 |
Fall 2007 Season Pre-Season
FPYC Labor Day Patriot’s Cup Tournament, Sept. 1-2
Mason District Park, Annandale, VA
VYS Vipers 0:0 FREE Fire
VYS Vipers 0:3 CYA Chaos (U19)
FPYC Gunners 2:1 VYS Vipers
Goals: Francis
BAC Strikers 1:1 VYS Vipers
Goals: Peter
------------------------------------------------------------
NCSL Fall Season U17 Division 4
PWSI Courage ’90 White 3:2 VYS Vipers
Saturday, Sept. 8, 9 AM – Chinn Park #3
Halftime: 1:1
Goals: Peter (2)
The Vipers opened up the Fall 2007 season with a 9:00 am visit to Dale City in Prince William County. We took the lead very early with a diagonal pass behind the defense, played in off the near post by Peter. Unfortunately, we did not hold on to the lead for very long: following a series of balls into the box that came off one post followed a few minutes later by the other post, the second ball off the post was converted to tie the game at 1-1. In the second half, the Vipers did have their fair share of the ball but fell behind conceding two goals midway through the half, one a square pass across the goal that was not covered and, shortly later, PWSI reacted first to a shot that rebounded off the bar. When the Vipers went down 3-1 they started to win more possessions and pulled one goal back, beating the offside trap and Peter ran onto a floated free-kick and coolly slotted in his second of the morning. Despite a valiant effort in the dying minutes of the game with the Vipers pressing really hard, time ran out and we had to settle for 3-2 loss in our opener.
.
ARL Dragons 3:3 VYS Vipers
Sunday, Sept. 9, 1 PM – Greenbrier Park
Halftime: 1:1
Goals: Billy, Ryan S., Francis
The second game of the season was on a very large, brand-new turf field at Yorktown High School. It was a 1:00 pm game in a scorching heat and several players had tired legs from the opener the day before. The game started with the Vipers pressing and having early control of the game. Just as the Vipers were settling into their rhythm, the Dragons from Arlington overlapped down the flank, fired a quick ball into the center and converted a pretty goal to take the lead. As the half wore on the Vipers won several corners and Charlie provided great service leading to a beautiful ball to the back post that Billy clinically headed into the back of the net.The game was tied at 1-1 at half time and it took a rocket of a free kick from Ryan S. just outside the penalty area to break the deadlock. The Vipers were not ahead for long before a breakaway by the Dragons allowed them to tie level at 2-2. With no more than 2 minutes left in the game the Vipers again took the lead with a neat cross that Francis intercepted, just before the goalkeeper and headed into the goal. In the last minute, the Dragons had a long range free kick that somehow squeezed into the top right corner and the game was obviously destined to end in a tie, with 3-3 being the final score.
.
DCST Metros 3:2 VYS Vipers
Sunday, Sept. 16, 8 AM – Maryland Soccerplex #10
Halftime: 2:1
Goals: Billy, Peter
An 8:00 am start at the Maryland Soccerplex brought mixed emotions from waking up so early, offset by getting to play on such a nice field – one of 24 at the soccer complex in Germantown. The game against DC Stoddard Metros started well with the Vipers taking control in the first five minutes, but then falling behind from a well taken shot after six minutes. They then pulled level after ten minutes with a great combination: Peter held the ball wide right, created enough time for Charlie to provide support and play the ball across the field to Billy who controlled the ball on his chest and waited for the bounce before shooting beyond the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, the Vipers then conceded a penalty kick which was converted and the Vipers went in at half-time lagging 2-1. The Vipers kept pressing in the second half and seemed to be sharing the spoils in midfield and, just when the 2-1 tag looked unfair, DCST rounded the Vipers’ defense and slotted in their third goal. Again the Vipers went forward and, from better possession in midfield, a through ball into the penalty box saw Peter closing in one-on-one with the goalkeeper when he was fouled for a Vipers penalty kick. Peter stepped up to take the penalty kick himself and somehow managed to score after the shot hit first the left post, crossed the goal, hit the right post and went into the net. Although the Vipers surged in the final minutes and created several chances, the resulting shots were not on target and time ran out in another heartbreaking 3-2 loss.
.
