Game 10 – 9/28/07
Rebels Second Half Surge Puts Principia Away 4-0
The Priory J.V. Soccer team took their five-game winning streak on the road on Friday afternoon. They faced another league opponent in Principia and the Rebels knew they would have to play well to earn a victory and protect their pristine league record. The Rebels started the game on the attack. They worked the ball around the Principia defense and played some dangerous balls into the box but they could not find a way to finish the early chances. After several early Rebel chances, the Principia defense switched to a flat four in the back and this frustrated the Rebel attack. Most of the remainder of the half was played in the middle of the field and neither team really managed to create many dangerous chances. The Rebels and their opponent exchanged a series of some long free kicks, but nothing materialized on them. The Rebels best chances in the half came on quick counterattacks in which the forwards would flick long balls onto each other and try to catch the defense off guard. However, the Principia defense had good speed and made these attacks difficult. In the Rebels’ end of the field, the defense played another steady half and goalkeeper Steve Hoerr was always there to diffuse dangerous situations with a nice save or play on the ball. As the final minutes of the half ticked away, the Rebels managed to build a really nice attack. James Kopfensteiner took a ball down the line and hit a ball across the box. Sean Lamb took control of the ball on the left side of the box and unselfishly laid it back to Liam Ware. Liam stepped up to the bouncing ball (like he had so many times in practice) and thumped it into the top corner of the net, almost a replay of the goal that he scored against Lutheran North earlier in the season. At halftime, the Rebels led 1-0.
In the second half, the Rebels picked up right where they left off and pounced on the Principia defense. The Rebel forwards and midfield really started to control the ball and find the holes in the Principia flat back four. Eventually Patrick Mulvihill and Sam Tankersley combined for one of the prettiest goals of the season. Tank made a pass to Patrick in the box who deftly played it back to Tank running through the side of the Principia box. Tank received the ball, took it to the line, and then crossed the ball to Patrick who put it into the back of the net. Before the dust settled from the Rebels’ second goal of the game, Tankersley was working his magic again. He played a nice through ball to Jack Wegman who had his man beat. Jack took a touch on the ball and then ripped a no-doubter into the bottom left corner of the net. 3-0 Rebels. The Rebels weren’t finished scoring just yet though. Less than a minute later Brendan Kelly found Tony Cribbin in the box. Tony fired a shot from a difficult angle, but it had so much on it that the keeper could not hold on and the Rebels had a 4-0 lead fifteen minutes into the half. The Rebels continued to play well for the remainder of the game and they were very calm and collected on the defensive side of the ball. Pedro stepped into the stopper role and showed that he could distribute the ball brilliantly and wouldn’t lose it without a fight. The Principia defense settled back into the game, but the Rebels still found some chances to score but couldn’t quite capitalize. Sophomore Brandon Wehking, usually a defensive player, had a brief stint at forward in the final minutes of the game. His best chance to score came off of a Ragen Frost corner kick, but Wehking’s attempt at a bicycle missed the ball and his hopes for offensive glory were extinguished. At the end of the game, the Rebels had earned an impressive 4-0 victory.
Goals: Ware (2), Mulvihill (4), Wegman (2), Cribbin (3)
Assists: Lamb (2), Tankersley 2 (5,6), Kelly (1)
Shutout: Hoerr (3)
Game Ball: Tankersley
Up next: Sat. Sept. 29 @ 11:00 a.m. @ Whitfield
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Game 9
Game 9 – 9/25/07
Rebels Rally to Top MICDS 4-2
The Priory J.V. squad took on league rival MICDS on Tuesday afternoon. The Rebels were looking to reaffirm the dominance they displayed earlier in the season in a foul-filled 6-2 victory over the Rams. In the first half, the Rebels displayed their ability to control the ball and they took it to the Rams’ defense. However, the Rams had several talented players up top who lacked neither speed nor size and posed a potent threat to the Rebel net. As the half progressed, it became somewhat unpredictable. The Rebels would have stretches of controlling the ball for several minutes, but then the Rams would spring their forwards on a dangerous counter-attack and the Priory defense would find themselves scrambling to recover. The Priory defense led by sweeper Brandon Wehking (returning from injury) was able to hold off the early MICDS attacks. Finally the Rebels ability to control the ball resulted in points on the board when Gustavo Sanchez played a ball across the box and Sean Lamb stepped up to it on the far post and put it into the empty side of the net. 1-0 Rebels. This early lead was short-lived however. The Rebel defense got a little too relaxed and let a long ball bounce past them and a Rams’ forward ran onto it. In alone on goal, the Rams’ forward managed to sneak the ball past Rebel keeper Steve Hoerr who was left helpless by his defense. 1-1. The teams continued to battle for the remainder of the first half and suddenly the Rebels realized that this wasn’t going to be a 6-2 drubbing of their opponent. In the final minute of the half, the Rebels mounted a final attack on the Rams’ goal. The Rebels managed to work the ball to Tony Cribbin who stood in the top corner of the box. He put a move on a defender, had him beat, but the defender took Tony’s body and forced him to the ground. The Rebels were awarded a penalty kick with 30 seconds remaining in the half, (it was the second PK that Cribbin had earned against the Rams in the season). Sophomore free-kick-specialist James Kopfensteiner stepped up to the penalty spot and beat the goalie with a shot to the bottom right corner of the net. 2-1 Rebels at half.
The second-half was very similar to the first, except the Rams pushed more players forward. This opened up the game for both sides and chances were not hard to come by. The Rebels possessed the ball for the most part but the Rams were always ready to jump on a turnover and start a counter-attack. Eventually, the Rams’ ability to take advantage of Rebel mistakes came into play again. The Rebels failed to fully clear a ball that bounced into the box and a Rams’ forward pounced on the failed clear and put it into the back of the net to tie the game. The Rebels found themselves in an unexpected position: tied with a team they expect to easily handle. The Rebels did not panic though and they continued to work hard for the ball and possess it. Liam Ware spent the afternoon frustrating Ram defenders. The undersized Ware protected the ball so well with his body that the frustrated defenders could only hack at him in desperation. Ware’s play gave the Rebels numerous free-kick opportunities. Finally, with 20 minutes left in the game the Rebels took advantage of a foul on Ware 40 yards from the net. Andrew Erker quickly set the ball and intelligently played a quick restart to James Kopfensteiner who took one touch on the ball and launched a left-footed bomb from 35 yards out. The ball whistled through the air and curved with Beckham-like precision into the top right corner of the net. (Video: It looked like this but James hit it left-footed). With one strike, Kopfensteiner deflated the Rams and dethroned Liam Ware for Goal of the Year. After this goal, MICDS really began to push for the equalizer. However, the Rebels remained calm and dominated play. They stalled every Rams’ attack and found themselves with numerous attacks of their own. The Rebels’ chances kept mounting and finally the Ram defense could hold no more. With poetic redemption, Jack Wegman and Brandon Wehking (both red-carded in the previous MICDS game) were involved in the game-sealing goal. The play started with Doug Hall clearing a ball out of the Rebel zone and it sprang Wegman on a breakaway. Wegman charged into the box with the ball and as he prepared to shoot, he was tripped up from behind. The referee awarded the Rebels a penalty kick. Brandon Wehking, still sporting a cast from his previous clash with the Rams, stepped up to the penalty spot. He struck an un-savable ball into the bottom right corner of the net and put a stamp on the Rebels 4-2 victory.
