SSO O-40, 3, LAMPERT, 2
BLACK SHIRTS HANG ON
NOTCH TWO 1 GOAL WINS
This match was unlike any other match that the SSL O-40 side has played since 9/29/09. They had two subs! Not since that September match, one they lost to this same Lampert side, have they had as many as two subs. In the previous 4 matches, SSL fielded 0, 1,1 & now 2 subs. That alone would have been cause for a celebration, had it not been for the victory in this hard-fought, white-knuckle nailbiter of a contest.
In the history of matches between SSL & Lampert in this O-40 division, SSL jumped out to a strong start, winning the first four games. However, SSL then lost the next four, including three last session, resulting in four wins for each side. So, this match last Tuesday would be the tie-breaker. And what a match it was.
The Black Shirts were feeling good about this match, what with two subs & two new players in the form of Ed Muehlhausler & Tim Ford. To further that feeling of confidence, the Black Shirts scored first, &, for that matter, second as well. Ken Bridgen started the scoring for the SSL side with a nice turn to his right with his back to the goal, inside the box & letting go with a quick left-footed shot that found the lower left corner of the goal, getting the black shirts on the board first.
Gianni Pens followed that up with his 4th goal of the campaign & 1st of the evening with a shot from just outside the box that just eluded the Lampert keeper, increasing the black shirts lead to 2-0. Shortly after scoring the 2nd goal of the game, the black shirts dodged a bullet when keeper John Kozcusek snatched a ball off the boards at the corner of the goal, with a Lampert player standing over him, just waiting for the rebound that never came.
They would maintain that lead until the 12 minute mark, when the Lampert side tallied their first goal of the evening, closing the SSL lead to 2-1. Then, just a moment later, in response to the Lampert tally, SSL hit paydirt again.
On a counter from the SSL defensive end, Gianni Pens found himself in a scramble in the box, but still had the composure to get off a shot from the right side. That shot caromed off the crossbar, & back out to the left side of the box where a waiting Tim Ford, showing great patience, one-timed the rebound with a rocket back into the far corner of the net. That upped the SSL lead to 3-1 with only 27 ticks of the old Bulova left in the half, once again regaining that all important 2 goal cushion. They would need it!
With both teams making constant runs up & down the pitch, & generally making life miserable for both keepers, the score remained the same all the way to the interval, with neither side able to add to the score.
In spite of the fact that the black shirts good fortune of having two subs, fatigue would still be a factor. As the match grew late & the SSL players slow getting back, Lampert continued to apply pressure on the defense & in particular the keeper, Kozcusek. Both would rise to the challenge as the match concluded. Lampert continued countering & the attacks ultimately resulted in a ball that an unmarked forward buried in the top right hand corner of the goal, narrowing the lead to 3-2, making everyone's collar just a little tighter.
During the last 5 or 6 minutes of the match, the black shirts were playing keep-away, knocking the ball around, maintaining possession. Sometimes this is good, & others it's bad. If you don't go for the goal, & just maintain the lead & possession, you won't score & perhaps give your opponent an opportunity. On the other hand, if you perform it well, you'll maintain the lead & lock down the win. That was the plan. However, Lampert was having something to say about that.
As successfully as the black shirts performed the keep-away, the Lampert side still got their opportunities. The later in the match it got. the more chances Lampert had. With about 3 minutes left, Kozcusek was called on to make a kick-save to his left, that, had he not made it, would have tied the score. Both Kozcusek & the defense continued to repel the relentless Lampert side, with the keeper saving the bacon again & again.
Then, one of the biggest scares of the match came with only about 5 seconds left. A Lampert player, standing just outside a very crowded SSL box, serviced a crossing ball from right to left, that was bending into the upper left corner, just out of reach of Kozcusek & just out of reach of another Lampert player stationed at the corner of the goal. It continued past the goal & into the corner of the playing field just as time expired. The black shirts were both happy & lucky to be able to hang on, & notch this difficult, well-played, 1 goal win.
