Conference finale/Senior Day/Franklin

We're at home against Franklin for an absolute "must win" game. Franklin has a remote chance of getting into the playoffs but we're in with a win and two other matches going according to form: Transy (#1) must beat Anderson (#4) and Rose Hulman (#2) must beat Defiance (#5). The training room and Bill Kinsey, head trainer, have done an amazing job with Felipe Buitrago, whose knee looked really bad (pregnant with twins) after the Rose game. In a furthercomplication, Felipe has to go to Indy Saturday morning to take the TOEFL to go on the London program next term. Why? Do they think his English has gotten worse after being at EC ? Ameer Yusuf looks like he's coming out for the 15th round against Apollo Creed after the collision in the Rose game. Nonetheless, one of the 3 recruits I have on campus for the game tells me the locker room is "amped" before the game.

It's Senior Day for Irhad Strika, Pablo Hernandez Romero, and longtime scorekeeper Spencer Smith (subject of a later post). Rob Richardson has gone behind my back to make the day special. He dug up a Bosnian flag from the International Programs Office and found a rendition of the Bosnian national anthem on line to play before the game. I'm worrying how our guests might react to the idea (we had previously played our anthem before the women's game) and I'm worried about flag etiquette until we place the US flag up on the video tower. Frank Carr (AD) is in on the plan and it comes off nicely and everyone is pleased, Irhad most of all:

The game is very tight, both sides very careful until we break through in the 39th minute when Felipe's chip releases Ameer who beats the onrushing keeper with an excellent touch over him. The game remains very close with few chances for either team (7-5 us in shots on the day) but we've lost many leads late in matches this year so the tension is high. In the 87th minute we get an indirect on the top of the box and Corey Campbell touches it for Irhad to slam into the net over the wall. Relief !! Irhad seals it 2 minutes later by beating a defender on the right and playing across to Ameer for the finish. 3-0 doesn't reflect the closeness of the game. Our biggest win in quite some time. Later we learn that results have gone our way and we're in a conference tournament for the first time since 1999 and in the HCAC for the first time.

Stellar performances from Irhad, Ameer, Felipe, David Jones (90 minutes at center mf), Our back four and Chris Marshall in goal. I can tell you that if the locker room was "amped" before the game, it was tumultuous and triumphant after. Irhad got a bath from the water coolers from the team. In a later post, I'll tell how this team is special---they really are. We play Transy Tuesday at 2PM.

My only worry is that we may have set a precedent with the anthem thing: next year when I have 2 seniors from New Jersey will I have to play Born To Run (Springsteen) ?

Rose Hulman Game

A rainy night in Terre Haute and we travel with the women (2-0 winners) to play Rose. They're coached by Sean Halliwell, a Brit (Huddersfield) who played and assisted at Western Kentucky for a college teammate and classmate of mine, David Holmes. Both Rob and I have great respect for Sean who produces classy, ball-playing sides that are very difficult to break down. We begin well enough through about the 25th minute when Ameer collides with one of their players and has to go off with a concussion and some cuts. He couldn't return. Rose had scored a goal early when a pass split our central defenders. In the 40th minute, Clint Vaterrodt (#3), their 6'8" striker got to a corner and made it 2-0. Chris Marshall in goal for us was very good and made a couple of good stops. We had some chances but their keeper was sharp, too.


The rain continued in the second half and we got some good possession but we couldn't make an impact. Ibrahim Diarra had a header well-saved by the Rose keeper and they scored again with about 12 minutes left for a 3-0 scoreline. Overall a nice match of real football, only 11 fouls between the teams and we all think this was the best team we saw in conference. We were missing Mike Carroll and Tamru Taye and we picked up an injury to Felipe Buitrago that might prove costly as we head to the last regular season game needing to win and get help in other matches to make the tournament.

Manchester Game

Traveled with the women to play Manchester on their Senior Day. Lovely day and a lovely field to play on; Manchester head coach Dave Good also runs the grounds department at the college and it shows---a beautiful campus and playing fields. We're missing top scorer Ameer Yusuf to card accumulation so we're playing with former right back Tamru Taye as striker.



We start brightly (as usual), dominant in possession and territory and Evan Elko gets down the right and plays a super ball across that Irhad Stika somehow plays against the post and then wide on the rebound. Tamru has a chance from an angle that goes wide. The opposing coaches are yelling at their team for being 'too casual' which usually mean they're trying to play soccer against us and losing the battle. Half ends 0-0.


At halftime I warned that Manchester would come out and try to deal with us directly and physically, which has been the normal response of our opponents all year. We're caught napping by a long ball over the top in the 47th minute to their #10, Dion Radev, who finishes. Less than a minute later we're still stunned when they run a ball through our backs and finish for 2-0. We do recover and resume playing until Mike Carroll gets a second yellow for a bad challenge and we're down to 10 men. Still, we play and Alex Ferreira finds Tamru with a ball over the top which Tamru finishes with an impressive left foot volley lob for 2-1with 12 minutes left. We get some more pressure on them and Tamru has a chance in the 89th minute which goes just wide. Half chances for Irhad and David Jones follow but the game ends 2-1. Stats show the teams level on shots with us having the edge in shots on target despite playing a man down for 25 minutes-
but another frustrating result.