Goals: Lamb (3), Kopfensteiner 2 (2,3), Wehking (1)
Assists: Sanchez (2), Erker (3)
Game Ball: Kopfensteiner
Up Next: Friday September 28 @ 4:15 @ Principia
Rebels Rally to Top MICDS 4-2
The Priory J.V. squad took on league rival MICDS on Tuesday afternoon. The Rebels were looking to reaffirm the dominance they displayed earlier in the season in a foul-filled 6-2 victory over the Rams. In the first half, the Rebels displayed their ability to control the ball and they took it to the Rams’ defense. However, the Rams had several talented players up top who lacked neither speed nor size and posed a potent threat to the Rebel net. As the half progressed, it became somewhat unpredictable. The Rebels would have stretches of controlling the ball for several minutes, but then the Rams would spring their forwards on a dangerous counter-attack and the Priory defense would find themselves scrambling to recover. The Priory defense led by sweeper Brandon Wehking (returning from injury) was able to hold off the early MICDS attacks. Finally the Rebels ability to control the ball resulted in points on the board when Gustavo Sanchez played a ball across the box and Sean Lamb stepped up to it on the far post and put it into the empty side of the net. 1-0 Rebels. This early lead was short-lived however. The Rebel defense got a little too relaxed and let a long ball bounce past them and a Rams’ forward ran onto it. In alone on goal, the Rams’ forward managed to sneak the ball past Rebel keeper Steve Hoerr who was left helpless by his defense. 1-1. The teams continued to battle for the remainder of the first half and suddenly the Rebels realized that this wasn’t going to be a 6-2 drubbing of their opponent. In the final minute of the half, the Rebels mounted a final attack on the Rams’ goal. The Rebels managed to work the ball to Tony Cribbin who stood in the top corner of the box. He put a move on a defender, had him beat, but the defender took Tony’s body and forced him to the ground. The Rebels were awarded a penalty kick with 30 seconds remaining in the half, (it was the second PK that Cribbin had earned against the Rams in the season). Sophomore free-kick-specialist James Kopfensteiner stepped up to the penalty spot and beat the goalie with a shot to the bottom right corner of the net. 2-1 Rebels at half.
The second-half was very similar to the first, except the Rams pushed more players forward. This opened up the game for both sides and chances were not hard to come by. The Rebels possessed the ball for the most part but the Rams were always ready to jump on a turnover and start a counter-attack. Eventually, the Rams’ ability to take advantage of Rebel mistakes came into play again. The Rebels failed to fully clear a ball that bounced into the box and a Rams’ forward pounced on the failed clear and put it into the back of the net to tie the game. The Rebels found themselves in an unexpected position: tied with a team they expect to easily handle. The Rebels did not panic though and they continued to work hard for the ball and possess it. Liam Ware spent the afternoon frustrating Ram defenders. The undersized Ware protected the ball so well with his body that the frustrated defenders could only hack at him in desperation. Ware’s play gave the Rebels numerous free-kick opportunities. Finally, with 20 minutes left in the game the Rebels took advantage of a foul on Ware 40 yards from the net. Andrew Erker quickly set the ball and intelligently played a quick restart to James Kopfensteiner who took one touch on the ball and launched a left-footed bomb from 35 yards out. The ball whistled through the air and curved with Beckham-like precision into the top right corner of the net. (Video: It looked like this but James hit it left-footed). With one strike, Kopfensteiner deflated the Rams and dethroned Liam Ware for Goal of the Year. After this goal, MICDS really began to push for the equalizer. However, the Rebels remained calm and dominated play. They stalled every Rams’ attack and found themselves with numerous attacks of their own. The Rebels’ chances kept mounting and finally the Ram defense could hold no more. With poetic redemption, Jack Wegman and Brandon Wehking (both red-carded in the previous MICDS game) were involved in the game-sealing goal. The play started with Doug Hall clearing a ball out of the Rebel zone and it sprang Wegman on a breakaway. Wegman charged into the box with the ball and as he prepared to shoot, he was tripped up from behind. The referee awarded the Rebels a penalty kick. Brandon Wehking, still sporting a cast from his previous clash with the Rams, stepped up to the penalty spot. He struck an un-savable ball into the bottom right corner of the net and put a stamp on the Rebels 4-2 victory.
Goals: Lamb (3), Kopfensteiner 2 (2,3), Wehking (1)
Assists: Sanchez (2), Erker (3)
Game Ball: Kopfensteiner
Up Next: Friday September 28 @ 4:15 @ Principia
Game 8
Game 8 – 9/24/07
Rebels Come to Life in Second Half: Beat South 3-0
The Priory J.V. soccer team was looking to maintain its dominance in ABC league play on Monday afternoon. The Rebels welcomed Lutheran South to their home pitch. The Rebels had previously beaten South earlier in the season in a hard-fought 1-0 game on the road and they knew that the Lancers would come out looking for revenge. In the first half, the Rebels came out slow and were making shaky plays all over the field. Both teams were making mistakes and turnovers in the early part of the game, and it looked like it was going to come down to which team made a costlier mistake. Occasionally the Rebels would display the passing brilliance that they had showcased in previous matches but poor decisions and slow play continued to stall their attacks. Lutheran South managed some decent counterattacks but Priory goalkeeper Kevin Yuan made things look routine in the goal box. As the half progressed, the Rebels began to settle down and work the ball on the ground through the midfield. Several minutes of nice play in the midfield culminated in a Rebel goal. Midfielders Chad Huber and Sean Lamb made some nice passes in the midfield then played the ball up to forward Sam Tankersley. “Tank” found midfielder Patrick Mulvihill checking to the ball, and Mulvihill fired the ball past the keeper to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead. The score remained the same until half.
