Team Dinner and Baltimore Bays

We arrived here is Greensboro on Thursday Mid-day after a very early departure from MCI. Had a few problems at Enterprise Rental car (of course) before finally getting vehicles and driving to the hotel. Jimmy Johns is across the street from the Hyatt and has been the go-to for lunch. And man they are FAST.

Last night(Friday) we played our first match against Baltimore Bays the #1seed. The game was super intense from from the beginning and we got on the board first. Jordan Rideout chipped the keeper and the goal was big time. Minutes later we had a PK after their GK fouled us. Derek Scrick stepped up to take it, but unfortunately it was saved. A few minutes later...they got a PK on us after one of the Bays "flopped" inside our 18.

They converted the PK to equalize the match 1-1. Their were a couple more opportunities created by us in the second half by Lucas Throckmorton and Nate Opperman; but none went in. Bays had a free kick in about the 60min that they converted which made the score 1-2 which stood as the final. Such a bummer, our boys played so well and the game could have gone either way. Our defenders, especially Konner Knoll and Eric DeJulio played amazing along with keeper Jon Kempin.

We play Dallas Texans this evening and we just saw them eating Steak and Shake for lunch...hopefully it has an effect on them! haha

Juniors Find Success in Colorado

The U18s and U16s traveled to Denver last weekend and played Colorado Rapids both Saturday and Sunday.

U16s
The Saturday game (both game were v Colorado Rapids) we won 4-0, in 40 mph wind on 86 degree heat & high altitude.

The first goal was scored by Lucas Throckmorton. Austin Esparza had come off the field with a concussion & Lucas replaced him. Jordy croosed from the right hand side for Lucas to tap in from close range with his first touch of the ball. The other 3 goals came in the 2nd half. Garret crossed for Nate to score our 2nd. Then Jordy crossed for Lucas to score a great goal for the 3rd goal. The final goal of the game was a 35 yard shot from Jordy over the keeper's head.

Sunday game: we went 1 nil down after trying to clear the box in the box & they scored with a low range shot. We came back with an equalizer after Lucas & Jordy combined well again. Lucas repaying Jordy for the 2 assists yesterday gave him 2 assists on Sunday. Nice ball from Taylor Walter to Lucas & then he beat 3 players on the wide right & crossed a great ball in for Jordy to drill home. Ended up winning 2-1.

U18s
U18 Saturday game: 40 mph wind 2 subs only due to injury & graduations, U16 goalkeeper Evan Wright.First goal scored by Jordan Zarse. 2nd goal was a corner headed in stringly by Michael Oakley from the far post. 3rd goal was a 25 yard strike by Patrick Foglio & the 4th goal was crossed in from the right by Drew Garcia & went right over the keeper & into the top left corner. Won 4-2 a great win for the players & they played really well & deserved it!

Unfortunately the 18s lost 5-1 on Sunday. They worked so hard but with only 1 sub available due to Drew Garcia hurt, & with a u16 goalkeeper it proved too much. The boys struggled with the altitude & heat on Sunday, but had some good scoring opportunities towards the end. There were several changes from the team they had played the day before & beaten 4-2.

We will have the graduating boys back next week Fricke, Max & Eric plus the GK, Taylor Vinnage. Looks like Will can train this week too so all being well he can play some in Sarasota. They are exhausted but worked hard til the end!

Tough weekend in St. Louis...

The U18 and U16 traveled to St. Louis last weekend to face off against Scott Gallagher Metro and Missouri and boy was it not rewarding...

U18's first match was a very back and forth against SLSG Missouri. They scored first and we came back to score on a PK after Patrick Foglio was blatantly taken down in the box after getting past their defense with his pace. Jordan Zarse stepped up to score the penalty for us. After going behind again in the second half Michael Oakley took a nasty kick in the face from a high kick, then got up from the injury and created the perfect cross for Alex Pilsl to drill home the equalizer in the last 5 minutes of the game. The game 2-2 in an evenly matched game.

On Sunday March 7, the team had a slow start to a game with a below par performance against SLSG Metro. The game was a very stop & start type game and we struggled to contain their forward line up in the first half leading to a goal from them on the 8th minute. In the 2nd half after GK Taylor Vinnage kept the Wizards in the game with several excellent saves, they went on to score putting the game at 2-0.
In the 68th minute, Will Witherspoon scored with a powerful header from a corner & despite looking lively for the rest of the game, we failed to equalize. A disappointing loss of 2-1.

Three Seniors Verbally Commit

#1 Colby Martin to William Jewell
#4 Jordan Zarse to Benedictine
#17 Sean Latz to Drake University