Sometimes I refer to a quote from a 1975 movie, The Wind and the Lion, when I describe recruiting for Earlham:
The Raisuli to Theodore Roosevelt: You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place while you, like the wind, will never know yours.
Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the
Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates
Earlham is like the wind; we have no place, no recruiting homeland, no favored precincts. Many of the teams we play don't list state next to names on the roster---it's just assumed as almost everybody on the team comes from a relatively small (100 miles ?) radius. We, Rob and I, end up blowing through towns far away. Recently I've been on the phone to Turlock, CA and Jerusalem and many points in between. Between Teddy R and us there is this difference: We get it, he never did (in the movie, anyway).
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Post Season Reflections
All the field equipment is put away, the first snowflakes have fallen, and the guys play indoor pickup every day at 4:30---it's late November and time to think back on some aspects of the year.
The schedule we played was set about this time last year and it was based on some assumptions I made about the team that would take the field this past fall. Unfortunately, and for a variety of reasons, that team never got to play. In the 2010 year there were 50 "starts" for graduating players out of a total of 198 possible (11 players starting 18 games) and that was a substantial, but not overwhelming turnover. What we never anticipated was that further attrition would eliminate players who made 42 starts last year, meaning we lost 92 and retained 106 starts. Apart from mere statistics, the loss of personalities was massive. This year we lose 18 starts to graduation and pray to lose no more than that.
I devised a schedule to challenge a veteran team in 2011. Teams we played this year outside of conference included:
Thomas More: Presidents Conference champions: 16-1-1: NCAA bid
DePauw: NCAC champions (beat OWU 4-2 at OWU) 16-2-1: NCAA bid
Ohio Northern: OAC champions (beat John Carroll 5-0 in title game) 18-2-2; NCAA bid
Case Western: UAA champions; 14-4; NCAA bid
Centre: SCAC runners up (beat #4 Trinity in semifinal) 14-5-1
That group's overall pre-NCAA tournament record: 78-14-5
No other team in the region played as many conference champions or NCAA teams. Can we be proud of starting the year 0-8, no, but we always knew we could play and eventually we were able to show people who we really were.
The schedule we played was set about this time last year and it was based on some assumptions I made about the team that would take the field this past fall. Unfortunately, and for a variety of reasons, that team never got to play. In the 2010 year there were 50 "starts" for graduating players out of a total of 198 possible (11 players starting 18 games) and that was a substantial, but not overwhelming turnover. What we never anticipated was that further attrition would eliminate players who made 42 starts last year, meaning we lost 92 and retained 106 starts. Apart from mere statistics, the loss of personalities was massive. This year we lose 18 starts to graduation and pray to lose no more than that.
I devised a schedule to challenge a veteran team in 2011. Teams we played this year outside of conference included:
Thomas More: Presidents Conference champions: 16-1-1: NCAA bid
DePauw: NCAC champions (beat OWU 4-2 at OWU) 16-2-1: NCAA bid
Ohio Northern: OAC champions (beat John Carroll 5-0 in title game) 18-2-2; NCAA bid
Case Western: UAA champions; 14-4; NCAA bid
Centre: SCAC runners up (beat #4 Trinity in semifinal) 14-5-1
That group's overall pre-NCAA tournament record: 78-14-5
No other team in the region played as many conference champions or NCAA teams. Can we be proud of starting the year 0-8, no, but we always knew we could play and eventually we were able to show people who we really were.
