| November 7th,
2004: Hawks 4 – Rangers – 1
The Hawks final regular season WPL matchup found them facing Rangers
FC on a sunny indian summer day in November. With temperatures
in the low 70's, the squad was able to throw their UnderArmour
garments to the side and enjoy a truly beautiful day for football.
Still smarting from the last weekend of WPL play, the Hawks were
eager to finish the season strong, albeit with a limited squad.
The Rangers came into the contest on the day with the fewest losses
in the WPL (1), but struggling to get coveted wins with a record
of 3-1-4. In a match that saw the Hawks slowly build ever increasing
momentum, the team was able to overcome the Rangers for a convincing
4-1 win to end their WPL regular season.
The game began with the Hawks showing some rust from their 2 week
layoff and with Rangers applying most of the pressure in the first
20 minutes. The Hawks defense, however, was up to the initial challenge
and as the minutes wore on, the squad was able to build threatening
attacks. The defense held strong, thanks in no small part to keeper
Pierre Fults, who was able to make a fantastic kicksave from an
uncontested Rangers forward breakaway that kept the score 0-0 in
the 20th minute. As in so many of these WPL contests, the team
that scores first has a considerable advantage and the Hawks were
thankfully able to convert first in the 30th minute. Center middie
Alan Golden was able to slip a nuanced through ball to forward
Craig Cochran, who met the ball an instant before the on-rushing
Rangers keeper for the 1-0 margin. Halftime score, Hawks - 1, Rangers
- 0.
The second half continued
with Hawks defense able to stave off the Rangers attack and aggressively
countering with nice interplay
from the striker and midfield core. The Hawks struck again in the
60th minute when Alan Golden fed the leather to outside middie
Justin Bodiya on the flanks, 40 yards from the prize. Justin streaked
down the left side of the pitch, dusted two defenders and cranked
a knuckling, low, hard shot at the keeper from about 18 yards.
The shot struck the keeper's outstretched hands and trickled into
the net. Hawks up 2-0. Five minutes afterwards, Alan Golden
received the ball from Craig Cochran on the left side of the
pitch. Alan
danced around 2 defenders, and laced a blazing shot to the far
side netting from 20 yards, leaving the Rangers keeper with no
chance. Hawks up 3-0 at the 65 minute mark. Keeper Pierre Fults
made another spectacular reaction save in the box to keep the
Rangers from finding the net in the 70th minute. The final Hawks
tally was recorded in the 85th minute when defender-turned-midfielder
Jon
Knight found striker Craig Cochran off a clearance. A pretty series
of passing found Craig Cochran receiving a ball deep in the Rangers
box and able to play a one-time ball backwards to oncoming midfielder,
Mike Williams who, despite advancing arthritis, was able to place
a nice shot to the left upper 90. Hawks up 4-0. Rangers countered
shortly thereafter when they were able to convert off a fortuitous
ricochetted clearance just before the final whistle.
All in all the game was a
solid performance and a much needed victory. The defensive corps
of Yuri Sudhakar, Alex Peacher, Chris Douglas, John Stephens,
Brian Guerin, and kepper Pierre Fults did a great job of managing
the difficult Rangers forwards. The experienced and saavy presence
of center midfielder Mike Williams was certainly felt by all,
and let's not forget the great efforts of Alan Golden, Justin
Bodiya, Geoff Thompson, Craig Cochran, and Jono Dyrsdale. The
team provided a gritty Rangers squad with their worst loss of
the
season, and
finished
with
a 4-4-1
WPL
regular
season
record, good for fifth place. A tough pill to swallow after being
in first place after 6 games, but to be the WPL regular season
champs, consistent attendance and intense effort is a prerequisite
for all 9 games. The bottom line is the Hawks were able to cement
the respect of other top teams in the league and enjoy the comraderie
and the more than occasional brilliance of solid, entertaining
soccer. With several offseason acquisitions in the cards, look
for the
Hawks
to deliver
on their
long-anticipated move to the top of the WPL table in the Spring.
The Hawks next take action
on Sunday November 21st in a 2nd round USASA National Amateur
Cup game vs. the winner of a November 11th
matchup between LCC(WPL) and Fan Rats (CVSA) - www.fanrats.org)
in Richmond. The game will take place at 3 PM on the Gunston
artificial
turf field in Arlington.
--
Other WPL Scores on The Week:
Rangers FC - 4, Village Settlements - 1
Glover Park - 4, Reds - 3
Quilmes - 1, La Universitario - 0
LCC - 7, Village Settlements - 3
Emerald Knights - 2, La Universitario - 2
Relegated from Premier: La Universitario, Emerald Knights
Promoted from First Div: Pour House United (Fraternum Magnum),
World Bank
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