ANOTHER MARIAN ATTACK THWARTED BY THE NW DEFENSE. The Panthers take the field against a very good, class 2A 5th ranked opponent. It is the second time this season we play Marian and we have something to prove believing that we are better than the team that lost earlier in the season in the NW Invitational (1-4). The formation is different, players will be playing different roles and in this formation we seem a little deeper and not as one dimensional. We do need a good effort which is emphasized by our head coach before the game. The rest will then, hopefully, fall into place. We take the field with everyone well aware of their responsibilities against the best opponent we have faced all season. The Knights have not changed up anything as they play quick long balls to their forwards of which #22 (fast) and #23 (skilled) are the main targets most of the time. Where the Knights in the first game would challenge our defenders and beat them regularly, with NW now using wingbacks, the challenges are there but no longer won each time by the men in blue. Shot after shot fly at Trent. But each one is stopped. Some stops (in the 17th, 19th and 21st) are plain old unbelievable ones and keep us in the game. We combine well (I have not received the game stats from Hudl so a possession % is not yet available) and do so throughout the game. It is one of those games where everyone who steps on the pitch contributes to the common effort. Mishawaka Marian is a very good team with numerous weapons. Once they gain possession defensively, they quickly get the ball to their attackers who try to go around defenders and either shoot or cross the ball between the 6 and 12. Our defensive line is fairly high in the first half making each long ball a sprint for their attackers and our defenders, a fact observed by coach Douwsma at the half. We therefore drop the defensive line a bit so those long balls do not become a race each time and it makes the second half a little easier in terms of the flank battles. Carlos gets ahold of a pass in the box before the half and the Marian GK is out of position but his shot gets deflected. The Knights keep battering our goal but either our defenders, wingbacks or keeper deal with it each and every time. In the 56th, the referee misses a foul committed by Marian and the ensuing attack results in a free kick near the NW box. The NW wall with 5 players sets up and for some unknown reason a Marian player puts himself in an offisde position by standing right in front of Trent. The free kick hits the net but the goal is disallowed because obviously the Marian player is in an off side position while involved in play. In the 61st another free kick is saved by Trent on the near side. Greenlee seems very comfortable in the center role by himself and plays a solid game. Kaleb and Ethan did great in their outside defensive roles. Alex and Grant worked their rear ends off playing as wingbacks and help defend all night long. Joey (as usual) puts in all the dirty work and converts a lot of defensive plays into offensive ones. Dom and Michael control the ball so well in the middle and dish out great passes to our forwards. Our forwards work hard all night long. When Luis, Joel and Schrock come in, they not only give others a breather but they play well. It is an overall team effort and if we put this type of effort into every remaining game, this team's season is not going to end for a while. NOTES- Today's practice is at the turf and will be from 3:30-5. A lactic acid run will be the warm up today -a well deserved one-. The JV loses 6-0 to the Knights' JV. They will be back in action tomorrow inthe Ft. Wayne Bishop Luers JV tournament. Tournament information will be dispersed via Remind. The Varsity contest at John Glenn this coming Monday has been canceled by Glenn. Therefore, senior night this coming Tuesday will be our next -home-game.
No comments:
Post a Comment