Memorial vs. River Falls

I was not able to attend the game, but wanted to drop in a few updates for everyone in case you missed it as well.  Memorial scored early on a Brenner goal but River Falls quickly matched them at the 8 minute mark for a 1-1 game.  Memorial responded in the 16th minute on a goal by Rosenberger.  A great sign that these two are scoring goals and leading the team.  2-1 at the half until another Memorial goal by Brenner…he is getting hot right now….in the 56th minute made it 3-1.  Late goals at the end by Memorial in the 89th minute extended the lead to 5-1.  Solid win by the Abes.

-Will Hartman and Ashton Johnson scored their first Varsity goals for Memorial…always a cool moment.  Well done lads!

-Memorial out shot River Falls 17-4, sign of a dominating performance, even if it was reasonably close on the score line for most of the game.

-Big Week next week for the Abes.  Rivalry game with North on Tuesday and then the Big Rivers Showdown with Hudson on Thursday.  Can Memorial grab a share of first or will Hudson put a strangle hold on the title.

Here is a quick update on the Big Rivers Conference play.

September 17th Games:

Memorial  3  Rice Lake 0

Hudson  8  River Falls  2

Menomonie  3  Chippewa Falls 0

River Falls v Menomonie  Postponed to 9.29

Chippewa Falls v Rice Lake Postponed

North v Hudson  Postponed

September 24th Games:

Rice Lake 2 River Falls 1

North 3  Menomonie 0

Memorial 9  Chippewa Falls 1

Rice Lake 2  North 1

Memorial 5  River Falls 1

Hudson 9  Menomonie 0

Big Rivers Conference Standings

Win -Loss -Tie

Hudson                           7-0-0    21 Points

Memorial                        7-1-0     21 Points

Rice Lake                       6-2-0     18 Points

North                              3-4-1      10 Points

River Falls                      2-5-1       7 Points

Menomonie                   1-7-0      3 Points

Chippewa Falls             0-0-7     0 Points

Quick Take Aways:

-Hudson is in control, but the second Memorial v Hudson game still looms.  Memorial will have a full squad for the rematch….so maybe a different result?

-North had a chance to make a real statement, but Rice Lake won 2-1 in the recent match up to maintain their solid third place position..

-Menomonie had some real momentum last week, but a bit of a disappointment for me to lose both games by a combined 12-0 score.

Games for the Week of OCTOBER 1

Tuesday Games: Memorial v North, Hudson v Rice Lake, River Falls v Chippewa Falls

Thursday Games: Hudson v Memorial, Chippewa Falls v North, Menomonie v Rice Lake

Game of the Week: Hudson v Memorial.

Here we go again.  The last game was decided in the last minutes with a close fought 1-0 win for Hudson.  Can Memorial return the favor.  Will the new line up produce the results needed to take down a very good Hudson team.  This likely decides the Conference Champion for the season.  Big Game!!

The second half of the Big Rivers Conference play has started. Teams have completed their first 6 games and are now working thru their second wave of games.  Memorial hosted Chippewa Falls last night on a cool…okay, maybe a bit cold…and a little rain too, ugh.  Lets take a quick look back.  Memorial opened their conference play with a 3-1 win over Chippewa Falls on August 30.  Kind of a blah game….kind of played down to the competition a bit.  A young team in just their 2nd game of the season, missing a few key elements.

Flash forward to last night.  A more mature team, playing in their 10th game, with a full squad (almost), and now with positions, substitution patterns, and style of play all being worked out.  The score in Round 2 against Chippewa Falls was 9-1.  Brenner with 3, Sulzer and Christopherson with 2 each, Hanson, yes Hanson with a goal and the goal of the night from Nunez.  So…what do we make of that.

A Few Observations

-No more playing down to the competition.  Memorial seemed more focused with more energy.  They were flying around the field from the first whistle and imposing their will and style of play onto CF all night.  It really did not matter the score.  The intensity was there all night.  That is a good sign with some big games coming soon.

-A little change in positions looks to be working and paying dividends.  Brenner seems to be locked into the 9 (Striker) spot now and he is dynamic up top.  He finished the night with a hat trick.  Scored on a nice chip after a great pass thru the defense.  Scored on a nice volley touch on a ball in the box.  He is dangerous.  He has a scorers mentality.  He has skills.  He needs to touch the ball in dangerous spots because he scores goals.