In the second half, the Rebels came out looking like a team with something to prove. They controlled the play in the midfield, and the Rebel defense (Kelly, Hall, Hess, Collins) did their usual job of frustrating the South forwards. The Rebels had several chances to find the net in the half. Freshman Colin Bruns was constantly putting pressure on the Lancer defense and a Bruns’ left-footer to the back of the net seemed inevitable. Chad Huber, playing defensive-mid, also contributed to the Rebel attack. At the 15 minute mark of the second half, Huber stepped to ball in the midfield, played a beautiful through ball that threaded the defense and found Bruns’ left-foot which roofed the ball in the top-right corner of the net. 2-0 Rebels. The Rebels continued to pressure the South goal for the remainder of the game, and shots were not hard to come by. Finally the Rebels scored again on a play in which they worked the ball around the field and left the Lancer defense scrambling. Left-winger Ragen Frost played an over the top ball from midfield all the way over to James Kopfensteiner on the other wing. Kopfensteiner took control of the ball, took it to the end line and then played a clever cross on the ground to Tankersley in the box who simply had to stick his foot on it and it found netting. The Rebels controlled the game from that point on and earned a comfortable 3-0 win.
Goals: Mulvihill (3), Bruns (4), Tankersley (5)
Assists: Tankersley (4), Huber (1), Kopfensteiner (2)
Shutout: Yuan (2.5)
Game Ball: Huber
Rebels Come to Life in Second Half: Beat South 3-0
The Priory J.V. soccer team was looking to maintain its dominance in ABC league play on Monday afternoon. The Rebels welcomed Lutheran South to their home pitch. The Rebels had previously beaten South earlier in the season in a hard-fought 1-0 game on the road and they knew that the Lancers would come out looking for revenge. In the first half, the Rebels came out slow and were making shaky plays all over the field. Both teams were making mistakes and turnovers in the early part of the game, and it looked like it was going to come down to which team made a costlier mistake. Occasionally the Rebels would display the passing brilliance that they had showcased in previous matches but poor decisions and slow play continued to stall their attacks. Lutheran South managed some decent counterattacks but Priory goalkeeper Kevin Yuan made things look routine in the goal box. As the half progressed, the Rebels began to settle down and work the ball on the ground through the midfield. Several minutes of nice play in the midfield culminated in a Rebel goal. Midfielders Chad Huber and Sean Lamb made some nice passes in the midfield then played the ball up to forward Sam Tankersley. “Tank” found midfielder Patrick Mulvihill checking to the ball, and Mulvihill fired the ball past the keeper to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead. The score remained the same until half.
In the second half, the Rebels came out looking like a team with something to prove. They controlled the play in the midfield, and the Rebel defense (Kelly, Hall, Hess, Collins) did their usual job of frustrating the South forwards. The Rebels had several chances to find the net in the half. Freshman Colin Bruns was constantly putting pressure on the Lancer defense and a Bruns’ left-footer to the back of the net seemed inevitable. Chad Huber, playing defensive-mid, also contributed to the Rebel attack. At the 15 minute mark of the second half, Huber stepped to ball in the midfield, played a beautiful through ball that threaded the defense and found Bruns’ left-foot which roofed the ball in the top-right corner of the net. 2-0 Rebels. The Rebels continued to pressure the South goal for the remainder of the game, and shots were not hard to come by. Finally the Rebels scored again on a play in which they worked the ball around the field and left the Lancer defense scrambling. Left-winger Ragen Frost played an over the top ball from midfield all the way over to James Kopfensteiner on the other wing. Kopfensteiner took control of the ball, took it to the end line and then played a clever cross on the ground to Tankersley in the box who simply had to stick his foot on it and it found netting. The Rebels controlled the game from that point on and earned a comfortable 3-0 win.
Goals: Mulvihill (3), Bruns (4), Tankersley (5)
Assists: Tankersley (4), Huber (1), Kopfensteiner (2)
Shutout: Yuan (2.5)
Game Ball: Huber
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Game 7
Game 7 – 9/19/07
Rebels Dominant: Beat Lutheran North 5-0
The Priory J.V. soccer team found themselves playing a third game in as many days on Wednesday afternoon. However, the team did not play with any indication of fatigue or tired legs. In the first ten minutes of the game, the Rebels possessed the ball and worked it around the field with skill and poise. It was a pleasure to watch such excellent soccer and any coach would be proud of the way that the Priory players worked for the ball and distributed it. Seven minutes into the game, Liam Ware received a ball in the middle of the field. Sophomore wing-mid Sean Lamb made a spectacular run down the sideline and Ware played him a beautiful ball to put him in on goal. Lamb took a touch on the ball and then ripped a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal. The goal was Lamb’s second goal in consecutive games and it gave the Rebels an early 1-0 lead. The Rebels continued to pressure the Lutheran North goal for the remainder of the half, but they were a bit too adventurous in their attempts on goal. The Rebel defense played another steady game, with Brendan Kelly stepping into the sweeper position and leading the defense. Lutheran North did manage to spring a speedy forward on a breakaway later in the half, but keeper Bobby Heitz came off his line to make a spectacular save and preserve the shutout. At the halftime whistle, the Rebels were leading 1-0.
At the beginning of the second half, the Rebels knew that they had to put the game away and not let Lutheran North back into it. The home squad possessed the ball well, but the Rebels could not manage to muster any dangerous chances on the goal for several minutes. Finally the Rebels gave themselves some breathing room when captain Sam Tankersley intercepted a goal kick 15 minutes into the half. He passed the ball over to an open Colin Bruns who took the ball at the goal and fired a shot that found the bottom right corner of the net. This goal made things more comfortable for the Rebels who really started to put the pressure on the North defense. Minutes later Patrick Mulvihill played a ball to Sam Tankersley who got a step on his defender and ripped a shot past the Lutheran North keeper. Lutheran North tried to push players up in the attack, but the Rebel defense held and limited the chances in the second half. At the other end of the field, forward Colin Bruns continued to work for the ball and find chances. It was only a matter of time before Tankersley found Bruns open again and Colin snuck a second goal by the keeper and gave the Rebels a 4-0 lead. The minutes ticked off the clock, but the Rebels weren’t done putting on a show. In the final moments of the game, Andrew Erker played a ball to Liam Ware who stepped up to the ball in the midfield. He took a touch and then ripped a shot from 25 yards out. The ball flew majestically threw the air until its flight was interrupted by the upper right corner of the Lutheran North net. The North goalie could only stand and watch as the ball sailed out of his reach and into the goal, completing the Rebels 5-0 victory over another league opponent. It was the team’s third victory in three days.
