Game Notes for Today

JV plays first at 4:15 PM. Be there by no later than 3:30 PM at WAIS. Wear blue jerseys shorts and socks

Varsity plays second at 5:45 PM. We will warm up on practice field starting at 5:00 PM. Do not be later than 5:00 PM. Starting lineups for both games and notes to be sent via email later today.

LETS ROCK AND ROLL! See you there boys!

Banging on the door

We pushed and prodded Bangor, including a wonderful header from Beezo that their GK had to go full stretch to save. We tried some different things but in the end we could not break through the SLATE wall Bangor had built for us. The field was tough for how we like to play. JV lost a tough won 3-2 with two goals from Ben Taube. Lucas Parada was man of the match and provided rigidity to the back line. I am proud of them – nice job leading them Rocco!

The good:

Our backline held the line again. 4 Straight clean-sheets. It will be 5 by the end of Tuesday. Great job to Connor, Owen, Keerat, Nolan, and Noah.

Our midfield works so hard always. Dillard, Danny, Steven, and Harnit go full gas. Danny won so many challenged headers, Dillard is always there to collect the second ball, Steven harrasses and finds the ball and Harnit ran 70 yards to stop a counter. He is our MAN OF THE MATCH.

When we strung together our quick passes and moved the ball quickly we looked good and created our most promising chances.

I heard players taking responsibility for their play – Braden and Danny came to mind (others did it too) – when something went wrong, they owned their part in it. They are amazing players and were humble enough to own any mistake. We can all learn from that!

The looking to improve:

When we get frustrated, we have a tendency to start to take it out on each other – unfortunately a tough human instinct. I talked about this on the bus. Dealing with frustration in a useful way is part of maturing. We will get better at it. We MUST always stay together.

Breaking down a parked bus. Quick lateral movement and looking far post to take advantage of their shift. They really left very little space in the shooting areas so we will work on this.

Moving away from Hero Ball – the idea of hoping someone will make 3 guys miss and pound a rocket from 20 yards. This discourages smart runs and creative play. Every one of our players is a hero but we MUST link up more – quick passes!

It is frustrating not to win, particularly when you control the game like we did. That said, I am blessed with a wonderful team and great boys – all of them. We will be back at it Monday and look to take out our angst against those Blue Bombers of Palmerton.

Who are we?

HUGE game. We need to hit this game full gas mentally and physically. Let me see today a mature, consistent, high octane, communicating, smart, and determined team. Don’t get stretched vertically, and move the ball out and in to force their backline to rotate and look for those 1 2’s on the doorstep. Be aggressive in pressing, no balls to feet, if they get the ball to feet, no turn. Do these things, we win. It’s always us we need to think about. The opponent is just nameless faces in a different colored jersey.

BUS LEAVES at 11:00 AM. WEAR WHITES.

XC players will meet us at the game in all likelihood.

Looks like storms will be later so I think we get the games in.

JV plays first then varsity.

LETS GO WARRIORS. TOUGH, HUMBLE, TOGETHER.

Practice Today, Game Tomorrow, and Varsity Letter Point Update, and Schedule Change

Practice Today

Today will be a recovery practice so we will spend a little more time on the stretching and loosening up followed by drills on recovering the ball and moving it quickly among others. We will also work on corners.

BEFORE 3:00 PM, please work on your touches by juggling in a group. Mix with different guys. Groups of 5 maybe at the most. PLEASE MIX. Help another if they aren’t up to your level. Have fun.

Games Tomorrow

Bus leaves at 11:00 AM tomorrow for Bangor. JV plays first at 12:30 with Varsity at 2:00 PM. Wear whites

Varsity Letter leaders update:

Benevides 176

Thatcher 164

Jones 156

Great job boys! Many others in a tight pack after these guys.

Schedule CHANGE:

Palmerton 9/9. JV will play first at 4:15 PM, Varsity to Follow at 5:45 PM.

Fun and Gratitude

Nice to get the win tonight in what became a maelstrom. Our back line had to put in a shift today and I am proud of you. Jeff, you are the man of the match today – some superb, desperate saves. It is always fun to work hard and win.

I am really thankful for guys who help so much behind the scenes. Landon got the veo camera up, steve P and lucas and others helped with the music gear setting up and breaking down, Jeremiah and Liam as ballrunners, Alex helping with everything, Cooper Benevides helping get balls out, and I am sure I am missing some names. I love you all and you are critical gears in our transmission.

Tomorrow

EVERYONE wear your BLUE and GOLD tomorrow. Just BLUE for JV players if you do not have a varsity jersey. If you don’t wear the jersey, you will not start. LOVE your team!

Report to field by no later than 3:15 PM. Pre-match talk at 3:25 PM and then warm-up.

When you warm up I need to see a team determined to win and represent the blue and gold in the best way possible.

To all the players who show up on time, work hard, listen, and try to get better every day, we notice and thank you! Starting lineups will reflect this. If you haven’t been doing these things, reach out to me and recommit to being your best. Good to great. Boys to men. Be YOUR best for the TEAM. These are our goals.

Line-up and game plan to be sent via email tonight or early tomorrow.

Schedule Change

Senior Night is confirmed for Saturday 9/27 at 7:00 PM with ceremony before kickoff. Our opponent is Palisades. Palisades does not have a JV. The AD is trying to find an opponent for them to play prior to Varsity. Stay tuned.

Schedule Change for Saturday

Varsity will Play at 2:00 PM @Bangor

JV will Play at 12:30 PM @Bangor

Bus will depart at 11:30 or so. More specifics to come.

This was done to help get our runners there for the game. They cannot change their meet times because of the scheduling.