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.
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