Monday Morning Striker - 2008 Match Day 8

Northwest Suburban Soccer League
1st Division

Sting SC @ CF Jaguares
Unofficial Match Report
Sunday, June 15, 2008
9:45 AM
Elk Grove, Illinois
Weather: 70, Mostly Cloudy, light wind (S-N)

Starting Lineup:
F Matt Greenhalgh
F Brandon Caputo
M Eric Manos
M Danny Carver
M Kevin McCormick ©
M Kenny McCormick
D Keith O’Connell
D Corey Mase
D Ben Bartholomay
D Brian Black
GK Brian Stock

Reserves:
M/F John O’Connell
M Mike Burg
D Troy

Recap:
Early morning thunderstorms across the Northern half of Illinois threatened the start of the match, but by kickoff the rain clouds had already moved on. The Jaguares only had nine players show up, but that didn’t stop them from getting on the board first and dictating the pace throughout much of the first half. We simply had a hard time stringing passes together and spent the majority of the half giving the ball away instead of making the simple pass. We finally got on the board near the end of the half when a cross came in that was too far for Danny Carver glanced off his head and straight to Brain Black near the back post. Coming out of the back isn’t a very common occurrence for Black, but he managed to fire a low, hard, driven ball back through the six-yard box and inside the back post.

With the score tied at one at the break, we came out in the second half with a greater sense of purpose. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get involved right away as on the second half kickoff my knee made an awful pop that was not unlike a knuckle cracking, except it hurt. After an attempt to walk it off, I spent the next 20 minutes parked on the bench while Matt Greenhalgh got us going with a goal on a loose ball inside the penalty area. He got his second of the day on a brilliant cross out of the midfield from defender Ben Bartholomay.

I reentered the game at that point and after collecting a loose ball on the end line, my crossing attempt to Greenhalgh hit a defender in the arm and the referee made a terrible decision to award a penalty kick. Not one to turn down the gift, Matt collected his second hat trick of the season by finishing from the penalty spot. Minutes later he sent me free on a give and go and I was in alone on the goalkeeper. My scoring slump seemed as though it would continue as the goalkeeper made the initial save. However, I regained possession and was able to knock the ball in off a defender from an odd angle. A garbage goal, but I’ll take it.

A few minutes later Kevin played a ball in my direction near the top of the penalty area. After beating my man I was all alone with the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back post for my second of the game and a 6-1 lead. It looked as though John O’Connell would get in on the act as well, but as a defender closed down his space on a breakaway with just a few minutes left to play he made the decision to send the ball back out near the top of the box. I was left unmarked and ripped a one-timer that looked as though it might head into the far post. Instead, it hit a defender in the back near the penalty spot and ricocheted into the front post with the goalie out of position.

Although it wasn’t the most impressive performance, we walked away with a 7-1 victory and held onto sole possession of second place. It was a much needed road win after dropping one at home the week before that we should have won.

Man of the Match: Matt Greenhalgh

Match Day 8 Goals:
Brian Black (Danny Carver)
Matt Greenhalgh (Danny Carver)
Matt Greenhalgh (Ben Bartholomay
Matt Greenhalgh (PK)
Brandon Caputo (Matt Greenhalgh)
Brandon Caputo (Kevin McCormick)
Brandon Caputo (John O’Connell)

Record: 3-2-2
11 pts. – 2nd Place
GF: 28
GA: 17

2008 Season Totals
Goals:
8 – Matt Greenhalgh
6 – Danny Carver
4 – Brandon Caputo
2 – Jamelle McCreary
2 – John O'Connell
1 – Ben Bartholomay
1 – Mike Burg
1 – Jimmy Rosenfeld
1 – Kevin Stock
1 – Phil McMaster
1 – Brian Black

Assists:
4 – Dan Carver
3 – Brandon Caputo
3 – Rudy Schaser
1 – Mike Burg
1 – Phil McMaster
1 – Jimmy Rosenfeld
1 – Corey Mase
1 – Ben Bartholomay
1 – Matt Greenhalgh
1 – Kevin McCormick
1 – John O’Connell