O-40 BOUNCES BACK FROM LAST WEEKS LOSS
EVEN RECORD AT 2-2
Following last weeks forgettable loss, it would be easy to assume that SSL would follow that up with yet another disappointing performance. As it was, at the outset, that's exactly the appearance they gave. Early in the first half, they found themselves down 2-0. That score has followed both they & the SSL O-30 team around for the past month or so.
The O-40 side found themselves down 0-2 to both the Lampert & Vetta Red teams, prior to this early 0-2 deficit versus Vetta Blue. The SSL O-30 side, for their part, were down 0-2 in 3 of their first 4 matches as well. However, in spite of these poor starts, the SSL sides were able to win 4 of those 6 matches. Certainly not the way you want to start a game. Obviously, this trend needs to cease, or it will make for a long session.
In this game, however, the SSL side hitched its wagon to the offense provided by Gianni Pens & his three goals on the evening. He now leads the team with 10. The fourth goal of the evening, one of the spectacular variety, came off the foot of James Ahearn. Ahearn collected the ball in the defensive end, raced the length of the field, slashed by a flatfooted defender, & fired a ball quickly past a startled keeper.
On the strength of those four tallies, & sturdy defense, SSL held on & notched a much needed win. Regarding the defense, substitue goal keeper Steve Rankin filled in for an excused absence by John Kozuscek & turned in a terrific performance. He limited the opponents opportunities by pouncing on shots & loose balls, & not giving up any dangerous 2nd & 3rd chances. That defense, combined with an opportunistic offense, was just enough to bring home a winner & help erase the memories of the previous weeks painfull loss.
Next up for the O-40 side will be a difficult test. Looming on the horizon is the Lampert side, currently occupying first place by a single point over the SSL side. Adding some excitement to this match is the fact that it is the first time the SSL side will participate in the new Vetta Initiative, called "Flex Scheduling". In this format, a team can find themselves playing their league match on another day of the week. This idea is supposed to avert byes. We shall see. In any event, it should be interesting to see how players react when called on to play thier league game on another night. I'll keep you posted on that one. In any case, the match versus Lampert will be this Wednesday @ 7pm. So, stay tuned. 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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JOHNNY PENS
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4
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10
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3
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23
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STEVE RANKIN
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4
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2
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2
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6
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BOB JANKO
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4
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1
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3
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5
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CHRIS CARPENTER
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3
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2
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0
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4
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MIKE 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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JOE BAER
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1
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1
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1
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3
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JIM AHEARN
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3
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1
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0
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2
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DOMINIC ANIC
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2
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0
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1
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1
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WALLY STOKES
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3
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0
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1
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1
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TIM KELLEY
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2
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0
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0
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0
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JOHN KOZUSCEK
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2
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0
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0
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0
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KEN BRIGDEN
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1
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0
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0
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0
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MARTY ISSA
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0
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0
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0
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0
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STEVE SCHLICHTIG
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0
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0
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0
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0
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TODD LORETTA
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0
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0
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0
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0
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