-Jared Nunez has found a home in the Attacking Midfield spot.  Does he remind anyone of a younger version of Will Orser….or is that just me.  He really controls the midfield.  has a calmness about him.  Has great passing instincts.  Has really quick feet and wins balls.  And….he has some serious confidence and he is starting to score some goals.  Last night he delivered maybe the goal of the year.  he stunner really.  From I am guessing in the 30 yard range.  Wow.  I was shocked he took the shot…it was not really a shot you would expect.  He saw it differently…he scorched a shot, a rocket, from deep into the corner of the net. It shocked the Chippewa Falls GK as well.  He did not move an inch.  Was frozen in place.  Amazing goal….and he is a freshman.  We got a good one!

-Getting Peloquin out wide and using Sulzer out wide as wingers is creating some speed wide and creating chances.  Throw in a great rotation including Zumwalt, Smith, and Hartman and the wing play looks improved.  15 shots on goal last night.

-Larson has settled into the back four and looking comfortable.  Only 1 shot allowed last night.  Senior leadership on the back line will be crucial moving forward.  Larson and Sulzer missed the first Hudson game.  Really curious is they make a difference in Game 2.

Lets Look at Some Game Highlights

Now up top, Brenner is a really dangerous player.  A quick video, but the vision to anticipate the pass and the calm head to chip the GK is really impressive.  Stay hot Mitch!

Here is the goal of the night for me.  Now I have to admit, I left with about 10 minutes to go and the Abes up 5-0.  I had 4 goals on video, plenty for the blog….was getting cold…hate to admit that…but it’s true.  I needed a bigger coat.  Now maybe the PK by Hanson would have been a good one for video….sorry Tyler.  Two goals from Christopherson would have been cool as well…sorry Dalton.  But…the goal below was pretty sweet.  It’s a longer video so hang in there.  I lost the ball a few times…filming in the rain and wind and trying to hold an umbrella presents its challenges.  I even moved off Jared just before the shot as I was thinking he was about to pass it forward.  He shot it…and oh did he shoot it well.  I will make sure to hold the camera on him in the future.  A shot could come at any time from anywhere.

Really cool to see Sulzer get into the scoring column.  I think he will be an important player down the stretch.  Here is the first of two.  Did Larson knock it in.  Did it go in just before Larson touches it.  Not sure.  Simon may have an argument, but the announcer and box score give it to Alex.

Here is a crazy long goal.  Larson with a free kick from the Abes half of the field.  A really deep kick…a header from a Chippewa defender….a high karate kick volley from Alex and then a quick touch to jam it into the goal.  Crazy, but hey, we’ll take it.  Another confidence boost for Sulzer.

Senior Night.  Thank you Mom and Dad.

I could not resist to get some video of Senior Night celebration.  Supporting your player is an honor and privilege.  It is a bit sad as a parent knowing its your sons last season.  Only a few games left to watch them play Old Abe soccer and be part of the Memorial Family.  I feel pretty connected after 8+ years.  Well done parents.  Keep cheering them on.  Seniors–congratulations on your Memorial career.  There are still some memories to make this year!!

From Left to Right:  Tyler Hanson, Jacob Harmsen, Mitch Brenner, Alex Sulzer, Jacob Hartkemeyer, Dalton Christopherson, Carlos Verduzco, Lucas Zumwalt, Simon  Larson, Connor Stadnyk.

Go Abes.  Trust the Process!!

Big Rivers Conference play is about halfway thru, a few games postponed this week due to weather.  How is it looking and what is in store this week.  I know you want to know!

Here is a quick update on the Big Rivers Conference play.

Week of September 11th Games:

Hudson  1  Memorial 0

North  8  Chippewa Falls 3

Rice Lake  2  Menomonie 0

River Falls  3  North 3

Memorial  3  Menomonie  0

Hudson  3  Chippewa Falls   0

September 17th Games:

Memorial  3  Rice Lake 0

Hudson  8  River Falls  2

Menomonie  3  Chippewa Falls 0

River Falls v Menomonie  Postponed to 9.29

Chippewa Falls v Rice Lake Postponed

North v Hudson  Postponed

Big Rivers Conference Standings

W-T-L

Hudson                           6-0-0    18 Points

Memorial                        5-0-1     15 Points

Rice Lake                       4-0-2     12 Points

River Falls                      2-1-3       7 Points

North                              2-1-3      7 Points

Menomonie                   1-0-5      3 Points

Chippewa Falls             0-0-6     0 Points

Quick Take Aways:

-Hudson is in control, but the second Memorial v Hudson game still looms.  Memorial will have a full squad for the rematch….so maybe a different result?