VYS Vipers 2:1 MCLN Celtic
Sunday, Sept. 23, 10 AM – Capital One #1
Halftime: 2:0
Goals: Peter, Billy
The Vipers’ first home game of the season -- played on a warm, sunny Fall morning -- also brought the team’s first victory. The Vipers grabbed an early lead when Peter penetrated from the right side, dribbled between two defenders and had a clear shot from six yards out -- his strike deflected off the diving keeper’s hands and in past the near post for a 1-0 advantage. Another penetration by Peter, this time from the left side, led to the Vipers’ second goal: He slipped past a defender along the end line, and when the ball appeared to be going out of bounds the Celtic defenders lost their focus for a second. But Peter alertly kept the ball in play and crossed it directly in front of the goal, where it deflected off a defender and rolled right to Billy who drilled it into the upper right corner for a 2-0 lead, which was the score at the break. Early in the second half Celtic cut the Vipers lead to one with a strong, high shot from the right side from about 20 yards out, but that was the only slip-up by the Vipers’ defense. Several point-blank saves by the Celtic keeper kept the game close, but the Vipers held on for a well-played 2-1 win.
.
VYS Vipers 3:1 ASA United
Sunday, Sept. 30, 12 Noon – Capital One #1
Halftime 3:0
Goals: Peter, Billy, Francis
With the weather finally turning cooler--and trainer Eddie Lima making a guest appearance on the sideline--the Vipers turned in their strongest performance of the year. Once again Peter started the scoring, grabbing a free ball at midfield and taking it in himself, blasting a beautiful, bending shot from 20 yards out past the diving keeper inside the right post. Late in the first half the Vipers were awarded a penalty; Billy took the PK, and calmly drilled a low ball just inside the right post, staking team red to a 2-0 lead. Just before the break, the Vipers padded their lead to 3-nil when Harry forced a United turnover at midfield and Francis beat the onrushing keeper to the free ball, dribbled past him and shot at the open goal; a United defender attempted to intercept, but the ball deflected off him into the net. ASA United scored their lone goal in the second half but never challenged beyond that, and the Vipers remained undefeated on their home field with a dominating 3-1 win.
.
SSA Alliance 1:6 VYS Vipers
Sunday, Oct. 14, 8 AM -- Maryland Soccerplex #8
Halftime: 0:2
Goals: Billy (3), Francis, Charlie, Peter
After a week off, the Vipers returned to action with another 8AM kick off at the Maryland Soccerplex -- with temperatures in the 40s. With the home team taking some time to get a full team, the game kicked off 15 minutes late and SSA Alliance immediately took the initiative. SSA Alliance controlled the first 20 minutes of the game and pinned the Vipers in their own half. The defense played their hearts out with strong showings from the starting back line of Mike S., Evan, Ryan B. and Matt. Having weathered the opening pressure, with little more than a couple of breakaway efforts, the Vipers edged their way into the game and set up Billy for a low hard shot into the goal with about 15 minutes to the half. A second goal came with just 5 minutes remaining in the half when a free kick near midfield was taken by Francis and in his stride he hit a 25 yard shot over the goalkeeper. The Vipers came out in the second half not knowing what to expect but managed to make some luck for themselves with two goals in quick succession within 5 minutes. First Charlie dispossessed a defender and rounded a second defender before firing a low, hard shot into the far corner to beat the advancing goalkeeper. Billy then added his second and the Vipers fourth goal after more Vipers pressure. With the Vipers starting to dominate they started passing the ball more fluently and a great exchange between Billy and Mike S. was played forward to Peter who had the time and presence to control, turn and score a fifth for the Vipers. With time running down the Vipers defense started creeping forward looking to get in on the scoring action but this only allowed SSA Alliance several opportunities to breakaway which they converted into a consolation goal. Not to be outdone the Vipers continued to control the ball and another passing sequence left Billy with time and space to almost casually slot home his third goal to complete his hat-trick and close out the scoring for the Vipers.
.
