Our conference opener kicks off right after the EC women beat Franklin 3-2 after falling behind 2-0 in the first half. It's our second consecutive night game on turf and we are certainly fortunate to have a turf field at EC to help us prepare.
As I suspected, the game is intense from the start. FC are really solid and capable of some good stuff but despite being under pressure often we face up well. In the 35th minute Franklin have a corner from the left which is cleared only just outside the box and the resultant shot is deflected off Tamru Taye over Chris Marshal's head in goal. We're 1-0 down away from home and looking at an eighth straight defeat.
We rally in the second half and begin to keep possession better and get a few chances but time is running out. In the 85th minute Corey Campbell launches a long cross from the left which finds Tamru Taye at the far post. Tamru sends the header back over/across the keeper and in at the far corner. Big shouts and celebrations. Get the water ready for OT but remember the Thomas More game where they scored immediately after our late equalizer. Not this time. Regulation ends even in goals (1-1), shots (10-10), shots on goal (3-3) and corners (4-4).
Overtime produces no winner despite Jacob Ebbs having a late opportunity on a counter. Not "the" result but "a" result which gets us off the mark in conference far better than last year (3-0 loss to Anderson). Spirits are better now but we know the challenges we face. On Wednesday we play Defiance, 1-0 winners away to Mount St. Joseph on this day. MSJ finished ahead of us last year and were in the HCAC tournament. Last year we drew at home with Defiance in a lightning shortened game.
A notable visitor at the game was Nathan Cline ('03), a four-year starter at center back who turned up with wife Megan, son and daughter.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
0 Wittenberg 3
Off to old NCAC foe Wittenberg coached by Steve Dawson, whose tenure there trails mine by only a couple of years. The Tigers play on turf now but we have the advantage of being able to practice full field on turf down at Ross Field (EC football stadium). We learn that our turf is seriously better than that at Witt but we can't use that as an excuse.
The first half is tentative for both teams and ends 0-0. We have had an annoying habit of being unable to take a kickoff and get the ball out of our own half and in the second half we raise that to new heights and hand Witt a goal just 18 seconds after the restart. That did help to wake us up a bit and we went on a tear for about 25 minutes, playing the best we did all day, forcing a couple of decent saves from their keeper and hitting the crossbar (Xander Ansara). With perhaps their first attack of the half, Witt got wide around our left side and played a ball across to a player who got across his marker for their second goal in the 77th minute. Heads down now we conceded a third almost exactly as we did the second. Disappointing defending in front which was addressed pointedly in practice the next day.
Our season has begun to take the shape of last year's, with a long pre-conference losing streak. We look ahead to a conference opener away to Franklin who will certainly be relishing an opportunity to have a go at us after we got into the HCAC tournament last year by beating them on the last day of regular season. We will be tweaking some of our lineup in the interim to try to be more productive in attack.
The first half is tentative for both teams and ends 0-0. We have had an annoying habit of being unable to take a kickoff and get the ball out of our own half and in the second half we raise that to new heights and hand Witt a goal just 18 seconds after the restart. That did help to wake us up a bit and we went on a tear for about 25 minutes, playing the best we did all day, forcing a couple of decent saves from their keeper and hitting the crossbar (Xander Ansara). With perhaps their first attack of the half, Witt got wide around our left side and played a ball across to a player who got across his marker for their second goal in the 77th minute. Heads down now we conceded a third almost exactly as we did the second. Disappointing defending in front which was addressed pointedly in practice the next day.
Our season has begun to take the shape of last year's, with a long pre-conference losing streak. We look ahead to a conference opener away to Franklin who will certainly be relishing an opportunity to have a go at us after we got into the HCAC tournament last year by beating them on the last day of regular season. We will be tweaking some of our lineup in the interim to try to be more productive in attack.
0 Wooster 1
We visited Wooster on their homecoming, marking 2 years in a row going to them to play; something I did to help even out scheduling issues since we already had 11 home games this year. Last year we wasted an early lead and lost 1-2 after playing with ten men for about 30 minutes. This year we went out and played probably our worst half of soccer from the kickoff, getting outshot 7-4 for the period. At halftime we regrouped and played much better, eventually evening shots at 11-11 on the day and hitting the post (Shvan Al-Hussein) in the first half and the crossbar (Corey Campbell)in the second.
