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Above: Coggan takes on a SHC defender
What a
difference a 'W' makes, VC 2, SHC 0. 12/18
Photos
here
Valley Christian 2, Sacred Heart Cathedral 0
There is something
about a win that makes everything feel better. The Valley Christian boys
soccer team carried a 0-3-4 record to San Francisco today to face Sacred
Heart Cathedral. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. In
search of their first win, and a step in the right direction, the VC
squad gave everything they had...and with many alumni there including
Chris Hansen, Jimmy Coggan, Ronald Jenkins, and Brandon Stirm, the stage
was set.
Unlike any of the
games so far this season, the Warriors showed up and played well for the
entire game. From the very start the Warriors pressured the SHC
backline with great passes, checking runs, and through balls. After a
few early chances, the VC boys broke through.
Andrew Smith, in his
first game back after a concussion, played a perfectly timed ball to
Jeff Coggan who beat his man and played a well placed ball across the
box. Chris Zambataro had made his far post run and was there to
finish with a one touch shot past the diving keeper. 1-0.
Though VC continued to
dominate, the game went to halftime still at 1-0.
The second half was
more of the same with the VC defense stifling the SHC forwards. SHC
really only had one shot on goal which Ben Hansen made a great diving
save to the near post. Garrett Ruiz (newly nicknamed Patches O'Houlahan)
and Chris McElhatton continued their consistent great play with
Ryan
Corry backing them up.
In the 50th minute, VC
broke through again. Coggan brings the ball up around midfield, and just
as three defenders try to stop him, he slots a through ball to the far
post where Austin Keeling is running on. Austin deftly beats a
charging defender with a perfectly placed cross that found Coggan making
his run and nodding it home, side netting. 2-0
A very strong, well
coached SHC team kept doing whatever they could to score but it just
wasn't happening. The Warriors were awarded a PK when Coggan was mauled
in the box by a SHC defender. Ben Hansen, the VC keeper, stepped up to
the ball and dinged it off the post and out of bounds. Perhaps the only
thing worse than a missed PK was watching Ben prance 100+ yards back to
the goal while SHC tried to counter.
After the game, asst.
coach John Basanese had some words. "Road wins are tough in the WCAL.
Sacred Heart is a great side, and they played us tough. We were
due today, I was hoping nothing would stop us from getting our first W,
and I was right. We have a tough schedule for the rest of the year, but
we'll be ready. Great result today."
The game ended and VC
had its first win of the season, and a very important one at that. The
win leaves the Warriors at 1-3-4, 1-1-2 heading into a 10 day layoff.
The team hopes to come back from the brake re-energized and ready to
finish off the year strong.
Notes: Ben Hansen
recorded his 20th shutout in 54 games...Jeff Coggan scored the 15th goal
of his career...The VC boys team is one win away from their 20th WCAL
win...
vcsoccer.com man of the match: Jeff Coggan (1g, 1a)
| Valley Christian |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| SHC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Scoring:
Zambataro (Coggan) 8th minute
Coggan (Keeling) 50th minute
VC Starting Lineup: Hansen, Corry, Ruiz, McElhatton,
Nettemeyer, Bales, Stryker, Osuna, Keeling, Coggan, Zambataro
Weather: Perfectly Sunny 65 degrees |
