It could be because Transy has dominated the HCAC in recent years, with our shootout win over them in 2011 marking the only time in the last 4 years that they have not made the NCAA's, or because we have a number of players from Lexington who know the Transy guys and no doubt exchange trash talk in the summer, or because we have played them 3 consecutive times away at TU---or could it be something else ?
Whatever the reason, the match this year was on everyone's calendar and it did not disappoint. The match began with the two teams even in possession and with few clear cut chances until the 17th minute when we regained possession in the Transy half and the ball came to Tamru Taye on the left. Tamru beat his marker around the corner and played a ball across that went past a number of people in the box until it found Tiqi Brown at the far post. Tiqi volleyed home and we were up one.
The lead didn't last as TU scored a far post header off a corner 8 minutes later and the game returned to the tight, close contest it had been. In the 40th minute, Jacob Ebbs ran a ball toward goal and after disrupting migratory bird flocks with his earlier efforts, hit a 25-yard left foot bomb which the keeper got a hand to but couldn't keep out (Scott Lawrence was lurking for the rebound anyway) and we had a crucial lead again.
The second half saw the pace of the game never slacken and we began to get the upper hand in terms of possession. A header by Tamru forced a great save by the Transy keeper and in the 73rd minute Feli Muyumba recovered a ball on the right side about 40 yards out and proceeded to dribble the Transy defender and the goalkeeper before slotting home an insurance goal. The later stages of the match were well under our control and this sweetest victory was ours. Helps build confidence because Amir Yusuf's absence did not hinder our attack---not that we don't need him.
When Hanover fell at Mount St. Joseph the next night, we are now tied with them at 5-1 behind 5-0-1 Rose Hulman, whom we entertain next Wednesday at EC. First up is a difficult match away at Anderson.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Manchester 0 EC 3
Nice, crisp fall day and we're at Manchester to play a team that has been a thorn in our side for years. No one on the team at the moment has beaten them (2 losses, 1 draw) and we need this one to keep momentum going forward. Manchester hasn't had the best of years but this rarely means anything in conference play. We are without Frank Mbaya, sitting out a card accumulation suspension, which puts Zander Ansara in the back with the now regular crew of Ferreira, Nsoesie, Kabeya. We are pleased by having old boy Omar Dreidi with us for the day.
The game starts evenly and they have as much possession as we do early on but in the ninth minute Jacob Ebbs again scores a neat chipped goal to get us in the lead. As the half progresses, as in many of our games, we get more and more in possession and on top but the half comes with the score 1-0 us.
The game restarts and Manchester applies some pressure until the 50th minute when a punt from Sam Embry is nodded on by Tamru Taye and finished by Feli Muyumba when the deftest (and least) of touches. We now begin to exert more and more control and in the 73rd minute Salvador Rivas finds a ball in front of goal and pokes it in for the goal Latinos call "el solido"---the third goal marking the certainty of one team's superiority in the contest.
As the match continues we're able to get other players in for a spell in the match, giving Demise a chance to bike a ball out of the back and Daniel Wilson the experience of contesting 3 consecutive air balls with bigger opposition. An important win, but with one disappointment: Ameer picks up a fifth yellow, meaning he'll sit the Transy game coming up.
The game starts evenly and they have as much possession as we do early on but in the ninth minute Jacob Ebbs again scores a neat chipped goal to get us in the lead. As the half progresses, as in many of our games, we get more and more in possession and on top but the half comes with the score 1-0 us.
The game restarts and Manchester applies some pressure until the 50th minute when a punt from Sam Embry is nodded on by Tamru Taye and finished by Feli Muyumba when the deftest (and least) of touches. We now begin to exert more and more control and in the 73rd minute Salvador Rivas finds a ball in front of goal and pokes it in for the goal Latinos call "el solido"---the third goal marking the certainty of one team's superiority in the contest.
As the match continues we're able to get other players in for a spell in the match, giving Demise a chance to bike a ball out of the back and Daniel Wilson the experience of contesting 3 consecutive air balls with bigger opposition. An important win, but with one disappointment: Ameer picks up a fifth yellow, meaning he'll sit the Transy game coming up.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Hanover 3 Earlham 2
We go to Hanover to meet one of the other teams tied on top of the HCAC. Hanover's field is the same one they've had for a while as they await overdue improvements. Rain begins almost at kickoff but I think this actually improves the ball action on the field surface.
As we have in a couple of our away contests, we start slowly and pay a price. We give the ball away in our own half of the field and Hanover pounces and scores when a shot is deflected by Alex Ferreira's slide past Sam Embry in goal. Slowly we begin to gain control and are rewarded in the 40th minute when Jacob Ebbs chips a beautiful ball over the keeper's head to tie the score at 1-1 going into halftime.
Our momentum continues after the break and a series of 1-2 moves get us chances leading to an Ameer Yusuf finish in the 60th minute. Crucially the lead doesn't last as Hanover equalize through a header by John Wittich 4 minutes later. We knew that Wittich presented an aerial threat but the cross was unexpected and he met the ball mid goal at the 6 and the shot beat Sam Embry in the goal. Minutes later he struck again as a free kick (was it a foul?) finds him at the far post and Hanover leads again.
