big NLC win. The Minutemen seemed to panic every time Jerson has the ball (he is dangerous in this game), Sebastian and Trent are dangerous on the ball all day long. Andre shows he is quite the attacking threat with another hat trick. Our defense plays very well with Skyler Duerksen probably breaking a NW record for total defensive headers. Not one player has a bad game. The Panthers are 3-1 on the season (1-1 NLC). The JV loses their NLC game vs. the Concord JV. This Concord JV might be the best JV they will see all year.