DISAPPOINTING EFFORT

RESULTS IN DISAPPOINTING LOSS

The re-match didn't play out as adfvertised. Maddox shot out to an early lead & never looked back. In the first game between the two sides since the SSL 5-4 loss in last sessions finals, the SSL side was optimistic. Thinking they could bounce back, put that loss behind them & get this session of on the right foot, just never materialized.

The overall effort was lacking, particularly on offense, but defensively as well, & the veteran Maddox side took full advantage. Maddox had already notched two scores & barely 2 minutes had elapsed in the first period. That's a diffucult way to get things started, when you find yourself behind the eight-ball early. And it didn't get much better. Shortly thereafter, Maddox added a third goal, adding to their 3-0 lead.

Tim Kelley pumped some life into the SSL side when he finished an excellent play, started by Steve Schlichtig, as he sliced thru the box & tucked away a ball past the Maddox keeper, closing the score to 3-1. But that life was quickly snuffed out when Maddox came right back with their 4th goal of the half, taking that 4-1 lead to halftime.

The second half was more of the same. Maddox finished on three more of their many chances, to only one for SSL, again on a spectacular effort & finish by Kelley, upping the score to the final margin of 7-2. In what the SSL side was hoping would be a chance to avenge their one goal loss in the finals, went abruptly wrong, & instead they turned in a listless effort resulting in the lopsided score.

It seems as if they just couldn't get their motor running. Hard as they tried to launch the offense, it just seemed to be short-circuted, & could never fully mount much of a cohesive attack. Thier inability to string a series of passes together, combined with little offensive penetration, doomed the SSL side. Relegated to few shots on goal, this hill was just too tall to climb. But, there's hope.

There's always another game! Next week they have a later game, 9:25 vs Lampert. So, as poorly as they played this Tuesday, there's always next Tuesday's opportunity. An opportunity to right the ship, get back on track, play well, win some games & get back to the finals for a third consecutive time.  Stay tuned. This saga is far from over. See you next week. Thanks for reading.

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME			GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	GAMES
	STEVE RANKIN			3	3	9	2
	MARTY ISSA			3	0	6	2
	TIM KELLEY			3	0	6	2
	WALLY STOKES			1	1	3	2
	JOHNNY PENS			0	2	2	2
	JOHN BOKERN			0	1	1	2
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG			0	1	1	2
	TODD LORETTA			0	0	0	0
	JOE BEHR			0	0	0	1
	BOB JANKO			0	0	0	0
	DUCKY MAURER			0	0	0	0
	JOHN KOZUSCEK			0	0	0	0
	PHIL MALONEY			0	0	0	0

Date			Location
Tue 2/17 7:35 PM	W 7-2	at Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/24 8:30 PM	L 2-7	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/3 9:25 PM	55 minutes	at Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/17 9:25 PM	55 minutes	Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/24 9:25 PM	55 minutes	Shamrocks 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/31 7:35 PM	55 minutes	JS Logistics(tues 40+)	Concord, Field 3
Tue 4/7 8:30 PM	55 minutes	Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3

A WHITE-KNUCKLE NAILBITER

SNATCH POINT FROM JAWS OF DEFEAT

This was the kind of game that'll give you gray hair, or at least cause it to fall out. The play was end to end, constant action, teetering on the edge of maniacal, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Whether it was SSL or Freaky, who was  going to score next & stretch the lead. It just never happened, for either side. It kept you on the edge of your seat the entire game. Nerve wracking? Yes! Exciting. Yes! Thrilling? Absolutely!

Even with that kind of action, the game was also sloppy. Missed passes. Defensive breakdowns. Unforced turnovers. In spite of all this, it was a tight, physical, closely contested match. Each keeper played spectacularly, stopping point blank shots. Other times, there were wide open goals to be had, that players, for whatever reason, just missed. It was one of those kinds of games. At one point frustrating, at another point exhilarating. But never boring.

SSL broke the stalemate first. David Hipperson, with yet another spectacular game, scored a right-footed rocket from just outside the red line, & lazered past several startled defenders & the keeper, & settled nicely into the bottom right hand corner of the goal for an early 1-0 lead. That lead would soon evaporate.

Shortly thereafter, Freaky scored the first of two, frustrating, dead-ball goals on the evening, knotting the score at 1-1. It seemed that SSL was constantly getting caught all game long in fouling situations just outside their penalty area, & those dead-ball fouls resulted in two of Freaky's three goals for the game.