With 20 minute to go we're a goal down away from home. Our response was great; a succession of chances nearly get us an equalizer including Ameer getting through only to miss inches wide of the post, a cross from Cory Campbell that finds no one home in front, a shot by Cory that hits the inside of the near post and runs across goal behind the keeper and out the other side, and 2 chances for Jacob including one in the last minute. No matter, Hanover wins a great game and can claim first place for the moment. We can't be disappointed with the effort because we played very well over the entire game. It doesn't help that Hanover's captain said to Ameer during the game "I can't believe we're winning this game". They do win and we must look forward to the potential for a rematch in the tournament.
We are, of course, not close to guaranteeing a place in that tournament and we must get a result at Manchester this weekend when we play them on their homecoming. Actually it's ours as well but we're away.
As we have in a couple of our away contests, we start slowly and pay a price. We give the ball away in our own half of the field and Hanover pounces and scores when a shot is deflected by Alex Ferreira's slide past Sam Embry in goal. Slowly we begin to gain control and are rewarded in the 40th minute when Jacob Ebbs chips a beautiful ball over the keeper's head to tie the score at 1-1 going into halftime.
Our momentum continues after the break and a series of 1-2 moves get us chances leading to an Ameer Yusuf finish in the 60th minute. Crucially the lead doesn't last as Hanover equalize through a header by John Wittich 4 minutes later. We knew that Wittich presented an aerial threat but the cross was unexpected and he met the ball mid goal at the 6 and the shot beat Sam Embry in the goal. Minutes later he struck again as a free kick (was it a foul?) finds him at the far post and Hanover leads again.
With 20 minute to go we're a goal down away from home. Our response was great; a succession of chances nearly get us an equalizer including Ameer getting through only to miss inches wide of the post, a cross from Cory Campbell that finds no one home in front, a shot by Cory that hits the inside of the near post and runs across goal behind the keeper and out the other side, and 2 chances for Jacob including one in the last minute. No matter, Hanover wins a great game and can claim first place for the moment. We can't be disappointed with the effort because we played very well over the entire game. It doesn't help that Hanover's captain said to Ameer during the game "I can't believe we're winning this game". They do win and we must look forward to the potential for a rematch in the tournament.
We are, of course, not close to guaranteeing a place in that tournament and we must get a result at Manchester this weekend when we play them on their homecoming. Actually it's ours as well but we're away.
Earlham 1 Bluffton 0
On the Saturday of Fall Break we play Bluffton, who are without a win in 2013---a situation that makes them very dangerous in my mind. The crowd is quite good considering that campus is almost deserted and we have 4 prospective players present, 2 from the Cincinnati area, 1 from St. Louis and 1 from North Carolina.
We begin brightly and dominate possession from the outset when, in the 18th minute, Ameer Yusuf breaks through and is tripped up by the keeper in the box for a penalty. The penalty, taken by Ameer, is saved by the keeper and the game remains scoreless. We have a series of half chances, the best of which is Salva Rivas' chest down to a volley, which the keeper saves well. Halftime and the game is tied 0-0.
In the first minute of the second half David Jones takes a corner from the right and Musa Ibrahim gets a head to it in front of goal and finishes under the crossbar. After the game Musa takes about a minute to recall when he last scored a header goal. No matter, we're up and I'm thinking we'll do some more damage soon. Doesn't happen. Bluffton's center back #6, Ryan Johnson-Evers, holds things together for his team at the back and the game ends 1-0 EC. For the second consecutive game we go 90 minutes without conceding a corner kick, which reflects our dominance in possession as much as the accuracy of our defending. However, we do commit over 20 fouls and wee the need to correct that before our next game.
We end the day tied for first in the HCAC with Rose Hulman and our next opponent, Hanover, who've made huge strides since Matt Wilkerson took over as coach 2 years ago.
We begin brightly and dominate possession from the outset when, in the 18th minute, Ameer Yusuf breaks through and is tripped up by the keeper in the box for a penalty. The penalty, taken by Ameer, is saved by the keeper and the game remains scoreless. We have a series of half chances, the best of which is Salva Rivas' chest down to a volley, which the keeper saves well. Halftime and the game is tied 0-0.
In the first minute of the second half David Jones takes a corner from the right and Musa Ibrahim gets a head to it in front of goal and finishes under the crossbar. After the game Musa takes about a minute to recall when he last scored a header goal. No matter, we're up and I'm thinking we'll do some more damage soon. Doesn't happen. Bluffton's center back #6, Ryan Johnson-Evers, holds things together for his team at the back and the game ends 1-0 EC. For the second consecutive game we go 90 minutes without conceding a corner kick, which reflects our dominance in possession as much as the accuracy of our defending. However, we do commit over 20 fouls and wee the need to correct that before our next game.