-Memorial a solid second place, but with something to prove in their next match with Hudson.

-Rice Lake a solid third, but after a strong start, a bit of a wobble.  Can they hold on for third and get a good seeding for their playoffs.

-Menomonie is no longer in the cellar.  They have had a nice run lately, secured their first conference win…..well, I can’t remember their last conference win.  It has been awhile.  Don’t sleep on Menomonie, they may be dangerous in the back half of conference.

Games for the Week of September 24th

Tuesday Games: Chippewa Falls v Memorial, North v. Menomonie, River Falls v Rice Lake

Thursday Games: Rice Lake v North, Memorial v. River Falls, Menomonie v. Hudson

Game of the Week: North v Menomonie.

No “BIG GAMES” this week if form holds.  Always can be an upset, but no Top 3 games.  So, I am thinking the real interesting match up is Menomonie v North.  Is North ready to take a step toward the Top 3?  Can Menomonie keep their recent good form going and upset a favored team and threaten a To 4 finish?

Interesting Note:  On Wednesday’s edition of the Leader Telegram the feature article was about Menomonie and their victory over Chippewa Falls 3-1.   Amazing really.  A feature article on Menomonie Soccer.  I have been in the area 18 years….might be the first time Menomonie….not a local school…has had the feature article in the sports page.  Quite a statement about their program.  I was shocked to see it.  Thought maybe it was about Chippewa.  Good for you Menomonie, good for you!

Tuesday nights clash with Rice Lake marked the midpoint in Conference play for the Old Abes and they finished off a solid 3-0 win over Rice Lake and ended their first half of conference play at 5-1, just one game back of Conference leading Hudson.  Tuesday nights game  seemed to mark a turning point for the season.

-A full roster is now available to the coaches, although some tough luck for Biwer.  Fingers crossed he might make it back.

-9 games played provides the coaching staff enough games to evaluate the roster and find the right combinations of play.

-Tough non-conference games….and a few difficult losses provide coaching opportunities, growth opportunities and maybe a little chip on the shoulder.  They have been close, but the really big win has eluded them so far this year.

Against Rice Lake the team looked solid all night.  Possession was strong and the new midfield combinations seems to be improving both the attack and shutting down counter attacks.  Early this year, Jared Nunez spend most of his time on the wing, but lately his play in the midfield has steadied that part of the game. He is calm on the ball, makes good decisions, is able to find wingers and forwards and also is able to find shots.  The combination of Brenner and Rosenberger in the 9 and 10 spots is starting to click as well.  They lead the team with 9 and 6 goals respectively and are starting to combine for goals now.  A very good sign.

The defense is finding their way.  Simon Larson has helped steady the back line.  Still a few wobbles now and then, but they are coming together.  Two shut outs in the past 4 games after only 1 in the first five.  It takes time for a young team to gel.  It feels like maybe, we are at that point.  Throw in Alex Sulzer who is starting to find his place and becoming more dangerous and thin=gs look promising for the Abes in the back half.Two conference games next week and then another big weekend of non-conference play.  Can the Abes grab their first non-conference win and get onto a roll.  Wauwatosa East and Madison Memorial (I think) will be two big tests for Memorial.

Lets take a look at a few highlights from the win over Rice Lake

Memorial controlled the play early and were able to get plenty of shots on goal.  Nothing too dangerous but constant pressure.  About 15 minutes into the game, the ball found Jacob Peloquin who found Luke Rosenberger loose in the middle.  A nice aggressive take on from Like pushed him into the box where he executed a nice stop and shot maneuver.  Side net.  Classy finish.

As the half continued, Memorial continued their dominance.  Later in the half  during a nice period of possession, Ryder Woodworth got loose down the left side and was able to get into the box where he laid it off for Brenner.  Normally he finds a shot but it just wasn’t there.  He calmly dropped a nice ball to Nunez who drilled a hard low liner past the goal keeper.  Getting goals from midfield during combination play is a nice development for this team.  Trusting each other!

Big Rivers Conference Update coming tomorrow.  Check back in for standing at the midway point of the conference.