Later in the half, Hipperson gave the lead back to SSL with his second un-assisted effort of the game, this on a slick, left footed shot that appeared to catch the defenders, as well as the keeper, by surprise. With the ball at his feet just inside the half line, a quick little move to his left gave him just enough space to get off a quick shot that found the far side of the goal, once again giving SSL a one goal lead. That's the way the half ended, with SSL up 2-1, maintaining a precarious 1 goal lead with another adventure filled half yet to be played.

The second half was ragged for SSL. At times they looked like Houdini, dodging bullets & depending on the great goalie play of keeper David Shelton. They had two or three golden opportunities where they found themselves down in front of the Freaky goal, with the keeper nowhere to be found, but just couldn't convert to grab that elusive 2 goal lead, & hopefully put the game away. That third goal was elusive.

In the meantime, some sloppy defensive play cost SSL the lead. Yet another costly foul by SSL found Freaky lining up just outside the box for another deadball opportunity. Once again, they converted, tieing the score at 2-2, & taking the air out of the SSL sails. With the score tied, Freaky cranked up the pace & pressured the SSL defense, peppering the SSL goal with multiple shots, on which keeper Shelton had to come up with several good saves & one great one on a bomb that he dove for, collected &, most importantly, didn't give up a rebound. However, a few minutes later, after a SSL offensive sortie, Freaky countered quickly, ending up with a 4 on 2 break with 3 SSL players slow to get back. It was much like honey bees buzzing around the hive. With superior numbers, Freaky knocked the ball around quickly, & found the back of the net, taking their first lead of the game at 3-2. Only 5 minutes left on the clock. It was now or never for the SSL side to try to salvage this game as time was running out.

In an amazing turn of events, the SSL side kicked up their play & intensity a notch, buzzing like the aforementioned honeybees, & dominated the last five minutes of the game. Possessing the ball, creating chances, flying around the Freaky goal, but, to no avail. The ball just could not find the back of the net.

Then, with under a minute left in the game, Will Suk collected the ball at midfield. He took a couple dribbles & then, with a defender on him, moved deftly to his left around the defender, & it was like the parting of the Red Sea. Nothing between him & the goal except realestate. He rushed the goal from the left & just about 3 or 4 yards from the goal, unleashed a shot that the keeper could only deflect. It appeared to go in the goal, but immediately it  caromed off the top bar & back out into the box. In an amazing display of athleticism, Bernard Anic, a defender, had followed up the play. He charged into the goal, & as the ball came out into the middle of the box, one-timed it into the back of the net for the tieing goal. As I looked up at the clock, it showed 53 seconds! Wow. Nothing quite like cutting it close. But the game was still not over. Lot's of time.

The last seconds of the game were frenetic, with SSL having more chances to pull out the victory, but it was not to be. As the clock ticked down to 00:00, both teams shook hands & walked off the field, having to settle for a hard-fought, exciting, thrilling, 3-3 tie. But this story has yet another chapter. SSL will meet Freaky for a second time this session on 3/26. As it turns out, it is the last regular season game of the session. Could a berth in the finals be on the line? Stay tuned. It'll be fun......& nerve-wracking! Thanks for reading.

IT'S COMING.....

"LOUISVILLE"!!!!!

 SSL will be taking two teams to Louisville this year. An O-30 & an O-40. Write down these dates: Saturday, April 25th & Sunday, April 26th. As is usually case, we'll all be leaving on Friday the 24th & heading to the hotel. As soon as I get the hotel info, I'll pass it along.

So, those of you that plan on playing, let me know. I'll be putting the roster together soon. Stay tuned. I'll have more info soon.

	SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-30
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	EDIN CORALIC		2	2	0	4
	DAVID HIPPERSON		1	2	0	4
	MICHAEL POROPAT		2	1	1	3
	SLADAN KURTOVIC		2	0	2	2
	BERNARD ANIC		2	1	0	2
	WILL SUK		2	0	1	1
	CASEY WALSH		2	0	0	0
	TONY MEADOWS		2	0	0	0
	DAVID SHELTON		2	0	0	0
	JAYSON ADELSBERGER		0	0	0	0
	RONNIE ROWDEN		1	0	0	0
	JOHNNY PENS		1	0	0	0
	MIKE HOGAN		1	0	0	0

Date			Location
Thu 2/12 9:50 PM	W 3-1	Sinclair & Rush	Concord, Field 3
Thu 2/19 11:25 PM	T 3-3	Freaky Shakra	Concord, Field 1
Thu 2/26 7:05 PM	55 minutes	PLS Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 3
Thu 3/5 7:45 PM	55 minutes	at CD Cobras(BLUE)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/12 9:35 PM	55 minutes	at Phillips Insurance (Super Mario)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/19 10:30 PM	55 minutes	Phillips Insurance (Super Mario)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/26 6:20 PM	55 minutes	at Freaky Shakra	Concord, Field 2

O-40 BOUNCES BACK FROM LOSS IN FINALS

SHORT-HANDED SIDE RUN PAST VETTA BLUE

Short-handed as the SSL side was, they still managed to run & gun past Vetta Blue to the tune of 8-2. It could have been more, had they finished on their multiple opportunities.

