News & Blog

Soccer Update by Coach Lenny – Oct. 11

SEASON RECORD: 6 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie

Oct. 10 vs. Spiritus Sanctus
After putting a dent in a previously perfect season by playing Emerson to a draw a week earlier, Spiritus Sanctus Plymouth came to Ann Arbor for a rematch.  Emerson had a few players,including a couple 8th graders, on the field whom they’d missed in the first game, and dominated play from the outset, yet there remained some troubling similarities between both games in the first half.  Just like the first time around, Emerson jumped out to a 2-0 lead, this time on a goal by Jared Kehn off an assist from Lindsey Barba, followed closely by a goal from Will Downey, in the first six minutes.  Thereafter, Emerson peppered the SS goal with shots, but the SS goalie played strong and often got a counter attack going with his excellent throws.  Late in the half SS scored on a mix-up by the Eagle defense, almost scored yet again, and despite their general dominance Emerson went into the intermission with just a 2-1 advantage.  That was a 1-goal improvement on game 1, but with the strong play of the SS keeper, it definitely didn’t feel safe.

Jared gave the Eagles a 2-goal cushion early in the second half, but SS got it back quickly when one of their players got behind the right side of the Emerson defense.    That goal seemed to wake the kids up a bit, and the team tightened things up, playing better possession soccer and more aggressively pressuring the SS attack.  The Eagles generated more chances and, while the SS keeper continued his strong play, he was unable to keep his team close as Jared scored twice more, totaling 4 goals on the afternoon and leading Emerson to a 5-2 victory.

Despite being scored on for the first time this season, Michael Pelosi was excellent in goal.  A couple coverage mistakes notwithstanding, the 7th grade full-back tandem of Henry Fleischmann and John Byers had a strong game.  6th graders Austin Sarns, Sahil Kapila and Henry Branch impressed with their creative and aggressive play on both the attack and defense.