Despite the pressure, a Wooster forward broke into the box and was fouled way out wide away from goal for a penalty. For the 5th consecutive time we conceded a penalty without getting a card. Not that I'd like to see people carded or ejected for fouling but it means that we haven't been reacting to "a clear goalscoring chance" but rather creating one for our opponents. It didn't help that the Wooster player who scored the penalty was the son of a guy who lived on my hall freshman year at Wooster. Down we go again despite a decent response in the second half.
Despite the pressure, a Wooster forward broke into the box and was fouled way out wide away from goal for a penalty. For the 5th consecutive time we conceded a penalty without getting a card. Not that I'd like to see people carded or ejected for fouling but it means that we haven't been reacting to "a clear goalscoring chance" but rather creating one for our opponents. It didn't help that the Wooster player who scored the penalty was the son of a guy who lived on my hall freshman year at Wooster. Down we go again despite a decent response in the second half.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
3 Thomas More 4
Thomas More, 3-time defending champions of the President's Athletic Conference, came to EC for a midweek game. Undefeated so far in 2012, TMC ended last year ranked 18th nationally, losing in the NCAA first round to Hope.
The first half sees us play perhaps our best of the season so far, with a large advantage in possession and chances. Early on Felicien Muyumba slams a shot off the post and back into play. Shortly thereafter Evan Elko receives a beautiful through ball from Alex Ferreira and is in on goal, and is denied when the keeper gets a touch on his shot and the ball is cleared. In the 26th minute, Tamru Taye, playing right back, drifts inside about 25 yards from goal on his left and sends a bomb into the upper near corner for a one goal lead. In the 35th minute Shvan Al-Hussein plays a 1-2 with Felipe Buitrago and beats the advancing keeper for a 2-0 halftime lead.
You know what they say about a two goal lead being dangerous---well it was. Despite anything we can say at the interval, we don't begin the second half well. Thomas More plays far more directly (an oft-heard theme in our matches) and we lack the defensive discipline to deal with the pressure. Twelve second half fouls give TMC the chance to serve balls into our area, which, when added to 12 throwins in our half give us more air ball than we can handle and with goals in the 59th, 80th and 83rd minutes they lead 3-2.
In the 89th minute we're chasing the game when Corey Campbell launches one of his long throws from the left and Mussa Ibrahim gets to the ball on the back post to tie it up at 3-3. Justice maybe since Mussa had a chance go just wide which would have restored a 2-goal lead for us earlier. Then as I'm thinking about preparing for overtime, another long throw of theirs bounces around the box and is finished with seconds remaining.
The game was a blow to our confidence on a variety of levels but it does help us see where we can be better. Conference play is on the horizon and we have work to do for sure.
The first half sees us play perhaps our best of the season so far, with a large advantage in possession and chances. Early on Felicien Muyumba slams a shot off the post and back into play. Shortly thereafter Evan Elko receives a beautiful through ball from Alex Ferreira and is in on goal, and is denied when the keeper gets a touch on his shot and the ball is cleared. In the 26th minute, Tamru Taye, playing right back, drifts inside about 25 yards from goal on his left and sends a bomb into the upper near corner for a one goal lead. In the 35th minute Shvan Al-Hussein plays a 1-2 with Felipe Buitrago and beats the advancing keeper for a 2-0 halftime lead.
You know what they say about a two goal lead being dangerous---well it was. Despite anything we can say at the interval, we don't begin the second half well. Thomas More plays far more directly (an oft-heard theme in our matches) and we lack the defensive discipline to deal with the pressure. Twelve second half fouls give TMC the chance to serve balls into our area, which, when added to 12 throwins in our half give us more air ball than we can handle and with goals in the 59th, 80th and 83rd minutes they lead 3-2.
