The Patriots continued their winning ways tonight, downing the Portage Christian Pacers for the second time this year, this time at home. The final score was 7-1, and though the score was somewhat lopsided, the ability level of the two teams was not that significantly different, except for their offense. They didn't really have anyone who could finish, and we have several.
I arrived about fifteen minutes into the game and was informed that were down 1-0. After watching for a couple of minutes I wondered how Portage scored because we were dominating the play. After a couple of shots that were off the mark, HSRC got on the board, Noel scoring after being fed by Henry. Four minutes later, Noel rocketed another one, this one from about ten yards out, which hit the bottom of the crossbar and deflected in to give the Patriots the lead. Just before half, Quinn centered one nicely to Sam who found the net, and the Patriots led at halftime, 3-1.
Opening the second half, HSRC picked up where they left off with Sam pressuring the PCS goalie. Sam was stymied on a shot only a minute into the half, but his next shot from about ten yards out deflected off the goalie and went it. The pressure continued, with the ball remaining on Portage's side of the field most of the time. About the sixth minute Noel found Henry out in front and he buried it to put the Patriots up 5-1. Following the kickoff, PCS had their best offensive opportunity since they scored their goal, but the hard shot hit the side of the net. The Patriots came right back with a carbon copy of their fifth goal, Noel feeding Henry in front who didn't waste it. Coach Goudzwaard then rested his best players, and moved the other to defense. Still, at about the sixteenth minutes, Sam, after getting close but not being able to get off a shot, finally found himself free in front and chipped one over the goalie for the hat trick, and the final goal of the game.
So far we have beaten Victory and Portage in the conference. We won't face Granger, the only other school in the conference with a junior high soccer team, until the tournament, so we won't know really how good they are until we see them in the conference tournament. However, the way the team looks, we probably have a decent chance to come home with the conference championship.
To date, HSRC has outscored its opponents 24-8 through five games. Noel has eleven of the goals, Sam six, Henry five, Quinn one and Caleb 1. I don't have assist totals, but I know that Noel has at least four, Henry two and Quinn has at least one.
Next game is Thursday, at home, against Zion Lutheran at 4:00. Note the earlier time. See you there.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Solid home win
The weather was perfect, and the Patriots nearly so in their 4-1 victory this afternoon against the Victory Christian Academy Lions of Valparaiso. The team went down to defeat against the Lions in last year's opener, 6-4 in the only previous meeting between these two teams, so this was HSRC's first victory against Victory.
I got there just in time to witness the first goal. The Patriots were pressuring the VCA defense, making some nice passes but were not able to get a decent shot off. Finally Noel found Sam free just to the left of the goal and he punched one in to the left of the goalie. Not literally punched, of course. Kicked it, actually. Anyway, the Patriots continued their solid, unselfish play. The players without the ball were finding open space and those with it hit them with nice passes. The defense played their positions, and usually when the ball did get down to our end, Caleb ended up getting it and booming it out of the zone. Five minutes after Sam scored, Noel crushed a shot from outside the penalty area, probably twenty yards out, and the goalie had no chance. 2-0, Patriots.
Victory was very active, but we matched their hustle throughout the first half. They also had some skilled dribblers. The two differences I noted were that they really didn't have any finishers, no forwards with a hard and accurate kick. The other was Mark outplayed their goalie by a significant margin. Toward the end half Noel missed on a shot, then a couple of minutes later Quinn got one off that was saved. The Patriots kept coming, and just before half, Noel snuck one in just inside the near post to give the Patriots a 3-0 halftime lead.
In the second, just a few minutes into the half, Henry dribbled past a couple of defenders and shot one past the goalie for a 4-0 lead. That would be all the scoring for the Patriots, as they became noticably tired as the game went on. They weren't quite as disciplined as they were earlier, especially on defense, and the Lions had a few more scoring chances. About ten minutes in, one of their forwards was taken down in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. However, the shot was not very strong and almost directly at Mark, and he made the save. We did have some opportunities in the remaining minutes, but all of our shots went wide or over the net. With about five minutes to go, the biggest player on VCA's team got free and scored, ruining the shutout. It was too little, too late, though and the Patriots got the victory, 4-1.
They are now 2-1 on the season. Tomorrow is another home game, this one against Cornerstone of Chicago Heights. See you there.
I got there just in time to witness the first goal. The Patriots were pressuring the VCA defense, making some nice passes but were not able to get a decent shot off. Finally Noel found Sam free just to the left of the goal and he punched one in to the left of the goalie. Not literally punched, of course. Kicked it, actually. Anyway, the Patriots continued their solid, unselfish play. The players without the ball were finding open space and those with it hit them with nice passes. The defense played their positions, and usually when the ball did get down to our end, Caleb ended up getting it and booming it out of the zone. Five minutes after Sam scored, Noel crushed a shot from outside the penalty area, probably twenty yards out, and the goalie had no chance. 2-0, Patriots.
