Captain Shreve 2 Airline 0

[futbolfiend]

Well another (and my last official) season of Gator Nation soccer starts tonight.  Gators and Vikings jump right into District play with both teams first games called (low temp) last Monday.  Airline's bell cow is Gabe Rodriguez and if Shreve hopes to start with a win they will have to find a way to slow him down (or outscore him).


Shreve lost its entire back line and Goalie last year but I understand we brought in some talented freshmen club players and our sophomores and juniors have really stepped up in preseason.  I have been unable to attend training or our 1 preseason scrimmage (4-0 over Evangel) so I'll be learning about this years Squad tonight.  Shreve does possess a pretty potent attack with Hammond (Sr.), Usry (Sr.) Hall (Jr.)and Goree (Sr.). Usry just back from football and nursing a sore knee is probable but not game fit for sure.  I see this years squad being slightly more skilled (more club kids in the starting 11) but maybe lacking some of that tenacious athleticism in the back line from last years Senior Football players.  We do have some new football guys who are good athletes and I am sure they will shore up things in the weeks to come


Tinsley is known as a pretty slow pitch so tends to favor more direct play and that might be a slight Advantage to Airline.  

 

[Slippin' Stevie G]

Any updates?

[futbolfiend]

Shreve wins 2-0 on two first half goals by Chad Usry. First goal was a nice penetration by Nic Hammond who drew defenders then laid it off across the top of the box to Usry who was able to get a shot off under pressure from the Airline defender

Near the end of the first half, A long over the top 50/50 ball was played to Usry and he and the CB battled for it and the CB played a hard pass back to the goalie who tried to handle it with his feet but it bounced back to Usry who had continued his run and was a fairly easy put away.

Shreve had a few more chances in each half and Airline really pressured the second half with Gabe 18 and Brian 16. SHreve goalie made a couple of solid saves as well.

Shreve midfielders Goree and Alex Baca (Jr.) (a Byrd Transfer getting his first Shreve minutes after having to sit his Sophomore Season for eligibility reasons) along with Hardy Hall did a good job of holding Gabe Rodriguez to only a handful of chances mainly from outside but he was dangerous any time the ball was at his feet.  Hall was especially good in transition to attack and getting Shreve into several dangerous situations.  Goree and Hall both tracked back to keep our numbers good in the back as Airline showed good speed in counter

Was pleased with the play of our back line who showed some good composure and the ability to play it out of the back and build some decent attacks. Nic Hammond was a workhorse tonight down the left flank and almost had a couple of chances himself but unselfishly laid them back for others including what I thought might have been a 3rd goal in the second half. It sure appeared that the goalie had stopped the shot but was behind the line with the ball in his arms.

Christian Lindsey anchored the back line as CB and a freshman club (and ODP_player (name escapes me as I type) caught Airline in several offside situations and were solid in the air on corners and long balls played into the box

Tinsley is always a tough place to play if you are not use to the surface which is thick grass (even though it was short tonight) and the ball rolls SLOOOOOW.  Lots of misweighted passes from Shreve tonight.  All in all given first game jitters and fitness issues, I think Shreve looked decent

[Deleted]

All things considered, not a bad performance for an opening game.

With the exception of about a ten minute period in the 2nd half, Shreve had the better possession, better chances and a clear advantage in shots.

I actually thought Shreve played much quicker than they did this time last year. Especially transitioning from attack to defense.

A lot of players that were unheralded last year have really stepped up and become contributors.

A little more organization and communication on the backline and Shreve will be fine. That said, some great individual defensive plays last night.

I could be wrong, but another difference is the speed of play versus last year. I would've liked to have seen more goal production last night. Hopefully that will come together soon.