 |
South Brunswick Tournament
South Brunswick Soccer Tournament
September 12th/13th - 4 games
Tournament Results:
Well the Monroe Thunder opened up the fall season bright and early on Saturday morning. We started with an 8:00 AM game on Saturday morning. The team showed up for the most part on time at 7:15 AM. Since the Monroe Thunder were rained and out and cancelled out of our pre-season scrimmage, I was a little worried how we would open up without scrimmaging or practicing the week prior to the tournament. I think we represented ourselves well and I was very happy with the way we played. We had alot more high moments then low and we were competitive. We played two flight 4 teams, one flight 5 team, and one flight 6 teams in this tournament. We ended up 1-2-1 and were very competitive in all the games.
I think we learned alot about our players and I expect us to have a very competitive and successfule season. We will improve as the team moves forward throughout the season. There were alot of highlights - Ryan S scored his first goal in 2 seasons. We have a Ryan Trifecta in 1 game. Ethan played very well in goal and played the entire game of our only shutout. Matt K played very well at Center striker and he scored his first goal of the season. Ryan M played very well at fullback. We learned our strengths and weaknesses of our new 3-4-3 formation. We learned that our very first game of the regular season is going to be very tough.
Game 1 - Monroe 1 - South Brunswick Asteroids (Flight 5) - 1 Tie (0-0-1)
The monroe Thunder started out pretty strong. The passing and communication was very strong. Monroe scored first on one of the most beautiful plays you will see this season. We certainly practiced this play enough....we had a nice lead pass down the sideline from Michael to Tyler M. Tyler M made a nice run down the sideline, crossed the ball to Eric S who had a nice one touch shot on goal. He didn’t have to kick it hard, but we he put it right in the corner, just like we have been preaching. Our defense played solid, Brandon, David A, and Joe Z played strong games. Ryan S played a strong game in goal and Ethan came in and made 3 beautiful saves, he came out strong and made some really nice out of goal saves. South Brunswick scored a goal on a play where we were unable to clear, but overall a good effort for our first game. Jair, Matt, & Ryan W all played strong games distributing the ball from the middle of the field.
Game 2 - Monroe 5 - Edison Dynamites (Flight 6) 0 - Win (1-0-1)
The monroe Thunder picked up their first victory of the season. We played very well, as we pulled off a Ryan tri-fecta as Ryan M, Ryan S, and Ryan W all scored a goal. The remaining goals were scored by Jair and Brandon W. Brandon was able to play mid-field in the second half and had the nicest shot of the game. He one touched the ball into the far left netting of the goal a really strong goal. Jair started the scoring with a beautiful run down the middle of the field and scored on a nice left foot shot into the corner. Once again, we don’t have to shoot it hard, just place the ball where the goalie isn’t. It was a great play and Jair really did a nice job of distributing the ball, as did Matt K. Matt had a really strong tournament and he played very consisttent for us as our new center striker. Ryan S picked up his first goal at left wing subbing for the injured Shawn. In addition, Ryan M scored a nice goal on a rebound from the center striker position. We were able to get our defense up on the front line. David A, Joe Z, Brandon, and Ryan S all saw time on offense. Ethan played the entire game in goal and recorded his first shutout. Overall a solid effort vs a team we will see during the regular season.
Game 3 - Monroe 0 - Hillsborough Hurricanes (Flight 4) - 3 Loss (1-1-1)
The monroe Thunder ran into a flight 4 hurricane to start our second day of the tournament. We played a very strong and talented team in the Hillsborough Hurricanes. We were down 1-0 at the half. As we had a defensive breakdown and allowed a Hillsbrough striker unnmarked in front of the goal. Ryan S had no chance as the player put in the corner for the first goal of the game. This was actually the first time we trailed in the entire tournament. Overall a pretty strong half against a very talented opponent. We went the entrire first half with zero shots on goal. We struggled against a defense that did not employ a pressing defense or a defensive trap system. Their defense stayed back and controlled the ball and we had difficulty putting together any runs. I thought we still played reasonably well. The second half we letup another goal off of a rebound, Ethan made a great diving left handed save on a ball, but we were unable to clear the rebound and Hillsborough scored their second goal. The third goal was simply a defensive and communication breakdown, the defense allowed an unmarked man through and Ethan was unable to come out and make the stop. Late in the game, Jair recorded our only shot on goal off of a direct kick right outside the 18 yard line. He made a beautiful shot just to the left of the goalie on the upper side, their goalie made an excellent save punching the ball over the crossbar. It was an excellent shot, it would of been nice to add to the kitty, but it wasn’t meant to be. Hillsborough was our toughest opponenet and I thought we played reasonably well.
Game 4 - Monroe 1 - Mongomery Lancers (Flight 4) 2 - Loss (1-2-1)
The monroe Thunder lost a hearbreaker in the last game of the tournament. I think we played our best game of the tournament and were right there, I feel we out played Montgomer y in the first half and if it wasn’t for a bad break on Mike’s shot hitting the post and we just missed a shot on a rebound to add a second goal in the first half. Monroe took a 1-0 lead into halftime and we made some nice runs against their pressing defense. Tyler M had a couple nice runs and had a one on none with the goalie and he also had some nice runs and crosses on the right wing. David S played his best game of the tournament, he also made some nice runs. Matt K continued his strong play and picked up his first goal off of a rebound. He really is settling in on the center striker position. Eric S played a pretty strong game. The Midfielders worked hard, Mike C hit the post on a nice shot. Ryan M played a strong game at Right Fullback. We simply ran out of steam late in the second half. I know I indicated that I wasn’t happy about the effort at the end of the second half, but we simply ran out of steam. I still think it was by far our strongest game of the tournament. We played the best 35 mintues, the last 10 minutes we simply ran out of gas.
Overall, I think we got everything we needed out of this tournament. We were able to play against teams that were flighted higher than us, and we held our own. We improved in each game and I think it was a good prep for our regular season.
Great Job - Now let’s start the regular season.
-------------------------------------------
All games are played at Harvest Woods Turf Field #1
Schedule is as follows:
Saturday - 09/12
8 AM - vs South Brunswick Asteroids
10 AM - vs Edison Dynamites
Sunday - 09/13
9 AM - vs Hillsborough Hurricanes
12 PM - vs Montgomery Lancers
Please arrive 45 minutes prior to game time 7:15 AM on Saturday and 8:15 on Sunday
For all games wear your purple jerseys and bring your white jerseys. Please arrive 45 minutes prior to game time to ensure that we are able to find the fields and check-in. You may leave in between games, just make sure you arrive 45 minutes prior to our next game.
Here is the link to the schedule – We are team B5
http://www.sbsoccer.org/tournament/schedules/u13b.htm
Here is the link for the directions to Harvest Woods
http://www.sbsoccer.org/directions/harvestwoods_tourna.htm
Here is the link to the field locations – We are field #1:
http://www.sbsoccer.org/directions/fl_harvestwds_tourna.htm
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
© Copyright 2008 Monroe Township Soccer Club. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