Monday, November 7, 2011
2012 Schedule
2012 Schedule (tentative)
Report Date: August 15
Aug. 25, Saturday Centre A 4PM (Scrimmage)
El Rodeo Raven Quaker Classic:
Aug. 31, Friday Cincinnati Christian H 6PM
Sept. 1, Saturday Millikin H 3PM
Sept. 8, Saturday DePauw H 2PM
Sept. 9, Sunday Wabash H 2PM
Sept. 12, Wednesday Oberlin H Freedom Trophy game 5PM
Sept. 15, Saturday Wilmington A 7:30PM
Sept. 18, Tuesday Thomas More H 5PM
Sept. 22, Saturday Wooster A 1:30PM
Sept. 26, Wednesday Wittenberg A 7:00PM
Sept. 29, Saturday Franklin* A 7:30PM
Oct. 3, Wednesday Defiance* H 4PM
Oct. 6, Saturday Bluffton* A (DH) 3:30 PM
Oct. 10, Tuesday Hanover* H 4PM
Oct. 13 Saturday, Anderson* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 17, Wednesday Transylvania* A 4:00PM
Oct. 20, Saturday Manchester* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 24, Wednesday Rose Hulman* A (DH)
Oct. 27 Saturday, Mount St. Joseph* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 30-31 HCAC playoffs
*HCAC games
(DH)=Doubleheader, men and women
Report Date: August 15
Aug. 25, Saturday Centre A 4PM (Scrimmage)
El Rodeo Raven Quaker Classic:
Aug. 31, Friday Cincinnati Christian H 6PM
Sept. 1, Saturday Millikin H 3PM
Sept. 8, Saturday DePauw H 2PM
Sept. 9, Sunday Wabash H 2PM
Sept. 12, Wednesday Oberlin H Freedom Trophy game 5PM
Sept. 15, Saturday Wilmington A 7:30PM
Sept. 18, Tuesday Thomas More H 5PM
Sept. 22, Saturday Wooster A 1:30PM
Sept. 26, Wednesday Wittenberg A 7:00PM
Sept. 29, Saturday Franklin* A 7:30PM
Oct. 3, Wednesday Defiance* H 4PM
Oct. 6, Saturday Bluffton* A (DH) 3:30 PM
Oct. 10, Tuesday Hanover* H 4PM
Oct. 13 Saturday, Anderson* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 17, Wednesday Transylvania* A 4:00PM
Oct. 20, Saturday Manchester* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 24, Wednesday Rose Hulman* A (DH)
Oct. 27 Saturday, Mount St. Joseph* H (DH) 3PM
Oct. 30-31 HCAC playoffs
*HCAC games
(DH)=Doubleheader, men and women
Sunday, November 6, 2011
HCAC Final vs Rose Hulman
Another glorious fall day in Terre Haute and we play Rose for the championship. They have won 10 games in a row and have always looked to us like the best team in the conference despite having finished second to Transy. We start what has lately been our best lineup: Marshall in goal, Ferreira, Mbaya, Nsoesie, Kabeya in the back, Elko, Carroll, Strika, Campbell in midfield and Buitrago, Yusuf up front.
Though the early game is even, they break through in the 16th minute with a goal from distance that gets past Chris low to his left. Things get worse as Mike Carroll has to go off with a high ankle sprain after 22 minutes and cannot return. David Jones comes on and we settle a bit until late in the half when Rose scores again in the 32nd. We get to halftime down 0-2 and with more injury problems as Felipe is limping with a knock to his leg.
We get some good possession in the second half and are rewarded after 61 minutes when a Rose defender blocks a shot with an apparent arm (maybe a soft call). Corey dispatches the penalty and we are in it again. Our momentum doesn't last as they score 5 minutes later and then twice more before the end to make the final score look a bit worse than the game (shots was 13-8 them). I was pleased that we battled to the end and had late chances for Ameer and Iqbal Banwal stopped. Rose are deserving champs and go on the NCAA's along with 5 of the first 8 teams we played this year. A later post will talk about our schedule---this year and next's.
The guys were upbeat despite the loss; we have an appreciation for the challenges we were handed this year and how we dealt with them. A later post will also deal with how we were "a brick short" and the specific needs we must address in recruiting in the near future. I wish I had a photo of 5'8" Frank Mbaya marking 6'8" Clint Vaterrodt from Rose on corners.
This week is transition for all of us here. The players still have injury situations to rehab and should begin to establish momentum with offseason work. If we retain 80% of our fitness level, which was considerable this year, we'll be far ahead in the spring season. The coaches prepare for the dash to admissions deadlines and the dozen or so tournaments we'll be seeing. Rob is the "cold weather specialist", going to Jersey and New England tournaments generally, where as I have the task of pursuing these young men down in North Carolina and Florida...grueling. I'll post again with specifics so that if we're in you neighborhood, drop a line and say 'hi'. We'll both be aound NYC for Thanksgiving.
Though the early game is even, they break through in the 16th minute with a goal from distance that gets past Chris low to his left. Things get worse as Mike Carroll has to go off with a high ankle sprain after 22 minutes and cannot return. David Jones comes on and we settle a bit until late in the half when Rose scores again in the 32nd. We get to halftime down 0-2 and with more injury problems as Felipe is limping with a knock to his leg.
We get some good possession in the second half and are rewarded after 61 minutes when a Rose defender blocks a shot with an apparent arm (maybe a soft call). Corey dispatches the penalty and we are in it again. Our momentum doesn't last as they score 5 minutes later and then twice more before the end to make the final score look a bit worse than the game (shots was 13-8 them). I was pleased that we battled to the end and had late chances for Ameer and Iqbal Banwal stopped. Rose are deserving champs and go on the NCAA's along with 5 of the first 8 teams we played this year. A later post will talk about our schedule---this year and next's.