Led by, as usual, Steve (The Chief) Rankin, with 3 goals & 3 assists, & Marty (I have no nick-name) Issa, who chipped in with his own hat-trick to add to the festivities, SSL dominated from the outset. They scored shortly after center-off, taking the early lead, & never looked back. Passing the ball smartly, they created multiple scoring chances, but, early on, couldn't capitalize. But it was like a ticking clock. Everyone was waiting for the dam to burst. The Vetta Blue defense was bending but not breaking. Finally, it did.

Later in the first half, SSL notched their 2nd, 3rd & 4th goals, to only one from the opposition, to take a 4-1 lead into the half. Covering in goal for regular keeper John Kozuscek, recovering from minor surgury, was David Shelton who turned in a stellar performance, yielding only single tallies in each half.

Picking up where they left off in the first half, the SSL side scored early against this very good Vetta Blue side, but Vetta had no answer for the SSL agressiveness, speed & offense. Finishing up with four more second half goals, SSL posted a solid, workmanlike 8-2 win in their first game back after a heart-breaking 5-4 loss in last weeks finals.

Speaking of that final match last week, the SSL side's next match next week, is against the very same opponent they lost to in that match, Maddox. Game is scheduled for 8:30. Should be an interesting contest to say the least. I'm sure SSL will feel that they have something to prove & will show up ready to play. So, stay tuned folks, because that'll be an entertaining game. Hope to see you all there. Thanks for reading.

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME			GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	GAMES
	STEVE RANKIN			3	3	9	1
	MARTY ISSA			3	0	6	1
	WALLY STOKES			1	1	3	1
	JOHNNY PENS			0	2	2	1
	TIM KELLEY			1	0	2	1
	JOHN BOKERN			0	1	1	1
	TODD LORETTA			0	0	0	0
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG			0	0	0	1
	JOE BEHR			0	0	0	0
	BOB JANKO			0	0	0	0
	DUCKY MAURER			0	0	0	0
	JOHN KOZUSCEK			0	0	0	0
	PHIL MALONEY			0	0	0	0

Date			Location
Tue 2/17 7:35 PM	W 7-2	at Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/24 8:30 PM	55 minutes	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/3 9:25 PM	55 minutes	at Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/17 9:25 PM	55 minutes	Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/24 9:25 PM	55 minutes	Shamrocks 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 3/31 7:35 PM	55 minutes	JS (tues 40+)	Concord, Field 3
Tue 4/7 8:30 PM	55 minutes	Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3

HERCULEAN EFFORT SECURES DIFFICULT WIN

UNDEFEATED IN NINE STRAIGHT

 It sure appeared that this new session was going to get off to a rocky start. SSL opponent, Sinclair & Rush, got a head start on the new session with a game last week, while SSL had a bye, posting a solid, if not flashy win over last sessions championship finalst, & SSL opponent in that championship match, the CD Cobra's. So, they had all their players & were fired up to unseat the current defending champs.

As the SSL boys looked around in the pre-game warm-ups, not a lot of black shirts could be found. As it turned out, fully five players, some excused, some not excused, ultimately did not make it for this match. SSL short-handed, S&R on a hot streak, certainly made things appear bleak for the SSL boys. Frankly, it looked a little grim.

The match started with SSL having three subs. Not bad, but S&R was loaded, pumped up & running five on & five off. It was certainly going to be an uphill battle. As it was, S&R came out flying, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at SSL. But they withstood the onslaught, countered with a few chances of their own, & slowly but surely, weathered the S&R storm, & little by little, possessed more of the play.

About midway thru the first half, SSL struck first. Sladan Kurtovic gave Edin Coralic a nice ball at the top of the box, where Edin, with his back to the goal & a defender hanging on his back, turned to his left & in one quick motion, let loose a shot that fooled the keeper & found the back of the net. There was much complaining by S&R, alleging a foul on the play. However the play stood & SSL took the first lead of the game. The S&R pace picked up markedly after that.

