JV Soccer wins Eastern Mennonite's JV Tournament

After a rainy end to the week, the Tigers traveled across the mountain to Harrisonburg as defending champions for Eastern Mennonite’s JV soccer tournament. Led by captains Harris Moye, Witt Moye and Bronson Kieltyka they were anxious to maintain their hold on this trophy. In two displays of sustained effort by the entire squad the Tigers managed to retain their position as champions. There were numerous impressive performances, but probably the defense deserves the most credit because the defenders conceded only one goal while getting used to playing with several different combinations of teammates. Ryan Gingras did a great job as holding midfielder and outside fullback; David Sloan, Liam Hedge, Sean Brown and Campbell Hallett all took turns in the center of the defense; and Zach Merritt, Matt LaVigne, and Josh Hilliary were effective on the corners of the defense.

The fields were a bit heavy, and gray skies threatened all afternoon, but the rain held off and the Tigers enjoyed their first contests against Liberty Christian and Eastern Mennonite, both teams will reappear on our schedule later in the season. In the first game the Tigers dominated time of possession and were able to experiment with a different look in the second half. Scoring came through Hawk Swearingen and Nolan Day (off a corner kick) in the first half, and Hawk and Will Peak (assist, Swearingen) in the second.

Unhappily Hawk was injured early in the second contest and had to sit most of the championship game out. The host Flames were quick opponents and challenged vigorously for the ball, and the game was pretty even for much of the first half. The Tigers went ahead after eleven minutes when Bronson Kieltyka dribbled left to right across the penalty box, penetrated deep to the endline and crossed the ball smartly for Witt Moye’s first goal of the afternoon. About six minutes later the Flames scored on a breakaway through the middle. Witt scored his second goal of the afternoon when the Flames’ netminder could not manage to tip a corner kick over the bar. Immediately after the interval Witt won a ball from a throw-in, broke through from the right and struck a fine rising shot to the far post. He completed his tally when he connected with a Woody Scruggs feed just a few minutes later.

Goalkeeper Petey DuBose, who kept a clean sheet for the second half and Bronson Kieltyka won places on the All-Tournament team, and the MVP was Witt Moye.

V Soccer defeats STAB 4-0 in League Opener

The varsity soccer team kicked off its league play with a solid win over STAB. The STAB goalkeeper was most effective, despite the 4-0 tally. He made some impossible saves against a ceaseless wave of Woodberry attacks on goal.


After a few good opportunities, Woodberry's first goal came in the 17th minute when Shep deflected a clearance deep in STAB's field and followed it to net with a nice header. Six minutes later a STAB defender raised his arm to stop a through ball from Ian to Jason, resulting in a card for the STAB player and a free kick for Woodberry. Jason struck a hard ball that the keeper couldn't quite get a hold of. Shep finished it with an off-footed finish to the near post.


Defender Hill Fleet kept the Saints off the board during a corner in the first half. He "stayed home" as coach Tallman said, and protected the far post. On account, Hill was in good position to head out a ball that most surely would have found the back of the net otherwise.


Woodberry found more organization in the second half. We found the passing lanes and were able to keep possession. And the chances at goal came early and often. In the 71st minute, Connor cut the ball back after a long run down the right side and found Bear who struck an off-footed shot to take the Tigers to 3-0. "It was just a beautiful cut back," Jack Fleming said of Connor's move.


Connor was at it again a few minutes later when Jason's shot deflected off a defender. Connor controlled the ball, made a quick step into space, and finished with a well placed shot on goal.


Kofi relieved Chris in goal for the final ten minutes of the game. And it was not an easy stretch to be the keeper. The Saints had several free kicks within reach of the goal, which caused Kofi to warm up quickly.


We head to Christchurch on Saturday for our second league game of the season against a tough opponent.


See the write-up in the Charlottesville Daily Progress: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/sports/2011/sep/20/woodberry-cruises-past-saints-ar-1324768/


See pictures of the game taken by a Scrimmage Play photographer: http://www.scrimmageplay.com/media/photos/sights-woodberry-shuts-out-stab

Shep's second goal.

Hudson moves forward on the attack

Noah moves to a supporting position for a counterattack

Peter, just after heading a ball back into the attack



The team enjoys some snacks after the game. Thanks Parents!

