|
VC Opens Homestead Cup With Loss At Evergreen 11/27
The Valley Christian Warriors travelled
to Evergreen High School for the second straight year as a part of the
Homestead Christmas Cup. Last year's side suffered a stunning 4-0
loss at the hands of the Cougars, so the Warriors were out to find
redemption.
The first half was fairly evenly matched
at first, until Valley Christian broke through in the 7th minute.
Joseph Rosa-Diniz took a throw-in from
freshman Justin Cordeiro and dribbled towards the corner. Just
before he hit the end line, Joseph crossed the ball to an onrushing
Britt Nelson. Brit was clinical with his finish under the diving
'keeper. 1-0 VC.
A video highlight of
the goal can be found here.
The game would stay at that scoreline for
the next 25 minutes with both teams trading chances. In the 32nd
minute, Evergreen broke through with a shot from the top of the box that
found it's way through the defense and around Austin Mansker. 1-1.
Evergreen would be fortunate to take the
lead just before the halftime whistle. An errant clearance found
it's way back near the VC 18 yard box. An Evergreen defender toe
poked the ball around Mansker and finished into the open net, 2-1
Evergreen.
At halftime the Warriors regrouped and
the second half was much better. VC pressured Evergreen and had
several near misses including George Fahmy's header that found the
crossbar. In the 50th minute, the Warriors would draw even.
After Jeff Mueller won VC a corner kick,
Cordeiro stepped up and placed a perfect corner right to the head of
Blake Cardoza. His header cleared the line, 2-2.
A video highlight of
the goal can be found here.
The pace would stay exciting with the two
teams trading chances. In the 65th minute, however, Evergreen
would collect the winning goal, a side netting shot from 20 yards out.
3-2.
The game would end that way, with VC
dropping another contest on Evergreen's home field. The game had
it's ups and downs for the Warriors, but coach Basanese thinks the team
is getting well prepared for WCAL play.
"Credit to Evergreen. They have
some fantastic players. That Ochoa kid was playing some of the
better services I've seen at this level. I thought we improved
over the Gunn game, but we still have work to do," Basanese said.
This is the second straight game that the
Warriors have led, and then relinquished. A trend that Basanese
says must stop if they are to be successful.
"Clearly there are some issues to
straighten out. We held a 1-0 lead over Gunn and lost, and today
we really had 2 or 3 opportunities to make it 2-0. We need to
start putting teams away and holding it. I told the kids after the
game, the games don't get any easier. The WCAL is going to be
treacherous again this year."
The Warriors play again on one day's rest
this Thursday at Valley Christian against Wilcox. The game is a
night game, and will be played at 6pm. For Valley a win is exactly
what's needed.
Video of two of
Austin's saves can be found here.
Photos from the game
can be
found here. (Thanks to Amy Thomas for taking pictures)!
Game Notes: It was a game of firsts. Britt Nelson's goal was the
first of his varsity soccer career...Justin Cordeiro's assist was the
first point of his young high school career...Blake Cardoza also scored
the first goal of his varsity career.
VCSoccer.com Man of the Match: Joseph
Rosa Diniz (1a)
| Valley Christian |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Evergreen |
2 |
1 |
3 |
VC Scoring:
Britt Nelson (Joseph Rosa-Diniz) '7
Blake Cardoza (Justin Cordeiro) '50
VC Starting Lineup: Mansker, Walitsch, Hittler,
Cardoza, Tarangioli, Cordeiro, Joseph, Rothenberg, Nelson, Alex de Leon,
Rosa-Diniz
Game time: 3:15
Weather: Perfectly sunny, 62 degrees |
