It was high excitement at the River’s Edge sports fields this past Wednesday evening(yesterday 11/4/09). The Woodrow Wilson boy’s soccer team faced the James Madison boy’s soccer team. The teams had met twice before, with each team leaving the field with a victory. Now it is the end of the season and these are the finals the winner moves up and the other team does not. With the stage set both teams took the field.
The first half of the game was dominated by the Madison boys who were quick to strike an offensive strategy which was met by a diligent Woodrow Wilson defense. The Woodrow Wilson goal keeper has been the core of the defense all season and this held true again in this match. The keeper fended off an avalanche of first half tries on goal by the Madison team and was busy with well played fast breaks through out both halves of the match. The officials were quick to call infractions in this match and Woodrow Wilson received the only yellow card in the first half of the match. While the officials made many calls, these did not detract from the quick pace of this hard played defensive meeting. Late in the first half the Woodrow Wilson team gained the offensive momentum and never let go, keeping pressure on the Madison team for the remaining part of the night. The Madison defense was also led by their top notch goal keeper, who was equally menacing to the tries on goal by the Woodrow Wilson strikers.
At the end of regulation time, with a 0-0 tie, the coaches met with the officials for a mid field discussion of how overtime would be played. Two five minute halves followed by a 5 to 5 shoot out if still tied. The Woodrow Wilson team kept on the offensive pressure on for both halves of the over time which was fought equally hard defensively by the Madison Team who had a few break outs into Woodrow Wilson territory but were quickly squashed by the defense or daring goal keeping of Woodrow Wilson’s keeper. Both over time halves expired with the match still tied at 0-0 the teams met at mid field and the West goal was chosen as the final setting for the shoot out between the teams. The two goal keepers who had played hard all match now had to continue to defend their territory as they each prepared to face 5 players from the opposing team.
Coaches and players lined up at mid field, the keepers took their places at the goal and the officials set up the shoot out. The whistle blew and at the end of the first attempt Woodrow Wilson lit the score board with a goal and Madison was blocked. The score read 1-0, then 2-1, and 3-2 as both keepers missed consecutive shots on goal. The forth attempt ended when Madison blocked the Woodrow Wilson shot and their goal shot slipped over the fingers of the Woodrow Wilson keeper. With the match now tied 3-3 the stage was set for the 5th round of attempts on goal. Woodrow Wilson lined up their 5th attempt and placed it just out of reach of the Madison keeper. With the score now at 4-3, the Madison team had one final try to tie the match. Every hand had fingers crossed, every player, parent and friend held their breath as the ball was placed on the field. The keeper set up his arms at the ready, staring out of the goal as the kicker lined up the last shot. The official’s whistle blew signaling play, the kicker took his steps to the ball, the last swing back for the kick, and as it was for the entire match Woodrow Wilson’s goal keeper was a great wall in the front of the goal and Madison’s 5th attempt was blocked. Woodrow Wilson wins on points in a match that was played well by both teams and both teams can walk away winners in how this match was played.
Other stuff tomorrow, have a great day and play nice in the neighborhood.
Ciao,
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