Men's Soccer Newsletter - 10/3/2007

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve last updated our “weekly” newsletter, and I apologize for that.  Without looking back, I’m not sure where we last left off, so I’ll start from last Friday’s game at Hampden-Sydney.

I’ll try to spare you the particulars that surrounded the actual game, and only give you the important details.  After three straight tough losses, we headed to Hampden-Sydney feeling pretty good, based on some recent practices.  However, the team didn’t know about some upcoming personnel changes for the game.  It was time to play some other people and move others around the field.

The game’s first five minutes were nerve-racking as Hampden-Sydney had an early chance, but freshman keeper Beau Arceneaux made a big save.  You could almost hear our team’s collective sigh of relief after he made the stop, which gave us the confidence to go forward.  Eleven minutes into the game we finally scored first for the first time since Sept. 8.  Joe Rigert, who has played well all season, got us on the board and got our energy flowing.  We tried for a second goal and the Tigers counter-attacked for the rest of the half.  We looked confident headed into halftime for the first time in a while, which was very good to see.

Entering into the second half, we had two things working against us.  First, the wind was in our faces, and it was just strong enough to influence the game.  Both teams also had to work with the officials, which can be difficult.  In this case, both teams made a visible effort to not let this affect the game.

The hosts had the better of play in the second half.  They put us under a lot of early pressure and did not let up.  We got into their half, had a couple of decent chances and should have taken a two-goal lead, couldn’t capitalize.  By not doing so, we put ourselves in danger of giving up the tying goal, which is exactly what happened.  With only eight minutes left, Hampden-Sydney received a penalty kick.  I’ve learned not to argue this kind of call, as it simply won’t be reversed.  However, with the emotion of the game, our keeper became too upset and was ejected with two yellow cards, which left us a man down.  Our backup goalie this day, sophomore Patrick Childs, came in cold and saved the penalty kick, only to see another Hampden-Sydney student tie the game on the rebound.

On the ensuing kickoff (against previous instruction), we tried to dribble the ball forward towards the goal.  Hampden-Sydney picked the ball off our student’s foot, went the other way and scored go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal just 20 seconds later.  This was truly a disappointing way to lose such a hard-fought game; one in which we played so hard and (perhaps) deserved to win.

Another day, another game, and Tuesday we played at home against Randolph-Macon, a team with whom we match up well.  It is also a team against whom we should start out hard and fast, especially considering what happened Friday (“should” being the operative word here).  Just nine minutes in, Randolph-Macon got on the board off a missed clear that led to a two-on-one breakaway.  I knew we had been in this position before and was curious to see our response.  The first-half answer was, fairly well.  Our play wasn’t too inspirational, to say the least.  We had chances to equalize and they had chances to go up another goal.  The halftime score remained 1-0, which we could and needed to overcome.

To make a long story short, the halftime talk was simply about teamwork: working together, playing together, and winning together.  No more individual efforts.  No more petty differences on the field.  Our struggles are no longer about soccer and tactics.  They are about us wanting to win as a team.  We all hate our record.  We all want to change things.  We could do this as individuals, or we could work together in support of the same goal.  (As I’m writing, I’m reminded of the TV show “The Office”! Funny show…)

The second half was totally different than the first.  While everyone displayed a great team effort, I have to single our three individuals.  Bryce Hunsucker has changed his approach to the way he practices, plays and prepares for a game.  It has certainly showed and helped us 1:30 into the second half when he turned a ball with his back to goal 20 yards out and hit - no pounded - a ball past the keeper to even the score at 1-1.  Six minutes later Bryce dug a ball out of the corner, dribbled towards goal up the end line and slotted a ball to Joe’s foot for the go-ahead goal.  What a great effort and inspiration to the rest of us!

I also want to single out Joe.  He may have scored twice, which gives him nine for the season, but it was his work ethic that helped the most.  Joe was man-marked (yeah, I know, teams do that in soccer!??!!) on the day and he out-worked and out-played the guy assigned to cover him.  Joe gave an outstanding effort.

I want to acknowledge Zane Campbell, our assistant coach, who had the idea for a second-half personnel move that worked out beautifully.  It’s nice to have another set of eyes and another soccer brain on the sideline this season.  He has also done well assisting our team this year.  It’s not easy to graduate one year and then become an assistant coach the following season.

We have a 2-3 ODAC record heading into Saturday’s match at Emory & Henry.  We’re in the thick of the ODAC Tournament race and with continued effort and improvement, we have a great chance to make a run in the tournament.

Thanks again for all your supportive emails and words of encouragement.  We hope to see you at one of our next few games!

Jeff & the Quakers’ soccer team