24th Annual Manalapan Memorial Day Soccer Tournament 2010
| 01. VOB Panthers (NY) |
10 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
1 |
| 02. Arsenal Van Pelt (NJ) |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
| 03. Arsenal Schoch (NJ) |
6 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
10 |
| 04. Monroe Thunder (NJ) |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
| 05. Yonkers Thunder (NY) |
1 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
|
Game Results
Game 1 - Monroe Thunder 1 - VOB Panthers 2 -- Loss (0-1-0)
Our first Memorial Day tournament started out and we played a very physical team from Long Island, NY. The VOB Panthers were a very strong team, they were big and they had quite a few players that were really physical. We didn’t match their physicality, but our goalies really played strong and kept us in the game. Both Ethan and Ryan played fantastic in goal and they gave us a chance to win a game. We didn’t have many chances to score, but it was a close game. Not our best game that we played, but that also has something to do with the other team playing aggressive as well. So kudos to the VOB Panthers, but it was a good game against a good team and it was fun to play a team from outside the state.
The Thunder started out a little flat. We subbed quite a few players at the beginning of the game to try and get the right combination of players. Tyler MacDonald is playing with a hampering injury and it is really affecting his play...he is fighting his way through it, but he just doesn’t have the burst of speed that he is used to. We subbed him out regularly the whole day to get him enough rest.
The first half ended in a 0-0 tie, even though we were outplayed in the first half. We talked at halftime that we can play with this team, we just need to give a better effort and be a little more physical. We had a better effort in the second half. Ryan made quite a few nice saves to keep us in the game. We gave up a goal from about 22 yards out, a bullet of a shot to the far corner of the goal. It was one of those shots where we have to take our hat off the other team. After taking a 1-0 lead, we started to become more aggressive, both Ryan W, Jair, Shawn, David S, and David A all picked up the pace of play. David S played extremely well in the second half. With about 10 minutes into the half, the VOB Panthers had a penalty in the box. Jair capitalized with a nice penalty shot to tie the game at 1-1.
We continued to hold our own until about 10 minutes left in the half, when our weakside defense broke down on the left side and the left wing walked in and crushed a shot off the crossbar and into the goal from about the 6 yard line. The VOB Panthers took a 2-1 lead. They continued to sub, clear the ball out of bounds, and effectively kill the clock on us. We made a couple of runs, David A and Tyler M and Ryan W all had a couple of runs in the second half. Tyler M had an excellent cross to Eric S on a scoring opportunity, but we weren’t able to get a shot off.
We had one final opportunity to score as Ryan W made a nice run from the center wing position and he took a shot that rebounded off of the goalie. Tyler W was trailing the play and put up a beautiful shot that looked for sure to be a goal lofted over the goalie’s head. It went over the crossbar by about 4 inches. We couldn’t believe it didn’t go in....we were shocked. From our angle, it looked like a perfect shot. Very, very unlucky. It would of been nice to end up with a tie, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us.
Overall a respectable effort, not our best, but VOB outplayed us to a well deserved win. I would compare the VOB Panther to a Flight 3 or 4 team in our MNJYSA league.
Game 2 - Monroe Thunder 1 - Arsenal Van Pelt 2 -- Loss (0-2-0)
We had another rough beginning, as our players decided to be a little disrespectful to our assistant coach - Coach Rich. The players decided it was ok to show up to the second game with no shin guards, no shoes, no socks, or sit under a tree while we wanted to get everybody stretched. They were lambasted in front of the crowd and several players ended up sitting for the first ten minutes...I believe the points were made and I am hopeful that they don’t disrespect the team, the uniform, themselves, and/or the coaches in the future. They seemed remorseful and the situation has been dealt with. It is now behind us and we moved on.
The second game was also against a tough opponent. I quickly recognized that their left wing was fast, aggressive, physical, and highly skilled. We have not seen such a big fast player in our regular season games. I switched Ryan W to right fullback, even though he did not want to, he sucked him up for the team. I wanted to mention, that Ryan W was able to contain him for the entire game, he did a fantatic Job!! He was the only player that could physically stay with him, he really played great and he sacrificed his normal position for the betterment of the team -- Great Job!!
I also thought Brandon W really played well at sweeper this game. As a team we did a much better job of marking the weakside. Joseph Zargo had a strong game, and Ryan M was much more aggressive in this game. He played well at stopper. With Ryan W at right fullback, we were able to move Ryan M to the stopper position and utilize his speed. He played well and he had a couple of scoring opportunities in the first half. He had two quality shots that were stopped. I thought overall we did a much better job of getting shots off, the Arsenal Van Pelt did a very good job of attacking our shots and blocking them at the point of attack. That was ok, we played well on our side, and their defense also played well. Their goalie was very strong which made a scenario where it was really tough for us to score.
Ethan played well in the first half and he made two diving, sliding saves. He was able to keep his eyes up on a dive to make a save on a bouncing ball where his arms needed to be up while he dove on the ground...that is a very tough thing to do...great save Ethan!! We gave up a goal in the first half on a short sided goal, it was unfortunate, but it was a hard shot short side. We ended halftime down 1-0.
At halftime, we said the effort was better, but we needed to improve our passing in the second half in order to score...we were playing harder just not smarter. We passed more efficiently, and played much more aggressive in the second half. Our second half was the best played half of the whole day.
