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.