Panthers looking to rebound from early season losses

The NW Men's Soccer team loses 0-4 versus the Concord Minutemen 0-4 Tuesday evening at Wellfield Park. Despite playing a decent game, we are being outclassed by the technical skilled Concord team that shows a lot of promise of going deep into the post season. One of the goals is an OG and another is a PK. Last night (Thursday) is an evening to forget. It doesn't start out all bad when the JV beats the Bethany JV in a shortened 40 minute game 0-2 on two Bowen goals. The JV moves to 1-1-1 on the season in its quest to a record setting season. The Varsity takes on the 2023 State Champions Bethany Bruins in an unusual early start (6 pm). A couple of very early defensive mistakes turn into a score of 3-0 in the Bruins' favor. One of the goals is a very soft called PK by the center ref who would make sure that the NorthWood fans get to see a repeat of poor judgment several more times when it comes to awarding PK's. NW, not known for it's physical or dirty play, will witness this referee award two more PK's in the game to Bethany. All of them questionable at best and that is giving the last minute contracted ref the benefit of the doubt. Clearly calling this man at 2 pm for a 5 pm contest, interrupted a nap that he badly needed. Bethany ends up scoring 2 of 3 penalties. We have now been called for 4 penalties in the first two games of the season. A NorthWood record! Being behind after 30 minutes means that we are playing from behind all night. Bethany brings back 7-9 players behind the ball on our attacks and we rarely are dangerous. When a NW player gets trucked over from behind and the arbiter does not blow the whistle (just balances the plastic in his mouth, a lot of good that does), unfortunately one of the Asst. Coaches loses his cool and says "blow the whistle". That awful and hurtful comment gets a reaction from geriatric Jerry who gives head coach Kyle Dijkstra a yellow card for the Assistant's unprofessional behavior. The assistant has now halfway paid back a red card from last season. All in all, we did not play well in general, did not play well on defensive specifically and were unable to provide a lot of hold up play on attacks or semi-attacks. Stuff to work on with not a lot of time because we play game 3 and 4 tomorrow at the NorthWood Invitational(first one at 10 am). Jager Bute scores the comfort goal with minutes left in the game and sees another shot rejected by the woodwork. NOTES: Practice today at Wellfield on the turf from 3:30-5. This will be a light training. After tomorrow we will have played 25% of the regualr season games in a five day period.