Game 17 – 10/16/07
Rebels Beat Rival Westminster 2-1 to Stay Atop ABC League
The Priory J.V. Soccer team was looking to make it three wins in a row when they traveled to Westminster on Tuesday afternoon. The team was also looking to maintain its dominance in ABC League play. The Rebels came out a little slow, and they seemed a little off all afternoon. They struggled to maintain possession on an unfamiliar pitch and Westminster created several chances off of Rebel turnovers. However, freshman keeper Sam Sagartz (making his first start of the season) was ready to answer the call whenever the Wildcats played a ball into the box. The Rebel defense held in the first half and there were stretches when the Rebels controlled the ball and looked like the superior team. The Priory outside midfielders made some nice runs to spur attacks but their crosses could not find their targets in the middle. The Rebels finally found the net after a nice free kick play from about 45 yards out on the left side of the field. The Rebels loaded up the far post with runners, and Westminster played accordingly, assuming that Brandon Wehking would loft a ball into the box. However, Kevin Hess made a nice run to the vacant near post area and Wehking played him a simple ball on the ground. Kevin took the ball down the sideline and hit a dangerous cross into the box. The ball ended up on Gustavo Sanchez’s foot, and he hit a shot that snuck past a diving Westminster keeper and into the far side of the net. The Rebels took a 1-0 lead, but the Wildcats weren’t defeated. Before the half ended, the Wildcats put the pressure on the Rebel defense and earned numerous corner kicks and free kick opportunities from dangerous distances. The Rebel defense struggled to clear many of these, but the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize. Just before the half ended, the Rebels built a nice counter-attack when Regan Frost made a run down the sideline. He played a brilliant ball into the box and Colin Bruns stuck a foot on it to hammer it into the net. It appeared as if the Rebels had taken a two-goal lead, but the referee signaled offside and the score remained 1-0 at half.
In the second half, the Wildcats pushed several players forward into the attack. Things got a bit crazy with the Wildcats sending so many players forward and the Rebels couldn’t take advantage on the counter-attack. The Rebels started to panic and their touch seemed to disappear. They couldn’t possess the ball long enough to find the open men and turnovers were abundant. After a costly Rebel turnover, the Wildcats played a ball forward hoping to spring a quick counter. A speedy striker beat the Rebel defenders to the ball and put the ball past a helpless Rebel keeper. With the score tied, the Rebels woke up a bit, but they still couldn’t find their touch. Fortunately the defense responded and Kevin Hess, Doug Hall, and Brandon Wehking began to limit the Wildcat opportunities and prevent the Westminster strikers from getting the ball. When things were looking pretty dire for the Rebel attack, some fresh faces picked an opportune moment to put their stamp on the season. Graham Kerwin, playing in just his fourth game, took control of the ball in the midfield and played it up to Andrew Erker. Andrew took a few touches under pressure and took the ball to the goal. When Erker reached the top of the box he ripped a shot that headed toward the far post. The Wildcat keeper leapt in the air to try and stop the ball, but he could only get a finger on it as it went past him and into the net. It was Erker’s first goal of the season and Kerwin’s first assist. In the final minutes of the game, the Wildcats tried to push forward and tie the game, but the Rebel defense refused to allow them back into the game. The 2-1 victory showed that this Rebel squad could gut out a win even when not on their best game. The victory also shows that any player on this team can step up and contribute in a big way. The Rebels now have 14 different players with goals and 16 different players with assists.
Goals: Sanchez (2), Erker (1)
Assists: Hess (1), Kerwin (1)
Game Balls: Erker, Hess
Up Next: Friday Oct. 19 @ John Burroughs @ 4:15
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Game 16
Game 16 – 10/12/07
Rebels Keep Their Cool in 3-0 Win Over Physical Dubourg Team
The Priory J.V. soccer team faced Bishop Dubourg on Friday afternoon. Before the game even started, it was apparent that the Dubourg squad did not lack size or strength. However, what the Rebels lacked in size they made up for in skill, teamwork, and knowledge of the game. The first half was back and forth. The Rebels created the majority of the chances and worked hard to win balls in the air. The Rebels dominated the 50/50 chances in the air despite being undersized and overmatched physically. The Dubourg defense held for most of the half and the Rebels couldn’t seem to find the net. However, with about 15 minutes remaining in the half, the Rebels earned a free kick from about half. Brandon Wehking stepped up to the ball and showed off the Wehking-leg, sending the ball soaring to the top of the box. Patrick Mulvihill worked hard to get into position and climbed the ladder to flick the ball into the box with his head. Sean Lamb made a timely run to get to the ball and he calmly put it into the nearside of the net to beat the keeper. The Dubourg squad responded to this 1-0 deficit and started to spring some dangerous attacks of their own. It looked as if Dubourg would equalize when a forward broke free on a run and headed toward the Rebel goal. However, junior goalkeeper Bobby Heitz came out and made a spectacular save on the first shot and then made an even more impressive save on the rebound. Heitz’s second save drew him out of the box and Dubourg received a free kick opportunity from a dangerous distance. A Dubourg player fired a shot to the upper right corner of the goal and it appeared that the game would be tied. However, Heitz made a third unbelievable save in as many shots and preserved his season-long shutout streak. At halftime, the Rebels were clinging to a 1-0 lead.