V Soccer ties St. Alban's 0-0

Woodberry faced one of its toughest opponents Saturday. While a win is always welcome, we were happy to walk away with a scoreless tie, especially after a solid match. We had lost a number of players for this match. Chris and Connor were out with injuries and Watson was still recovering from the stomach bug going around campus. Jason Hill stepped off the field a few minutes before half after a hard, head-to-head hit with one of the Bulldog players. 

We were impressed yet again with a strong defensive showing for the entire 90 minutes of this game. The bulldogs came at us hard and were quickly frusstrated by the team's good defensive play. Broughton had another stellar performance.

The midfield did a good job again of winning 50/50 balls. Their control of the midfield, and their increasing ability to link passes together to maintain possession, allowed for a good number of goal scoring opportunities against the bulldogs. Unfortunately we just weren't abel to capitalize.

Proud of our progress thus far, we head to STAB Tuesday for our league opener. We'll hope all are healed and ready to play.

Video highlights from the game against St. Alban's

Ian takes a controlling touch

Harris makes a quick cut past a defender

Jack looks to play the ball to Bear's run towards the flank

All photos courtesy of Edward Stewart, WFS '12. Video Courtesy Karen & Steve Culbertson.

Video Clips from V Soccer v. EMHS on Tuesday September 13

Junior Varsity Soccer opens season with a win against STAB

The JV Tigers opened their 2011 campaign on a beautiful late summer afternoon. The game was moved to Woodberry because STAB’s pitch was too wet. STAB only had 12 healthy players for the contest (having suffered the same sort of stomach bug that has infected the Forest), but still agreed to play 40 minute halves, which suited us since we have a squad of 25. The Tigers dominated the possession throughout the game and got many good looks at goal. Petey DuBose and Thomas Lee split time as netminders and both did a great job. The defense was anchored by center back Sean Brown. Starting alongside him was Justin Park, who moved to striker in the first half. Justin demonstrated a cool attitude in the opposing penalty area and scored the second and third goals, the first having been scored by Hawk Swearingen from the left. Justin’s goals were assisted by Nolan Day (a cross from a free kick and a through ball). This put the Tigers up 3-0 at the interval, and they kept up the pressure in the second half, scoring through Nolan Day (an unassisted shot which the STAB keeper thought was going wide); Will Peak (a fine volley, on an assist from Swearingen); Alvaro Martin; and Jack Ogburn.

Woodberry Soccer makes Harrisonburg Paper

An article compliments of the Harrisonburg Daily-Recorder, September 14, 2011:

EMHS Falls, 3-0

Woodberry Blanks Flames

　

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Posted: September 14, 2011

By JOHN GALLE

　

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HARRISONBURG

Now, they’ve seen a little of everything: a stout defense, a talented forward and some aggressive Tigers.

After giving up just two goals in two games, EMHS allowed two in the first half – one by Woodberry Forest senior captain Jason Hill, who scored twice – before falling to a physical Tigers squad 3-0 at home on a sunny, breezy Tuesday afternoon.

"They punished us for mistakes we made on defense," Bauman said. "… In the second half, we didn’t pick up the intensity level that we needed to get back into the game."

The Flames (1-1-1) were constantly being beaten to 50-50 balls and failed to find quality touches in the final third – a preseason concern after graduating their top goal scorer from last year in Parker Leap. Just three games in, EMHS senior midfielder Will Montgomery doesn’t think the Flames should panic, even if Tuesday’s loss set off an alarm bell or two.

"I think this loss is really going to set deep in us the drive to kind of push forward," said Montgomery, a senior captain. "It’s a pretty disappointing loss, especially with the score. We weren’t expecting that at all. … I wouldn’t call it panic, but it’s frustrating for sure."

Though Bauman was disappointed with the Flames’ work against Woodberry Forest, he believed the game – coupled with their first two contests against Collegiate and Saint Christopher’s – will toughen up EMHS.

"They’ve all had different elements to them," Bauman said. "Woodberry played a much more physical game than the other two. We saw a very strong forward against Collegiate… and Saint Christopher’s played very stingy defense. I think all those things combined are going to help us [get better]."

On Tuesday, the orange-clad Tigers (1-1) – a team that has historically struggled to score – took an early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute as the big-bodied junior forward Noah Stewart collected a cross with a nifty back heel, setting himself up near the corner of the box for a blistering shot to the far post.

"We’re working hard to find people to score goals up top," Woodberry Forest coach Steve Culbertson said. "… For a couple years, we haven’t had anybody that could score a goal."