Goals: Lamb (2), Bruns 2 (2, 3), Tankersley (4), Ware (1)
Assists: Ware (1), Tankersley 2 (2, 3), Mulvihill (1), Erker (2)
Shutout: Heitz (1.5), Hoerr (2)
Game Balls: Ware, Bruns
Up Next: Mon. 9/24 @ Priory @ 4:15 vs. Lutheran South
Rebels Dominant: Beat Lutheran North 5-0
The Priory J.V. soccer team found themselves playing a third game in as many days on Wednesday afternoon. However, the team did not play with any indication of fatigue or tired legs. In the first ten minutes of the game, the Rebels possessed the ball and worked it around the field with skill and poise. It was a pleasure to watch such excellent soccer and any coach would be proud of the way that the Priory players worked for the ball and distributed it. Seven minutes into the game, Liam Ware received a ball in the middle of the field. Sophomore wing-mid Sean Lamb made a spectacular run down the sideline and Ware played him a beautiful ball to put him in on goal. Lamb took a touch on the ball and then ripped a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal. The goal was Lamb’s second goal in consecutive games and it gave the Rebels an early 1-0 lead. The Rebels continued to pressure the Lutheran North goal for the remainder of the half, but they were a bit too adventurous in their attempts on goal. The Rebel defense played another steady game, with Brendan Kelly stepping into the sweeper position and leading the defense. Lutheran North did manage to spring a speedy forward on a breakaway later in the half, but keeper Bobby Heitz came off his line to make a spectacular save and preserve the shutout. At the halftime whistle, the Rebels were leading 1-0.
At the beginning of the second half, the Rebels knew that they had to put the game away and not let Lutheran North back into it. The home squad possessed the ball well, but the Rebels could not manage to muster any dangerous chances on the goal for several minutes. Finally the Rebels gave themselves some breathing room when captain Sam Tankersley intercepted a goal kick 15 minutes into the half. He passed the ball over to an open Colin Bruns who took the ball at the goal and fired a shot that found the bottom right corner of the net. This goal made things more comfortable for the Rebels who really started to put the pressure on the North defense. Minutes later Patrick Mulvihill played a ball to Sam Tankersley who got a step on his defender and ripped a shot past the Lutheran North keeper. Lutheran North tried to push players up in the attack, but the Rebel defense held and limited the chances in the second half. At the other end of the field, forward Colin Bruns continued to work for the ball and find chances. It was only a matter of time before Tankersley found Bruns open again and Colin snuck a second goal by the keeper and gave the Rebels a 4-0 lead. The minutes ticked off the clock, but the Rebels weren’t done putting on a show. In the final moments of the game, Andrew Erker played a ball to Liam Ware who stepped up to the ball in the midfield. He took a touch and then ripped a shot from 25 yards out. The ball flew majestically threw the air until its flight was interrupted by the upper right corner of the Lutheran North net. The North goalie could only stand and watch as the ball sailed out of his reach and into the goal, completing the Rebels 5-0 victory over another league opponent. It was the team’s third victory in three days.
Goals: Lamb (2), Bruns 2 (2, 3), Tankersley (4), Ware (1)
Assists: Ware (1), Tankersley 2 (2, 3), Mulvihill (1), Erker (2)
Shutout: Heitz (1.5), Hoerr (2)
Game Balls: Ware, Bruns
Up Next: Mon. 9/24 @ Priory @ 4:15 vs. Lutheran South
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Game 6
Game 6 – 9/18/07
Rebels Outlast MICDS 6-2 in Brutal Game
The Priory J.V. soccer team hit the road on Tuesday afternoon and traveled to ABC League foe MICDS. The Rebels looked good early in the game. They attacked the Rams’ net often and had several chances. The Rebels capitalized on their early chances when sophomore captain Patrick Mulvihill found the net in the first ten minutes of the game. Sophomore Sam Tankersley laid off a ball to Mulvihill who pounded a shot from 25 yards out past the keeper. Minutes later the Rebels were attacking again. Freshman Tony Cribbin received a ball in the middle of the field and found Ragen Frost on the right wing making a timely run. Ragen took the ball to the goal and beat the keeper on the far side of the goal. Throughout the first half the Rams tried to pose a counter-attack but they were always thwarted by the Rebel defense led by sophomore sweeper Brandon Wehking and stopper Chad Huber. In the final minutes of the half the Rebels pounded the Rams’ net again and again. Finally they capitalized when Colin Bruns received a cross and ripped a shot off the post. Sophomore Sean Lamb pounced on the rebound and put the ball into the back of the net. It was Sean’s first goal of the year and hopefully is the first of many. At the halftime whistle the score was 3-0.
The Rams came out strong in the second half. They took advantage of some Rebel defensive mistakes and scored early in the half. The Rams kept the pressure on and earned a dangerous free kick on a questionable handball call. The free kick was well struck and found the back of the net to trim the lead to 3-2. Faced with some adversity, the Rebel squad stepped up to the challenge. They turned the tide of the game and brought the pressure to the Ram defense. Finally Gustavo Sanchez stepped up to a ball that Andrew Erker played across the top of the box, and buried it into the back of the net. After he scored, a Rams’ defender stomped on Sanchez and it was suddenly clear that the game was heading in a new direction. Down 4-2, the Rams started to foul aggressively and play recklessly. Unfortunately the referees did nothing to curb this behavior and the game became violent. Later in the half, Brandon Wehking stepped up to clear a ball and he was blind-sided and unfortunately injured. Tempers prevailed and Wehking earned a red card when he verbally lashed out at the referee. The Rebels were suddenly down a man with less than 10 minutes to play. However, the Rebels answered the call and showed MICDS that they would retaliate by putting points on the scoreboard. They controlled the ball and kept it in the Rams’ defensive zone. With minutes remaining, sophomore Sean Lamb weaved though the Rams defense and unselfishly played a ball to freshman Tony Cribbin who was in on goal. Tony buried the ball into the corner of the net and gave the Rebels a 5-2 lead. Moments later, Cribbin found himself alone on goal again and was brutally tackled by the goalie, earning a penalty kick. Sophomore Sam Tankersley stepped up to the penalty spot and pounded a ball past the Rams keeper. The Rebels took a 6-2 lead and that is how the game ended. At the end of the day, the Rebels were clearly the superior team but unfortunately they walked off the field with an injured teammate and two careless red cards.
Goals: Mulvihill (2), Frost (1), Lamb (1), Sanchez (1), Cribbin (2), Tankersley (3)
Assists: Tankersley (1), Cribbin (1), Bruns (1), Lamb (1), Erker (1)
Game Balls: Lamb, Cribbin
Cards: Wegman (yellow-foul, 2nd yellow/red-language), Wehking (red - language)
Up next: Wednesday September 19 vs. Lutheran North @ Priory
Rebels Outlast MICDS 6-2 in Brutal Game
The Priory J.V. soccer team hit the road on Tuesday afternoon and traveled to ABC League foe MICDS. The Rebels looked good early in the game. They attacked the Rams’ net often and had several chances. The Rebels capitalized on their early chances when sophomore captain Patrick Mulvihill found the net in the first ten minutes of the game. Sophomore Sam Tankersley laid off a ball to Mulvihill who pounded a shot from 25 yards out past the keeper. Minutes later the Rebels were attacking again. Freshman Tony Cribbin received a ball in the middle of the field and found Ragen Frost on the right wing making a timely run. Ragen took the ball to the goal and beat the keeper on the far side of the goal. Throughout the first half the Rams tried to pose a counter-attack but they were always thwarted by the Rebel defense led by sophomore sweeper Brandon Wehking and stopper Chad Huber. In the final minutes of the half the Rebels pounded the Rams’ net again and again. Finally they capitalized when Colin Bruns received a cross and ripped a shot off the post. Sophomore Sean Lamb pounced on the rebound and put the ball into the back of the net. It was Sean’s first goal of the year and hopefully is the first of many. At the halftime whistle the score was 3-0.