With that win, SSL moved back into 1st place with a 3 -1 record. However, the 2nd place team, Triad Painting, having only played 3 matches to the black shirts 4, have a game in hand. However, it's always nice to be in first no matter the game count.
Next up will be Vintage Utd., @ 7:45 & in two weeks, a rematch with this same Lampert side. Soccer isn't just a game, folks, it's an adventure. Thanks for reading.
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SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
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NAME
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GAMES
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GOALS
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ASSISTS
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POINTS
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GIANNI PENS
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4
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4
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4
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12
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STEVE RANKIN
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3
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5
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1
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11
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JOE BAER
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4
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2
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5
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9
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KEN BRIGDEN
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4
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3
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1
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7
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WALLY STOKES
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4
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0
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1
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3
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MICHAEL HARTSOOK
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3
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1
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1
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3
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STUART INTAGLIATA
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2
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1
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0
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2
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TIM FORD
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1
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1
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0
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2
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JOHN KOZUSCEK
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4
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0
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1
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1
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ED MUEHLHAUSLER
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1
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0
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0
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0
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Warning: Your facilities tie breaker rules and rankings may not follow the rules above.
SSL O-30, 7, PLS ZOOM, 6
O-30 WIN STREAK REACHES FIVE
SURVIVE SLUGFEST
You may look at the final score of this match & ask, "where was the defense". Don't be mislead. This was an offensive shootout. The goals that were scored weren't the fault of either keeper. The goal scoring was the result of persistant & aggressive offense. In fact, the "Man of the Match" turned out to be the SSL keeper, John Kozcusek. How you say? You should have seen the match.
In spite of SSL holding on to record the well-earned & deserved victory, they were outshot & Kozcusek turned away more than 30 shots for the match. As it was, 3 of the Zoom tallies were on man-advantage counters & a fourth was as a result of a two minute penalty. The black shirts, thru the course of the match, also managed to squander 2 goals leads on two different occaisions, putting Kozcusek in a position where he couldn't make a mistake. It appeared to be one of those matches where the team that scored last would win the match. In fact, it looked like, following the end of the game, as if the Zoom didn't lose, they just ran out of time. It truly was exciting soccer.
Both teams sprinted out of the blocks. These two sides have some history between them, & they came to play. The Zoom drew first blood. Five minutes in, a Zoom forward, who accounted for four of their six goals, hit a bomb from just outside the top left corner of the box. That put the Zoom on top, 1-0. The black shirts would answer quickly.
Gianni Pens got SSL on the board. David Hipperson, controlling the ball down low in the box, let go with a shot the keeper deflected. However, Pens was right there & pounced on the bouncing ball, tucking it into the back of the net for a 1 all score. Then the black shirts caught fire.
Hipperson scored the 2nd SSL goal & first of three straight on a blistering shot from outside the box, giving the black shirts their first lead of the game at 2-1. Edin Coralic then got into the act contributing a goal to the proceedings on a hustle play down in the box, following up on his own rebound & increased the SSL lead to 3-1. It all looked very comfortable. It wasn't.
At about the 10 minute mark of the first half, as a result of an inadvertant handball, SSL was awarded a two minute penalty. While short-handed, SSL could not turn back the Zoom & they scored their 2nd goal of the match, narrowing the score to 3-2. This ignited the Zoom side even further, & sent them on a tear during which they scored two more goals, resulting in their 2nd lead of the game at 4-3. This match was back & forth from start to finish. At that point, momentum had completely vacated the black shirt bench & taken a spot over on the Zoom side. Having squandered a 2 goal lead, taking a two minute penalty that resulted in a Zoom goal & finding themselves behind for the second time in the match appeared to have taken its toll. But, enter Guillermo Cortez.
