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Post by coachray40 on Dec 15, 2006 21:16:41 GMT -6
Should be a score by now
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Post by soccergeezer50 on Dec 15, 2006 21:35:00 GMT -6
FHS 2, SPS 1 Final
FHS the better team on the field tonight overall but that was two good teams duking it out. All scoring in the first half, two goals by FHS, including an unfortunate own-goal by SPS, and then a gift dribble goal for SPS 30 seconds before halftime. Second half dominated by defense.
We will hear from both of these teams down the road...
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Post by dbeasely17 on Dec 16, 2006 11:53:38 GMT -6
Game Summary: Fontainebleau 2 - 1 St. Paul's
Injury struck early and often for St. Paul's, with center midfielders Stephen Beatty and Matt Daniel each going down with an injury in the first 10 minutes of play. Trying to replace both starting central midfielders, St. Paul's was forced to make some adjustments. It was evident as they struggled to find chemistry in the first half that the changes were affecting the team. Ross DuPriest was pushed up from the center back to fill in for Daniel at defensive midfield and Michael Pellissier went into the attacking central midfielder role to fill for Stephen Beatty. This forced Gary Maestri to step into the outside midfield role in place of Pellissier. He did a great job filling in, but it was evident that the chemistry in the midfield was thrown off. St. Paul's couldn't seem to build more than a few effective attacks. Also as a result of DuPriest moving into the midfield, the Wolves were forced to try to sub into the defensive line to make up for his absence. It clearly had an effect on the play of the defense until they could get everything together.
Fontainebleau's gameplan was pretty simple and it worked to perfection in the first half of play. The defense would simply keep the ball from the St. Paul's attack by playing long balls to the corner flag every time. It frustrated the St. Paul's attack and allowed the speed of the two Fontainebleau forwards, Brooks Hickman and Pierce Langridge, to win balls behind the St. Paul's back line. They effectively got behind the flat back line of St. Paul's for most of the first half and produced many opportunities in front of goal. St. Paul's got lucky early on, with a few shots coming from one-on-one's going just wide. Finally, Fontainebleau was able to capitalize late in the first half on a long ball played to Brooks Hickman. St. Paul's defender Aaron Moseley got to the ball before Hickman, but was called off by Goalkeeper Ross Wiedemann. As Wiedemann slid in to meet the ball it appeared that Hickman was able to just tap it with his toe. The ball ricocheted off of Wiedemann into the back of Moseley's leg and Fontainebleau attacker Blake Satterlee was able to tap it just enough to make the ball roll into the corner of the goal as the other St. Paul's defenders watched themselves go behind 1-0. Fontainebleau struck again about 7 minutes later on a nicely played through ball down the left sideline. Satterlee crossed it in to Brooks Hickman, right around the penalty spot. St. Paul's defender John-Paul Tortorich was able to jump in front, but the ball came off of his foot awkardly and shot into the goal past Wiedemann to put the Bulldogs up 2-0. St. Paul's countered with about a minute left to go in the first half and had numbers in the attack. The quick counter saw Ross DuPriest take the ball up into the attacking half and find a wide open Eddie O'Connor who fired it in for a shot. O'Connor followed up as Fontainebleau keeper Matt Harris was able to get a hand on the ball and played it across to DuPriest who punched it past Harris to cut the Fontainebleau lead to 2-1.
The second half was dominated by St. Paul's, but they seemed to be missing the final touch in front of the goal. They were unable to take advantage of several free kicks in front of the Fontainebleau goal. Fontainebleau had a number of quick counter attacks that were effectively shut down by the St. Paul's defense. David Gourges won a free kick late in the game about 25 yards from the net and fired in a rocket with a lot of bend that Wiedemann dove for and blocked to keep the Wolves in the game. St. Paul's had numerous opportunities in the second half, but could not seem to convert in front of the net. Fontainebleau did a great job of protecting the lead, throwing 11 men into the box every time St. Paul's went on the attack.