At halftime, the Rebels knew that they would have to put Dubourg away in the second half and not let them stick around. The Priory squad came out strong in the second half and did just that. They put pressure on the Dubourg defense and started to earn some free kicks. Ten minutes into the half, they earned another kick from the half-line and Brandon Wehking stepped up to the ball once again, hoping to hit another dangerous ball into the box with his powerful foot. He put another ball into the mix and Mulvihill once again deflected it into even more danger and when the Dubourg keeper couldn’t hang on to the ball, Jack Wegman put it into the vacated net. At this point in the game, the Dubourg squad became reckless. Frustrated and outplayed, the Dubourg team started to let loose some language and some fouls. The Rebels kept their heads and played smart. They showed class and calm, and they let the referees handle the Dubourg players. The remainder of the game lacked rhythm, because the Rebels would try to build attacks but they would be fouled and play would have to halt for the distribution of yellow and red cards. The defense remained solid though, and Sam Sagartz protected the Rebel net from any Dubourg attempts. Eventually, the Rebels capitalized once again after a careless foul gave them another free kick. The kick soared into the box and after a bit of a scramble, Jack Wegman got the ball to James Kopfensteiner who iced the game and gave the Rebels a 3-0 lead. At the end of the day, the Rebels had earned an impressive and hard-fought 3-0 victory. However, they also showed a great amount of maturity. The players on this team had learned from previous experiences, and showed that they had grown as young men who could proudly represent Saint Louis Priory School on the soccer field.
Goals: Lamb (4), Wegman (8), Kopfensteiner (4)
Assists: Mulvihill 2 (4, 5), Wegman (1)
Shutout: Heitz (2), Sagartz (1)
Game Balls: Wehking, Heitz
Rebels Keep Their Cool in 3-0 Win Over Physical Dubourg Team
The Priory J.V. soccer team faced Bishop Dubourg on Friday afternoon. Before the game even started, it was apparent that the Dubourg squad did not lack size or strength. However, what the Rebels lacked in size they made up for in skill, teamwork, and knowledge of the game. The first half was back and forth. The Rebels created the majority of the chances and worked hard to win balls in the air. The Rebels dominated the 50/50 chances in the air despite being undersized and overmatched physically. The Dubourg defense held for most of the half and the Rebels couldn’t seem to find the net. However, with about 15 minutes remaining in the half, the Rebels earned a free kick from about half. Brandon Wehking stepped up to the ball and showed off the Wehking-leg, sending the ball soaring to the top of the box. Patrick Mulvihill worked hard to get into position and climbed the ladder to flick the ball into the box with his head. Sean Lamb made a timely run to get to the ball and he calmly put it into the nearside of the net to beat the keeper. The Dubourg squad responded to this 1-0 deficit and started to spring some dangerous attacks of their own. It looked as if Dubourg would equalize when a forward broke free on a run and headed toward the Rebel goal. However, junior goalkeeper Bobby Heitz came out and made a spectacular save on the first shot and then made an even more impressive save on the rebound. Heitz’s second save drew him out of the box and Dubourg received a free kick opportunity from a dangerous distance. A Dubourg player fired a shot to the upper right corner of the goal and it appeared that the game would be tied. However, Heitz made a third unbelievable save in as many shots and preserved his season-long shutout streak. At halftime, the Rebels were clinging to a 1-0 lead.