The Rams came out strong in the second half. They took advantage of some Rebel defensive mistakes and scored early in the half. The Rams kept the pressure on and earned a dangerous free kick on a questionable handball call. The free kick was well struck and found the back of the net to trim the lead to 3-2. Faced with some adversity, the Rebel squad stepped up to the challenge. They turned the tide of the game and brought the pressure to the Ram defense. Finally Gustavo Sanchez stepped up to a ball that Andrew Erker played across the top of the box, and buried it into the back of the net. After he scored, a Rams’ defender stomped on Sanchez and it was suddenly clear that the game was heading in a new direction. Down 4-2, the Rams started to foul aggressively and play recklessly. Unfortunately the referees did nothing to curb this behavior and the game became violent. Later in the half, Brandon Wehking stepped up to clear a ball and he was blind-sided and unfortunately injured. Tempers prevailed and Wehking earned a red card when he verbally lashed out at the referee. The Rebels were suddenly down a man with less than 10 minutes to play. However, the Rebels answered the call and showed MICDS that they would retaliate by putting points on the scoreboard. They controlled the ball and kept it in the Rams’ defensive zone. With minutes remaining, sophomore Sean Lamb weaved though the Rams defense and unselfishly played a ball to freshman Tony Cribbin who was in on goal. Tony buried the ball into the corner of the net and gave the Rebels a 5-2 lead. Moments later, Cribbin found himself alone on goal again and was brutally tackled by the goalie, earning a penalty kick. Sophomore Sam Tankersley stepped up to the penalty spot and pounded a ball past the Rams keeper. The Rebels took a 6-2 lead and that is how the game ended. At the end of the day, the Rebels were clearly the superior team but unfortunately they walked off the field with an injured teammate and two careless red cards.
Goals: Mulvihill (2), Frost (1), Lamb (1), Sanchez (1), Cribbin (2), Tankersley (3)
Assists: Tankersley (1), Cribbin (1), Bruns (1), Lamb (1), Erker (1)
Game Balls: Lamb, Cribbin
Cards: Wegman (yellow-foul, 2nd yellow/red-language), Wehking (red - language)
Up next: Wednesday September 19 vs. Lutheran North @ Priory
Monday, September 17, 2007
Game 5
Game 5 – 9/17/07
Rebels Score Early and Often on Clayton
The Priory J.V. soccer team was looking to return to their winning ways on Monday afternoon against Clayton. After losing to St. Mary’s on Friday, it was clear that the Rebels were going to come out strong against Clayton. They did just that. They put the pressure on the Clayton defense early in the game. In the opening minutes, Patrick Mulvihill powered his way through the box and out-muscled a few Clayton defenders to rip a shot on goal. The shot deflected off a defender but still managed to find its way into the corner of the net and propel the Rebels to a 1-0 lead. The Rebels kept attacking throughout the first half. There was some very nifty wing midfield play by Sean Lamb and James Kopfensteiner that created numerous chances for the home team. Clayton could never build an attack and the Rebel defenders kept the attack going toward the Clayton goal throughout the first half. Pedro, a defender on loan from his Chilean club team, made his Rebel debut a memorable one. He showed that he was a defender who was not afraid to push up into the attack. He was a force in the midfield and created several chances weaving in and out of defenders. Eventually he used power and finesse to work his way through the Clayton defense and rip a shot into the bottom corner of the net, giving the Rebels a 2-0 lead. Minutes later, the Rebels worked their way into the Clayton box and freshman Jack Wegman scored his first goal of the year, ripping a shot that deflected off a defender and into the goal. Before the halftime whistle could blow, the Rebels found the net again. A beautiful cross by Gustavo Sanchez bounced across the box and found Colin Bruns who managed to deflect it into the goal. At the halftime whistle, the Rebels led 4-0.
In the second half, the Rebels continued to apply the pressure with players stepping into different roles. Liam Ware anchored the defense by playing a solid half at sweeper. With the help of Mike Collins, playing in his first game since injury, Ware and the defense did not allow a shot on goal in the second half. The midfield and offense continued their attack, but the Clayton defense played a stronger second half and limited the Rebel chances. The Rebels still had some opportunities to score in the half, but could never find the net. At one point Wegman fired a free kick off the crossbar and later Andrew Erker found himself alone in front of the goal and lifted his shot over the bar. However, none of these chances resulted in a goal and the game ended 4-0. The win was a powerful statement from the squad and hopefully the beginning of another winning streak.
Goals: Mulvihill (1) Pedro (1) Wegman (1) Bruns (1)
Assists: Sanchez (1)
Shutout: Hoerr (1.5)
Game Balls: Pedro, Liam Ware
Overall Record: 4-1
Up Next: Tuesday Sept. 18 @ 4:15 @ MICDS
Rebels Score Early and Often on Clayton
The Priory J.V. soccer team was looking to return to their winning ways on Monday afternoon against Clayton. After losing to St. Mary’s on Friday, it was clear that the Rebels were going to come out strong against Clayton. They did just that. They put the pressure on the Clayton defense early in the game. In the opening minutes, Patrick Mulvihill powered his way through the box and out-muscled a few Clayton defenders to rip a shot on goal. The shot deflected off a defender but still managed to find its way into the corner of the net and propel the Rebels to a 1-0 lead. The Rebels kept attacking throughout the first half. There was some very nifty wing midfield play by Sean Lamb and James Kopfensteiner that created numerous chances for the home team. Clayton could never build an attack and the Rebel defenders kept the attack going toward the Clayton goal throughout the first half. Pedro, a defender on loan from his Chilean club team, made his Rebel debut a memorable one. He showed that he was a defender who was not afraid to push up into the attack. He was a force in the midfield and created several chances weaving in and out of defenders. Eventually he used power and finesse to work his way through the Clayton defense and rip a shot into the bottom corner of the net, giving the Rebels a 2-0 lead. Minutes later, the Rebels worked their way into the Clayton box and freshman Jack Wegman scored his first goal of the year, ripping a shot that deflected off a defender and into the goal. Before the halftime whistle could blow, the Rebels found the net again. A beautiful cross by Gustavo Sanchez bounced across the box and found Colin Bruns who managed to deflect it into the goal. At the halftime whistle, the Rebels led 4-0.