We're still alone in 4th in the HCAC and in control of our destiny but we face 2nd place Rose Hulman this Wednesday with conference leading scorer Clint Vaterrodt who stands 6'8' tall. Both our central defenders are a foot shorter. Wins in our 2 remaining games will see us into the conference tournament but less than that ?





When I sum up the season in this space and with the guys I will certainly discuss the problem we've had with cards this year. Far too many important games missed. We get Ameer back this week but we lose Mike Carroll for both remaining regular season games. Improvisation will be the word this week.

Woolly Hat Practice

This past Thursday was dubbed a "woolly hat practice" by Rob Richardson, our assistant coach. Strong words from someone who grew up a few miles from the North Sea. Unless you live here in the great Midwest, you may not really get the meaning of Rob's pronouncement or how it defines soccer season hereabouts. Our season began in August with a record dry summer and temperatures over 100 for our first game. The weather has changed in fits and starts since but this day was the first cold enough to make you look for your woolly hat. Intermittent rain

in

and spray, winds of about 30 mph with higher gusts and a temperature of 42 at the start of practice: kind of like playing in a carwash, a very cold carwash.

The first cold practices force decisions; traditionally the old match warmups are used for practices but Rob found only 10 or so. Justice in cases like this demands equality, but how ? Rob did find about 10 years worth of old keeper jerseys so we handed them out to everyone. The practice that followed can really only be appreciated by those who've been there and experienced the luxury of a hot shower after it's done---memories.

Tomorrow (Friday) we'll work on defending set pieces, have a team pizza dinner at Spanish House and go bowling. Saturday's game is a huge opportunity for us to get our place in the postseason

.

Andy Sukenik

I recently got an email from Andy Sukenik who played for us in 2000 and 2001. Andy lives in San Diego and works for Itron, a consulting firm in the energy industry. He and his girlfriend Julia still play in coed leagues. I remember Andy scoring against OWU in 2000 as a firstyear. Hope we get to see you over here sometime, Andy.

Defiance game

A rainy, threatening Tuesday and we're playing Defiance, one of the up and coming conference teams who had just drawn with Transylvania 0-0. We begin very well and after a series of chances, Corey Campbell drills a laser into the top corner for a 1-0 lead. We play some of the best we've seen through most of the half and end it 1-0 up with a 13-2 edge in shots.

Second half they decide (wisely, I'm afraid) not to try and play with us but to drive long balls at us. We still create some chances but aren't as comfortable. As the half goes on we get a bit more possession but then---lightning in the 72nd minute. The delay lasts 42 minutes and we get back out of sorts and concede a bad foul (player with his back to goal) in the 89th minute and yet again we concede a set piece goal late. We rarely been scored on from open play in the conference this year---4 of 6 goals from restarts (corners, free kicks). Center back is a huge recruiting target for us since current occupants Frank Mbaya and Mike Nsoesie are 5'7" and 5'8" respectively. Both are actually midfield players.

We go to OT and Ameer gets a run in on goal in the first period but misses the target. As the second OT begins it's quite dark but we're going with the wind toward the south end when we get more lightning which brings the game to an end. We share the points, which isn't a disaster but definitely a missed opportunity. We're now 4th in the HCAC.

Maybe worst of all Ameer picked up a soft yellow (too close to a free kick) which will mean a 2-game suspension at the worst possible time. There was considerable trash talk which had racial overtones toward him and I'm pleased that he didn't respond although I'm disappointed the offender goes unpunished. The referee was told about it but it's not surprising he didn't hear anything.

We go to Manchester this Saturday with a definite need for 3 points. We will miss Ameer and Shvan (broken arm) and we'll have to invent another striker. Suggestions ?

Shvan update

Shvan Al-Husseini, who broke his arm in the Transy game, had an operation on Friday and was discharged in time to be at the Hanover match. Operation went well and he's fine. There are screws and a plate in the arm which will remain. Since Shvan is kurdish, holds an Iraqi passport and now has metal in his arm, you might want to get in front of him on the line to be screened at the airport. Sure to attract attention.

Hanover Game

Saturday was a glorious fall weather day; sunny, cool and maybe a bit windy but still better than most. We kicked off at 5PM because schedules were affected by the presidential inauguration ceremonies and this meant it was a trifle dim by the end of the game---thankfully no overtime.

We were very flat at the start which prompted a statement by Rob that I cannot repeat in it's entirety (flat as a...) nor could I evaluate since I have no knowledge of the topography of flatulence. He was right. Having said that, Ameer had already hit the crossbar with a beautiful chip when the Hanover defenders gifted him an easy chance to finish in the 17th minute and we're up 1-0. We knew Hanover were more capable in attack than defence (they lost to Centre 8-4 !!!) but their generosity was appreciated and helped get us going a bit.