At halftime, the Rebels knew that they would have to put Dubourg away in the second half and not let them stick around. The Priory squad came out strong in the second half and did just that. They put pressure on the Dubourg defense and started to earn some free kicks. Ten minutes into the half, they earned another kick from the half-line and Brandon Wehking stepped up to the ball once again, hoping to hit another dangerous ball into the box with his powerful foot. He put another ball into the mix and Mulvihill once again deflected it into even more danger and when the Dubourg keeper couldn’t hang on to the ball, Jack Wegman put it into the vacated net. At this point in the game, the Dubourg squad became reckless. Frustrated and outplayed, the Dubourg team started to let loose some language and some fouls. The Rebels kept their heads and played smart. They showed class and calm, and they let the referees handle the Dubourg players. The remainder of the game lacked rhythm, because the Rebels would try to build attacks but they would be fouled and play would have to halt for the distribution of yellow and red cards. The defense remained solid though, and Sam Sagartz protected the Rebel net from any Dubourg attempts. Eventually, the Rebels capitalized once again after a careless foul gave them another free kick. The kick soared into the box and after a bit of a scramble, Jack Wegman got the ball to James Kopfensteiner who iced the game and gave the Rebels a 3-0 lead. At the end of the day, the Rebels had earned an impressive and hard-fought 3-0 victory. However, they also showed a great amount of maturity. The players on this team had learned from previous experiences, and showed that they had grown as young men who could proudly represent Saint Louis Priory School on the soccer field.
Goals: Lamb (4), Wegman (8), Kopfensteiner (4)
Assists: Mulvihill 2 (4, 5), Wegman (1)
Shutout: Heitz (2), Sagartz (1)
Game Balls: Wehking, Heitz
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Game 15
Game 15 – 10/10/07
Rebels Get Back on Track in League with 2-0 Win Over JBS
After a difficult 5-game road trip, the Priory J.V. soccer team returned home hoping to reestablish themselves as an ABC league power. They faced John Burroughs on Wednesday afternoon and the Rebel squad knew that they would have to play a complete game to get their desired result. The Rebels came out strong in the first half and put pressure on the Bombers’ goal. Tony Cribbin continuously found ways to get through the Burroughs defense and serve dangerous crosses into the box. Jack Wegman put himself on the other end of these crosses, but couldn’t quite finish. The Rebels also had another strong showing in the midfield with Patrick Mulvihill maintaining his dominance in the air and Liam Ware and Andrew Erker keeping the attacks organized and balanced on the ground. The Rebel wing midfielders also played a solid game. Frost, Lamb, and Kopfensteiner had their usual productive games, but freshman Gustavo Sanchez really stepped it up. Sanchez made several nice runs to contribute to the attack, but he also showed incredible closing speed when recovering defensively. The Burroughs’ open midfielders would suddenly be covered in the blink of an eye and Sanchez played a large part in frustrating the Bombers’ attacks. Defensively, the Rebels shook of their road woes and played responsibly. Doug Hall had another big game winning balls in the air, and Kevin Hess spent the afternoon frustrating the Burroughs’ forwards. Brandon Wehking had a solid game anchoring the defense and stopper Pedro was both a defensive presence and offensive threat all game. In the net, Kevin Yuan extended his season-long shutout streak to 6 halves. Despite solid efforts at every position, the Rebels couldn’t make a dent on the scoreboard and at halftime the score was 0-0.
The Rebels knew that if they continued to play responsible defense and put pressure on the Bombers in the second half, eventually they would be rewarded. Early in the second half it looked like that was going to happen. Chad Huber had the ball on the wing and hit a beautiful cross into the Burroughs box. Jack Wegman, trying to shake off some first-half frustration, got a solid header on the ball and directed it toward the goal. Unfortunately, the ball hit the crossbar and the Bombers were able to clear. It seemed like the Rebels were jinxed. However, Colin Bruns, a second-half substitute, kept the Rebels’ energy up when he entered the game. He displayed the hard-nosed aggressive play that has brought him success in previous games, and he really put pressure on the Bombers’ defenders. Bruns’ hard work was rewarded when he used his body to get the ball from a Burroughs’ defender and then powered his way toward the goal. He ripped a shot that hit off the near post, and then it took a friendly bounce off the back of the keeper and into the goal. The Rebels took a 1-0 lead and their luck seemed to be changing. As the half progressed, Burroughs pushed more players up into the attack. The Rebel defense held and Priory was able to spring some counter-attacks of their own. With about 10 minutes remaining in the game, Pedro took control of the ball in the Rebel zone and looked up for a counter-attack. He brought the ball forward and then played a perfect ball up to Jack Wegman who timed his run perfectly to avoid the offside call. Wegman took a touch on the ball and then looked up to see a Burroughs’ goalie coming way out to play the ball. Wegman saw his opportunity and chipped the ball over the goalie from about 40 yards out. The ball sailed through the air and it wasn’t clear if it was hit just right or if it would soar over the goal. The ball descended just in time to sneak under the crossbar and give the Rebels a 2-0 lead. This lead would hold up until the end of the game, and the Rebels secured a big victory that allowed them to maintain control over the ABC league.