These two teams were very evenly matched talent-wise. Early injuries hurt St. Paul's and Fontainebleau took advantage early on. Fontainebleau's gameplan worked almost to perfection in the first half. The defense kept the ball away from the St. Paul's attack by playing long through balls to the forwards. The forwards were able to use their speed to get behind the defense and create some opportunities for the Bulldogs. The crowd was large and the game was intense until the final whistle. All in all, this was a matchup of two great teams from the Northshore. It should be a very interesting rematch when the two play again later in the season at the Dawg Pound for the District Title.
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Post by soccergeezer50 on Dec 16, 2006 15:29:37 GMT -6
I'm sure that last post wasn't meant to use injury as excuses, and the overall description of the match was impressive. FHS played that match without one starting midfielder, one starter at defense (and co-captain), one starter at forward, and have lost their all-state goalie for good. But others have stepped up and are playing that ball-control game that they were so good at last year. The sophomore goalie Matt seems to play more "older" every game. Still, young master Breeden was probably the best player on the field as usual, and Pellissier is always good. I just don't see the typical strong supporting cast that you would expect for a St. Paul's team. Still, it's early in the year!
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Post by zidane10 on Dec 16, 2006 15:46:26 GMT -6
I doubt he meant that St. Paul's lost because of injury.. it was a well-fought game by both teams, and in the end, FHS prevailed.. I was really impressed by the players of FHS.. each seemed to be versatile enough to play in any sort of game.. I expected them to be good, but they impressed me a lot.. they will certainly be a contender this year if Matt plays the way he did in goal last night.. he only looked shaky on one ball all night.. played a very solid game behind a defense that is great in the air and clears the ball very effectively.. midfield connects well with forwards and their forwards are FAST.. FHS is certainly a top 5 team in the state.. and I think they can compete with Jesuit and Brother Martin. Other than that, I have certainly not seen a team I deem stronger than FHS.. including Rummel.. I haven't seen LHS though.. time will tell
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Post by d1d5fan on Dec 16, 2006 16:51:31 GMT -6
The issue with Ross and Ian, the keepers for SPS, is just that they rotate who starts. Sometimes Ian will start, sometimes Ross. Sometimes, they each get a half. They are both good keepers, its just that 1 cant break away from the other in form to keep the starting job I guess.
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Post by d1d5fan on Dec 16, 2006 17:13:39 GMT -6
that might be because of "seniority". skillwise from what i have seen from last year to now is that they are both just as good as each other, so its probly a game day decision.
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Post by dbeasely17 on Dec 16, 2006 17:34:14 GMT -6
Both Wiedemann and McDougal have really stepped up their level of play this year. Neither has made many mistakes and both have come up with their fair share of amazing saves. Wiedemann came up with a huge save last night on a David Gourges free kick that would have been a sure goal if not for the outstanding save. The coaches, for whatever reason, most likely seniority, have decided to give the nod to Ross this year. He has played into the spot extremely well and continues to demonstrate that he is a very talented goalkeeper. The two goalkeepers respect each other a lot more than they did last year, and they have made the committment to each other to push each other, rather than complain about who is starting. Their relationship this year is, in my opinion, what has made such a difference between their play last year and their play this year.
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Post by liv3socr on Dec 17, 2006 21:08:19 GMT -6
I'm sure that last post wasn't meant to use injury as excuses, and the overall description of the match was impressive. FHS played that match without one starting midfielder, one starter at defense (and co-captain), one starter at forward, and have lost their all-state goalie for good. But others have stepped up and are playing that ball-control game that they were so good at last year. The sophomore goalie Matt seems to play more "older" every game. Still, young master Breeden was probably the best player on the field as usual, and Pellissier is always good. I just don't see the typical strong supporting cast that you would expect for a St. Paul's team. Still, it's early in the year! I thought FHS lost their all-state goalie, already. Now they have lost him for good? Explain.
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Post by shanksta13 on Dec 17, 2006 21:11:43 GMT -6
I thought FHS lost their all-state goalie, already. Now they have lost him for good? Explain. Hovis is done for the year. I'm not sure why he stated that again. Fontainebleau has done a good job of moving on and Matt Harris is playing really well at the goalkeeper position right now.
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