In the 89th minute we're chasing the game when Corey Campbell launches one of his long throws from the left and Mussa Ibrahim gets to the ball on the back post to tie it up at 3-3. Justice maybe since Mussa had a chance go just wide which would have restored a 2-goal lead for us earlier. Then as I'm thinking about preparing for overtime, another long throw of theirs bounces around the box and is finished with seconds remaining.
The game was a blow to our confidence on a variety of levels but it does help us see where we can be better. Conference play is on the horizon and we have work to do for sure.
0 Wilmington 2
For the first time in a long while we met Wilmington (the other Quakers) in a regular season match. We're refiguring the back line with a new starter at center back. Jacques Mbong, a firstyear from Lexington, Kentucky became the starter. We start fairly slowly with some decent possession and attack on the right side involving Eric Elko and Tamru Taye. The match was played at a high pace and Wilmington caught us on the break with a ball over the top and a solid finish for the first goal. A second goal came in the 40th minute and we trailed 2-0 at the half. Late in the period Tamru Taye almost caught their keeper off his line with a shot from distance but the keeper made a great save to keep us out.
The second half became a different story and we pressed better further up the field and produced one excellent attack that ended with a shot from Jacob Ebbs (FY) that again forced their keeper into an excellent save. Another couple of half chances came and went and the night ended 2-0 them. The match was a good one, statistically even with few fouls and no cards. We are now starting 4 firstyear players, something I'd have thought really unlikely earlier in the year.
The second half became a different story and we pressed better further up the field and produced one excellent attack that ended with a shot from Jacob Ebbs (FY) that again forced their keeper into an excellent save. Another couple of half chances came and went and the night ended 2-0 them. The match was a good one, statistically even with few fouls and no cards. We are now starting 4 firstyear players, something I'd have thought really unlikely earlier in the year.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Oberlin, with our former assistant Wes Davis still connected to the program as a volunteer now, visit us for the Freedom Trophy game. A scoreless and mostly featureless first half ensues with both teams struggling to establish themselves. Oberlin scores first in the 55th minute but Feli Muyumba equalizes less than a minute later with a great strike from outside the area to the goalkeeper's right. We began a strong period of possession which we actually maintained through the half and about 10 minutes later forced an own goal as Ibrahim Diarra pressured their backs inside the area. We had a strong edge in possession during the half but Oberlin scored twice in a five minute span (minutes 72 and 77) and held on for the win. Our late chances included a head ball from Felipe Buitrago (!!!) cleared by a back on the line. Despite the edge in shots and possession the trophy heads back to NE Ohio for the first time in 3 years. Our back line is in transition as Alex Ferreira played in the center for the first time in a while but we will be evolving back there over the next few games.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Second Weekend
We kick off against DePauw (Ranked 18th nationally) on Saturday after a 2 1/2 inch rainfall the night before. Hope you saw the "opening day" post; the place don't look the same now 'cause we beat it up good. After the match Felipe Buitrago came up to me and said "Fue la guerra aya" (it was war out there)---and it was. Clean, sportmanlike, but uncompromising and played at a high pace. We held our own in a back and forth first half, getting a nice shot on goal by Jacob Ebbs and a couple of chances....an even half statistically. DePauw had more of the second half, with their striker, Andy Morrison, always threatening a breakthrough. We got a couple of good saves from Chris Marshall in his first game in the nets this year but we held well.
About halfway through the second period Frank Mbaya was injured in a collision with a DePauw player and had to come off with a couple of stud marks on his shin and a slightly hyperextended knee. We had to bring him off and bring on Endalkachew Demise (another of those one-named players, he goes as Demise to all of us) in his place. Demise played great but Kumba is hard to replace. We get to full time at 0-0 but DPU scores 7 minutes into OT for the win. I'm not disappointed and team isn't that down because we did well against a good opponent but a draw might have been deserved.
