Triangle Y Soccer Club

The Strikers opened this round of friendlies against a 2nd division classic team and played a solid game. They pressured their opponents and would not let them get anything going. With the wind in their faces, the Strikers played the ball smartly on the ground and worked their way into the attacking half to create some good scoring chances.

While Mason was tearing up the left wing, Kyle was controlling the middle. In the 6th minute, the Twins were trying to work the ball from deep in their own end. Kyle won the ball from the defender and fired a lofting shot from 20 yards that went over the Twins' keeper to the far post.

That fired the Strikers up and they were relentless on the attack, not letting the Twins get too much going. In the 13th minute, Mason beat his man on the left side and drove deep. His cross went over the keeper to Kyle, waiting in front of the empty net. His one-timer made it 2-0.

The Strikers continued to press but couldn't extend their lead. The rest of the half was played mostly in the middle of the field and most of the Twins' long balls made their way to Justin, who finished up a fairly easy half with 2 saves.

With the wind at their backs, the Strikers felt they could keep the Twins pinned into their own end, but the Twins had different ideas. They adjusted their defense to neutralize Mason, who pretty much had his way in the first half. They also moved better off the ball to create some good scoring chances. In the 33rd minute, a corner kick resulted in a handball in the box and the Twins player made good on his shot.

The Strikers had a hard time getting anything going as the Twins were now fired up and pressing hard for the tying goal. Idris, Nick, shayl, Justin, and Dan were in scamble mode several times to keep the ball out of the net. A few counter-attacks were snuffed out quickly and it was the Strikers who seemed to be pinned in their own end. For 27 minutes, they battled hard and held on for the 2-1 win.

Goals
   Kyle(2)

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 2 shots, 0 GAA, 100%
  Daniel: 8 shots, 1 GAA, 88.9%

The wind picked up to about 30 mph gusts and the temperature dropped into the low 30's by the time this game kicked off. Eleven very cold Strikers took the field hoping to keep their momentum going. It didn't take long for them to get on the board. With the wind in their faces, they played the same as in the first game and kept the ball low. In the 4th minute, Kyle won the ball and his long shot beat the keeper.

Hull City used the long ball with the wind at their back and Dan was a little busy keeping them out of the net. They rang a few off the crossbar and had some pretty good chances before the Strikers took control of the game. In the 20th minute, Kyle chased down a ball deep to the left in Hull City's defensive end. His cross found Harrison, who settled it down and fired it into the net. That seemed to take everything out of Hull City as the Strikers' attack became relentless.

After a short halftime, Jason tore down the right side in the 31st minute and crossed the ball to Kyle. His blast made it 3-0. Ten minutes later, Mason worked the left side and found Kyle in the middle for another long shot that beat the keeper. It was all Strikers at this point. They rang at least 3 off the crossbar and posts, and Harrison was limited to coming out and collecting long ball attempts by Hull City. Justin capped off the scoring in the 55th minute on a breakaway.

Goals
   Kyle(3), Harrison, Justin

Goalkeepers
  Daniel: 4 shots, 0 GAA, 100%
  Harrison: 1 shot, 0 GAA, 100%

It wasn't as cold, but the wind seemed to be more of a factor in this game than the one's yesterday. One difference was that the Strikers started with the wind at their backs. BSC had some pretty good players, but seemed to rely on the long ball more than anything, so the Strikers had to take advantage of the wind while they had a chance. BSC did press some and kept Justin fairly busy in the net.

In the 11th minute, the Strikers' corner kick was cleared weakly by the defense and Idris stepped up to blast it into the upper 90 from 15 yards out. That seemed to energize the Strikers, but they got into some bad habits -- holding the ball too long, not moving much off the ball, and trying to force passes -- and couldn't get another. In the 29th minute, Shayl took a quick throw-in near midfield. Harrison passed it thru the defense and, as they let it roll back to the keeper, Jonathan raced passed them and blasted it into the net.

