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Forwards Do Their Jobs (again) in Win at Riordan 1/23
Surprisingly, in the past 3 full
seasons, the Warriors had never
won a game at Riordan’s home field.
A few ties, and a few losses were the best
VC could do.
That made today’s must win game at Riordan
even more daunting.
The game started off well for
VC as they played almost the entire first 15 minutes in the Riordan
half.
In the 3rd
minute, Nathan Goldsmith played a
perfect free kick over the Riordan back line, right to
Kegan Garrison.
Kegan brought down the ball but was unable
to put the ball on frame.
As the game went on, the momentum began to change.
“I knew that if we let them hang around,
they’d lull us to sleep and then surprise us.”
Coach Basanese said.
In the 23rd
minute, Riordan would get the break they were looking for.
A Riordan shot unintentionally hit
Blake Cardoza's hand, and the Ref pointed
to the spot for a penalty.
The Riordan player hit a decent shot beating
VC ‘keeper,
Austin
Mansker. 1-0 Riordan.
“It was an unlucky break,
especially because of how the game was
going.
This is what happens with this team though, they
get those kind of breaks, and they capitalized against us today.”
Basanese said.
Moments later, VC would
respond.
A long throw-in ended up with sophomore
Joseph Rosa-Diniz who played a ball to
George Fahmy.
George got just enough on the ball to clear
the goaline. 1-1
“That was a very important
goal for us.” Coach Fugate said.
“Riordan had some momentum after that
penalty, and George swung things back in our favor.
That was a turning point for us.”
The game would go to halftime knotted at 1 goal
apiece.
The second half started out
with VC switching to a 3-4-3 formation.
The formation
immediately paid off in the 43rd
minute.
John
Field took a long throw that Alex de
Leon helped shield.
The ball bounced through to
Ryan Favre, who took his opportunity with a
hard shot from about 25 yards out.
The ‘keeper was no match for Favre’s fourth
goal of the season.
“My defender let the ball get
through to me, and my shot hit the nice bumpy grass and went over the
goalies shoulders.”
Favre said.
“That was a clutch goal for
me, we needed that goal to advance past Riordan.
We need to win games, and it’s a step in the
right direction for us.
The inspiration behind the shot came from my
Winter Ball date,
Morgan.” Favre concluded.
A few minutes later,
freshman Alex de Leon
would add the icing with his 3rd
goal of the season (all in WCAL play).
A turnover in the Riordan end ended up with
Alex towards the Riordan sideline.
The freshman starter took the ball and hit a
shot that barely cleared the goalie’s hands and continued into the side
netting. 3-1 VC.
Alex de Leon had this to say
about his 3rd
goal of the season.
“The ball got cleared out
short, so I whipped it in, and got it over the ‘keeper.
I’m a forward so it’s important for me to
score goals.
I look up to Jeff
Coggan, and he scored three goals his freshman year, so this is a
special one for me.”
The game would come to an end
with a very scary collision.
Senior AJ Forgy did
well to go in hard for a header with a Riordan defender.
The two players smashed heads sending both
to the ground.
Thankfully it looks like a slight concussion
(AJ) and some stitches (Riordan player) are all that will come of the
bad looking collision.
Our prayers are with both players, and it
looks like both young men will be just fine.
“That was a tough way to end
the game.
AJ’s a great kid, and he’s been an awesome
addition to this team.
He was playing hard, and sometimes that
happens in soccer.
I was very nervous as I ran out there, but
I’m relieved that he should be just fine.” Basanese said following the
game.
The Warriors have two more
league games this year, both of the toughest variety.
First, they will meet St. Francis on the
road on Thursday, and then SI at home the following Tuesday.
Basanese commented on the importance of these two
games.
“It’s plain and simple, we
need results in those two games.
We can’t lose either one,
but it’s nice to know what we need to do.
I’m proud of the guys today.
That’s a very tough place to play, and we
dominated Riordan.
The penalty kick was one of the only shots
they had all day.
It’s good to get out of there with the
points.”
Game Notes: For the second straight game
against Riordan, three forwards scored goals (Favre, de Leon, Fahmy).
vcsoccer.com man of the match: Ryan Favre (1g)
| Valley
Christin |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Riordan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Fahmy (Rosa-Diniz)
Favre (Field)
Alex de Leon (UA)
VC Starting Lineup: Mansker, Goldsmith,
Williamson, Field, Rosa-Diniz, Tarangioli, Yun, Garrison, Mark,
A. de Leon, Favre
Weather: 54 degrees, sunny |