On the second day we're short both starting center backs: Frank's knee is bad enough to keep him out and Mike Nsoesie is suspended after picking up a card for dissent (a team, not NCAA rule). So we go with Demise and Alex Ferreira (who haven't played a minute together as center backs in practice) against Wabash. Five minutes into the game things get worse, way worse. Sam Embry, in goal for this game, comes out hard to cut out a through ball and collides with the Wabash player just outside the penalty area. How bad can it be ? Real bad. Sam is adjudged to have taken down a player with a clear goalscoring chance---red card. But worst of all, Sam's leg is broken and he'll be out for the rest of the season. Awful luck for Sam, who had been playing really well in the net. As for the rest of us, we're looking at 85 minutes playing with 10 men in our second match in 24 hours. We soon concede a bad goal from a set piece and we're down 1-0.
Our response was good and we began to pass and possess well despite being shorthanded and We're competing despite the handicap. On the day, shots on goal was 5-3 them, not bad in the circumstances. We got good play out wide from Jacob Ebbs and Esteban Arguedas, some good attacking from Tamru Taye at right back and a good overall game from Arsene Kabeya on the left. Other than a fair call for a penalty halfway through the period and some decent play out wide, we didn't generate enough attack to get back in the game. A second Wabash goal from a scramble in front ended the scoring (0-2). Chris Marshal played a good game in relief of Sam and we have some work to do to prepare for our Freedom Trophy match against Oberlin on Wednesday. Losing 2 games at home is challenge enough but sustaining a couple of bad injuries and having to change the middle of the back line provides a mental/emotional hurdle of significant proportions.
After an operation at Reid, Sam is resting tonight with a titanium rod inserted in his lower leg. His great attitude and strong overall fitness make him a candidate for complete recovery.
About halfway through the second period Frank Mbaya was injured in a collision with a DePauw player and had to come off with a couple of stud marks on his shin and a slightly hyperextended knee. We had to bring him off and bring on Endalkachew Demise (another of those one-named players, he goes as Demise to all of us) in his place. Demise played great but Kumba is hard to replace. We get to full time at 0-0 but DPU scores 7 minutes into OT for the win. I'm not disappointed and team isn't that down because we did well against a good opponent but a draw might have been deserved.
On the second day we're short both starting center backs: Frank's knee is bad enough to keep him out and Mike Nsoesie is suspended after picking up a card for dissent (a team, not NCAA rule). So we go with Demise and Alex Ferreira (who haven't played a minute together as center backs in practice) against Wabash. Five minutes into the game things get worse, way worse. Sam Embry, in goal for this game, comes out hard to cut out a through ball and collides with the Wabash player just outside the penalty area. How bad can it be ? Real bad. Sam is adjudged to have taken down a player with a clear goalscoring chance---red card. But worst of all, Sam's leg is broken and he'll be out for the rest of the season. Awful luck for Sam, who had been playing really well in the net. As for the rest of us, we're looking at 85 minutes playing with 10 men in our second match in 24 hours. We soon concede a bad goal from a set piece and we're down 1-0.
Our response was good and we began to pass and possess well despite being shorthanded and We're competing despite the handicap. On the day, shots on goal was 5-3 them, not bad in the circumstances. We got good play out wide from Jacob Ebbs and Esteban Arguedas, some good attacking from Tamru Taye at right back and a good overall game from Arsene Kabeya on the left. Other than a fair call for a penalty halfway through the period and some decent play out wide, we didn't generate enough attack to get back in the game. A second Wabash goal from a scramble in front ended the scoring (0-2). Chris Marshal played a good game in relief of Sam and we have some work to do to prepare for our Freedom Trophy match against Oberlin on Wednesday. Losing 2 games at home is challenge enough but sustaining a couple of bad injuries and having to change the middle of the back line provides a mental/emotional hurdle of significant proportions.
After an operation at Reid, Sam is resting tonight with a titanium rod inserted in his lower leg. His great attitude and strong overall fitness make him a candidate for complete recovery.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Languages
A list of languages spoken by the 2012 Team
English
Swahili
Bemba
Nyanja
German
Bambara
Spanish
Arabic
Twi
Japanese
Kurdish
French
Amharic
Lingala
Shona
Ndahu
Chinese
Dari
Farsi
Pashto
Urdu
Hundi
English
Swahili
Bemba
Nyanja
German
Bambara
Spanish
Arabic
Twi
Japanese
Kurdish
French
Amharic
Lingala
Shona
Ndahu
Chinese
Dari
Farsi
Pashto
Urdu
Hundi
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Opening Day
A lot of work has gone into improving our playing surface for this year. Mike Bergum, our new athletic director, Iain Smith, the new Grounds chief, Rick Flamm, head groundskeeper, the folks at Earlywine who do treatments and preventatives, and perhaps most of all, David Dawson, Earlham's new president deserve high marks from all of us.