The 2nd half would be very different though. With the wind in their faces, the Strikers had difficulty getting out of their own end. Instead of passing and moving, they tried to carry it out or play a long ball. They were turned back every time. In the 34th minute, BSC got a nice one-timer on a corner kick and that's all it took. They got totally energized and came on strong. Five minutes later, their quick forward ran thru the Strikers' defense and tied the game.

The Strikers settled down a little after that, but they still had trouble getting anything going. A mad scramble in front of the Strikers' goal after Harrison's initial save found the back of the net to give BSC the lead in the 53rd minute. The Strikers finally woke up and started to play much better. For the last 5 minutes, they controlled the game and kept BSC pinned in their own end. Only long punts and clears were getting out. Carson, Mason, Justin, and Kyle got physical and put good pressure on the BSC defense, but the equalizer would never come.

Goals
   Idris, Jonathan

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 5 shots, 0 GAA, 100%
  Harrison: 8 shots, 3 GAA, 72.7%

After two weeks of rainouts, the Strikers were ready to finally play their first game of the season. Unfortunately, they were slightly shorthanded and had to go at it with 1 sub. They came out pretty strong and got some good pressure early. Jason and Mason were doing well working the wings, while Kyle made plays from the center. The Lynx like to play the long ball to get behind the defense and try to create opportunities, but Shayl, Dan, and Carson did well to chase them down and turn it back.

A lot of good opportunities for the Strikers came early on, but in the 10th minute, Idris fought hard for the ball in a sea of Lynx defenders and popped the ball out to Jonathan, who buried it for the 1-0 lead. The game continued in much of the same fashion until the 17th minute when a Lynx attacker got behind the defense to tie the score. The Lynx got fired up after that and created several more opportunities, but the Strikers' defense held strong until halftime.

The Strikers came out a little flat in the second half and you could tell that they were beginning to get tired. As the Lynx subbed 6 players at a time, the Strikers were reduced to 1 substitution every few minutes. In addition, a couple of minor injuries required time to shake off, making it even more difficult. In the 41st minute, the Lynx took the lead after constant pressure since the start of the 2nd half.

The Strikers slowly got back into the game and started to wake up after that. Finally, in the 50th minute, Shayl played a ball thru the middle of the field from deep in his own end. Kyle touched it around the defender and went in strong on goal. The Lynx keeper did not challenge him and he showed great patience to bury his shot and tie the game up.

The remainder of the game was a back-and-forth match with each team getting some good chances. Long balls from the Lynx got their attackers behind a tired Strikers defense, while the Strikers' attacks stalled in a crowded Lynx defensive area. It was apparent that the Lynx were able to get a numbers advantage on the attack and while defending with fresher players. Even so, the Strikers had a few opportunities to score but they just ran out of gas. The Lynx scored in the 52nd, 54th, and 59th minutes to salt it away.

Goals 
   Jonathan, Kyle

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 3 shots, 1 GAA, 66.7%
  Daniel: 8 shots, 4 GAA, 50.0%

This was tough result for the Strikers as they controlled most of the action for a good portion of the game. After a few minutes of pressure from the Force at the start of the game, the Strikers settled down and controlled the ball well thru the middle of the field. Kyle, Harrison, and Jason worked terrific give-and-go's to get thru the Force midfield and create attacking opportunities. On the defensive side, Daniel, Carson, and Shayl shut down just about everything the Force threw at them.

The Force played the long ball to their quick forwards and tried to spring them. It worked a few times but they weren't able to finish those chances. During one, Justin came out to challenge the deep ball but the attacker got there a step ahead and touched it past him. As he ran past Justin to pop it into the goal, Daniel, who never gave up on the play, made a sliding tackle at the goal line to keep it out of the net.

The effort was definitely there, they just couldn't break the ice. The Force clogged the defensive middle, which took away shooting lanes, and the slippery ball was a little hard to handle. The game remained scoreless at the half, but either team could have been up at this point.

The second half didn't start well as the the Force received a penalty shot for a handball in the box. Luckily, the shooter pushed it wide. That seemed to energize the Strikers and they got back to the quick passing that gave them success in the first half. In the 37th minute, Mason came under pressure from 2 defenders as he went wide with the ball. But he knew Kyle was behind him towards the middle of the field and flicked the ball backwards. Kyle teed it up and blasted a rising shot from 20 yards that found the back of the net.