Goals: Bruns (6), Wegman (7)
Assist: Pedro (1)
Shutout: Yuan (3), Hoerr (4)
Game Balls: Sanchez and Pedro
Rebels Get Back on Track in League with 2-0 Win Over JBS
After a difficult 5-game road trip, the Priory J.V. soccer team returned home hoping to reestablish themselves as an ABC league power. They faced John Burroughs on Wednesday afternoon and the Rebel squad knew that they would have to play a complete game to get their desired result. The Rebels came out strong in the first half and put pressure on the Bombers’ goal. Tony Cribbin continuously found ways to get through the Burroughs defense and serve dangerous crosses into the box. Jack Wegman put himself on the other end of these crosses, but couldn’t quite finish. The Rebels also had another strong showing in the midfield with Patrick Mulvihill maintaining his dominance in the air and Liam Ware and Andrew Erker keeping the attacks organized and balanced on the ground. The Rebel wing midfielders also played a solid game. Frost, Lamb, and Kopfensteiner had their usual productive games, but freshman Gustavo Sanchez really stepped it up. Sanchez made several nice runs to contribute to the attack, but he also showed incredible closing speed when recovering defensively. The Burroughs’ open midfielders would suddenly be covered in the blink of an eye and Sanchez played a large part in frustrating the Bombers’ attacks. Defensively, the Rebels shook of their road woes and played responsibly. Doug Hall had another big game winning balls in the air, and Kevin Hess spent the afternoon frustrating the Burroughs’ forwards. Brandon Wehking had a solid game anchoring the defense and stopper Pedro was both a defensive presence and offensive threat all game. In the net, Kevin Yuan extended his season-long shutout streak to 6 halves. Despite solid efforts at every position, the Rebels couldn’t make a dent on the scoreboard and at halftime the score was 0-0.
The Rebels knew that if they continued to play responsible defense and put pressure on the Bombers in the second half, eventually they would be rewarded. Early in the second half it looked like that was going to happen. Chad Huber had the ball on the wing and hit a beautiful cross into the Burroughs box. Jack Wegman, trying to shake off some first-half frustration, got a solid header on the ball and directed it toward the goal. Unfortunately, the ball hit the crossbar and the Bombers were able to clear. It seemed like the Rebels were jinxed. However, Colin Bruns, a second-half substitute, kept the Rebels’ energy up when he entered the game. He displayed the hard-nosed aggressive play that has brought him success in previous games, and he really put pressure on the Bombers’ defenders. Bruns’ hard work was rewarded when he used his body to get the ball from a Burroughs’ defender and then powered his way toward the goal. He ripped a shot that hit off the near post, and then it took a friendly bounce off the back of the keeper and into the goal. The Rebels took a 1-0 lead and their luck seemed to be changing. As the half progressed, Burroughs pushed more players up into the attack. The Rebel defense held and Priory was able to spring some counter-attacks of their own. With about 10 minutes remaining in the game, Pedro took control of the ball in the Rebel zone and looked up for a counter-attack. He brought the ball forward and then played a perfect ball up to Jack Wegman who timed his run perfectly to avoid the offside call. Wegman took a touch on the ball and then looked up to see a Burroughs’ goalie coming way out to play the ball. Wegman saw his opportunity and chipped the ball over the goalie from about 40 yards out. The ball sailed through the air and it wasn’t clear if it was hit just right or if it would soar over the goal. The ball descended just in time to sneak under the crossbar and give the Rebels a 2-0 lead. This lead would hold up until the end of the game, and the Rebels secured a big victory that allowed them to maintain control over the ABC league.
Goals: Bruns (6), Wegman (7)
Assist: Pedro (1)
Shutout: Yuan (3), Hoerr (4)
Game Balls: Sanchez and Pedro
Monday, October 8, 2007
Game 14
Game 14 – 10/8/07
Rebels Suffer Tough Loss to Lutheran North 2-1
The Priory J.V. soccer team lost a tough game on Monday afternoon. They traveled to Lutheran North and could never quite find their touch on a wet field. The Rebels had their chances early and things were looking good for the squad from Priory, but an inability to finish near the net proved costly. Rebel forwards and midfielders couldn’t seem to find the net and many of their chances were blocked or deflected by the Lutheran North defense. Lutheran North, on the other hand, proved to be an opportunistic team and they capitalized on their first half chances. When North earned a free kick from distance, they played the ball into the box and it found a forward’s head that put it into the net. Minutes later North scored again when the Rebels couldn’t clear a corner kick and Kevin Hess was forced to stick a hand on the ball to prevent it from going in the net. The Crusaders converted the penalty kick and took a 2-0 lead. As the final minutes of the half ticked away, the Rebels pounded the North goal. Andrew Erker found a ball in the box and ripped a shot that seemed destined for the net, but instead found a Lutheran North defender. James Kopfensteiner also had a chance at the top of the box, but his shot deflected off a defender and hit the crossbar. At half, the score was 2-0.
