Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Woodberry defeats FUMA 4-2
We knew it would not be pretty, but it had to be done. FUMA has some new talent this year, and they are a real threat on the pitch. Their striker, number 13, leads the league in goals. His presence combined with some threatening players in midfield would create dangerous opportunities. FUMA would play with that threatening striker at central midfield to take away most of our options in the middle of the field. He did that well.
We also knew that we had to shake the habit of coming slowly out of the gates. If FUMA were to get on top first, they'd have the energy to sustain themselves. We needed to be first on the board.
A good defensive line kept FUMA offsides for much of the first half. Some FUMA set pieces showed just how dangerous their star player combination could be. Fortunately, they were not able to capitalize on any of those chance. Meanwhile we were trying to find our way through the packed middle of the field. We had many opportunities, but it was not until midway through the half that Connor stuck the first one in the back of the net. We remained at 1-0 at halftime. We would need a few more to solidify the lead.
FUMA stepped onto the field with their star player back up top. We'd have to watch him closely The whistle blew early in the second half for a penalty kick. It was a generous call, but we'd take it. Jason placed the ball well. 2-0 Tigers.
FUMA responded quickly off a throw in. Their player got a head on it. 2-1.
We countered quickly off a corner on the left side. Peter drove the ball high through the six, just over Jack's head. And while Jack took one for the team occupying the keeper, Shep got his head on it. 3-1.
We thought the FUMA player was offsides. But we didn't get the flag. He had to beat the keeper,which is pretty tough given the way Chris is playing these days. Chris couldn't stop it this time though. It was now 3-2.
With ten minutes left in the second half, the far AR's flag signaled a foul in the box. It was another penalty kick. After a few distracting minutes of card issuing, Jason struck another well placed shot. 4-2 Tigers.
It wasn't pretty. But it had to be done.
We also knew that we had to shake the habit of coming slowly out of the gates. If FUMA were to get on top first, they'd have the energy to sustain themselves. We needed to be first on the board.
A good defensive line kept FUMA offsides for much of the first half. Some FUMA set pieces showed just how dangerous their star player combination could be. Fortunately, they were not able to capitalize on any of those chance. Meanwhile we were trying to find our way through the packed middle of the field. We had many opportunities, but it was not until midway through the half that Connor stuck the first one in the back of the net. We remained at 1-0 at halftime. We would need a few more to solidify the lead.
FUMA stepped onto the field with their star player back up top. We'd have to watch him closely The whistle blew early in the second half for a penalty kick. It was a generous call, but we'd take it. Jason placed the ball well. 2-0 Tigers.
FUMA responded quickly off a throw in. Their player got a head on it. 2-1.
We countered quickly off a corner on the left side. Peter drove the ball high through the six, just over Jack's head. And while Jack took one for the team occupying the keeper, Shep got his head on it. 3-1.
We thought the FUMA player was offsides. But we didn't get the flag. He had to beat the keeper,which is pretty tough given the way Chris is playing these days. Chris couldn't stop it this time though. It was now 3-2.
With ten minutes left in the second half, the far AR's flag signaled a foul in the box. It was another penalty kick. After a few distracting minutes of card issuing, Jason struck another well placed shot. 4-2 Tigers.
It wasn't pretty. But it had to be done.
V Soccer defeats Blue Ridge 3-1
We're still trying to find our goals. Though we had three today, there were far more opportunities that we just couldn't place in the net. We'll need to sharpen our honing skills over the next week if we are to remain competitive through the tournament.
V Soccer draws with EHS 0-0
Episcopal High School has a strong soccer tradition and their teams have produced many winning results over the years. We were ready for battle.
Episcopal produced many good opportunities throughout the match. They had some great top runners, and a very strong stopper who could deliver the ball anywhere on the field. We were able to figure a few things out defensively to take a bit of the threat away. Chris played a very good game in goal.
We just couldn't quite find the right delivery in this game. Our attempts to get the ball behind their defense were going a little long and our passes in front of their defense were coming up a bit short. Still we had a few good opportunities on goal that just didn't materialize.
This is a good result against a good team.
Episcopal produced many good opportunities throughout the match. They had some great top runners, and a very strong stopper who could deliver the ball anywhere on the field. We were able to figure a few things out defensively to take a bit of the threat away. Chris played a very good game in goal.