The Force stepped up their attack and Nick was under constant pressure as they moved the ball to their big winger and tried to get it across. The Strikers transitioned into the open space at midfield but couldn't get the finish they needed to make it a 2-goal game. The back-and-forth game went until the 47th minute. The force had a free kick at the side of the box. Daniel stopped the hard shot, but the rebound pinballed around in the crowd of players until it finally bounced into the net to tie the score. Four minutes later, a Force attacker collected a long ball that slipped out of Daniel's hands for the lead.

That may have been the last chance the Force had as the Strikers turned back the long balls, moved the ball smartly, and fired shots. Unfortunately, none of them found the back of the net. The Strikers played a nice, ball control game while the Force played a quick strike type of game. In wet conditions, a few bad bounces were all they needed.

Goals
  Kyle

Goalkeepers
   Justin: 3 shots, 0 GAA, 100%
   Daniel: 9 shots, 2 GAA, 77.8%

After almost a month off, the Strikers finally got to play a game. This was a make-up from Mar 25 and was worth waiting for. The Twisters gave the Strikers a really good match in the fall and the rematch was even better. Playing on a nice, smooth field played directly into the Strikers' quick passing game and they controlled the action from the opening whistle.

Kyle, Jason, and Harrison controlled the flow in the middle of the field while Shayl, Dan, and Idris shut down the Twisters' attack. In the 5th minute, Kyle blasted a shot from the top of the box. It hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced high off the ground. Jonathan was following the play and headed in the rebound to open the scoring. The next 15 minutes were more of the same as the Strikers controlled most of the play.

In the 22nd minute, they finally finished one of their chances. Dan made a great outlet pass from near midfield and Harrison carried it towards goal. His 20-yard blast beat the keeper clean. Two minutes later, Justin controlled a clear near midfield and sent the ball to Jason at the top of the box. He made a few touches and beat the keeper for the 3-0 lead. The Twisters got one back right before halftime when the Strikers' defense over shifted and left the back door open.

The Strikers came out a little flat in the 2nd half and the Twisters made them pay with goals in the 40th and 44th minutes. It was a new game with the Twisters having all the momentum. But it was short lived as Mason's throw-in in the 46th minute found Kyle near the top of the box and his blast gave them the lead again. The Twisters wouldn't give up though, and they knotted the score once again in the 50th minute.

It was a lot of back and forth for the remainder of the game with both teams getting good scoring chances. Just when you thought this game would end in a tie, Jason beat his defender and took a low, hard shot. The keeper couldn't control it and Jonathan, once again, showed why you follow shots. He buried the rebound for the 5-4 lead with about 90 seconds left.

This was a really good game by both teams with good ball control, teamwork, and smart play. The Strikers controlled the first half and the Twisters never gave up to make a game of it. I think the Strikers dug deep to pull this one out, and it's a game they should be proud of.

Goals
  Jonathan (2), Kyle, Harrison, Jason

Goalkeepers
  Mason: 6 shots, 1 GAA, 83.3%
  Dan: 6 shots, 3 GAA, 50.0%

This was the Strikers' 2nd game of the weekend and, while they again showed they can score, they had some difficulty keeping their opponent out of thier own net. The Strikers took charge from the opening whistle and kept JUSA pinned into their own end for much of the first half. JUSA liked to play the long ball out of the back, but Justin was able to scoop up those deep balls and a few were offside.

Kyle, Jason, and Carson put together some great passing sequences to create chances, but it took a set play to break the ice. In the 10th minute, Carson played a short corner kick to Kyle near the side of the box. His lofted cross was headed home by Jason from near the penalty spot. That fired them up and they continued to pressure. A few more deep balls by JUSA , one of which gave them a throw-in deep in the Strikers' defensive territory in the 13th minute. A long throw and shot tied the game up.