Late in the first half, trailing by a goal at 4-3, Cortez singlehandedly evened the score. He collected the ball down deep in the corner & worked his way past several defenders toward the top of the box. At that point he had created a little space. It was all he needed. He let go with a left-footed rocket that blew by the keeper into the back of the net, tieing the score at 4. All the black shirts took a deep breath of relief. They were back in the match. The score at the interval was 4-4, & there was more where that came from.
The 2nd half started much as the first half ended, with a goal by the black shirts. Jason Adelsberger got into the act. After being denied all the first half on two or three memorable chances, that would not be the case in the 2nd. Again finding himself in a scramble in the box, he was able to get off a shot that caromed off a couple bodies. But, showing a lot of hustle as he always does, he followed up on the rebound & re-directed it into the vacated goal, giving SSL a coveted 5-4 lead. That lead was short-lived, again.
The Zoom came right back, knocking in their 5th & tieing goal of the match on yet another man-advantage counter. Kozcusek would have no chance. The black shirts thruout the match had pressed the action, getting a lot of chances, taking the lead & continuing to pressure the Zoom. But the Zoom would only bend, not break, & it was game-on at 5-5.
It was a stalemate for much of the rest of the half, with opportunities for both sides, but nothing to show for it. At one point it seemed this match may result in a tie. No, not a chance! As time continued to trickle down, Coralic again put a jolt in the SSL offense. On a seemingly innocent play with about 6 minutes left in the tie game, he collected the ball from a black shirt defender, just between the center line & red line, with his back to the goal. Unmarked, he casually turned, looked up, & let go with a lazer that whistled past the startled Zoom keeper & into the upper left corner of the goal, giving SSL the lead once again at 6-5 in this crazy game. Still, the Zoom kept coming.
With just under 5 minutes remaining, the Zoom cashed in again, scoring thier 6th goal of the match, again knotting the score at 6. This was the third time this match was tied. There were still 4+ minutes left in this game, plenty of time for more fireworks. Those fireworks were happily provided by David Hipperson.
At about the 4 minute mark, Adelsberger was down in the left hand corner of the Zoom end & spied Hipperson at the top box. He turned & gave Hipperson the ball quickly. Hipperson, with his back to the goal at the top right hand corner & marked tightly, turned to his left. But, he couldn't shake the defender. He put one more move on the defender, giving him just enough space to quickly slot the ball into the back of the vacated goal for yet another SSL lead at 7-6 & Hippersons 2nd goal of the match. This lead would finally stand up. But not without some last minute trepidation & heroics on the part of the SSL defense & the keeper Kozsucek as they turned away a couple of last minute desperate attempts.
But, as time wound down to all zeros, the black shirts found themselves riding a modest 5 game winning streak, & maintaining their hold on first place with a 4-0 record. However, that could all change next week. Vetta, with their creative scheduling practices, managed to have SSL play Sinclair & Rush twice in a row earlier this session, & now they find that they are priveleged to play the Zoom twice in a row as well, albeit next Thursdays match will be at 7:05 on everyones favorite field, #3. That will be followed by the SSL session Bar B Q on the parking lot immediately following the match. Hope to see you then. Thanks for reading.
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SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-30
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NAME
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GAMES
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GOALS
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ASSISTS
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POINTS
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DAVID HIPPERSON
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4
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5
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8
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18
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GUILLERMO CORTEZ
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4
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7
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3
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17
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JAYSON ADELSBERGER
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4
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6
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2
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14
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EDIN CORALIC
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4
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5
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3
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13
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MIKE HOGAN
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4
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2
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1
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5
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WILL SUK
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3
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1
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2
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4
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GIANNI PENS
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4
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2
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0
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4
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RONNIE ROWDEN
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3
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0
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2
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2
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BERNARD ANIC
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2
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0
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2
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2
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TONY MEADOWS
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4
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0
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2
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2
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CASEY WALSH
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4
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0
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2
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2
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Posted: 12:33 PM, Nov. 8, 2009 |
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