The Rebels really took it to Lutheran North in the second half. The Rebel defense stepped up big and never let North control a ball. In the midfield, Patrick Mulvihill dominated things in the air and North was in panic mode for most of the half. Unfortunately for the Rebels, with a 2-0 lead, Lutheran North had the luxury of playing defensive and clogging the box. The Rebels managed to break through the defense midway through the second half when Patrick Mulvihill played a ball to Jack Wegman who made a nice run and managed to beat the keeper. The rest of the half, the Rebels pushed for the equalizer but couldn’t convert on some nice corner kicks by James Kopfensteiner or on some big throws from Kevin Hess. The Lutheran North keeper made some nice saves to preserve his team’s lead and the Rebels missed some chances just wide and just over the bar. Despite a dominant second half, the Rebels lost the game 2-1.
Goal: Wegman (6)
Assist: Mulvihill (3)
Game Balls: Mulvihill and Hess
Rebels Suffer Tough Loss to Lutheran North 2-1
The Priory J.V. soccer team lost a tough game on Monday afternoon. They traveled to Lutheran North and could never quite find their touch on a wet field. The Rebels had their chances early and things were looking good for the squad from Priory, but an inability to finish near the net proved costly. Rebel forwards and midfielders couldn’t seem to find the net and many of their chances were blocked or deflected by the Lutheran North defense. Lutheran North, on the other hand, proved to be an opportunistic team and they capitalized on their first half chances. When North earned a free kick from distance, they played the ball into the box and it found a forward’s head that put it into the net. Minutes later North scored again when the Rebels couldn’t clear a corner kick and Kevin Hess was forced to stick a hand on the ball to prevent it from going in the net. The Crusaders converted the penalty kick and took a 2-0 lead. As the final minutes of the half ticked away, the Rebels pounded the North goal. Andrew Erker found a ball in the box and ripped a shot that seemed destined for the net, but instead found a Lutheran North defender. James Kopfensteiner also had a chance at the top of the box, but his shot deflected off a defender and hit the crossbar. At half, the score was 2-0.
The Rebels really took it to Lutheran North in the second half. The Rebel defense stepped up big and never let North control a ball. In the midfield, Patrick Mulvihill dominated things in the air and North was in panic mode for most of the half. Unfortunately for the Rebels, with a 2-0 lead, Lutheran North had the luxury of playing defensive and clogging the box. The Rebels managed to break through the defense midway through the second half when Patrick Mulvihill played a ball to Jack Wegman who made a nice run and managed to beat the keeper. The rest of the half, the Rebels pushed for the equalizer but couldn’t convert on some nice corner kicks by James Kopfensteiner or on some big throws from Kevin Hess. The Lutheran North keeper made some nice saves to preserve his team’s lead and the Rebels missed some chances just wide and just over the bar. Despite a dominant second half, the Rebels lost the game 2-1.
Goal: Wegman (6)
Assist: Mulvihill (3)
Game Balls: Mulvihill and Hess
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Game 13
Game 13 – 10/3/07
Rebels End Offensive Frustrations with 5-0 Drubbing of Affton
The Priory J.V. soccer team entered their Wednesday afternoon game against Affton with a bad taste in their mouth from the day before. The team was looking to exorcize a few demons and turn their season back around. The Rebels did just that. Playing on a difficult playing surface for the second consecutive day, the Rebel team refused to make excuses. They knew that the pressure was on them to work hard and execute. In the early minutes of the game, the Rebels set the tone. They won every ball in the air and were passing very well. Five minutes into the game, James Kopfensteiner played a nice through ball to Jack Wegman who took the ball at the goal and fired a shot past the Affton keeper. 1-0 Rebels. The Rebels kept the pressure in the Affton zone and minutes later they were finishing again. Doug Hall won a ball in the midfield and headed it forward. The ball found it’s way to Ragen Frost who had an open lane down the left wing of the field. Ragen took it to the end line and then played a left-footed cross into the middle. The ball found Wegman who headed the ball into the far corner of the goal. 2-0 Rebels. The Rebels knew that it was no time to lighten up and that they had to keep the pressure on and put the Affton team away while they could. Minutes later, the Rebels earned a corner which James Kopfensteiner played into the box and Colin Bruns stepped up to it and pounded it into the back of the net to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead. The Rebels continued to pressure the Affton goal for the remainder of the half. Eventually the Affton defense got frustrated and took down Liam Ware in the box. Ware stepped up to the penalty spot and hit an unstoppable shot into the corner of the goal and the Rebels were cruising 4-0. Before the halftime whistle could blow, the Rebels found the net again when Patrick Mulvihill flicked a throw-in into the box with his head and Jack Wegman put it away for his third goal of the half. When the half finally came to an end, the Rebels had a comfortable 5-0 lead.