So…a tough weekend for Memorial if you are just focusing on results.  Memorial has a strong history of playing the best teams in the state during their non-conference schedule.  That trend continued this past weekend as Memorial hosted two traditional powerhouse programs, Oregon and Middleton from the Madison area.  Coach Kite has used these non-conference games to prepare his squads for the rigors of the playoffs and to gauge their progress and development.  No knock on the Big Rivers….but….you just do not get enough quality games to fully prepare you to go into the playoffs fully prepared.  Players need to know how to play in a difficult game against a highly skilled opponent.  Games against these teams provide that opportunity for Memorial.

Memorial v. Oregon

As a reminder, Oregon is a quality team, ranked in the Top 10 in Division 2 and a regular in the State Tournament at that level.  They were State Runner Up in 2017 against Whitefish Bay.  Yes, the same Whitefish Bay team that was ranked in the Top 5 in the USA last year.  They return a ton of starters and have 15 Seniors on the team, all 11 starters and the first 4 off the bench are seniors.  A very experienced team.  They are fast, skilled and possess quality all over the field.  I think their quality kind of surprised Memorial a bit.  You just do not see a team like this in our league.  Preble and Hudson were good, but Oregon looked different.  Their attack was dynamic.  Their speed and quickness were scary.  5 minutes in to the game and it is 2-0 and maybe could be 3-0.  How would Memorial respond.  Would they fold up.  Would they fight back.  Down 2 in 5 minutes is a new experience for all these players.  Glad to say they settled down a bit and found their game.  If you would have told me after the first 5 minutes the final score would be 2-0, I would not have believed it.  No way.  After the start I saw, 5-0 or 6-0 was more likely.  Credit the Abes for finding their game and settling down to play solid soccer the rest of the way.  Clearly, Oregon was on a different level and was in control much of the game.  But also clear that Memorial has skill and talent all over the pitch as well.  A great opportunity for the team to grow and develop and start believing in themselves and the team.  It was a lesson the team needed….be ready from the whistle…be ready for a battle from the first kick.  Do not be surprised if Oregon is battling for a State Championship in another month.  I have been looking for the score of Hudson v. Oregon, but no luck yet.  I will update once I can locate it.

Memorial v. Middleton

I arrived for the last 25 minutes of this contest.  A few chats with folks on the sidelines and it was clear that Memorial was playing a solid game.  Possession looked good, the defense was holding up well and the team was playing with confidence.  Conditions were tough….hot and humid.   Quick note:  I heard that Middleton beat Hudson on Friday night 4-0.  Still trying to confirm, but a sign of the talent of the squad.  Memorial got on the board first on a nice bit of combination play between Rosenberger and Brenner.  Brenner with a quality finish for the 1-0 lead.  That lead held up for most of the game.  As we have discussed a few times on the blog, there have been a few games where just 2-3 minutes of play was the difference.  This team is not good enough (yet) to absorb any spells of play below par.  Late in the contest with a few substitutions forcing different combinations on the field, Middleton got loose on the right-wing and beat the defense with some passing for an attack down the right side of the 18.  Inside defense was not able to cover and a dangerous shot from near the corner of the 6 box snuck into the goal on the near post.   Tyler Hanson had been solid all day and I saw a few excellent saves and sweeper keeper moves to keep Middleton out of the goal.  Unfortunate on the goal, a great effort, but just snuck into the goal on a good shot.  From there things got a bit crazy.  The last five minutes had plenty of drama and both teams threatened to get the game winning goal.  A penalty in the box and a PK gave Memorial a shot to win.  A late shot from Zumwalt almost delivered a win.  Middleton’s long free kick at the buzzer almost found the net.  Whew.  A lot of action in the last few minutes.  Maybe 1-1 was deserved, but maybe Memorial let one slip away.  Another game where we could say they are building some character.  Late loss to Hudson was tough.  Late tie to Middleton was tough.  A few 2-3 minute spells against Preble and Oregon that were the difference. Building Character.  It sucks for the players and fans, but in the long run, you hope it provides the experience and growth that will lead to big wins later in the season.  Go Abes.  Trust the process!

I know Brenner is hurting a bit, but let me say, without him this team is nowhere near their current position.  He has been very dynamic and solid all year.  For all the fans out there, let me share the following; Ronaldo and Messi, arguable the two best players in thew world, have missed a ton of PK’s.  I think 20+ for Ronaldo.  A few examples below.  It happens.  It is not easy.  Throw in what felt like a 5 minute delay while the ref talked to the Middelton coach on the sidelines….did he do that intentionally to ice our player….and it even makes the shot more difficult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAsCeHbSBUc

Here was a great chance to get the win.  Thought Jacob was going to get clear to rip a shot but it did not develop, was blocked (not on the video), but it falls to Zumwalt.  Ugh.  He has been close all year.  It’s coming.