In the second half, the Rebels continued to apply the pressure with players stepping into different roles. Liam Ware anchored the defense by playing a solid half at sweeper. With the help of Mike Collins, playing in his first game since injury, Ware and the defense did not allow a shot on goal in the second half. The midfield and offense continued their attack, but the Clayton defense played a stronger second half and limited the Rebel chances. The Rebels still had some opportunities to score in the half, but could never find the net. At one point Wegman fired a free kick off the crossbar and later Andrew Erker found himself alone in front of the goal and lifted his shot over the bar. However, none of these chances resulted in a goal and the game ended 4-0. The win was a powerful statement from the squad and hopefully the beginning of another winning streak.
Goals: Mulvihill (1) Pedro (1) Wegman (1) Bruns (1)
Assists: Sanchez (1)
Shutout: Hoerr (1.5)
Game Balls: Pedro, Liam Ware
Overall Record: 4-1
Up Next: Tuesday Sept. 18 @ 4:15 @ MICDS
Game 4
Game 4 – 9/14/07
Rebels Fall to St. Mary’s
The Priory J.V. soccer team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday. A very talented and physically strong St. Mary’s squad beat the Rebels in a hard fought game. The Rebel defense was aching a bit from the departure of their defensive leader Dan Croghan. Croghan had gotten the call to join the varsity squad and contribute to the program at the next level. However, the Rebel defenders stepped up to the challenge brought upon by Croghan’s departure. Brandon Wehking filled in admirably at the sweeper position and Chad Huber made a solid contribution at stopper. Once again marking backs Kevin Hess and Doug Hall worked hard to protect the goal, with Hall dominating every ball in the air. Both teams had chances in the first half. The Rebels couldn’t find the goal and attacks were often stalled by a timely St. Mary’s offside trap. The Rebel defense held in the first half and keeper Bobby Heitz controlled the box and didn’t let anything by. After a tough first half, the score was 0-0.
St. Mary’s continued to put the pressure on the Rebel defense in the second-half. Eventually a cross found an unmarked forward who cut the ball to the top of the box for a midfielder to hammer home and give St. Mary’s the 1-0 lead. The Rebels immediately responded after giving up their first goal of season. Priory put the pressure on the St. Mary’s net with attacks led by midfielder Sean Lamb. Throughout the half, the Rebels pushed forward for an equalizer but could never convert. In the waning minutes of the game, St. Mary’s capitalized on the Rebels pushing forward and put away an insurance goal to make the score 2-0. The Rebels were beaten, but a lot of players showed that they were ready to answer the call and contribute to the team. There is no doubt that the Rebels learned a lot in this game, and they were a better team when they stepped off the pitch.
Game Ball: Doug Hall
Cards: Kelly (yellow-language)
Team Record: 3-1
Rebels Fall to St. Mary’s
The Priory J.V. soccer team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday. A very talented and physically strong St. Mary’s squad beat the Rebels in a hard fought game. The Rebel defense was aching a bit from the departure of their defensive leader Dan Croghan. Croghan had gotten the call to join the varsity squad and contribute to the program at the next level. However, the Rebel defenders stepped up to the challenge brought upon by Croghan’s departure. Brandon Wehking filled in admirably at the sweeper position and Chad Huber made a solid contribution at stopper. Once again marking backs Kevin Hess and Doug Hall worked hard to protect the goal, with Hall dominating every ball in the air. Both teams had chances in the first half. The Rebels couldn’t find the goal and attacks were often stalled by a timely St. Mary’s offside trap. The Rebel defense held in the first half and keeper Bobby Heitz controlled the box and didn’t let anything by. After a tough first half, the score was 0-0.
St. Mary’s continued to put the pressure on the Rebel defense in the second-half. Eventually a cross found an unmarked forward who cut the ball to the top of the box for a midfielder to hammer home and give St. Mary’s the 1-0 lead. The Rebels immediately responded after giving up their first goal of season. Priory put the pressure on the St. Mary’s net with attacks led by midfielder Sean Lamb. Throughout the half, the Rebels pushed forward for an equalizer but could never convert. In the waning minutes of the game, St. Mary’s capitalized on the Rebels pushing forward and put away an insurance goal to make the score 2-0. The Rebels were beaten, but a lot of players showed that they were ready to answer the call and contribute to the team. There is no doubt that the Rebels learned a lot in this game, and they were a better team when they stepped off the pitch.
Game Ball: Doug Hall
Cards: Kelly (yellow-language)
Team Record: 3-1
Game 3
Game 3 – 9/11/07
Rebels Beat Duchesne and Improve to 3-0
The Priory J.V. Soccer team faced another test on Tuesday when they played perennial soccer power Duchesne. The Rebels jumped on the attack in the opening moments of the game. Led by Brendan Kelly’s nifty play in the midfield, the Rebels worked the ball through the Duchesne defense and James Kopfensteiner found himself in on goal but his shot hit the post twenty seconds into the game. A minute later Kopfensteiner found himself with another chance in front of the goal, but his header could not muster enough power to beat the keeper. After these initial chances, the Rebels found themselves under attack. Duchesne woke up and started putting some pressure on the Priory goal. Some shaky defensive play by the usually steady Rebel defense allowed Duchesne to have numerous chances on the home team’s goal. However, Duchesne could not put a shot on the goal, and Rebel goalie Kevin Yuan stopped anything that had a chance at finding the net. The teams exchanged chances through most of the first half. The Rebels were clearly the superior team in possessing the ball, but Duchesne dominated the 50/50 balls and kept things interesting.
In the second half, the Rebels showed the depth and conditioning that helped them in their first two matches. They controlled the play and began to challenge Duchesne on any ball in the air. Most of the second-half action took place on the Duchesne half of the field and it was clear that the Rebels were knocking on the door. About 15 minutes into the half, the Rebels earned a corner kick. James Kopfensteiner played a perfect ball into the box and Sam Tankersley climbed the ladder and hammered home a header past the Duchesne keeper. Tankersley, one of the Rebel captains, was not one of the tallest players on the field but he showed that he wanted to win the ball more than anyone else. As the second half progressed, Duchesne became more adventurous in their attacks and the Rebels found themselves with numerous counter-attacks. Jack Wegman had two solid chances to put the game out of reach, but both shots found the keeper. Duchesne kept pushing forward but their forwards could not find any space due to the ferocious marking efforts of Kevin Hess and Doug Hall. In the final 30 seconds of the game, Duchesne earned a corner kick. They pushed everyone into the box for a desperate attempt at an equalizer. A dangerous ball was played into the box, but Rebel keeper Kevin Yuan punched the ball away from danger, preserving the 1-0 victory and a third consecutive shutout.