In the second half the Rebels continued to play strong defense and put pressure on the Affton goal. The Affton defense settled into the game though and goals were harder to come by. Andrew Erker, Pedro, Gustavo, Ragen, and Sean Lamb all had chances in the second half but couldn’t quite finish. Goalkeeper Sam Sagartz, making his first appearance after several injuries, was called upon to make some nice saves in the second half that preserved the Rebel shutout. Freshman Graham Kerwin also made his first appearance of the season and displayed a fine touch and a steady presence in the back. Patrick Mulvihill also stepped into a defensive position in the second half and established his presence in the middle of the field. Mulvihill won every head-ball that came his way and thwarted any hopes that Affton had of getting on the scoreboard. In the end, the Rebels had a dominant 5-0 victory and reestablished themselves as an offensive machine.
Goals: Wegman 3 (3, 4, 5), Bruns (5), Ware (3)
Assists: Kopfensteiner 2 (3, 4), Frost (2), Mulvihill (2)
Game Balls: Wegman, Mulvihill
Shutout: Hoerr (3.5), Sagartz (0.5)
Up Next: Monday October 8 @ Lutheran North @ 4:15
Rebels End Offensive Frustrations with 5-0 Drubbing of Affton
The Priory J.V. soccer team entered their Wednesday afternoon game against Affton with a bad taste in their mouth from the day before. The team was looking to exorcize a few demons and turn their season back around. The Rebels did just that. Playing on a difficult playing surface for the second consecutive day, the Rebel team refused to make excuses. They knew that the pressure was on them to work hard and execute. In the early minutes of the game, the Rebels set the tone. They won every ball in the air and were passing very well. Five minutes into the game, James Kopfensteiner played a nice through ball to Jack Wegman who took the ball at the goal and fired a shot past the Affton keeper. 1-0 Rebels. The Rebels kept the pressure in the Affton zone and minutes later they were finishing again. Doug Hall won a ball in the midfield and headed it forward. The ball found it’s way to Ragen Frost who had an open lane down the left wing of the field. Ragen took it to the end line and then played a left-footed cross into the middle. The ball found Wegman who headed the ball into the far corner of the goal. 2-0 Rebels. The Rebels knew that it was no time to lighten up and that they had to keep the pressure on and put the Affton team away while they could. Minutes later, the Rebels earned a corner which James Kopfensteiner played into the box and Colin Bruns stepped up to it and pounded it into the back of the net to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead. The Rebels continued to pressure the Affton goal for the remainder of the half. Eventually the Affton defense got frustrated and took down Liam Ware in the box. Ware stepped up to the penalty spot and hit an unstoppable shot into the corner of the goal and the Rebels were cruising 4-0. Before the halftime whistle could blow, the Rebels found the net again when Patrick Mulvihill flicked a throw-in into the box with his head and Jack Wegman put it away for his third goal of the half. When the half finally came to an end, the Rebels had a comfortable 5-0 lead.
In the second half the Rebels continued to play strong defense and put pressure on the Affton goal. The Affton defense settled into the game though and goals were harder to come by. Andrew Erker, Pedro, Gustavo, Ragen, and Sean Lamb all had chances in the second half but couldn’t quite finish. Goalkeeper Sam Sagartz, making his first appearance after several injuries, was called upon to make some nice saves in the second half that preserved the Rebel shutout. Freshman Graham Kerwin also made his first appearance of the season and displayed a fine touch and a steady presence in the back. Patrick Mulvihill also stepped into a defensive position in the second half and established his presence in the middle of the field. Mulvihill won every head-ball that came his way and thwarted any hopes that Affton had of getting on the scoreboard. In the end, the Rebels had a dominant 5-0 victory and reestablished themselves as an offensive machine.