Then, after a free kick that came a bit short, Middelton had a breakout counter attack.  An aggressive tackle near midfield shut it down but led to a free kick from distance.  It was a bit nervy, the ball ping ponging around and heading toward goal a few times.  Hanson with a punch and then the ball looping over the top of the goal.  Whew!

Tough weekend, but if the boys stick to the process, a weekend that will pay dividends later in the season.

So I decided to catch the first 20 minutes of the Memorial v Menomonie soccer game on Thursday night before I headed off to U13 ECU practice.  I figured I would be able to get 2-3 goals in that stretch.  It would make for a nice part of the blog post the next day.  You can always count on 8-10 goals against Menomonie….so probably there would be 2-3 in the first 20 minutes.

The teams took the field…..and then everything changed….it was like someone sprinkled fairy dust onto Menomonie….that is not the same Menomonie team I have watched for the past 9 years.

This team looked fast.  I see you Adam Wilson!  This team looked athletic.  This team looked skilled.  The back line was moving the ball quickly.  Combination passes were getting them out of trouble and keeping possession.  The shape looked good.  The communication was good.  I must admit.  IT WAS WEIRD!  But in a good way.  I think it is awesome to see and very cool for their program.  The coaches are obviously making  a difference.  They are building a program.  Their facilities are much better than Memorials.  Great stadium and turf field.  It takes time, and it does not sound like they are getting a lot of wins, but it looks to me they are putting in a ton ff positive performances.  A recent game against Hudson ended 4-1.  The game last night against Memorial ended 3-0.  It was only 1-0 at the half and if not for a great save by GK Hanson, it is a 1-1 game.  I am going to keep a closer eye on Menomonie….I feel a few wins are in their future.  Man….what an improvement over the past few years.  From regular 10-0 thumpings and games called early to a real battle and quality play and players all over the field.  Congrats to you Menomonie…don’t get discouraged…from my perspective, you are right on track and it is happening!  A win here or there, a little confidence, and you never know.

Game Notes

-Great to see Sulzer and Larson on the pitch.  It will take a few games to get the feel of the team….but it will make a difference late in the season.  I was hoping to see Rosenberger out wide and not sure where his 2 goals came from, but I think this move frees him up a bit to be more aggressive offensively.

-Memorial out shot Menomonie 12-3 on the night.

-Rosenberger is heating up. 4 goals in the past three games.  If Brenner and Rosenberger can get hot together, then watch out.  We need them both scoring and getting dangerous looks.

-Ryder Woodworth with his first goal….although my fan in the stands thought maybe it was an own goal?? Take it Ryan.

Big Weekend

Oregon (Friday at 5) and Middleton (Saturday at 12:00) come to town tonight and this weekend.  Two great programs that will present a huge challenge to Memorial.  a great mid-season check on where we are.  Are we building to a big finish or just building for next year.

Oregon is ranked 8th in Division 2 and has been a regular in the State Tournament the past few years.  A strong program.

Middleton is having an off-year, but have played some very strong opponents.  They will be a tough test for Memorial.

My impression of what the Woodworth goal might have looked like….from reports I heard.  Memorial in Green.  Menomonie in Yellow! Enjoy!  Just sayin….it could have happened this way!!

It is always an interesting debate in sports when an underdog, younger team takes on a more experienced veteran team and plays really solid.  The younger team hangs tough and doesn’t give up a score and has a few chances of their own to score.  Everyone is feeling pretty good, the kids are competing, they are stepping up, they are rising to the challenge……and then….boom….a last minute goal….maybe even  bit of a cheap goal….finds its way into the net.  The young upstarts lose.  Bummer.  Ouch.  Hurts a bit.

But how do we interpret the loss.

-Is it a big time gut punch that takes the team back a bit

-Is it a sign of growth for a young team that proves to everyone they can compete at the highest level

-Is it just another game and no big deal and just move on to the next one.

