It was a great ride, a lot of fun. But I gotta say this is a hard one to write. I was starting to believe. I was starting to think this might be the year. I was starting to feel that we were a team of destiny. So when it ends it hurts a little.
Let me get this out of the way….congratulations to Arrowhead on advancing to the State Finals. The final score was a little bit deceiving (4-2), but a win is a win. Arrowhead is moving on. Memorial’s season ends and I am bummed about it. I wanted one more game. I wanted to be in the finals. As I sit here writing, I think I am mostly bummed because I will never get to watch Cooper play soccer again. His career is over. I really liked watching him play. He was good, he played the right way, he made me proud and I am going to miss it. I am proud of all these boys. I have been a part of Memorial soccer for the past 8 years so I guess I am a little emotional tonight. I’ll get over it. The boys will get over it. We will all remember a great season. We will remember the great games and great goals. We will remember winning The BRC Conference. We will remember the Regional. We will remember the Sectional Championship. We will remember winning 20 games. We will remember Memorial’s 10th trip to state and only 4th appearance in the Semi-finals. We will remember Memorials #2 ranking in the Coaches poll. And for me, I will remember being up 2-1 at halftime at the State Semi-Finals. I want the season to end there. But that’s not how life or soccer works. I will also remember hugging Cooper and telling him I love him and to hang tough. The memory of the loss will fade, but the memories of watching Cooper and the Memorial team will last a lifetime. Well done boys. Hold your heads high.
I have started the last few posts with a photo of Cooper during introductions. Thought this was the better photo for tonight. I think it speaks for itself.
So I have been thinking about the game a lot the past few hours. Let’s give it a shot.
First half
We got a gut punch in the first two minutes. I mean a straight right hand that was a staggering blow. A foul called near midfield on a what seemed to just be a physical soccer play. A free kick from 40-45 yards. No worries right, I mean it is from 45 yards. I have watched hundreds of high school games over the years and have maybe seen a score from this distance once or twice….usually wind aided and something strange. No way this will cause any issues. Kick is away, a pretty good kick…..drifting into the 18….oh no…there is a runner from the back side…but he is marked….but man that ball is headed right toward him. Somehow, someway, the ball deflects off one of the players and goes into the corner of the net. Down 1-0. How is that possible…but I just saw it, so it really did happen.
So how would Memorial respond. It was the first time they were behind in the tournament. I thought they responded like champions. They rallied. They stayed calm, played their game, improved their possession, worked hard and started to really come into the game. Shots started to develop. A few corner kicks looked dangerous. A few direct kicks looked dangerous. They started to penetrate and get some shots. And then this happened.
Luke Rosenberger with a nice goal. A cleared ball quickly comes back to him and he makes a move and he rips a nice shot on goal. A save but the ball comes back into the field and Rosenberger makes a sweet right footed volley for the goal. 1-1. Game On! A pretty even battle for the rest of the half but the Abes keep the pressure on and then strike again.
This was a well-earned and classic Longville. He really was the key to this goal. He pressed, he won a 50/50 ball and never gave up on the play. His hard work and effort are rewarded and as the ball finds his feet again and he is able to get a cross into the box. Martinez makes a great run, sees the opportunity developing and buries one into the top of the net for the 2-1 Memorial lead. Longville could have given up on this play 2-3 times but just never does. I love his work rate. Martinez was right on the edge of offside, but after a few looks I think the no call was correct…just a great finish from a great assist. Maybe it is going to be our night.
Halftime 2-1 Abes.
So what do I write now. The second half was strange. The second half sucked. Memorial played pretty solid, but Arrowhead seemed to lift their game a bit and play with a bit of desperation. They say lightning can’t strike twice in the same place. How many times have you heard that. Hundreds right. So about 10 minutes into the second half a penalty is called on Memorial on what seems to be just a normal soccer play. I would say about 40 yards out. Is this sounding familiar yet. A ball is launched into the air and is heading for the 18, a runner is coming hard from the back side, the defender has him marked so no issues right. But oh man, that ball is heading right to the Arrowhead player….a glancing header and somehow, someway, the ball ends up in the back of the net. No way. Two scores on free kicks from 40-45 yards. I am pretty sure even the Arrowhead coaches, fans and players would agree….that is just strange. I have never seen two in one game, never.
Memorial fights on. They have several good chances to take the lead. A header just wide, a header just over the top, a layoff and blast just over. On one important sequence, Jack has a ball in a dangerous spot in the 18 and as he is winding up to shoot, his plant foot slips on the wet turf, the ball sails high. I think that might have been the one…the one that would have done it. Not tonight. The game stays tight and feels like maybe a OT game. MIdway thru the half, Arrowhead starts to find some rhythm for about 10 minutes and looks dangerous. Memorial loses their possession game during this period. An Arrowhead ball in the corner, a cross and a scoop up and save by GK Hanson….but no, the ball somehow, someway wiggles loose from Hanson….and right into the path of an Arrowhead player. How does that happen. Just strange, 3-2.
Late in the game, see if this sounds familiar…..a penalty is called about 40 yards from goal. On what appears to be an insignificant foul. I won’t put you thru the pain again. Miraculously, a third goal on a free kick from 40 yards. 3 goals on free kicks from 40+ yards. Pretty sure coach Kite did not have that in his game plan of things to worry about. Never seen it before and pretty sure I will never see it again. All three well guarded, good man marking. No explanation really. Lightning strikes three times in the same place. Just strange.
The box score will show 4-2. Likely the shots on goal and corners will be pretty close. It was a closely fought game. Memorial leads at halftime 2-1. But on this night….a night of strange things,…. a night Arrowhead scores three goals on free kicks from 40+…it was not meant to be. If Arrowhead had thumped us it would not feel so bad. if Arrowhead was the better team….it would not feel so bad. I’ll get over it, but it hurts a little bit right now.
Officiating….I prefer not to discuss it. Don’t get the calls and no calls. Just strange.
Thanks again boys for the great season. I think you deserved better, but hey…I am a fan. Thanks Cooper….it was a fun ride. I will continue to be a Memorial fan and I will continue to cheer and hope to bring home that State trophy one day.