Green Team Dominates Mad Dog B-1

Riding high off of last week's victory against Charmander, the Green team came out on fire against Mad Dog B-1, winning the contest by a score of 10-2. We were quick to recognize which of our opponents were the biggest threats so that we could make the appropriate matchups, and our defense started to click immediately. Our presence in the passing lanes led to several counterattack goals that saw us up 7-1 at half. Afteward some sloppiness while controlling the ball hurt us a little. Remember, the first rule of passing is eye contact. We also want to keep the ball dry if possible because it's easier to be moved quickly if players don't have to pick it up every time the ball is to be passed. Still we did a pretty good job of moving the ball around the perimeter and finding open players. Tom Critchfield also had some nice drives from the wing that generated some very good opportunities, and Richie Mayer and Evan Stelmachowicz were quick to clear the middle for him.

Mad Dog's only goals came from a penalty shot and from a 6-on-5, so props to the boys for playing great full strength defense and for keeping them from countering. We coaches are also very proud of the entire team for not getting suckered into a lot of the kicking, pushing, sinking and grabbing that our opponents were employing, and for instead just playing better. We had six players notch goals (Archer, Critchfield, Gardner, Mayer, Rhoades, and Stelmachowicz) and several other did a great job of driving and attacking the goal to get good looks. Our goalies did great in the net, and received excellent help from the field. Matt Anderson's save percentage was at least 75% and Brad Gardner's ability to protect the ball under pressure in the deep end really stood out. Both also collected a few steals.

Our player of the game was Charlie Archer for outstanding two meter defense that frustrated Mad Dog's big guns, as well as great help on offense. We're very proud of how far the Green team has come this winter and we look forward to seeing them play alongside some of the more experienced players in the Kuppa da Daisy.

-Coach Merritt