But the SSL side continued to play brilliant defense, holding S&R to long range or bad angle chances that keeper David Shelton had little trouble handling. The half ended with SSL hanging on to a precarious 1-0 lead, on the goal by Coralic,  the only tally of the half.

The 2nd half started much like the first half, with a lot of end to end action, physicality & the pace was frenetic. But it appeared that S&R was losing a bit of steam & speed & gradually SSL continued to establish possession & opportunity, & pressed the attack. Shortly thereafter, again on another Kurtovic assist, Michael Poropat extended the SSL lead to 2-0 with a bomb on a 2nd effort in the box. After Poropat's initial shot  was blocked, he followed it up & pounced on the loose ball & hammered it home. It was a beautiful thing.

Just a short time after the Poropat goal, he found himself involved in yet another scoring chance for SSL, when he chested a ball at the edge of the box to teammate Edin Coralic, who converted a rocket for his 2nd goal of the game, upping the score to 3-0, further tightening the noose around the S&R neck. After that scoring play, Coralic, who's been playing with a strained hamstring, left the game & the SSL side was down to two subs. Not to worry.

During the remaining time, the SSL side deftly killed off a penalty, & continued their relentless attack. But, S&R, being persistent, finally broke their scoring drought when they slipped in behind a defender & hit a bad angle shot that skipped off Shelton's knee & into the back of the net, breaking up the shutout.

But it was a yeoman's effort by the undermanned SSL side that saved the day against a most formidible opponent. Just a couple subs, 3 goals for & only one against! Yeah, that's a good days work. Well done.

Next week should prove to be an interesting match, to say the least. The opponent, Freaky Shakra comes into this match sporting a 2-0 record. The last time these two met, was on last November 6th, in the Championship, won by Freaky, 6-4. So, we'll have two undefeated teams, one the defending champ (SSL), the other currently in first, & it'll be their first meeting since that championship match. It'll be fun. Hope you can join us. Thanks for reading!

	SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-30
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	EDIN CORALIC		1	2	0	4
	MICHAEL POROPAT		1	1	1	3
	SLADAN KURTOVIC		1	0	2	2
	WILL SUK		1	0	0	0
	CASEY WALSH		1	0	0	0
	TONY MEADOWS		1	0	0	0
	BERNARD ANIC		1	0	0	0
	DAVID SHELTON		1	0	0	0
	JAYSON ADELSBERGER		0	0	0	0
	RONNIE ROWDEN		0	0	0	0
	DAVID HIPPERSON		0	0	0	0
	JOHNNY PENS		0	0	0	0
	MIKE HOGAN		0	0	0	0

Date			Location
Thu 2/12 9:50 PM	W 3-1	Sinclair & Rush	Concord, Field 3
Thu 2/19 11:25 PM	55 minutes	Freaky Shakra	Concord, Field 1
Thu 2/26 7:05 PM	55 minutes	PLS Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 3
Thu 3/5 7:45 PM	55 minutes	at CD Cobras(BLUE)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/12 9:35 PM	55 minutes	at Phillips Insurance (Super Mario)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/19 10:30 PM	55 minutes	Phillips Insurance (Super Mario)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 3/26 6:20 PM	55 minutes	at Freaky Shakra	Concord, Field 2

SQUANDER 3 GOAL LEAD

SUFFER DISAPPOINTING CHAMPIONSHIP LOSS

After a fast start & amassing a three goal half-time lead, the wheels came off the wagon, & the SSL O-40 side ended up on the short end of a 5-4 final in the championship match of the O-40 division.

They sprinted out to a quick 1-0 lead on a very nice unassisted effort by Joe Behr, early in the first half. They followed up with a second goal on a bomb by Steve Schlichtig, also unassisted, to put SSL up 2-0. Schlichtig later in the half notched his second goal of the contest, putting SSL up 3-0, before Maddox finally found the back of the net, closing the score to 3-1.

But Tim Kelley immediately took the air out of the Maddox sails with a running rocket, quickly regaining their 3 goal advantage & upping the score to 4-1. The SSL side coasted into the break with a 4-1, 3 goal advantage, leading everyone to believe that this one might already be in the bag. However, the 2nd half was a night & day difference from the first.

It seemed as though the SSL side took their foot off the gas in the 2nd. Little possession, few opportunities, poor marking & the result was zero goals. While the SSL side was being shutout in the 2nd, the Maddox side, albeit short-handed with only one sub but a veteran crew, played possession, knocked the ball around, created many opportunities, & capitalized on their chances, finding the back of the net four times in the 2nd half to take a 5-4 lead & ultimately the championship.