Matt K tied the game at 1-1 from the center striker position. He put a ball from about 16 yards out he placed it over the goalie’s head and into the side netting. Excellent shot. Mike C also setup Tyler M with a nice lead pass and Tyler M had a beautiful cross to Eric S. Tyler M still fighting through the injury had several good crosses. I thought Shawn and David S played very well in the second half. I also thought Jair picked up his play in the second half and did a much better job controlling the middle of the field.
Ryan S made about 4-5 excellent saves, he made a diving save and cleared the ball with his left hand from the goal line. He made a great save on a cross ball, he saved a couple of hard shots from inside the 18 and he came out on a ball and took a breakaway off of the strikers foot. He played well. Overall the defense played much better, David A, Ryan W, Joe Z, and Brandon W really played strong defense.
With the score being 1-1, I took a chance and tried to put a speed line at the top of our offense and try and steal a quick goal, as the Arsenal defense was playing at midfield and we were getting several opportunities for thru balls. I moved Ryan W from right fullback to Center striker, Tyler M at Right striker, David S at left striker. This represents our fastest front line with Shawn at Left Mid, Jair at center, and Michael C at right mid and I moved Joe Z to right fullback. If we scored, I would of moved Ryan W back to right fullback. The strategy worked to an extent, we started getting more opportunities to score. Ryan W had several shots off, David S made several nice runs, we had several corner kicks and Tyler M and Michael C were working strong together. We were passing the ball much better. Unfortunately, their defense was strong and their goalkeeper was strong. I thought we had 5 or 6 good opportunites to score over the next 6 minutes. Ryan W forced the goalie out on a deflection, and David S had an open goal shot that looked like it was going in again...similar to Tyler W in the first game, we all thought it was going in...It missed. If we scored there, we would reset our defense and let it go for the last few minutes.
Unfortunately, with about 1 minute left in the game their left wing was able to beat our defense and get a nice shot off, Ryan lost his balance and was only able to get one hand on the ball and it deflected in the goal. So although, the move resulted in us dominating the play, the left wing still ended up scoring the game clinching goal.
Overall a good effort and a good exciting game. Hopefully we will have a little bit more luck tomorrow.
Game 3 - Monroe Thunder 3 - Yonkers Thunder 3 - Tie (0-2-1)
We started bright and early on a Sunday morning. We had an 8 AM game, and by 8:10 AM, the Monroe Thunder were quickly down 2-0. The Thunder finally woke up and stormed back to take a 3-2 lead before giving up another late goal to tie the game at 3-3. It was a good comeback, it would of been nice to get a win, but we didn’t lose so that was good result on the day of our end of the year party.
The game started out poorly as we had a couple of defensive breakdowns which allowed 2 breakaways on goal and the Thunder went down 2-0. The defense let a couple of players dribble right through the defense and either get 1 on 1 with the goalie or a 2-1 with the goalie. The Yonkers Thunder took advantage and quickly put two balls into the net. The Thunder were rocked early. Afterwards, the Thunder regrouped and started playing much better in the mid-field.
The Thunder ended up scoring a goal on a nice team play. Mike C pushed a nice thru ball to the right sidelines to Tyler M, Tyler M made a pass into the center where Ryan W picked it up and took a nice quick, hard shot off the post. Ryan S came sliding in from the left wing position and put a nice low shot passed the Yonkers goalie making the score 2-1.
Matt K played a strong game and he was able to control the ball and distribute quickly.
Game 4 - Monroe Thunder 5 - Arsenal Schoch 4 - Win (1-2-1)The Final game of the Manalapan Tournament was our best played game to date. We were playing a very physical and big Arsenal team. The Thunder passed the ball extremely well and played aggressive and attacked throught the ball throughout the day. The Arsenal team was a highly skilled team that could score goals in bunches. The Thunder rolled out to a 5-1 lead and held on at the end for a nail biting 5-4 win. This was a well deserved, hard fought victory and was a good lead in to our end of the year party.
Our top scorers for the season really carried us in this game. I thought our midfield played really well, including Michael and David S. Ryan W played a really strong game and we were really able to get him involved in the game at the center striker position. He took advantage by scoring 2 beautiful goals. In addition, I thought Matt had a second strong game today playing on all three lines, defense, mid-field, and striker. He was very versatile and tough.
Jair played a strong game at mid-field and took advantage as he converted two more penalty shots. Both shots were low and strong and away from the goalie, he was perfect all season on penalty shots.
Tyler M played through an injury and ending up scoring in the second half despite being hampered by a lingering thigh injury. He played limited minutes, but he did gut it out. I thought Eric S played much more aggressively this game than in the past and Shawn played a strong game.
Overall a good team win vs a high quality opponent. The players should be proud. Overall the tournament was a good experience.
| 24th Annual Manalapan Memorial Day Soccer Tournament 2010 |
Manalapan Tournament Information and links
Memorial Day tournament Main website
http://manalapansoccerclub.com/Memorial_Day/index_E.html
Team Schedule:
http://manalapansoccerclub.com/schedules/2010/26528696.html
Division Standings and Schedule
http://manalapansoccerclub.com/schedules/20901265/26716828.html
Directions and field maps:
http://manalapansoccerclub.com/Memorial_Day/FieldMaps/index_E.html
Clark Mills/Milford Brook:
http://manalapansoccerclub.com/docs/Memorial_Day/FieldMaps/ClarkMilford09.pdf
