SSL PICKS UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
OPEN SESSION WITH WIN OVER ZOOM
Well, there's good news & bad news. The good news? Obviously the win over our rivals PLS Zoom. The bad news? We play them again on October 16th. Think they'll be looking for payback?
In what was billed as a potentially tight, hard-fought, hotly contested game between these two in this heated rivalry, turned out to be something less. Hard fought? Yes. Hotly contested? Yes. Tight? No. SSL jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a very nice finish in the box after making a couple moves past Zoom defenders, by Michael Poropat in his first game back after taking a session off. Then, super sub Joe Tarticchio, also behind the defense in the box, finished off a nice play to up the score quickly to 2-0.
Again, with SSL pressing the attack & getting behind the Zoom defense, Otto Etzel pushed the lead to 3-0, with an excellent effort inside the red line, by pushing the ball past the keeper. At that point, the SSL offense was in full stride. They continued to press the attack, forcing the Zoom to defend rather than attack & that resulted in yet another goal, this one by Guillermo Cortez, on one of his patented runs down the sideline & then finishing on a wicked, bad angle bomb, upping the score to 4-0 & that's the way the half ended.
The 2nd half was much the same. Otto Etzel netted his 2nd goal of the evening, again on an excellent effort down low, making the score 5-0. Shortly thereafter, David Hipperson chipped in with his 1st goal of the game to up the score to 6-0. Most normal thinking people would think that this game was in the bank. However, we weren't playing The Little Sisters of the Poor, this was PLS Zoom. A team that possesses a high-powered attack, great team speed & excellent skill. You give them any room at all, & they're off to the races. This game was far from over. That was evident over the next 5 minutes.
After racing to a 6-0 lead, the Zoom reorganized & pressed the attack. One of their forwards broke free of the oppressive marking that SSL was applying, raced down the field, eluded a final defender & let loose witha 15 yard bomb that found its way past the outstretched arms of keeper Dave Shelton, & into the lower right corner, making the score 6-1.
Relentless pressure over the next five minutes found the Zoom with a flurry of shots, many blocked by SSL defenders, the others saved or knocked wide by Dave Shelton, But, the SSL side couldn't clear the ball our of their own end or gain possession. The Zoom continued to press the attack. This game was far from over. Did I say that already???
Forcing the SSL side to clear the ball into their own net, resulted in a corner for the Zoom. Bang!!! Just like that, in a span of 2 minutes, the Zoom pulled to within 6-2 of SSL. The pressure was on. The Zoom is perfectly capable of scoring 4 or 5 goals in the 10 minutes left in the game. This game was far from over. I already said that, didn't I!
Then, on a quick counter, again the SSL forwards found themselves with space on the offensive end, & Johnny Pens netted a huge goal on a great shot from just inside the box into the lower right hand corner, pushing the score to 7-2. That took a lot of the wind out of the Zoom sails. Shortly after the 7th goal, Guillermo Cortez scored his 2nd of the game, again on his patented bad angle shot, to up the score to 8-2 & that was the final.
Particular note needs to be paid to the defenders & mid-fielders in this game. Not only did they add to the scoring with assists on 4 of the goals, but they continued their stellar marking & defense, limiting a tremendously talented offensive team like the Zoom to 2 goals & a handful of shots. Without them, there wouldn't be 8 goals scored.
Scoring for the evening were: Guillermo Cortez & Otto Etzel each with 2 goals & 2 helpers; David Hipperson & Joe Tarticchio each with 1 & 1; Johnny Pens & Michael Poropat each with a goal; Tony Meadows with 2 helpers & Mike Hogan with 1 helper.
This coming week, SSL has a bye, & won't play till the following week, 9/25 @ 8:55 against the Buckshots. See you then.
DON'T FORGET!!!
SOCCER ST. LOUIS REUNION
9/27/08 @ THE BOCCE CLUB
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SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS
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NAME
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GOALS
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ASSISTS
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POINTS
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GUILLERMO CORTEZ
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2
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2
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6
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OTTO ETZEL
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2
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2
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6
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DAVID HIPPERSON
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1
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1
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3
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JOE TARTICCHIO
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1
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1
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3
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MICHAEL POROPAT
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1
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0
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2
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JOHNNY PENS
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1
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0
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2
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TONY MEADOWS
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0
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2
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2
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MIKE HOGAN
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0
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1
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1
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Warning: Your facilities tie breaker rules and rankings may not follow the rules above.
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