See photos taken of our league opener against STAB. These were taken by a photographer from Srimmage Play magazine. http://www.scrimmageplay.com/media/photos/sights-woodberry-shuts-out-stab
9/21/2011
The Charlottesville Daily Progress covered our game against STAB. See the full article here: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/sports/2011/sep/20/woodberry-cruises-past-saints-ar-1324768/
9/14/2011An article compliments of the Harrisonburg Daily-Recorder, September 14, 2011:
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. EMHS Falls, 3-0
