| SF Spikes :: 2007 Season Marin Team Game Report |  |
| | 2007 Season
Marin Team :: Game Report | Game Date:
Opponent:
Final Score: | April 14, 2007
Kono
W 3-0
| | Report: | The Marin team played their first game of the season yesterday against Kono, who has been one of the stronger teams in the league the past few years.
The game was played at Redwood High School in Larkspur, with lovely, damp, green hills as a backdrop. It was a blustery day after some strong morning rain, although the field drained perfectly, and did not even feel damp by the time the game started. It was a large, fake-grass field, similar to the big field that we played on in Chicago last summer. However, the storm left behind a stiff wind that ran from one end of the field to the other, providing a significant advantage to one team. We played against the wind in the first half, and yet still had the better of the play, slashing through their defense numerous times to create dangerous opportunities. The other team had just 11 players in the first half, with a sub showing up at half time. However, they played well when they had the ball, managing several good opportunities on our goal that they wasted. We finally put one in near the end of the half, as Gil took advantage of the wind blowing in his face on a shot from about 25 yards out. It was a strong enough shot to go over the goal, but the wind slowed its course, pushing it down under the cross bar just behind the goalie.
The midfield was expertly controlled in the middle by Bob and Gil throughout the day, who found hole after hole in the opposing defense. The play in the second half was even more in our favor, as the wind made things even more difficult for our opponent. However, they had their moments, such as when one of their forwards intercepted a back pass to the goalie, creating a dangerous opportunity by slipping it past a charging Matt. Ryo was able to chase it down, clearing it off the line with an ultimately costly slide, as he pulled his groin on the play and sat out the rest of the game. Bobby also injured his ankle during the game, limping his way to the car after the game, still with his ever-present smile across his face.
We attacked frequently in the second half, at times too tempted by the wind, but showing better judgment in using it to our advantage than our opponent had in the first half. There were many dangerous chances that we created in the second half with attractive passing combinations that moved the ball with ease and style. York hammered one in on a nice shot from the left side. Karl slipped a clever one past the goalie after dribbling by several defenders, and patiently waiting for the right option to appear. The game ended at 3-0, with the defense recording a shut out. The Spikes handed Kono a firm spanking and them sent them home for a week to think about it.
This was Ed Center’s first game as player/coach, and we’d all like to congratulate him on his first of hopefully many wins. And we’d like to welcome Gideon, Lubos and Bobby on playing their first of hopefully many league games with the Marin team. Great job by everyone, and let’s keep it up! Go Spikes!
Players (18!): Adel, Alan, Barry, Bob, Bobby, Brian, Chris, Ed, Gideon, Gil, Izzy, Karl, Lubos, Matthew, Patrick J, Patrick M, Ryo, York.
Goals: Gil, York, Karl |
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