The Strikers shook that off and went back to work. Kyle controlled the middle and pushed the ball wide for some great runs by Mason and Nathan. In the 17th minute, Harrison ran onto one of his thru balls and buried it for the halftime lead. The Strikers got a break when a JUSA free kick went off the crossbar and their attacker finished the rebound. But, he was offside on the kick, so the goal was called back.

The second half was a little more even as the Strikers seemed to lose their edge. JUSA's long ball finally paid off in the 38th minute. But the Strikers had the answer 2 minutes later when Justin fed one to Kyle and he blasted it home from 15 yards. The Strikers couldn't hold the lead though as JUSA came back one more time to tie it up in the 52nd minute. The last 5 or 6 minutes were a frenzy of back and forth soccer as both teams tried to get the game winner. A few hit the posts and some open nets were missed as time ran out.

Again, the Strikers played a solid passing game and controlled most of the action, but they held the ball a little too long at times and gave JUSA the opportunity to quickly turn the ball the other way.

Goals
  Jason, Harrison, Kyle

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 4 shots, 1 GAA, 75.0%
  Mason: 7 shots, 2 GAA, 71.4%

The Strikers played a terrific game between the 18's, but couldn't finish anything. The Ambush had a strong defense that turned the ball back time after time, but the Strikers were relentless in their attack. They just couldn't set up that quality shot to get on the scoreboard.

Mason, Kyle, and Carson provided good pressure after the Ambush scored in the 3rd minute. Once Harrison joined the mix at forward, it was all Strikers. They worked the ball well and set up passing triangles, but that last pass was always intercepted by the Ambush defense. Nick, Dan, Idris, and Shayl kept them pinned in at midfield and transitioned well. But, in the 20th minute, another breakaway gave the Ambush the 2-0 halftime lead.

The Strikers came out strong in the second half and put on constant pressure trying to get one back. Carson, Kyle, Harrison, and Mason drove the wings, crossed the ball, and set up some great runs. But, the Ambush defense was up to the task and wouldn't let them set up for the quality shot. A nice drive and cross in the 50th minute gave the Ambush the 3-0 lead. The Strikers never gave in though, and played hard to the final whistle.

A really good game by the Strikers today. They certainly deserved a better result. Setting up for the quality shot evaded them all game and they couldn't get their foot on the few opportunities that they did have.

Goals
  none

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 5 shots, 2 GAA, 60.0%
  Daniel: 8 shots, 1 GAA, 87.5%

This was one of the craziest games so far. Not because of the game itself, but because of the events leading up to actually playing it. Storms the day before leaned toward the playing field being closed; it had happened before. But, one weather hotline said it was closed, another said it was open, and confusion ensued as to whether we were playing at all. Once enough players were contacted at the last minute, the refs agreed to delay the start for 30 minutes until everyone got there. Even more, they agreed to let us play 6v6 to start -- since that's all the players the Strikers had -- and add players as they arrived.

The field was pretty sloppy, making for some interesting plays. But, Jason, Kyle, and Jonathan worked some magic in the wide open field and created some really good chances early. Seven minutes in, Nick arrived, which allowed Jason to push up more and really add to the play-making. Shots went wide, crosses skipped thru the box, and Jason ripped one off the bottom of the crossbar as the Strikers pressed Bolton into their own end.

In the 16th minute, Nathan arrived and we went to full-sided 8v8. As the wide open space now closed down a bit, the Strikers found it a little more difficult to penetrate, but they still held the possession advantage. But, in the 23rd minute, the Bolton keeper punted a long ball over everyone's head and their attacker chipped it nicely over Justin as he came out to engage. So, for all their hard work, the Strikers were on the wrong end of a 1-0 score.

That goal deflated them a bit and Bolton pressed hard to get another. The Strikers gave up several corner kicks in succession and had difficulty clearing. In the 27th minute, Nathan intercepted a cross from a short corner kick and began a long run down the right sideline. As defenders came up to engage, he beat them soundly and moved into the created space. He drove deep into Bolton territory and lofted one from a tough angle that found its way inside the far post to tie it up before the break.