Goal: Tankersley (2)
Assist: Kopfensteiner (1)
Shutout: Yuan (1.5)
Game balls: Tankersley, Hess
UP NEXT: Friday September 14 @ Priory @ 3:45 vs. St. Mary’s
Rebels Beat Duchesne and Improve to 3-0
The Priory J.V. Soccer team faced another test on Tuesday when they played perennial soccer power Duchesne. The Rebels jumped on the attack in the opening moments of the game. Led by Brendan Kelly’s nifty play in the midfield, the Rebels worked the ball through the Duchesne defense and James Kopfensteiner found himself in on goal but his shot hit the post twenty seconds into the game. A minute later Kopfensteiner found himself with another chance in front of the goal, but his header could not muster enough power to beat the keeper. After these initial chances, the Rebels found themselves under attack. Duchesne woke up and started putting some pressure on the Priory goal. Some shaky defensive play by the usually steady Rebel defense allowed Duchesne to have numerous chances on the home team’s goal. However, Duchesne could not put a shot on the goal, and Rebel goalie Kevin Yuan stopped anything that had a chance at finding the net. The teams exchanged chances through most of the first half. The Rebels were clearly the superior team in possessing the ball, but Duchesne dominated the 50/50 balls and kept things interesting.
In the second half, the Rebels showed the depth and conditioning that helped them in their first two matches. They controlled the play and began to challenge Duchesne on any ball in the air. Most of the second-half action took place on the Duchesne half of the field and it was clear that the Rebels were knocking on the door. About 15 minutes into the half, the Rebels earned a corner kick. James Kopfensteiner played a perfect ball into the box and Sam Tankersley climbed the ladder and hammered home a header past the Duchesne keeper. Tankersley, one of the Rebel captains, was not one of the tallest players on the field but he showed that he wanted to win the ball more than anyone else. As the second half progressed, Duchesne became more adventurous in their attacks and the Rebels found themselves with numerous counter-attacks. Jack Wegman had two solid chances to put the game out of reach, but both shots found the keeper. Duchesne kept pushing forward but their forwards could not find any space due to the ferocious marking efforts of Kevin Hess and Doug Hall. In the final 30 seconds of the game, Duchesne earned a corner kick. They pushed everyone into the box for a desperate attempt at an equalizer. A dangerous ball was played into the box, but Rebel keeper Kevin Yuan punched the ball away from danger, preserving the 1-0 victory and a third consecutive shutout.
Goal: Tankersley (2)
Assist: Kopfensteiner (1)
Shutout: Yuan (1.5)
Game balls: Tankersley, Hess
UP NEXT: Friday September 14 @ Priory @ 3:45 vs. St. Mary’s
Game 2
Game 2 – 8/30/07
Rebels Win at Lutheran South 1-0
After winning its first game of the season, the Priory J.V. soccer team hit the road and took on Lutheran South. It was the Rebel’s first trip away from home and it was apparent that the team had to adjust to a new field and new surroundings.
The Lancers came out strong and put the pressure on the Rebel defense. Sending three forwards and pushing the midfield up into the attack, it was clear that the Lancers wanted to score early and catch the Rebels by surprise. The defense held with Dan Croghan and Doug Hall winning every ball in the air, and Brandon Wehking and Kevin Hess marking the forwards out of the game. When the ball did find its way through the Rebel defense, junior keeper Kevin Yuan made some quality saves to protect the net. The Rebels were able to mount several attacks of their own throughout the first half. Jack Wegman and Brendan Kelly combined nicely to earn some quality chances from distance. Gustavo Sanchez made some brilliant runs down the wing and served some quality crosses that just missed their connecting flights to the goal. Freshman Colin Bruns also showed that he could take on any defender and created several chances by fearlessly plowing into the Lancer box. With about 15 minutes left in the half, the Rebels finally broke through. Ragen Frost received the ball in the midfield and played a perfect ball over the top of the Lancer defense to freshman Tony Cribbin’s feet. Cribbin took the ball at the goal without hesitation and fired a ball to the lower right corner of the goal, just past the diving keeper. 1-0 Rebels.
The second half was very similar to the first half. The Lancers pushed many players forward to try to find the goal, but the Rebel defense stayed strong and limited the danger. The Rebels’ depth once again began to play a factor in the game and they started to control the majority of the action. It was clear which team had fresher feet because of a quality lineup from top to bottom. The Rebels had many chances to score in the second half, but couldn’t quite find the net. Sophomores Sean Lamb and Sam Tankersley harassed the Lancer defenders all day, but they could never quite break through. In the final moments of the game, the Lancers pushed forward for one final desperate attack. The defense held and freshman keeper Steve Hoerr was there to deny entry to any ball headed to the net. Hoerr played a steady second half and his powerful dropkicks posed potent counter attacks. When the final whistle blew, the Rebels earned their first road win and second consecutive shutout.
Goal: Cribbin (1)
Assist: Frost (1)
Shutout: Yuan (0.5), Hoerr (0.5)
Game Ball: Croghan
Rebels Win at Lutheran South 1-0
After winning its first game of the season, the Priory J.V. soccer team hit the road and took on Lutheran South. It was the Rebel’s first trip away from home and it was apparent that the team had to adjust to a new field and new surroundings.
The Lancers came out strong and put the pressure on the Rebel defense. Sending three forwards and pushing the midfield up into the attack, it was clear that the Lancers wanted to score early and catch the Rebels by surprise. The defense held with Dan Croghan and Doug Hall winning every ball in the air, and Brandon Wehking and Kevin Hess marking the forwards out of the game. When the ball did find its way through the Rebel defense, junior keeper Kevin Yuan made some quality saves to protect the net. The Rebels were able to mount several attacks of their own throughout the first half. Jack Wegman and Brendan Kelly combined nicely to earn some quality chances from distance. Gustavo Sanchez made some brilliant runs down the wing and served some quality crosses that just missed their connecting flights to the goal. Freshman Colin Bruns also showed that he could take on any defender and created several chances by fearlessly plowing into the Lancer box. With about 15 minutes left in the half, the Rebels finally broke through. Ragen Frost received the ball in the midfield and played a perfect ball over the top of the Lancer defense to freshman Tony Cribbin’s feet. Cribbin took the ball at the goal without hesitation and fired a ball to the lower right corner of the goal, just past the diving keeper. 1-0 Rebels.
The second half was very similar to the first half. The Lancers pushed many players forward to try to find the goal, but the Rebel defense stayed strong and limited the danger. The Rebels’ depth once again began to play a factor in the game and they started to control the majority of the action. It was clear which team had fresher feet because of a quality lineup from top to bottom. The Rebels had many chances to score in the second half, but couldn’t quite find the net. Sophomores Sean Lamb and Sam Tankersley harassed the Lancer defenders all day, but they could never quite break through. In the final moments of the game, the Lancers pushed forward for one final desperate attack. The defense held and freshman keeper Steve Hoerr was there to deny entry to any ball headed to the net. Hoerr played a steady second half and his powerful dropkicks posed potent counter attacks. When the final whistle blew, the Rebels earned their first road win and second consecutive shutout.
