Did I mention possibilities in the last post ? Well, they are certainly present and include finishing 5th and out of the conference tournament if we lose and winning the HCAC regular season championship if we win--but that would take an unlikely turn of events elsewhere. Mount plays a compact, high pressure game which is very well suited to the size (small with a pronounced crown) and surface (turf) of their field. They have beaten first place Hanover on this field and played a tight, tense game here two years ago when we won 1-0 to get into the HCAC tournament on the last day of the season. Last year they beat us at EC 2-1.
We come out well with the lineup as it has been in recent games with the exception of Felicien Muyumba. Tamru Taye and Ameer Yusuf are up front, Jacob Ebbs, Mussa Ibrahim, Corey Campbell and David Jones in midfield and Frank Mbaya, Mike Nsoesie, Arsene Kabeya and Alex Ferreira in the back, Sam Embry in goal. A large number of Earlham people, mostly students, have made the trip down to Cincinnati to watch the match and their support is much appreciated We keep the ball well and limit their chances in attack but no great chances to score happen for either side in the first half.
We begin to create a bit more against the high defensive line MSJ uses and in the 58th minute Ameer gets through into the area and is taken down by the keeper: PK to Earlham but no card for the keeper (?). Jacob Ebbs nails the PK into the corner and we lead with a half hour to go.
Shortly thereafter, our season gets put on the line when Mount gets a PK in the 72nd. The PK is hit high to Sam Embry's left and Sam gets a hand to it to save the shot, game and season. After we see out the inevitable barrage of air balls into our box and Sam makes another timely intervention in the last minute of play, coming out to the feet on a Mount player to save again, we go to the locker room assured of a place (maybe second) in the HCAC tournament. For the game, we have the better in shots (13-10) and decidedly in shots on goal (8-2). Justly, this time, Sam Embry is carried off the field by his team mates for the second consecutive season--- albeit this time in dramatically different circumstances.
In the modern era of devices like iphones you can track events elsewhere and updates have been flowing, mostly from Shane Meridith to Sam Byrd, that Defiance and Hanover are tied 0-0 late in the game. If Hanover fail to win then we are champions ! I play "gloomy Gus" the entire time as we go to dress in the stadium and the Defiance/Hanover game goes to OT. How can Defiance, who have little to play for except pride, prevail playing away from home against a team who need to win to claim the title ? What I don't know but learn later is that Defiance have had a man sent off in the 20th minute (#15, their best player) and have played with ten men almost the entire game. Pelle Tracey (or his iphone) wins the prize as he shrieks "Defiance has scored !" Partial pandemonium breaks out until everyone realizes that it is a "golden goal"---game over ! We are now champions and the clamor reaches full roaring unanimity. I find I have to step outside the locker room to collect myself until I realize that our crew might tear the place apart in celebration. Back in I go but no need, we are at least partially in control.
We are a team that won 1 conference game a year ago and were picked 6th in the conference preseason poll and we have gone almost worst to first. Analysis later, we enjoy a lovely bus ride home. Tales I hear of the team's reception on campus that night are epic. Crowds chanting players' names in the dorms, parties....best of all, I wake up on Sunday with no voicemails or texts from Campus Security or the RPD: a sweet victory.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
EC 1 Rose Hulman 0
We come to our last home game with much to play for. To be sure of a place in the conference tournament we must get at least 4 points from these last two games (Rose at home, MSJ away) and both will be tough assignments. Rose are second at the moment but after looking at their matches on line, I feel they're the best of the HCAC teams (except us !). Rose's strength is the organization of their defence; they always seem to have all 11 players behind the ball immediately after losing it and their goals against average (0.47) confirms this. The two strikers they use, Will Senat and Drew Belk are excellent and always ready to score on the break.
The first half produces a couple of chances for each team but nothing resembling a solid opportunity. Sam Embry in goal gets to an errant cross that threatens to drop behind him and this becomes the closest either team gets. Rose needs a win here if they are going to overtake Hanover, who top the table currently and the respect they show us by letting us play in front of them surprises me a bit.