Maybe it’s all of these.  I do know it was a heck of a game played at a very high level between the two best teams in the Big Rivers Conference.  After Memorials first game of the year against Green Bay Preble I blogged about those darn three minutes where the game got away from the Abes.  A 1-1 game slipped away in just 3 minutes when the defense lost just a small amount of focus.  I could write the same story about last nights game.  In this case, it was only 2 minutes from an exciting 0-0 game when the ball crossed the line.  I did not see the goal live, had to leave at halftime, but I did see the highlights on the evening News.  I must say, for a hard-fought, physical game with plenty of suspense,….it was a really wimpy goal.  Hudson fans I am sure thought the goal was awesome.  As a player or coach, you take it and get out-of-town with the win.  But really, it was kind of a scuffer, no real power, did not make great contact….it just kind of whimpered across the goal line, the ball likely feeling embarrassed it was the game winning goal scored in the 88th minute of a really well played game.  Ugh.

Game Observations

-Hudson is pretty good.  They are solid all over the field.  Big, fast, physical and very skilled.  Their midfield is impressive, especially Kolton Prater.  Maybe, no probably, the best player I have seen so far in the Big Rivers.  He really puts you under pressure.  He creates a lot of chances.  He was really good on his free kicks tonight.  I think the free kicks were Hudson’s best opportunities all night from my view of the first half and hearing about the second half. Their defense is physical and aggressive.  Their forwards are fast and skilled.  No time to rest or take a break against these guys.  If you relax for one moment….they make you pay…and that’s exactly what happened late.  One small moment and bam….wimpy goal.

-The first half Hudson looked the better team, controlled possession a bit better, 60-65% I am guessing, but never really put the defense into bother.  The free kicks were a different story.  Their set plays were problematic for the Abes.  Well organized with dangerous balls into the box and headers flying.

-It was really physical.  Dean was swallowing his whistle early and letting them play.  This game was not for the faint of heart.  Bumping, grabbing, tripping, stepping hard, slide tackles, a little frustration tossed in, a few coaches yelling for calls.  It had a bit of everything. Memorial v Hudson is the premier game in the league and you could just feel it in the air.  Both teams were amped up and ready.  Great battles all over the field!

-Memorial relied mainly on the counter in the first half, but maybe 20-25 minutes into the game started to find their way a bit.  Possession improved and they had some dangerous play from width.  A few great opportunities on crosses as well as a few dangerous layoffs in the box.  The young defense managed the pressure and it was 0-0 at the half.

-From reading the L-T Sports recap (link below) from Spencer Flaten, it sure sounds like Memorial came out with a much improved performance in the second half.  Possession and dangerous play improved.  After trailing in shots 9-3 in the first half, Memorial out shot Hudson 5-4 in the second half.  One problem…no shots on goal based on the Box Score showing zero saves for Hudson.  Memorial must find a way to test the Hudson GK next time out.  Set plays were again a factor as Hudson forced two good saves from Hanson to keep the game knotted at 0-0.

http://www.leadertelegram.com/Sports/2018/09/12/div-class-libPageBodyLinebreak-Photo-finish-div.html

-And then those darn two minutes.

-And a shot just high from Brenner….and a header on the last play from Zumwalt that was just not meant to be on this night.

-Felt like a tie was the fair result.  Not the kiss your brother or sister (yuck) kind of a tie…but a well deserved, kiss the cutest girl or boy in school kind of tie. But as they say, sports is not fair and sometimes your effort is not rewarded and sometimes the ball just somehow finds a way across the goal in the 88th minute, and Hudson scores a wimpy goal and the Abes take a tough loss.

But hey, I am an optimist, I am going for the team is growing and getting better angle on the game.  And guess what…next time we play them we have two secret weapons.  That might just be the difference to get us over the top and square the season series.

Lets look at a few highlights from the game.

We have discussed the Hudson set plays/free kicks.  They were the best part of Hudson’s offense.  Here are a couple of examples. There were more of these in the second half I hear.  Way to go Tyler….I am amazed at his cat-like reflexes and ability to get airborne and horizontal so fast.  Wow!

Here are a few of our first half chances.  An example of the physical play as well.

Carlos…great spot, great chance, just slightly mishits the header . You can tell he wanted it. I think a header goal is close for him.

Looking forward to getting a few players out there for the Abes to see how the rotations change.  I hope we see Rosenberger out wide in space to take advantage of his skills.  Sulzer in midfield can be dangerous and also shut down attacks.  Larson on the back line might be just what they need to maintain 90 minutes of focus on defense.  I am excited after watching them play Hudson.  We get one more shot at them.  I predicted a 1 goal win for Hudson, so I had that right, but now I am thinking we flip that in the second game.  Go Abes!  Trust the Process!