We just couldn't quite find the right delivery in this game. Our attempts to get the ball behind their defense were going a little long and our passes in front of their defense were coming up a bit short. Still we had a few good opportunities on goal that just didn't materialize.
This is a good result against a good team.
Monday, October 10, 2011
V Soccer ties Norfolk Academy 1-1
We took the three hour ride to Norfolk on Thursday to play what was sure to be a heated contest against Norfolk Academy. Norfolk is known for its fast play and high scoring capabilities. Their narrow and hard-pack field make ball control more difficult and quick flighted balls up the middle more attractive.
Our players had to adjust to the speed of the game. Our touches needed to be good and we needed to play feet early. But before we could do that we had to win the ball. Feeling the pressure of their attack, we tended to be more defensively conservative than necessary. Unfortunately, that meant we weren't winning the 50/50 balls in the air. In turn, Norfolk had more time to build its attack.
Norfolk's first goal came mid-way through the first half when their attacker beat us to a ball behind our defensive line. Chris came off his line, but couldn't close the space fast enough. The striker cut the ball to the side and played it into the open net.
We kept up our pressure, determined to get a goal. An opportunity came in the 39th minute when Shep, on a breakaway, snuck the ball in the middle of the box. Jack found his way there and fought off several defenders. When he found enough space he rifled the ball through the keeper and into the net.
The score remained 1-1 in the second half. There were many opportunities for both teams in the second half. But we would walk away with a tie.
We travel to Alexandria on Tuesday for a tough match against Episcopal High School.
Our players had to adjust to the speed of the game. Our touches needed to be good and we needed to play feet early. But before we could do that we had to win the ball. Feeling the pressure of their attack, we tended to be more defensively conservative than necessary. Unfortunately, that meant we weren't winning the 50/50 balls in the air. In turn, Norfolk had more time to build its attack.
Norfolk's first goal came mid-way through the first half when their attacker beat us to a ball behind our defensive line. Chris came off his line, but couldn't close the space fast enough. The striker cut the ball to the side and played it into the open net.
We kept up our pressure, determined to get a goal. An opportunity came in the 39th minute when Shep, on a breakaway, snuck the ball in the middle of the box. Jack found his way there and fought off several defenders. When he found enough space he rifled the ball through the keeper and into the net.
The score remained 1-1 in the second half. There were many opportunities for both teams in the second half. But we would walk away with a tie.
We travel to Alexandria on Tuesday for a tough match against Episcopal High School.
V Soccer falls to Collegiate 2-1
We just couldn't put things together in our match against Collegiate on Tuesday. We were a bit sleepy at the outset, which caused a very early goal. We responded quickly, making several good opportunities in the first half. Harris ripped a shot that bounced off the inside of the left post but curved out and away from the goal.
A second Cougar goal in the middle of the second half didn't make things any easier. But we never stopped fighting and playing a good posession game. We had many opportunities in the second half, but just couldn't put one away until the 87th minute. The final score would be 1-2.
A second Cougar goal in the middle of the second half didn't make things any easier. But we never stopped fighting and playing a good posession game. We had many opportunities in the second half, but just couldn't put one away until the 87th minute. The final score would be 1-2.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Varsity Soccer Defeats Benedictine 3-2
After falling 0-2 in the first half of our game against Benedictine Friday, September 30, we rallied with some fantastic efforts to defeat the Cadets 3-2.
Varsity Soccer Defeats Liberty Christian Academy 3-0
The pouring rain added a whole new level of intensity to our game Tuesday, September 27. Eager to go after the Flames early in the game, the Tigers came off the whistle at full speed. Our quick start paid dividends when Harris received a ball from Hudson and struck it into the side netting. 1-0 Tigers.
The rain picked up in the 30th minute. A few minutes into the downpour, Jason weaved his way through several defenders and fired a rocket of a shot on goal. 2-0 Tigers.
We played steady and hard through the rain in the second half, thwarting several LCA counter attacks to goal. Though we passed up many good chances, we finished the game well with a final goal from Shep. Jack won a ball in our attacking third and dropped the ball back to Shep coming down the middle of the field. Shep struck a great shot to bring the Tigers to 3-0.
The rain picked up in the 30th minute. A few minutes into the downpour, Jason weaved his way through several defenders and fired a rocket of a shot on goal. 2-0 Tigers.
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