Goals: Wegman 3 (3, 4, 5), Bruns (5), Ware (3)
Assists: Kopfensteiner 2 (3, 4), Frost (2), Mulvihill (2)
Game Balls: Wegman, Mulvihill
Shutout: Hoerr (3.5), Sagartz (0.5)
Up Next: Monday October 8 @ Lutheran North @ 4:15
Game 12
Game 12 – 10/2/07
Rebels Suffer Disappointing Loss to St. Pius
This wasn’t how the Priory J.V. soccer team had planned things. On Tuesday afternoon they made the long journey to St. Pius, hoping to continue their winning ways. In the first half, things were looking good for the Rebels. They controlled the ball and built some nice attacks. Unfortunately, many of their attacks were stalled by a panicked and careless pass or by a lazy offside play. However, the Rebel defense looked steady in the first half and limited the St. Pius chances. Finally the Rebels opened the scoring when Liam Ware found Tony Cribbin making a run down the right wing. Cribbin received the ball and took it straight to the goal. When he got into the box he fired a flawless shot into the bottom left corner of the goal and gave the Rebels a first half lead. The Rebels had several other chances in the first half, but could not figure out a way to stay onside. At halftime, the Rebels led 1-0, but they knew that they should have had more. Unfortunately, their inability to finish in the first half would punish them in the second half.
St. Pius jumped on the Rebel defense in the first minute of the second half. St. Pius earned a free kick from 35 yards out and quickly played a ball into the box before the Rebels could get organized defensively. The ball found a forward’s foot and he put it into the back of the goal with ease. After the goal, the Rebels began to play even more panicky and continually turned the ball over in the midfield. When the Rebels did manage to play a nice ball up to the forwards, the forwards weren’t patient enough to stay onside. Even with the mistakes that the team was making on a less than mediocre playing surface, the Rebels still looked like the better team and built the majority of the attacks. Unfortunately the Rebels could not finish and St. Pius was a bit more opportunistic with their chances. With fifteen minutes remaining in the half, St. Pius played a difficult ball into the Rebels’ box. With forwards running onto the ball, Rebel keeper Steve Hoerr was forced to make a difficult play on the ball before it bounced. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the ball took an unpredictable bounce and found a way to sneak by Hoerr and into the net. The team responded to this 2-1 deficit and continually created chances at the other end of the field. Unfortunately the ball wasn’t bouncing the Rebels’ way and they couldn’t avoid the offside call that killed many of their chances. At the end of the game, the Rebels suffered a frustrating 2-1 loss. However, the game taught this young Rebels team that they have to put away a team when they have a chance. Hopefully they can use this experience to improve and excel in future games.
Goal: Cribbin (4)
Assist: Ware (2)
Game Ball: Cribbin
Rebels Suffer Disappointing Loss to St. Pius
This wasn’t how the Priory J.V. soccer team had planned things. On Tuesday afternoon they made the long journey to St. Pius, hoping to continue their winning ways. In the first half, things were looking good for the Rebels. They controlled the ball and built some nice attacks. Unfortunately, many of their attacks were stalled by a panicked and careless pass or by a lazy offside play. However, the Rebel defense looked steady in the first half and limited the St. Pius chances. Finally the Rebels opened the scoring when Liam Ware found Tony Cribbin making a run down the right wing. Cribbin received the ball and took it straight to the goal. When he got into the box he fired a flawless shot into the bottom left corner of the goal and gave the Rebels a first half lead. The Rebels had several other chances in the first half, but could not figure out a way to stay onside. At halftime, the Rebels led 1-0, but they knew that they should have had more. Unfortunately, their inability to finish in the first half would punish them in the second half.
St. Pius jumped on the Rebel defense in the first minute of the second half. St. Pius earned a free kick from 35 yards out and quickly played a ball into the box before the Rebels could get organized defensively. The ball found a forward’s foot and he put it into the back of the goal with ease. After the goal, the Rebels began to play even more panicky and continually turned the ball over in the midfield. When the Rebels did manage to play a nice ball up to the forwards, the forwards weren’t patient enough to stay onside. Even with the mistakes that the team was making on a less than mediocre playing surface, the Rebels still looked like the better team and built the majority of the attacks. Unfortunately the Rebels could not finish and St. Pius was a bit more opportunistic with their chances. With fifteen minutes remaining in the half, St. Pius played a difficult ball into the Rebels’ box. With forwards running onto the ball, Rebel keeper Steve Hoerr was forced to make a difficult play on the ball before it bounced. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the ball took an unpredictable bounce and found a way to sneak by Hoerr and into the net. The team responded to this 2-1 deficit and continually created chances at the other end of the field. Unfortunately the ball wasn’t bouncing the Rebels’ way and they couldn’t avoid the offside call that killed many of their chances. At the end of the game, the Rebels suffered a frustrating 2-1 loss. However, the game taught this young Rebels team that they have to put away a team when they have a chance. Hopefully they can use this experience to improve and excel in future games.