VYS Vipers 3:0 CHAN FCM90
Sunday, Oct. 21, 1 PM -- Capitol One #1
Halftime: 0:0
Goals: Peter, Mike S., Roger
The Vipers brought a three-game win streak back for a home game at Capital One Field. It was a well contested match and was 0-0 at halftime. The Vipers had most of the possession but Chantilly closed down very quickly and made several fast breaks. In the second half the game got more physical and became a struggle for control of the center of midfield. About 15 minutes in, Peter eventually got a break up front when the ball bounced wide right and he rifled it into the left of the goal. After that the Vipers seemed to settle down and get more possessions in the middle of the field. With the Vipers starting to get more control the second and decisive goal came in the last 15 minutes from a surging run by Mike S. Coming from defense, he picked the ball deep, around halfway, sliced through the center of the midfield and then defense before shooting low and to the left. Within several minutes the Vipers were pressing again and Roger broke through; the ball took a strange bounce but Roger managed to balance on one foot and neatly flick the ball over the goalkeeper with the side of his other foot. The Vipers won by a comfortable 3-0 margin but the game felt like a much closer competition.
.
VYS Vipers 2:2 ARL Dragons
Sunday, Oct. 28, 1 PM -- Madison H.S.
Halftime: 2:2
Goals: Peter, Billy
With the rain on Friday night the Sunday game at Capital One Field was moved to James Madison High School’s new turf field. The Arlington Dragons play their home games on a turf field so they must have liked the surface: They went 1-0 up in the second minute with a long ball, deflected onto an attacker sprinting towards our goal. The Vipers got going and started to control possession. Playing in the opposition half paid off when Billy went wide right and lobbed a ball over the keeper that bounced close to the goal and could not be kept out by a defender under pressure from the onrushing Peter, who knocked it in. As the half wore on, the Vipers had most of the ball and a neat sequence with Omari holding the ball wide left, laid off the ball for Ryan S. who played a forward ball for Billy to run onto around the edge of the 6 yard box – Billy was then able to slot the ball past the goalkeeper despite the narrow angle. At this point the Vipers were looking good with their 2-1 lead but Arlington were playing 3 fast forwards and in a subsequent attack down our right all of our players went to the ball and left a forward uncovered at the back post – he was passed the ball and did a good job of playing it on the turf beyond the outstretched goalkeeper into the far corner. Unfortunately the second half will be remembered for the injury to Peter. An ambulance was called to the field and Peter was stretchered off. Play was held up and the half was cut short. Despite both teams trying to sneak a winning goal the injury and delayed restart took a lot out of the competitiveness of the remainder of the game.
.
PWSI Courage ’90 White 3:3 VYI Vipers
Sunday, Nov. 4, 11 AM -- Tyrrell Park #2
Halftime: 2:2
Goals: Camron, Francis, Billy
The season ended as it started with a trip to Prince William County. The game seemed to start slowly and although the Vipers had some attacks they mostly absorbed pressure for the first 30 minutes – by that time PWSI had scored a well taken goal. The Vipers hit back within 5 minutes as Camron scored on a solo run, picking up a long punt and taking the ball past several players and winning the one-on-one competition with the goalkeeper. By 30 minutes the game was more balanced and in a Vipers attack Francis received the ball close to goal, took a low shot which the goalkeeper saved, but only deflected back, letting Francis have another chance which he did not miss. PWSI attacked with numbers and on a free kick the goalkeeper had a hand on the ball before it was kicked from his control into the net – the referee took a long time to sort out the whole situation but allowed the goal to stand. The second half started with a Vipers goal in the first minute – a free kick about 35 yard out was floated in by Matt and Billy headed the ball over the PWSI goalkeeper who had come way off his line expecting to collect the ball. With about 5 minutes remaining PWSI played a through ball on the ground, straight down the middle, behind the defense and for once the PWSI player got to the ball first and with Ryan on his heels and Alistair coming out he put the ball in the corner of the net. PWSI had never given up and kept coming in waves during the second half and we had failed to convert a number of clear chances and the game ran out a 3-3 tie. It was not a bad ending to the season with the Vipers undefeated in their last 6 league games and a very respectable third place finish!
.
Final Standings:
Season Goal Scoring Totals:
Billy: 9
Peter: 8
Francis: 4
Camron: 1
Charlie: 1
Mike S.: 1
Roger: 1
Ryan S.: 1
|
|
|
© Copyright 2007
Vienna Youth Soccer. All rights reserved.