The guys were upbeat despite the loss; we have an appreciation for the challenges we were handed this year and how we dealt with them. A later post will also deal with how we were "a brick short" and the specific needs we must address in recruiting in the near future. I wish I had a photo of 5'8" Frank Mbaya marking 6'8" Clint Vaterrodt from Rose on corners.
This week is transition for all of us here. The players still have injury situations to rehab and should begin to establish momentum with offseason work. If we retain 80% of our fitness level, which was considerable this year, we'll be far ahead in the spring season. The coaches prepare for the dash to admissions deadlines and the dozen or so tournaments we'll be seeing. Rob is the "cold weather specialist", going to Jersey and New England tournaments generally, where as I have the task of pursuing these young men down in North Carolina and Florida...grueling. I'll post again with specifics so that if we're in you neighborhood, drop a line and say 'hi'. We'll both be aound NYC for Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
HCAC Semifinal vs Transylvania
Perfect weather day in Lexington for our semifinal with Transy. As usual, we're missing players, this time regular left back Arsene Kabeya (card accumulation) so we have Corey Campbell at left back and David Jones at left midfield. Another really tight game where we are defending in depth and looking to counter through Ameer Yusuf and Felipe Buitrago. David, a center midfield player normally, has a bit of trouble with their right mid in the first half but there are few chances and they are banging shots from distance and flighting all kinds of balls in creating a statistical advantage.
Second half we're better, Dave adjusts against the Transy player's threat and we get some more possession and a few chances. Chris Marshall makes a good save on his right and the game moves on toward OT where we're 0-5 this year. We use only one substitute (Scott Lawrence) on the day but we are finishing stronger than them despite their advantage in depth. Both 10 minute OT periods pass without major incident. To penalties we go...
We've practiced in anticipation of this eventuality but I'm not totally confident since some of our shooters have a tendency to go for highlight reel shooting in this situation. We go first and Corey slots it confidently. Chris (GK) helps us enormously by saving their first PK down to his right. Irhad Strika, Ameer and Mike Carroll follow with exemplary finishes, none more than knee high and their keeper is nowhere close to any of them. They score numbers two and three but Chris goes to his left to save #4 and it's over. Pandemonium...people running all over, hugs, group hugs, fist pumping drama.
We were so excited that when we got out to the bus I told the driver we were ready (counted 20 players) without realizing we didn't have an assistant coach aboard. Bus went around the block and we picked Rob up back at the field where he sat bemused. We went on to the Jones' house (see earlier Transy blogpost) where Paula Hollis had arranged a dinner for us (photos). We got back home to ring the bell about 12 midnight to find our locker room decorated by the women's team (who have a home semifinal vs. Bluffton today--Weds.). Ceremony: we ring the bell and cease to be conquering heroes and are now kids with homework to do and a short night to do it.
Post script: Rose Hulman beat Mount St. Joseph 8-0 in the other semifinal. Many ways to look at that; most impressive semi winner often loses the final but Rose are really good, well coached and have great character so we still have a mountainous task in front of us. HCAC final at Rose Hulman at 1PM Saturday.
Second half we're better, Dave adjusts against the Transy player's threat and we get some more possession and a few chances. Chris Marshall makes a good save on his right and the game moves on toward OT where we're 0-5 this year. We use only one substitute (Scott Lawrence) on the day but we are finishing stronger than them despite their advantage in depth. Both 10 minute OT periods pass without major incident. To penalties we go...
We've practiced in anticipation of this eventuality but I'm not totally confident since some of our shooters have a tendency to go for highlight reel shooting in this situation. We go first and Corey slots it confidently. Chris (GK) helps us enormously by saving their first PK down to his right. Irhad Strika, Ameer and Mike Carroll follow with exemplary finishes, none more than knee high and their keeper is nowhere close to any of them. They score numbers two and three but Chris goes to his left to save #4 and it's over. Pandemonium...people running all over, hugs, group hugs, fist pumping drama.
We were so excited that when we got out to the bus I told the driver we were ready (counted 20 players) without realizing we didn't have an assistant coach aboard. Bus went around the block and we picked Rob up back at the field where he sat bemused. We went on to the Jones' house (see earlier Transy blogpost) where Paula Hollis had arranged a dinner for us (photos). We got back home to ring the bell about 12 midnight to find our locker room decorated by the women's team (who have a home semifinal vs. Bluffton today--Weds.). Ceremony: we ring the bell and cease to be conquering heroes and are now kids with homework to do and a short night to do it.
Post script: Rose Hulman beat Mount St. Joseph 8-0 in the other semifinal. Many ways to look at that; most impressive semi winner often loses the final but Rose are really good, well coached and have great character so we still have a mountainous task in front of us. HCAC final at Rose Hulman at 1PM Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)