The second half was much more even, but it seemed like it would just be a matter of time before the Strikers started hitting paydirt. Kyle, Jason, and Idris made crisp passes to move the ball into Bolton territory, but great crosses and thru balls slipped off shooters' feet as the slippery ball made connecting at full speed difficult. Then, in the 40th minute, Nathan slipped while battling a defender and tweaked his leg. With no subs, he would have to go at half speed. Bolton countered quickly and got several chances. Justin made some beautiful saves including one on a 1v1 breakaway. He made a kick save off the initial shot and then made a dandy of a save on the follow up while laying on the ground.

But, in the 50th minute, a long shot from the top of the box to the far post gave Bolton the lead. That's when Mason arrived to finally give Nathan a break. Within a minute of getting into the game, Mason barely missed on a terrific thru ball. The Strikers pressed hard for the tying goal and got their reward in the 54th minute. Mason played a short ball to Kyle at the top left of the box and his blast beat the Bolton keeper to the far post. The final six minutes were a frenzy as both teams pushed hard to get the game-winner. The Strikers had several chances, but just couldn't find the handle or pushed it wide. A crazy start and finish to this one.

Goals
  Nathan, Kyle

Goalkeepers
  Justin: 14 shots, 2 GAA, 85.7%

Not the best way to finish the season, but the Strikers showed that they know how to score goals in bunches when they work as a team. For the first time in a long time, the Strikers had their entire roster for the game, which would allow them to make some good substitutions and not run out of gas at the end.

The game was pretty even at the start with good back and forth play. The Strikers tried to press the Lynx defenders into mistakes, but they were able to clear the ball effectively and keep the Strikers' attack at bay. On the other end, the Lynx drove some long balls and tried to spring their fast forwards. In the 6th minute, they got the break they needed and went up 1-0. Six minutes later, the ball slowed as it reached the end line and most of the Strikers' defenders stopped, thinking it was going out. A Lynx attacker stayed with it and crossed it into the box for the finish.

In the 15th minute, a long shot caught Dan by surprise and he wasn't able to handle the ball. Once the Lynx had the 3-goal lead, the Strikers settled in and stepped up their game. The defense stiffened and made some great transitions. Nathan was tearing up the left wing and Justin was making great runs on the right. The only thing missing was the finish. But, strong defensive play by Shayl, Idris, and Carson kept the Lynx out of the net for the remainder of the half.

Then the fun began. The Strikers put the Lynx on their heels right from the opening 2nd half whistle, but quickly found out that their new keeper had a very long punt. His 2nd or 3rd of the half went all the way to the Strikers' box where an attacker flicked it with his head for the 4-0 lead. Two minutes later, it looked like instant replay as the long punt was redirected by a Lynx attacker. While the Strikers tried to shake those 2 off and get back to playing, the Lynx squeaked another past Mason in the 37th minute for the 6-0 lead.

But the Strikers never gave up. Two minutes later, Idris turned back his defender deep in his defensive end and played a nice ball up to Justin. He drove down the right side to the top of the Lynx box and crossed it to Harrison to finally get the Strikers on the scoreboard. Their confidence grew and, in the 44th minute, Kyle flicked on Mason's goal kick near midfield and Jonathan lofted it over the Lynx keeper's head. In the 46th minute, Kyle took a freekick from midfield and dropped it near the top of the box. Jason touched it thru the defense to the right side where Nathan was waiting to bury it. Two minutes later, Kyle's freekick from the left side of the box dropped in front of the goal for Nathan to get his 2nd of the game.

In less than 10 minutes, the Strikers had gotten 4 goals back and were eager for more. The Lynx were definitely in a state of panic but the Strikers were running out of time. You could tell that their momentum was starting to wane as the chances weren't as numerous in the last 10 minutes. But, they never stopped playing well and fought hard for every ball. As they pushed for another goal, the Lynx closed out the scoring on a nice transition play.

Goals
  Nathan(2), Jonathan, Harrison

Goalkeepers
   Daniel: 9 shots, 3 GAA, 66.7%
   Mason: 10 shots, 4 GAA, 60.0%

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