This turned out to be Felipe Buitrago's best game so far and his constant movement and willingness to show to the ball endlessly made us go. If you watch the video, which should be posted tomorrow or Tuesday you'll see him go through defenders several times, especially on the side near the stand in the second half. The fans love him---that's one of the advantages you get by being 5'4" tall. With about 10 minutes to go we got a direct kick from 30 yards out and Tamru hit a ball the guys in the wall won't soon forget. Tammy's in my bowling class and this one was a strike ! There was an audible boom when it hit. Cory Campbell hit a post late on.

First half ended 1-0 and second began much better for us. Hanover would get no shots in the second half (17-3 us on the game ) and we were able to possess for long periods. In about the 56th minute Ameer took a ball in the box and back across goal where he was fouled and the penalty given. Tamru's PK gave the keeper no chance, 2-0. We continued to dominate territory and possession and and I was able to rest some players late on.

We are 3-2 in conference and tied for 3rd. Had we seen out the last 10 seconds of the Transy game we'd be in first. We play Defiance on Tuesday after they tied Transy 0-0 at home yesterday. They'll be tough and it reflects the close nature of the conference this year. Anderson beat us and then lost to Bluffton and Mount St. Joseph in consecutive games. Transy beat Manchester 1-0 despite a heavy shot count against them, beat us in the aforementioned epic and now drew with Defiance. It's all up for grabs. All the teams in the conference are now coached by competent and committed professionals and it shows in the results.

Shvan

Shvan's sufferred a compound fracture in 2 places in his lower arm. He was taken to the UK Medical Center where it was reduced (straightened?) and put in a cast. He will have an operation on Friday to correct the fracture. He was, and remains, in good spirits but any word of encouragement would be welcome.

Transy game

We go down to Transy with our women's team to play against the team currently first in conference. Nice day and a nice field. Ameer Yusuf absent with knee issues. Intense game but not quite as charged as last year (their athletic director was in attendance). Trash talk, sure, but no racial/ethnic stuff in evidence. We have a lot of local support at the game with Arsene and Frank's friends and family at the game. Tough, fast paced game and we lead after 30 minutes through a great 20-yard volley by Irhad Strika. Half ends 0-1 EC.

Second half and we defend well and get half chances from Evan Elko and Felipa Buitrago but no luck. Chris Marshall playing well in goal. With 4 minutes to go Shvan Al-Husseini collides with one of them and breaks his arm in 2 places (news in next blog post) . A 20-minute delay ensues as he leaves the field in an ambulance. No excuses but that delay hurts us as much as Shvan's absence. With 10 seconds left they take a corner (ref originally signaled goal kick) and score a header at near post. Incredible end just like last year. Their goal in first overtime has an air of inevitability about it. We lose 2-1 after being 10 seconds from a tie for first in HCAC.

If you would have said at the start that we'd have done this well away to them without Ameer I might have been pleased but the way it went down hurts. Game against Hanover this weekend will be massive.

Mount St. Joseph game

MSJ are a dramatically improved team over the one we first scrimmaged 2 years ago and beat 3-0 at home last year. They play a true 3-4-3, keeping 3 fronts up at all times and setting a high line with the backs. They are sure to take points from good teams this year.

We began without Alex Ferreira (knee) and played a back four (r-l)ofTaye/Mbaya/Nsoesie/
Kabeya; midfield was Elko/Jones/Carroll/Strika; Yusuf/Buitrago front. We had a goal called back early (good call) on a break from Evan and Ameer as the pace of the game was very fast and play was intense. Scoreless at the half---no edge either way.

In the second half we lost Frank Mbaya to a concussion after a collision in the 65th minute. We had to move Tamru to the center and Corey Campbell to right back, giving us maybe our 8th different back four of the season so far. Game now getting really intense as they get some pressure on us. In the 86th minute we get a free kick in the front half which Dave Jones skip heads to Ameer who finishes from close in. Last minutes nervy but they get no real chances. Chris Marshall solid in goal. Guys really pumped to win a late one on the road.

We head to Transy on Wednesday with many injury issues and a thin squad getting thinner but the character we showed here was notable and we must build on it. MSJ was 1-1 in conference coming in and felt they have a chance to get to the postseason tourney just like we do. It was a big home weekend for them (home football, women's soccer before our game--EC won 2-0). Conference will be close: Bluffton (1-0 win for us) who were 0-11 coming in beat Anderson (0-3 loss) 1-0 and Defiance beat Franklin 3-1 at Franklin. We stand 4th but it's way early.


Funny Story: Frank Mbaya is being checked out by the MSJ trainer after the collision and she comes to me saying "He's in bad shape, he doesn't know his name, he keeps saying it's Kumba".
Which, as we know, is correct: Yamukumba Frank Mbaya.

Looking forward to a postgame tailgate in Lexington organized by Paula Hollis.