| Oct. 26th,
2003: Hawks 0 – Emerald Knights – 1
Just wasn't the Hawks day yesterday, but that
is the way it goes sometimes. First off, congrats to the Emerald
Knights for the important victory. The field was abysmal, one of
the worst I have played on in the WISL, which made it very difficult
for the Hawks to play our possesion game and build attacks. The
field was very narrow, about 60 yards wide and 100 yards long. It
was clear that Emerald Knights, having played several games at Ridge
Road, had a better strategy to get the win. While the Hawks struggled
to play their passing game and build attacks, Emerald was playing
the long ball to their speedy forwards and attempting to use the
counter attack. With a tremendous wind at their backs in the first
half, the Emerald Knights kept sending balls into the Hawks defensive
zone. The Hawks had a hard time after recovering possesion to build
their attack as normal due to the extra time that it took to gain
control of the ball and the untrue surface of the pitch. We indeed
spent a large portion of the first half in our defensive zone. Second
half, the wind seemed to die down a bit, but the Hawks never adjusted
their strategy to fit the field. While the Hawks played better in
the second half, it was not enough. The game was ugly, it was not
fun to play in and was not good soccer. The tale of the game was
the difference in the approach to the match by both teams. While
the Hawks struggled to build on their passing game, the Emerald
Knights relentlessly played the long ball. For the most part, the
Aegean Hawks defense was up to the challenge. Emerald had few clear
opportunities to find net and the Hawks defense won all their one
vs. one battles with Emerald fowards. However, many free kick opportunities
were earned by Emerald at the edge of the box. Mostly in the first
half, but the goal came off a free kick in the second half from
the edge of the box. The Hawks probably erred by placing three men
in the wall for the free kick, leaving an opportunity for the tall
Knights to take advantage off the set play. The cross off the free
kick was sent in and the Knights defender had the inside line to
knock it in for a header. Again, hats off to the Emerald Knights
for the victory which they earned fair and square. Perhaps we will
meet again soon on a nicer pitch....I like our chances in that one.
--
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