SSL O-30 HANGS ON

WIN WHITE-KNUCKLE NAIL BITER, 2-1

After this game I no longer wonder why I have gray hair. PLS Zoom is a formidible opponent. Always one of the top teams in the league & always recruiting new players to keep them one of the top teams. SSL knew they'd have their hands full. In fact, the last time these two faced each other last session, SSL hung on in that one posting an improbable 8-6 win after leading 7-0 at one point & 7-2 at the half. There was little difference in this one save for considerably less scoring. The intensity level & pace of the game were the same.

SSL got started early. In his first shift of the game, in the first 3 minutes of the game, in the first game he's played with the O-30 side, James Ahearn subbed on at about the 20 minute mark. Goalie David Shelton spied Ahearn running towards the Zoom goal, unmarked, & he hit him in stride with a strong, accurate throw, which Ahearn corralled, turned, & hit a bomb into the upper right hand corner for a 1-0 lead. This with only 3 minutes gone off the clock &  just 10 seconds into his shift. James, welcome to the team!

After that quick goal, both teams exchanged offensive sorties, however, both keepers were up to the challenge & neither team could finish. SSL threatened many times in the half, but were consistently turned aside by the Zoom keeper. Then, late in the first half, SSL carried the ball into the left corner & slotted the ball to Will Suk stationed at the top of the box. His shot was blocked by the Zoom keeper but caromed wildly to an onrushing Sladan Kurtovic, who one-timed a shot past the out of postition keeper for a 2-0 lead, which they rode to the interval. SSL was feeling better about their chances with a two goal cushion. They would need that cushion!

Early in the 2nd half, the SSL side was having great difficulty clearing the ball from their own end during a Zoom counter. As the ball bounced from side to side & player to player, in the midst of the mad scramble, a Zoom forward was the fortunate recipient of a loose ball that he immediately pounced on & shot past a screened SSL keeper, narrowing the score to 2-1. Now things were about to really heat up.

The remainder of the game found both teams with multiple chances. SSL appeared to have more & better chances, but, no matter. In a game this close & this tense, it's not about the chances, it's about the finishes. But neither team could add to their goal total. James Ahearn, Will Suk & Jayson Adelsberger each had chances alone in front but were turned back by excellent goal keeping.

In one instance late in the half, on the SSL defensive end, the Zoom had countered, creating a lot of offensive pressure. A Zoom defender ran onto a ball, took a shot that was a rocket, & it appeared this ball was destined to settle into the back of the SSL net. Then, out of nowhere, after being screened by players from both sides, keeper David Shelton somehow managed to see the shot & jumped up & far to his right to deflect the ball harmlessly into the corner. What a nerve-wracking game. As the match drew to a close, I could feel more hair turning gray by the minute. It was that exciting.

But, that's the way it finished, a 2-1 win for the SSL side over a very impressive PLS Zoom, a team that will be heard from again & one that will certainly be a factor in determining the champion of this division.

Next week, the white-knuckle ride continues with a match against the always tough Freaky Shakra side. That game will take place on field #1 @ 8:30. Hope you can join us. Thanks for reading.

Projected Indy Rosters                    7/18 & 7/19, 2009

O-30

1.    Dave Shelton

2.    Casey Walsh

3.    Tony Meadows

4.    Bernard Anic

5.    Sladan Kurtovic

6.    David Hipperson

7.    Jayson Adelsberger

8.    Edin Coralic

9.    Will Suk

10.  Guillermo Cortez

11.  Mondo Fernandez

12.  ?

O-40

1.     Todd Loretta

2.     Tim Kelley

3.     Johnny Pens

4.     Bob Janko

5.     James Ahearn

6.     Steve Rankin

7.     Wally Stokes

8.     Ken Brigden

9.     Mike Hogan

10.   Ronnie Rowden

11.   Michael Hartsook

12.   Ed Postawko

INDY WARM-UPS

Starting this Sunday, SSL O-30 & O-40 will be playing practice games versus a variety of teams @ Ohlendorf County Park. The location of the park is just off Union. Take I-55 to west on Bayless to south on Union. Just before Union crosses over I-55, turn right on Spring. The park is on your left. Start time is 4pm.

So, take this opportunity to get some work in outside, on the grass & get acclimated to playing in the heat. There are only 5 Sundays before the Indy tourney. See you Sunday.

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

Date			Location
Thu 6/11 6:50 PM	50 minutes	Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 1
Thu 6/18 8:30 PM	50 minutes	at Freaky Shakra(WHITE/BLUE)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 6/25 7:30 PM	50 minutes	at CD Cobras(BLUE)	Concord, Field 3
Thu 7/2 8:20 PM	50 minutes	at Imos Men (GREEN)	Concord, Field 3
Thu 7/9 7:10 PM	50 minutes	Hoosier FC(BLACK)	Concord, Field 2
Thu 7/23 10:10 PM	50 minutes	Sinclair & Rush	Concord, Field 1
Thu 7/30 11:00 PM	50 minutes	Maddox 40+(BLACK)	Concord, Field 1