Men's Soccer Newsletter - 9/12/2007

Hello All!

We’ve been practicing and playing soccer for nearly four full weeks…and it’s been a long four weeks at that. I really wanted to get the first edition of the newsletter out last week, but there hasn’t been enough time in the day to do so and I apologize for that.

Our first four weeks were very difficult, by design. After much growing last season (physically and mentally) I decided to test our young men early. I didn’t think we were very well prepared for conference play last season. We were talented, but still had much to learn. After a good spring season, I wanted the guys to play against traditionally good, physical, and fit teams before we started ODAC play.

After two good scrimmages, we set off for Ohio Wesleyan University to play OWU and either Hope College (MI) or Kean University (NJ). Each team is traditionally strong and has a lot of NCAA Tournament experience. Although we left Ohio with two losses, we gained a lot of experience in how to play hard, physical and with emotion and passion.

We traveled to Chowan University the following Wednesday. If you that have not been to Murfreesboro, don’t make the trip a priority. It seems like a nice town, but it was a LONG trip from Greensboro. It was a very hot afternoon and we went into halftime tied at one. We played well in the first half against an inferior team, but we lacked the “killer instinct” in the top third of the field. With a few adjustments at halftime, we went out and put the game away early, or should I say Joe Rigert put the game away early. Joe had four goals and an assist on the afternoon, tying Guilford’s goals in a game record and breaking the record for most points in a game. Everyone played very well on the day. I was happy to see our players starting to play well and, more importantly, play together and for each other.

Last weekend we had another tough test, as we faced Salisbury University (MD) and Emory University (GA), both very good programs. The weekend was not only about getting two wins against very good programs, but also about showing heart, dedication, composure, and toughness. We showed all of that both days. Salisbury came at us early, got into our half quickly and put us under pressure from the start. We fended them off time after time and gained confidence in ourselves. While not exactly the offensive play we wanted, we did well enough to battle and compete. At the 30-minute mark, we earned a free kick to the right side of the box. Scott Meguid served a great bent ball in toward the middle of the six-yard box. Our players crashed the goal and Joe got on the end of Scott’s serve to put us up 1-0. That certainly got the attention of Salisbury as they came out hard and assertive in the second half. They tied the game on a goal similar goal to ours at the 50-minute mark. From there, it was back and forth – mostly their forth and our back. However, with just over 2 minutes left, we finally got in behind their outside back, served a nice ball into the box and were awarded a penalty kick off a hand ball. Scott made good on his PK attempt and we went away with a solid 2-1 win, the win we were looking for and deserved.

Sunday we played Emory, which beat Lynchburg, 3-0, the day before. We came out a bit flat and tired in the first half. They got on the board first at the 13-minute mark and kept coming at for the rest of the half. This is where I have to tip my hat to our back four. Dan Etter, Peter Deng, Tim Berke, and Mark Jarvis have been OUTSTANDING for us all season – working very hard to keep the ball as far away from the goal as possible. I am VERY glad they were playing for us in the first half on Sunday. Fortunately, we got out of the half only down a goal. With some “motivation” at half time, we came out and dedicated ourselves to getting forward and behind their defense. By doing so, we got a free kick just outside the 18 and in front of the goal. Robbie Fisher stepped up and scored his first collegiate goal on a beautifully taken direct kick. However, just six minutes later a scramble in front of our goal resulted in Emory taking a 2-1 lead. We were (unjustly, in my opinion) given a straight red card from a 50/50 challenge at midfield and played down a man for the rest of the match. We scraped and clawed, but just ran out of gas and could not make a push.

As I said earlier, aside from getting two wins, we were looking to earn respect in the region by showing heart, toughness, dedication, and composure against two well-respected programs. We did just that.

Guilford’s Rigert Named ODAC Player of the Week

http://www.guilford.edu/athletics/msoccer/releases/2007/Rigert-potw.html

Finally, yesterday saw us (FINALLY) play a home match against Methodist University. Although they were 4-0 coming into the game, we felt we matched up very well with them – and we did. They came out a little stronger than us early and could have scored a goal in the opening 10 minutes if not for a great save by first-year keeper Patrick Childs. At that moment, we woke up/calmed down and began to play. The game went back and forth into each other’s end of the field. Chances here, chances there. They struck first with a rebound goal from 3 yards out. Unfazed, we kept battling and finally earned a free kick at the top left part of the 18. While Methodist was taking their time setting up defensively, Scott Meguid saw their keeper out of position and took a quick, early shot to the far post, tying the game at 1-1. Early in the second half, Scott, once again, found the back of the net, giving us a 2-1 lead. We were feeling good playing well. They equalized four minutes later (I can’t remember the goal! Sorry) and it was exciting play from then on out. I think we ended up with the better of play, especially in the fouls department. We held our cool and they didn’t. We went a man up for the final 25 minutes, but couldn’t get the game winner. A lazy pass back to our keeper was picked off by their forward and they ended up getting the 3-2 win. I can’t say we played poorly, because we didn’t. However, little technical things hurt us at the end of the day.

I really think we’re ready for ODAC play, and when all was said and done, that’s what the first four weeks were designed to do. We host Bridgewater this Saturday in our league opener. We owe them one after they knocked us out of the ODAC Tournament picture last season. A big win would be sweet revenge.

Talk to you all soon,

Jeff