Grab the Tacos and Run: EC sweeps ElRo Tournament
Ready for anything, we take the field against Cincinnati Christian on Friday, August 31. CCU is a more veteran outfit than the year before and we are too, starting 2 seniors (Evan Elko and Felipe Buitrago) and 7 juniors (Corey Campbell, Mike Nsoesie, Frank Mbayo, Tamru Taye, Alex Ferreira and Arsene Kabeya and Sam Embry in goal). Two firstyears have also made it into the opening day lineup (Feli Muyumba and Mussa Ibrahim). Our opponents are a bit bigger than we are and play a bit more direct style. We handle this well all day with Kumba (Frank M) and Mike doing their usual great job against taller opponents.
About 25 minutes in Feli is fouled about 30 yards out from goal and we have a free kick. Tamru steps up and tucks a bending ball over the keeper and under the crossbar for 1-0.Within 5 minutes a pass from
Felicien puts Corey in on goal from the left and Corey finishes under the advancing keeper for 2.
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Minutes after that Evan Elko smacks a rebound goalward for a sure score until it hits our own player and stays out. I'd have bet their were more goals coming but the game settles into long periods of possession interrupted by long clearances and their occasional counter: 2-0 EC at the end. Sam Embry in goal has an excellent day coming out to catch crosses and the assortment of air balls sent his way.
We started Sunday knowing our match would be the championship decider after Millikin beat Anderson 2-0 on Friday. The threat of Hurricane Isaac remnants hung over us. The lineup was the same except Jacob Ebbs started in place of Felipe. We knew nothing about Millikin (first ever meeting) except that they were very young and coming off a couple of down years. We made a guess about their play that proved wrong from the start. They played a crafty, low pressure defense and looked to score on the break. We had made a point about keeping possession prior to the match and the first half became a dreary, slow moving affair with few chances for either side.
At halftime we decided we would have to force the play and we came out with pressure all over and that turned things more our way. Still, there was not a lot of goalmouth action except for a couple of volleys by Corey Campbell and a header off a corner by Tamru Taye. As time wore down, Isaac finally showed its face and sent a heavy shower our way for the final minutes. Huge rain drops came down for about 10 minutes as we survived a scary clearance by Frank Mbaya over our own crossbar and Sam Embry got down to his right to save one of Millikin's few late efforts.
Overtime began with the rain letting up and we continued to pressure as Millikin held on. Seven minutes in Alex Ferreira sent Felipe Buitrago in alone from our left and Felipe, at full speed, scoop/chipped Millikin's keeper and in to the far post for the golden goal. A stampede of EC players threatened to engulf our dimunitive Colombian as we celebrated a goal that was pure Barca/Messi---a golazo without being a rocket shot.
Our first win of the Raven-Quaker Classic since 2008 and a double with the women beating Capital 2-1 and Millikin 3-1 to win their side. We end the weekend with 2 clean sheets due in large part to the steady play of our center backs, Mike Nsoesie and Frank Mbaya and our ability to keep the ball.
Overtime began with the rain letting up and we continued to pressure as Millikin held on. Seven minutes in Alex Ferreira sent Felipe Buitrago in alone from our left and Felipe, at full speed, scoop/chipped Millikin's keeper and in to the far post for the golden goal. A stampede of EC players threatened to engulf our dimunitive Colombian as we celebrated a goal that was pure Barca/Messi---a golazo without being a rocket shot.
Our first win of the Raven-Quaker Classic since 2008 and a double with the women beating Capital 2-1 and Millikin 3-1 to win their side. We end the weekend with 2 clean sheets due in large part to the steady play of our center backs, Mike Nsoesie and Frank Mbaya and our ability to keep the ball.
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