Victory was very active, but we matched their hustle throughout the first half. They also had some skilled dribblers. The two differences I noted were that they really didn't have any finishers, no forwards with a hard and accurate kick. The other was Mark outplayed their goalie by a significant margin. Toward the end half Noel missed on a shot, then a couple of minutes later Quinn got one off that was saved. The Patriots kept coming, and just before half, Noel snuck one in just inside the near post to give the Patriots a 3-0 halftime lead.
In the second, just a few minutes into the half, Henry dribbled past a couple of defenders and shot one past the goalie for a 4-0 lead. That would be all the scoring for the Patriots, as they became noticably tired as the game went on. They weren't quite as disciplined as they were earlier, especially on defense, and the Lions had a few more scoring chances. About ten minutes in, one of their forwards was taken down in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. However, the shot was not very strong and almost directly at Mark, and he made the save. We did have some opportunities in the remaining minutes, but all of our shots went wide or over the net. With about five minutes to go, the biggest player on VCA's team got free and scored, ruining the shutout. It was too little, too late, though and the Patriots got the victory, 4-1.
They are now 2-1 on the season. Tomorrow is another home game, this one against Cornerstone of Chicago Heights. See you there.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Not a bad start
The junior high Patriots soccer team opened the season yesterday against Illinois Lutheran at our home field at Family of Faith Church. Last year the Patriots lost by a wide margin to IL's A team. This year IL brought a mix of their A and B team and the result was the game was a lot closer.
The play started out mostly at our end, with IL buzzing around our goal but never able to get a shot on goal. I counted four shots in the first seven minutes that either went wide or high. Our defense did a pretty good job keeping the opponents from getting an uncontested shot. Illlinois Lutheran moved the ball around quite a bit and kept possession, while our guys were trying to do a little bit too much indivdually. Around the eleven minute mark IL got a shot on goal but Mark made a nice save. However, shortly thereafter an IL shot deflected off either a defender or another attacker, and it went in. Not more than two or three minutes after that, Mark came out to challenge an attacker, who was able slip the ball past him to give Illinois Lutheran a 2-0 lead.
The momentum shifted a little at that point, and HSRC was able to get off a couple of shots. Noel's went wide. Henry got open a little later at a sharp angle and his shot was covered by their goalie. IL came right back and cranked up the pressure. IL had three shots on goal in the sequence, but Mark was up to the task. saving them all, a couple of them tough ones. Noel then got free and was brought down in the goal box. Penaly kick. Noel buried it for the Patriots' first goal of the year. 2-1 Illinois Lutheran was how the first half finished.
The Patriots came out after halftime quite aggresively, getting off several shots, one on goal, but that was saved. IL came right back and their second shot of the half found the net, 3-1 IL.IL followed the goal with a flurry of pressure, getting off four shots that missed, then when they got one on goal, it went in. 4-1. The momentum changed quickly. The ball was tapped to Noel on the ensuing kickoff, and he dribbled through defense and scored to make it 4-2. After an IL shot, the Patriots shot one over the net. The quickly recovered possesion, and after some impressive passing, Quinn got his first goal of the season and it was 4-3. Both teams were able to pressure the opposing goalies, but neither could got one past, and that was how the game ended. A solid start and something to build on.
Our next game is Thursday, September 6 at Portage Christian School. Game time is 4PM. Come out and support the Patriots!
The play started out mostly at our end, with IL buzzing around our goal but never able to get a shot on goal. I counted four shots in the first seven minutes that either went wide or high. Our defense did a pretty good job keeping the opponents from getting an uncontested shot. Illlinois Lutheran moved the ball around quite a bit and kept possession, while our guys were trying to do a little bit too much indivdually. Around the eleven minute mark IL got a shot on goal but Mark made a nice save. However, shortly thereafter an IL shot deflected off either a defender or another attacker, and it went in. Not more than two or three minutes after that, Mark came out to challenge an attacker, who was able slip the ball past him to give Illinois Lutheran a 2-0 lead.
The momentum shifted a little at that point, and HSRC was able to get off a couple of shots. Noel's went wide. Henry got open a little later at a sharp angle and his shot was covered by their goalie. IL came right back and cranked up the pressure. IL had three shots on goal in the sequence, but Mark was up to the task. saving them all, a couple of them tough ones. Noel then got free and was brought down in the goal box. Penaly kick. Noel buried it for the Patriots' first goal of the year. 2-1 Illinois Lutheran was how the first half finished.
The Patriots came out after halftime quite aggresively, getting off several shots, one on goal, but that was saved. IL came right back and their second shot of the half found the net, 3-1 IL.IL followed the goal with a flurry of pressure, getting off four shots that missed, then when they got one on goal, it went in. 4-1. The momentum changed quickly. The ball was tapped to Noel on the ensuing kickoff, and he dribbled through defense and scored to make it 4-2. After an IL shot, the Patriots shot one over the net. The quickly recovered possesion, and after some impressive passing, Quinn got his first goal of the season and it was 4-3. Both teams were able to pressure the opposing goalies, but neither could got one past, and that was how the game ended. A solid start and something to build on.
Our next game is Thursday, September 6 at Portage Christian School. Game time is 4PM. Come out and support the Patriots!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)