In the 59th minute Mike Nsoesie has time to get his head up and play a ball forward on the ground to Ameer Yusuf. The pass beats the Rose center back that defends Ameer and he's through on goal. After rounding the keeper Ameer has the smallest angle to play the ball with his left into goal and when he does, the fans on the other side and our bench erupt. 30 minutes to play and we lead---but that's been a danger signal for us because our opponents often find the best way to beat us by playing directly and especially in the air---witness the Anderson game. Scary moments ensue as Rose now come forward with less caution and create a series of chances but Sam deals with them all including a scramble in front inside the last 10 minutes. This time the presence of Frank Mbaya and Tamru Taye see us through to the end. Frank and Mike conduct a master class on defending against the Rose danger men.
A nice ending to Senior Day as the 13 seniors on the team are honored at halftime and the announcer reads a statement from them to the fans that I will include later. The crowd this day is huge, reminiscent of scenes from the late 90's and their vocal support means much to the men on the field. We head to Mount St. Joseph with possibilities....
The first half produces a couple of chances for each team but nothing resembling a solid opportunity. Sam Embry in goal gets to an errant cross that threatens to drop behind him and this becomes the closest either team gets. Rose needs a win here if they are going to overtake Hanover, who top the table currently and the respect they show us by letting us play in front of them surprises me a bit.
In the 59th minute Mike Nsoesie has time to get his head up and play a ball forward on the ground to Ameer Yusuf. The pass beats the Rose center back that defends Ameer and he's through on goal. After rounding the keeper Ameer has the smallest angle to play the ball with his left into goal and when he does, the fans on the other side and our bench erupt. 30 minutes to play and we lead---but that's been a danger signal for us because our opponents often find the best way to beat us by playing directly and especially in the air---witness the Anderson game. Scary moments ensue as Rose now come forward with less caution and create a series of chances but Sam deals with them all including a scramble in front inside the last 10 minutes. This time the presence of Frank Mbaya and Tamru Taye see us through to the end. Frank and Mike conduct a master class on defending against the Rose danger men.
A nice ending to Senior Day as the 13 seniors on the team are honored at halftime and the announcer reads a statement from them to the fans that I will include later. The crowd this day is huge, reminiscent of scenes from the late 90's and their vocal support means much to the men on the field. We head to Mount St. Joseph with possibilities....
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Anderson 4 EC 1
Fresh from the win over Transy, we travel to Anderson to play a tough conference game made tougher by the absence of Tamru Taye and Frank Mbaya. Tamru, a geology major, has been invited to a conference in Colorado and Frank has to return to Lexington on family business. Enough that we miss these starters but crucially both play important roles in our defending at corners and set pieces. Corey Campbell and Zander Ansara are in the first eleven with Aaron Falsetto in goal.
The first half is tightly contested, with our best chance coming on a ball played across goal by David Jones that Feli Muyumba just misses. Their statistical edge in shots doesn't reflect the evenness of the game.
Just after half time (47th), Jacob Ebbs plays a classic one-two with Ameer Yusuf and finishes with his left from about 18 yards for a 1-0 lead for us. We get another couple of half chances in the next few minutes that result in nothing. As often as not, when we score our opponent tends to become more direct and we often have problems with that---which are multiplied today by our missing players. Anderson equalizes in the 62nd minute through leading scorer Todd Canal and proceeds to score 3 more at 8 minute intervals, 2 coming from far post headers from corners in the area often defending by Frank or Tamru.
No excuses: Anderson have a 4-1 win on their homecoming and despite their slow start to the year, they have a clear path into the HCAC tournament if they keep winning especially since they now have the tiebreaker against us. At this point, the possibilities are almost endless with 6 teams alive for the 4 tournament places.
The first half is tightly contested, with our best chance coming on a ball played across goal by David Jones that Feli Muyumba just misses. Their statistical edge in shots doesn't reflect the evenness of the game.
Just after half time (47th), Jacob Ebbs plays a classic one-two with Ameer Yusuf and finishes with his left from about 18 yards for a 1-0 lead for us. We get another couple of half chances in the next few minutes that result in nothing. As often as not, when we score our opponent tends to become more direct and we often have problems with that---which are multiplied today by our missing players. Anderson equalizes in the 62nd minute through leading scorer Todd Canal and proceeds to score 3 more at 8 minute intervals, 2 coming from far post headers from corners in the area often defending by Frank or Tamru.
No excuses: Anderson have a 4-1 win on their homecoming and despite their slow start to the year, they have a clear path into the HCAC tournament if they keep winning especially since they now have the tiebreaker against us. At this point, the possibilities are almost endless with 6 teams alive for the 4 tournament places.
Friday, October 25, 2013
EC 3 Transy 1
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.
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.
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.
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