Things got worse for the Flames before they got better.

A minute after the opening goal, EMHS junior starting goalkeeper Bryce Blosser came out to disrupt a play – which was whistled for offsides – and clanged knees with Woodberry Forest striker Connor Forrest. Both exited the game and did not return.

"It was a fair play both ways," Culbertson said, echoing Bauman’s sentiment. "It was just both of them being brave."

Planning to use two goalkeepers in the game before the injury, Bauman – who is breaking in two goalies after graduating Andrew Yoder at the position – sent in senior Isaac Driver to finish out the game in net.

EMHS had two chances to equalize. First, Jae White hammered a shot from about 25 yards out after a short free kick in the 13th minute, but Chris Broughton made the save. An EMHS counterattack in the 27th minute resulted in a shot, which went wide. In total, the Flames outshot Woodberry Forest 13-10, but only managed six shots on target. The Tigers had seven.

"There were very good opportunities," Montgomery said, specifically noting a late surge in the final 30 minutes as the Tigers had dropped back in a shell defense.

Hill gave the visitors two insurance goals to allow them to bunker down. He ran through a bouncing ball to get behind the Flames’ back line with 16:52 left before halftime and finished a rebound off a free kick in the second half.

EMHS just couldn’t find an answer.

"There were spurts," Bauman said of the Flames’ offense, "but nothing sustained."

EMHS will have one final tune-up at the Menno Classic Tournament this weekend before starting its VIC title defense. The Flames will face Fishburne at home next Tuesday to kickoff conference play.

Halftime score: 2-0 WF

Shots on goal: WF 7; EM 6

Saves: WF 6 (Broughton 3, Keohane 3); EM 3 (Blosser 1, Driver 2).

Corner kicks: WF 1; EM 2

Scoring: WF – Stewart (7:35), Hill (28:08, 64:00).

– Eastern Mennonite High School boys’ soccer coach Kendal Bauman hoped a tough non-conference schedule would prepare the senior-laden Flames for league play next week in the Virginia Independent Conference.

V Soccer defeats Eastern Mennonite 3-0

The Tigers pulled away with a win yesterday in Harrisonburg. Plagued by lingering injuries and sickness, the Tigers felt a little down on the ride over the mountain. But when they reached the field, they showed they were ready for what promised to be a very tough match against Eastern Mennonite.


Solid centeral midfield and defensive play created the opportunities for more combination play through the midfield, and we were able to capitalize on several attacks to goal. Noah put in a very nice early goal. After receiving a cross with his back to the goal from Connor, Noah spun off the defender's outside shoulder and hit a one time shot in the back of the net. Our second goal came later in the first half after Jason skillfully beat several defenders at the top of the 18 and found a gap just big enough for a look at goal. The third goal came in the 20th minute of the second half. A ball in the box found Jack whose shot was deflected off the keeper to Jason for a rebound.


We were proud of the heart the team put into this game. Harris, Jason and Peter put everything they had on the field. Our backs, Ian, Coleman, Seth, Hill, and Jack played an outstanding game.


We play the St. Albans Bulldogs at home on Saturday. We'll need just as much grit and determination for a positive result in that game.

V Soccer opens season with loss to St. Stephen's St. Agnes

After an initial week of practice interrupted by heavy rains, varsity soccer boarded the bus for its first match against St. Stephen's & St. Agnes. The Saints put in an early goal off a beautiful pass that found their striker just behind our defense. It took some time to settle our nerves and to adjust to the variables of playing on turf. With time, we started to put some things together. Our backs regained their composure after an early surprise and we began linking some passes through the midfield.

We came out for the second half down 1-0 and ready to step up our game. We were granted an early penalty, which Jason Hill drove into the lower corner to tie the game 1-1. Our level of play increased with this boost of confidence. Despite several good looks at goal, we weren't able to put another in the back of the net. Late in the game, a Saints player recevied a ball at the top of the box, and our tired legs couldn't reach him in time to prevent the turn and shot. It was now 1-2.  A third Saints goal late in injury time would leave us with a 1-3 loss to start the season.

With many weeks left in the season, we look forward to building off the lessons we learned in this game. We prepare for our next game on the road against Eastern Mennonite Tuesday.

Players complete the agility cone warm up.

Players cheer on their teammates

Jack, Watson, and Vas are awed by one of Chris' many fantastic saves in goal