Well, before we get to the game update, just had to drop in a picture from the pregame player introductions. I try not to be too biased…well that’s not true…I am very biased toward Memorial, but I try not to let people know I am Cooper’s father on the posts each week. Sometimes though, I just can’t help myself. Had to take this photo of Cooper. Last few games are upon us. Each night might be my last chance to see him play high school soccer or maybe any kind of soccer. So I am trying to soak it all in and make a few memories for later. I just love watching him play….along with all these awesome boys!
A strong start for Memorial tonight as they dominated North en route to a 5-0 win in the first round of Regional play. This is what you would expect in a #8 seed vs. a #1 seed, but as they say…that’s why you play the games…you just never know. Memorial seemed jacked up for this one. Any thoughts by North of an upset were squashed early when Luke Rosenberger put a ball into the box that was neatly volleyed home by Jack Longville in the 3rd minute. Momentum to Memorial, North chasing the game early. North was on the back foot all night, struggling to maintain possession while Memorial surged forward, connecting passes, pressing forward and playing in Norths half for a significant part of the half. It was really just a matter of time before Memorial created some separation on the scoreboard.
This was the third meeting this year between the cross town rivals and all three games were eerily similar. 5-0, 4-0, 5-0. When the box score comes out tomorrow , expecting it to look a little like this.
Shots. Memorial: Too many to count. North: Not Many
Shots on Goal. Memorial: A bunch of Shots on Goal. North: Very few if any shots on goal.
Saves: Memorial: Can’t remember a Save North: A Bunch of Saves.
Corners: Memorial: A ton of corners. North: Just a few
I think this is exactly what Coach Kite was looking for tonight. Play efficient with crisp passing, physical play and a pressing mentality…score early and often and get a solid halftime lead of 3-0….score early in the second half to eliminate any doubt of a comeback….get Cooper to score a header so dad will get excited…get in the reserves and get some rest for the starters so we can get ready for Saturday. Well, maybe not the Cooper header, but hey, bloggers prerogatives.
Let’s check out some highlights.
So we discussed balanced scoring as a key for Memorial. Jack got us going early with the nice volley and then around the 12 minute mark Jacob Peloquin put us up 2-0. A corner and a flick header were blocked by North who then attempted to clear the ball out of the 18. Peloquin was in the right spot, trapped the ball and went top shelf with a driving blast from near the 18. He hit this one with power and it surprised the GK. Nicely done Jacob for his 5th goal of the season.
If you have been following the blog all year, then you know I have been on a Cooper Lyons header goal watch all year. He has been close many times and I have been patiently waiting to get one. Just wide, just over, great save. I count 5-6 great attempts this year at least. Here is another one, diving save by the GK on this one. Almost! Keep trying Coop, I have a feeling you might get one soon!
Matt Martinez continues to contribute offensively. He adds a nice dimension out wide and has racked up some good assist numbers in the past few weeks. Here is a great run out wide, a burst of speed and a perfectly placed cross right at the 6. Mitch Brenner comes flying in an executes a really nice diving header. That’s not easy folks to get the timing just right. Well done Mitch…a 3-0 lead and your 7th goal of the year. Did I mention balanced scoring. That’s 3 different players who have scored.
Since I did not get Jack’s first goal, I figured I should get him some props and drop in a video of a really nice run by Longville. Multiple moves, a little shake and bake, a few cut backs and…..boom…a big right footed drive to the near post. One of the nicer saves of the night from the North GK. A really nice run by jack. Probably deserved a goal there, but I have a feeling he might get one soon.
That didn’t take long. This is an interesting one. Orser plays a driving pass into Longville who makes a pretty amazing trap and turn and shot. It appears to be a possible hand ball, at least Jack and a few players think so. Jack actually stops momentarily to look at the ref. Well, the ball deflects to Haig who calmly and smartly drops a pass back to Jack. Jack calmly and smoothly drives a ball up over the top and into the corner if the net. I guess I would rather get that score that a PK on the handball. It would have been a tough call to make and it works out better this way. A nice pinpoint drive into the net. 4-0 Abes and two for Longville tonight, goals 35 and 36 on the year. Sweet! I told you I thought he was going to get hot and get on a scoring roll.
Well, I have been waiting for it all year. A header goal by Lyons. I think he just decided it was time. Some tough conditions as the corner by Jolley comes from the side of the field with the sun facing the players. You can see them all covering their eyes looking for the ball. Coop told me he really couldn’t see much, but then saw a little back dot headed his way. So he POUNDED home a header into the back of the net. No way this one was going to be saved. This one had some juice on it. Way to go Cooper! A header goal! Goal number 4 on the year for Lyons. You can tell I was hoping this was it, I zoomed in a bit on Cooper and got a pretty good view of the shot. Bam! Too close to see it going across the goal line but trust me, no chance for the GK. 5-0 Abes.
Top Takeaways for the Game
Longville is back. After 3 games without a goal, his longest stretch of the season, and partly due to limited playing time in that stretch, Longville is back with 2 goals. He looked dangerous all night. He is critical if Memorial is to make a deep run.
Balanced Scoring is Key as Well. We discussed it during the Playoff Blog. Teams may try to double team Longville and remove him from the game. Not sure they can…but they may try. Memorial had 4 different players score and also scored on a corner kick. Taking some pressure off Jack is big.
Clean Sheet, Very Few Shots. Another game where the defense of Free-Larson-Burlingame and Jolley limited the shots and Hanson cleaned up any dangerous balls over the top. The biggest moment of the night was the yellow on GK Hanson. Didn’t see it from my position, but another yellow or a red there was really North’s only chance.
I will keep a close eye on the brackets and opponent for Memorials next game. Next Game is Saturday. Time TBD. We play the winner of #4 seed DC Everest and #5 seed Stevens Point at Memorial. Let’s keep this going boys!