Goal: Cribbin (1)
Assist: Frost (1)
Shutout: Yuan (0.5), Hoerr (0.5)
Game Ball: Croghan
Game 1
Game 1 – 8/29/07
Rebels Start Season with 2-0 Win Over Rival Westminster
The Priory J.V. soccer team began its season with a tough match against league rival Westminster. The heat and humidity were brutal at the start of the match, but the temperature did not slow the pace of the game.
The action in the first half was back and forth with each team exchanging quality chances. The Rebels’ best opportunities to score came on corner kicks when freshman Brendan Kelly made it clear to the Wildcats that he would win any ball that came in the box. The Wildcats had a couple of first half opportunities, but could not find their way through the tenacious Rebel defense led by sophomore sweeper Dan Croghan. Marking backs Doug Hall and Kevin Hess spent the afternoon preventing the Wildcat forwards from touching the ball and Sophomore Brandon Wehking was always ready to break up a Westminster attack and spark a Rebel counterattack. As halftime loomed, the Rebels’ chances became more bountiful and the Westminster defense started to show some cracks. Sophomore Sam Tankersley displayed some clever footwork and ball distribution skills that stretched the Westminster defense thin and provided opportunities for the Rebel attack. Just before the halftime whistle, freshman Tony Cribbin made a fearless run down the right wing, beat two defenders, and then fired a shot over the goal. At halftime, it was clear that the Rebels were knocking on the door and getting ready to kick their way through it.
The Rebels jumped on the Wildcats at the beginning of the second half and really started to control the play. As time passed, it became clear that the Rebels had a deeper bench than the Wildcats who began to show fatigue and frustration. Twelve minutes into the half, the Rebels earned a corner kick, and a goal off of Brendan Kelly’s head seemed imminent to everyone on the field. As the ball came into the box off of sophomore Patrick Mulvihill’s foot, a Wildcat defender decided that he wasn’t going to get beat to the ball again. He carelessly grabbed Kelly and this act of frustration was immediately followed by a whistle from the referee. Sophomore James Kopfensteiner stepped up to take the penalty shot and sneaked it by the keeper to give the Rebels their first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. The Rebels controlled the action for the majority of the second half and kept the ball on the Westminster side of the field. When the Wildcats were able to mount any attack, junior goalkeeper Bobby Heitz was there to provide a steady presence in the net. As the clock was winding down, the Rebels stayed on the attack. With about ten minutes remaining, sophomore Ragen Frost made a run down the left wing, made a nifty turn to beat his man in the corner, and then made a perfect drop pass to Andrew Erker who was just arriving at the top of the box. Erker ripped a shot with the outside of his foot that whistled just wide of the right post. In the final minutes of the half the Wildcats were pushing up in the attack, and the Rebels constantly found themselves on counterattacks with numbers. With 2 minutes remaining, Sam Tankersley found himself in a 2 on 1 with space to work. He dribbled into the Wildcat box and prepared to rip a shot, but was tackled and earned the Rebel’s a second penalty kick. “Tank” stepped up to the spot, took a flawless penalty kick the found the bottom right of the goal, and gave the Rebels a 2-0 lead. This score held through the final minutes, and the Rebels made a statement to the rest of the ABC league with their 2-0 victory over Westminster.
Goals: Kopfensteiner (1), Tankersley (1)
Shutout: Heitz
Game Balls: Kelly, Kopfensteiner
Rebels Start Season with 2-0 Win Over Rival Westminster
The Priory J.V. soccer team began its season with a tough match against league rival Westminster. The heat and humidity were brutal at the start of the match, but the temperature did not slow the pace of the game.
The action in the first half was back and forth with each team exchanging quality chances. The Rebels’ best opportunities to score came on corner kicks when freshman Brendan Kelly made it clear to the Wildcats that he would win any ball that came in the box. The Wildcats had a couple of first half opportunities, but could not find their way through the tenacious Rebel defense led by sophomore sweeper Dan Croghan. Marking backs Doug Hall and Kevin Hess spent the afternoon preventing the Wildcat forwards from touching the ball and Sophomore Brandon Wehking was always ready to break up a Westminster attack and spark a Rebel counterattack. As halftime loomed, the Rebels’ chances became more bountiful and the Westminster defense started to show some cracks. Sophomore Sam Tankersley displayed some clever footwork and ball distribution skills that stretched the Westminster defense thin and provided opportunities for the Rebel attack. Just before the halftime whistle, freshman Tony Cribbin made a fearless run down the right wing, beat two defenders, and then fired a shot over the goal. At halftime, it was clear that the Rebels were knocking on the door and getting ready to kick their way through it.
The Rebels jumped on the Wildcats at the beginning of the second half and really started to control the play. As time passed, it became clear that the Rebels had a deeper bench than the Wildcats who began to show fatigue and frustration. Twelve minutes into the half, the Rebels earned a corner kick, and a goal off of Brendan Kelly’s head seemed imminent to everyone on the field. As the ball came into the box off of sophomore Patrick Mulvihill’s foot, a Wildcat defender decided that he wasn’t going to get beat to the ball again. He carelessly grabbed Kelly and this act of frustration was immediately followed by a whistle from the referee. Sophomore James Kopfensteiner stepped up to take the penalty shot and sneaked it by the keeper to give the Rebels their first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. The Rebels controlled the action for the majority of the second half and kept the ball on the Westminster side of the field. When the Wildcats were able to mount any attack, junior goalkeeper Bobby Heitz was there to provide a steady presence in the net. As the clock was winding down, the Rebels stayed on the attack. With about ten minutes remaining, sophomore Ragen Frost made a run down the left wing, made a nifty turn to beat his man in the corner, and then made a perfect drop pass to Andrew Erker who was just arriving at the top of the box. Erker ripped a shot with the outside of his foot that whistled just wide of the right post. In the final minutes of the half the Wildcats were pushing up in the attack, and the Rebels constantly found themselves on counterattacks with numbers. With 2 minutes remaining, Sam Tankersley found himself in a 2 on 1 with space to work. He dribbled into the Wildcat box and prepared to rip a shot, but was tackled and earned the Rebel’s a second penalty kick. “Tank” stepped up to the spot, took a flawless penalty kick the found the bottom right of the goal, and gave the Rebels a 2-0 lead. This score held through the final minutes, and the Rebels made a statement to the rest of the ABC league with their 2-0 victory over Westminster.
Goals: Kopfensteiner (1), Tankersley (1)
Shutout: Heitz
Game Balls: Kelly, Kopfensteiner
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