Northridge-NorthWood 2-1 (1-0)

What used to be a soccer field is now a combined soccer, boys and girls lacrosse field with so many different lines and colors painted on the field, you would think the Edinburgh Tattoo is about to kick off. Bathrooms are plugged, forcing players to risk their lives to play Frogger across US 20 to visit the lavatories at a gas station. The scoreboard is in about the same condition as the restrooms. It is off more often than not with time, score and comepetitors names disappearing at random. The JV Raiders defeat the Panthers 3-1 after falling behind 0-1 in the first act. The Varsity match starts around 7:15 with the sun obscuring view from the new dug outs. The Panthers settle in and play organized football for the first quarter defensively. After 18", we encounter our first defensive breakdown when NR takes the ball down the end line and the ensuing cross between the 6 and 12 does not get sufficient man marking from our left defense. An easy finish and goal puts Northridge ahead 1-0 which is also the Half Time score. It is clear that this NR team is skilled but not nearly as good as teams in the past and the Panthers have a real shot at an upset. A draw would put us in a position to win this NLC matchup in PK's. It is is however an arbitral cluster that dominates the game in the 68th minute. A loose and adventurous Raider gets fouled by Vince near the box. The awarded free kick includes a yellow caution for Vince. Several minutes later, after a official conference that seems to include the Northridhe Head Coach turns into a change of card for Vince. Apparently the center who was about 7 steps from the play, lets the AR at 38 yards away convince him that this foul deserves a red and not a yellow card. This means that not only the color of the caution changes but also changes the number of contestants on the -ugly- yellow and green pitch on this lacrosse/soccer combo complex. We are now down to 10 men. In the 70th, NR scores to double their lead to two. But the Panthers show courage and fighting spirit in the last 10 minutes as they pressure the Raiders while having a numerical disavantage. It pays off six minutes later when Jager Bute gets the ball near the top of the box and charges towards the opponent's goal. He takes a shot, it gets deflected past the NR Goalkeeper for a 2-1 lead. Cutting the lead in half puts Northridge in true panic mode. The minutes after the NW goal turn intol panic in the tent defending by the Raiders who almost get scored on when Kyler Fike threatens the NR goal from inside the 20 while the clock runs out and falls apart (the clock that is). A strange but close game ends in a narrow Raiders win over NorthWood; 2-1.