The SSL side appeared to be on their heels most of the 2nd half, creating very little, & turning the ball over often. They had that "deer in headlights" look about them, & just couldn't muster up the necessary creativity & firepower to close out the match. Kudos to the Maddox side for their composure under pressure, after finding themselves down 3 goals. Other teams may not have been able to pull off that feat.

The 2nd half also featured a lot of physical play. The later in the match & the closer the score, the chippier it got. As a result, 3, 2 minute penalties were handed out. Two for SSL & one for Maddox. Those penalties certainly didn't help the SSL effort.

But in the end it was the improvement in the play by the Maddox side late in the game that saved the day for them. That & the falloff in play by the SSL side. If there was a bright spot on the evening, it was the play of SSL defender John Bokern. His stellar performance, both defending & attacking, went unrewarded however. As one of his teammates told me, " if we all played as well as 'Bokes', we would have won the game handily. How true!

Well, as one of my former players always used to say, "You're only as good as your last game, so hurry up & play another game". So it all starts over again next week. See you then. Thanks for reading.

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME			GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	GAMES
	STEVE RANKIN			23	9	55	7
	JOHNNY PENS			8	9	25	7
	TODD LORETTA			6	6	18	7
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG			8	5	21	7
	JOE BEHR			7	1	15	3
	TIM KELLEY			4	4	12	7
	WALLY STOKES			1	6	8	8
	BOB JANKO			1	5	7	7
	JOHN BOKERN			2	0	4	7
	MARTY ISSA			2	0	4	4
	DUCKY MAURER			0	3	3	7
	JOHN KOZUSCEK				1	1	8

Date			Location
Tue 12/9 9:25 PM	W 9-0	at Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 12/16 7:35 PM	L 5-10	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 12/23 8:30 PM	W 10-1	at Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/6 8:30 PM	W 7-0	Shamrocks 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/13 7:35 PM	W 11-5	Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/20 9:25 PM	W 12-3	Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/3 8:30 PM	L 3-8	Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/10 8:30 PM	L 4-5	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW FIZZLES

SAME TWO TEAMS NEXT WEEK

In a scheduling quirk, a preview of next weeks championship match between SSL O-40 & Maddox took place this past Tuesday. It seems the two teams that will face each other in that match, also had a regularly scheduled match in week #7. Things did not go well for the SSL in this contest.

Improvement needs to come in the area of defensive marking. Maddox, a seasoned, crafty, well disiplined side, when given time, can move the ball with the best of them. That usually results in goals. This past Tuesday was no exception. They were given too much time & space, connected on a high percentage of their passes. When they had the opportunity to score, they made no mistake.

Maddox, the O-30 champions the previous session as well, started very quickly, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown, & scored in the first minute of the game. They continued to press the attach, for which the SSL side had no answer, & piled up a 4-0 lead before SSL found the back of the net, resulting in a 4-1 lead at the half for the Maddox side.

The second half was not much better. SSL finished on two more chances, but Maddox netted four more, put it on cruise-control, & rode out the remaining time for an 8-3 win.

Next Tuesday is the rematch. SSL will have to shore up their marking & team defense if they are to have a chance. Previously, in this sessions second game, SSL lost to Maddox 9-5. To this point, SSL had lost three straight games to the Maddox side, after winning the first two. So, something needs to change. On a positive note, in last sessions sixth game, the SSL side was down 4-0 & charged back to win 7-6 in a thriller. So, it can be done. It just remains to be seen if they can recapture the majic of that game in which they played so well last session.

In any case, it shoud be a very good match, & we hope you can join us. Thanks for reading.

The standings & stats follow:

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME			GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	STEVE RANKIN			23	9	55
	JOHNNY PENS			8	9	25
	TODD LORETTA			6	5	17
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG			6	5	17
	JOE BERRA			6	0	12
	TIM KELLEY			3	4	10
	WALLY STOKES			1	6	8
	BOB JANKO			1	5	7
	JOHN BOKERN			2	0	4
	MARTY ISSA			2	0	4
	DUCKY MAURER			0	3	3
	JOHN KOZUSCEK				1	1

Date			Location
Tue 12/9 9:25 PM	W 9-0	at Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 12/16 7:35 PM	L 5-10	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 12/23 8:30 PM	W 10-1	at Vetta 40+ BLUE TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/6 8:30 PM	W 7-0	Shamrocks 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/13 7:35 PM	W 11-5	Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 1/20 9:25 PM	W 12-3	Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/3 8:30 PM	L 3-8	Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 2/10 8:30 PM	55 minutes	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3