We end the day tied for first in the HCAC with Rose Hulman and our next opponent, Hanover, who've made huge strides since Matt Wilkerson took over as coach 2 years ago.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Defiance 1 Earlham 2 OT
Our second conference game with Defiance ends up being played at the Athletes In Action complex in Xenia, Ohio near Dayton. DC's field was hit with 3+ inches of rain earlier in the week and was judged unplayable. AIA provided a turf facility with good size and both our men's and women's team traveled to play a conference game at a neutral site.
Defiance are an interesting side with a different outlook tactically to most. They play with 3 in the back and flood midfield while leaving one player up who is the main target of their attack. Earlier they had played nationally ranked Ohio Northern really close (0-1) and that's easier to see now. They concede possession to you in your defensive half and fall back to defend less space. There's some skill in their midfield and they counter effectively.
We dominate possession without creating that many chances early but then the game turns Defiance's way in a hurry. A corner is directed at the big striker and is deflected to one of their players in front who has a simple finish. Not the way you want it to go against a team built to defend a lead. Jacob Ebbs has a frustrating time with the woodwork, hitting the bar or posts 3 times including one on a header.
The half arrives and we are struggling to make an impact in the final third in the second until the 78th minute when Arsene Kabeya (!!!) runs a ball up field from left back and hooks a "goal of the season" ball which curls into the upper near 90, actually hitting the crossbar and goalpost at the same time before settling in the back of the net---a stunner. We have couple of more chances late, including one saved by the DC keeper as Ameer Yusuf broke through.
By now Defiance is covering up and defending for all they're worth; on the day, shots were 16-3 us and we conceded no corner kicks, which is crucial when you're as small as we are. The game appears headed for a draw in th e 108th minute when David Jones gets in the are with the ball and is hacked down. Tamru Taye has been taking PK's for us until he missed at Otterbein a week ago (Actually. he was saved and scored the rebound). Jacob Ebbs steps up and rips it high into the net and we walk off with all 3 points.
We're tied for first in conference and we're returning home to face Bluffton on Saturday. We're also glad to leave all our mid semester exams and work behind. There were a few boys operating on limited sleep on Wednesday.
Defiance are an interesting side with a different outlook tactically to most. They play with 3 in the back and flood midfield while leaving one player up who is the main target of their attack. Earlier they had played nationally ranked Ohio Northern really close (0-1) and that's easier to see now. They concede possession to you in your defensive half and fall back to defend less space. There's some skill in their midfield and they counter effectively.
We dominate possession without creating that many chances early but then the game turns Defiance's way in a hurry. A corner is directed at the big striker and is deflected to one of their players in front who has a simple finish. Not the way you want it to go against a team built to defend a lead. Jacob Ebbs has a frustrating time with the woodwork, hitting the bar or posts 3 times including one on a header.
The half arrives and we are struggling to make an impact in the final third in the second until the 78th minute when Arsene Kabeya (!!!) runs a ball up field from left back and hooks a "goal of the season" ball which curls into the upper near 90, actually hitting the crossbar and goalpost at the same time before settling in the back of the net---a stunner. We have couple of more chances late, including one saved by the DC keeper as Ameer Yusuf broke through.
By now Defiance is covering up and defending for all they're worth; on the day, shots were 16-3 us and we conceded no corner kicks, which is crucial when you're as small as we are. The game appears headed for a draw in th e 108th minute when David Jones gets in the are with the ball and is hacked down. Tamru Taye has been taking PK's for us until he missed at Otterbein a week ago (Actually. he was saved and scored the rebound). Jacob Ebbs steps up and rips it high into the net and we walk off with all 3 points.
We're tied for first in conference and we're returning home to face Bluffton on Saturday. We're also glad to leave all our mid semester exams and work behind. There were a few boys operating on limited sleep on Wednesday.
EC 0 Wooster 1 OT
We come into our game with Wooster playing our 3rd game in 5 days while Wooster is playing for the first time in 8 days. Blame the scheduler (me). Nonetheless it's a bright Sunday morning at 11 when we kick off.
Felicien Muyumba hits an angled shot from the left and Amir Yusuf hits another one high over the goal early but the game is mostly even in the first half. A Wooster forward hits a 25 yarder straight at Sam Embry in goal in the 20th minute. A through ball from Salvador Rivas puts Ameer in on goal in the 40th but a back cuts the ball off just after Ameer has rounded the keeper.
We get the better of play in the second half but no real chances. In the overtime a Wooster corner bends tight to our near post and skips off a back's head into the upper 90. The end was discouraging to say the least but we played well.
Felicien Muyumba hits an angled shot from the left and Amir Yusuf hits another one high over the goal early but the game is mostly even in the first half. A Wooster forward hits a 25 yarder straight at Sam Embry in goal in the 20th minute. A through ball from Salvador Rivas puts Ameer in on goal in the 40th but a back cuts the ball off just after Ameer has rounded the keeper.
We get the better of play in the second half but no real chances. In the overtime a Wooster corner bends tight to our near post and skips off a back's head into the upper 90. The end was discouraging to say the least but we played well.
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