Goal: Cribbin (4)
Assist: Ware (2)
Game Ball: Cribbin
Monday, October 1, 2007
Game 11
Game 11 – 9/29/07
Team Controls Game, But Forced to Battle Back for Tie
The Priory J.V. soccer team traveled to Whitfield on Saturday morning. The Rebels knew that they would be in for a battle and the Warriors came out strong. The teams exchanged chances early on. Whitfield built an early attack and Rebel keeper Bobby Heitz stepped up and made a diving save to keep the score even. The Rebels then settled into the game and then really controlled the action for much of the half. Unfortunately many of the Rebels’ chances sailed wide or over the goal. The Rebels’ best chance came when Jack Wegman received a ball at the top of the box and turned nicely to rip a shot that the Whitfield keeper dove and stopped. It was clear that the Rebels controlled the game in the midfield for much of the first half, but they could not finish their attacks and the score at halftime was 0-0.
The second half was similar to the first. The Rebels controlled most of the action but the Whitfield defense did just enough to frustrate the Priory attack. A couple of foul calls in the half gave Whitfield several free kick opportunities from distance. The Rebels did well to thwart most of these efforts, but one mistake cost them a goal. A Warrior defender stepped up to a free kick from about half and sent it into the box. The ball bounced past the Rebel defense and onto the foot of a Whitfield forward who finished with ease. The Rebels suddenly found themselves in an unfamiliar position: down a goal in the second half. However, there was no panic on this team. They knew they were getting their chances and that they just had to finish. Brendan Kelly did just that. About five minutes after the Whitfield goal, Kelly took control of a ball that was 25 yards out. He beat a man and then took the ball to the top of the box. When he got to the box he fired a howitzer that connected with the bottom of the crossbar and then found the back of the net. The Rebels were rejuvenated and continued to attack the Warrior net. They had their chances to get the win, but unfortunately time ran out before they could put one away. At the end of the day, the Rebels had fought back for a good tie but they left the field wanting more.
Goal: Kelly (1)
Game Balls: Kelly, Wegman
Up next: Tuesday October 2 @ St Pius @ 4:15
Team Controls Game, But Forced to Battle Back for Tie
The Priory J.V. soccer team traveled to Whitfield on Saturday morning. The Rebels knew that they would be in for a battle and the Warriors came out strong. The teams exchanged chances early on. Whitfield built an early attack and Rebel keeper Bobby Heitz stepped up and made a diving save to keep the score even. The Rebels then settled into the game and then really controlled the action for much of the half. Unfortunately many of the Rebels’ chances sailed wide or over the goal. The Rebels’ best chance came when Jack Wegman received a ball at the top of the box and turned nicely to rip a shot that the Whitfield keeper dove and stopped. It was clear that the Rebels controlled the game in the midfield for much of the first half, but they could not finish their attacks and the score at halftime was 0-0.
The second half was similar to the first. The Rebels controlled most of the action but the Whitfield defense did just enough to frustrate the Priory attack. A couple of foul calls in the half gave Whitfield several free kick opportunities from distance. The Rebels did well to thwart most of these efforts, but one mistake cost them a goal. A Warrior defender stepped up to a free kick from about half and sent it into the box. The ball bounced past the Rebel defense and onto the foot of a Whitfield forward who finished with ease. The Rebels suddenly found themselves in an unfamiliar position: down a goal in the second half. However, there was no panic on this team. They knew they were getting their chances and that they just had to finish. Brendan Kelly did just that. About five minutes after the Whitfield goal, Kelly took control of a ball that was 25 yards out. He beat a man and then took the ball to the top of the box. When he got to the box he fired a howitzer that connected with the bottom of the crossbar and then found the back of the net. The Rebels were rejuvenated and continued to attack the Warrior net. They had their chances to get the win, but unfortunately time ran out before they could put one away. At the end of the day, the Rebels had fought back for a good tie but they left the field wanting more.
Goal: Kelly (1)
Game Balls: Kelly, Wegman
Up next: Tuesday October 2 @ St Pius @ 4:15
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