JV2 Loses a Road Game to Oyster River, 4-0

It was a beautiful Saturday, the best soccer weather of the fall so far for the Marauders. Alas,  they seemed to be struck by the similar fate of last Saturday with  a slow, almost casual start.  It would again prove costly this time.  Oyster River was easily the most skilled team we've played against this season. This was apparent with their superior ball movement and passing in the final third at the immediate outset of the game.   They quickly amassed three goals in the first 15 minutes, though one of the goals was an unlucky slip where the forward pounced on it.

    

It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon as the second line went in.  Though with a mission to pass a bit quicker and close them down in the defensive third,  the tide of goals seemed to be stemmed.   With the midfield now being tested, a few chances on goal were created, namely with the attacking duo of Matt Fenner and Max Patyk-Finkel combining for five shots on goal with their marks going just wide, this encouraging play  seemed to get the rest of the team back in the game to close out the half.

 

Hanover began the second half with renewed vigor , and some slight tactical changes.   The consistent pressure of the Hanover attack was evident when Declan Flynn almost netted his first goal of the year, as he pounced on a bobbled ball by the Oyster River keeper and placed it across the goal for it just to get out of reach of the Hanover attack.   He would be involved in a couple more opportunities as well with will timed runs on goal.  This sustained pressure would not have been possible without the solid defensive play of Koe Schuette, Van Bailey, Finn Seville, Simi Obomsawin, Aidan Petersen, and Eli Cowie.    They not only adjusted themselves to read the play and make a strong defensive stops, but also made  accurate passes to the midfield or down the flanks.   

 

One could see the opposition tiring from the relentless pressure.  Koa Schuette also showed some clever moves to get  himself out of trouble and create space when needed.  The times when Oyster River did get through midfield they had to deal with Noah Phipps chasing them down and dispossessing  them as well as a warmed up Matt Alibozak making some point blank stops in one on one situations, much to their frustration.  It was also a breakthrough game for Caleb Calloway as he is transitioning from a hustling ball winner on the wing to an effective offensive player making runs down the flank to get the ball to his teammates in dangerous scoring positions.   

Teddy Ruth is starting to look like a soccer player more and more every game.  In this game he successfully executed a bicycle kick pass as well as three effective and legal slide tackles.   Aidan Tomlin had his best game to date with numerous well played passes to the wings and open space, as well as smart,  crisp passes to the inside midfielders.  Charlie Bell is also beginning show  understanding of his emerging wing role with  a header and effective positioning around the goal.

        

The Bobccats would eventually get one more goal on an effective counter concluding with an unstoppable shot to the upper left corner well beyond the reach of Matt. Though the score was 4-0, the Marauders would go on to attempt 15 shots on goal, and keep it in the Oyster River half for a good portion of the later first half, and majority of the second half.   One could say this was a game of missed opportunities, frustration, and an unfortunate score, but this team now knows it can get the ball downfield and be dangerous if they work together, the rest is finishing.  The new week opens up with a Monday home game against Lebanon, and an opportunity to see if we can convert this emerging teamwork into goals.