Coaches Courner

Coach's Corner

Wharton 4 - Lincoln Park 1

Although this was only our third game of the season, I felt this was going to be a must win. We played so
beautifully in the first game and then came out last week and just layed an egg against a team that we
have beaten in the past. I was concerned all week that we were going to be missing Gordon, Sam and
Casey. This meant that we were not going to have any subs and so that meant that I was also going to
have to mix the lineup around a bit. What I decided to do was start Skylar in goal and move Kyle make to
the central defense with Kenny, and move Eric to left back.

It was a hot day and I was really worried about the fact that we didn’t any subs and how that might affect
the boys. As we were getting ready to start the game I noticed that the other team only had 7 players
and no coach. I then found out that the coach was on his way, he had gotten held up at an earlier game.
The game started about 30 minutes late and Lincoln Park started with only 9 players. To be honest I
never even thought about playing the game 9 vs 9 because of a story that I had heard last year from my
friend, the Wallkill coach. They played a game against Chatham last year and Chatham only had 8
players. The head coach of Wallkill at the time played down, 8 vs 8 to start the game. To make a long
story short, Wallkill lost the game and an undefeated season at the time. I was not going to let that
happen to our boys.

From the opening kick off we dominated possession of the ball, which you would image since we had a 2
man advantage. We missed a couple good scoring chances early on, but kept the pressure on the whole
time. Less than 10 minutes into the game, Skylar hit a beautiful punt down the left side of the field that
Zack was able to control and move down the left wing. He beat one man and made a wonderful, amazing,
outrageous, (oh come on he’s my kid let me embellish a bit) pass to Kevin who had gotten himself open
in the middle. Kevin settled the ball, made one quick move to his left and put the ball past the goalie. It
was nice to get the first goal early.

As the half continued on, we controlled the midfield like we had done the first week against Chatham, but
just couldn't get that next pass to send Kevin or Tyler free. The half ended with us leading 1-0.

I have to say that Mauricio played a brilliant first half, in both halves for that matter. He had a bit of a
rough game last week, but bounced back beautifully. He beat his man to the ball time and again, and
instead of just booming the ball up the field, he took his time, dribbled up field and make pin point
passes. WTG Mo.

Obviously our entire defense played well since Lincoln Park didn’t score a goal. KT and Kenny were like
a brink wall in the middle and like Mauricio on the right side, Eric never let his man beat him to the ball. It
also makes life easy for them when the midfielders in front of them are covering ground as well. Ryan
and Patrick covered the center of the field like a glove. Zackary and Matthew put constant pressure on
our opponent’s fullbacks. Although Tyler wasn’t feeling well at the start of the game, you couldn’t really
tell. He was all over the front line causing problems for the other team. And Kevin….. well if he ever
stops running, then I know there is something wrong with him. He could have scored at least one or two
more goals in the first half by constantly following up shots.

Lincoln Park got a 10th player to the game near the end of the first half and so we only played 1 man up in
the 2nd half. I was going to make a goalie change at half time and put Mauricio in goal, but he asked me if
he could stay on the field because he felt more comfortable there. Skylar said he didn’t mind and since
Mo was playing such a strong game I didn’t want to push the issue.

The second half started the way the first half ended, with us pressuring their defense, but not being able
to get anything in. The only unfortunate time in the game for us was a ball that went down the Lincoln
Park right wing and their winger was able to just beat Eric to the ball and cross it into the middle. It was
like a pin ball machine in the box for a few second, and then someone got a toe on the ball and it went it.
Now it’s 1-1. To be honest at this point I was a bit worried. Hot day + playing a man up + not having any
subs + playing a winless team = possible disaster. Well not with this team. For the next 20 minutes or
so, we went back to dominating the midfield and making their defense run like crazy. Patrick was all over
the field like the energizer bunny causing problems for the Lincoln Park attack. He made some very very
nice passes to Matt who was able to beat his man all day down the right side and was just unlucky a few
times. The way he is playing, it’s only a matter of time before he gets is first goal of the year. Personally
I will have to brace myself when that happens since I know the crazy Brazilian on the sidelines will be
jumping in my arms and screaming. Then again when Zack finally gets a goal he’d better watch out.

At bout the 20 minute mark in the half, Ryan and Zack were able to work some nice passes back and forth
which set Ryan free down the left side. Ryan then calmly switched the ball from his left foot to his right
and hit a beautiful ball that hit the bottom on the cross bar and into the net. WHEW, breathing room 2-1
us. It didn’t take long for us to get our 3rd goal either. Again good strong work in the midfield between
Zack and Kevin, which enabled Kevin to take the ball and thread the needle with a pass that hit Tyler on
stride for a breakaway. Tyler took his time, controlled the ball. The nice thing about this goal was that he
lifted his head and noticed the goal coming out to challenge him. He didn’t waste any time putting the
ball under him and into the net. Now the score was 3-1, and I could breathe a whole lot better. It was also
time to stack the defense and not give up any more goals. Even with playing 6 defenders, 2 midfielders
and 2 forwards, we were able to send Kevin in on a break away. When Kevin got free and into the box,
and he was about to shoot, he got sandwiched by 2 defenders and taken down for a penalty shot. Since
Kevin was the one taken down in the box, I felt he should take the shot. He took his time, hit the ball with
his left foot into the right corner for a 4-1 lead. At that point the ref blew his whistle and we walked away
with a nicely played game and another win.