| April 17th,
2004: Hawks 2 – Bier FC – 0
A beautiful day for soccer on April 17th
saw the Hawks wake up early to face long-time rivals Bier FC in
a 9:00 AM game at the Germantown Soccerplex, Field #16. With the
pitch still slick with the morning dew, the game started with both
teams feeling each other out. The Hawks were tentative in the opening
moments, but a glorious passing build-up was finished with a penetrating
through ball by center midfielder Doug Henry onto the feet of a
streaking Yuri Sudhakar. Yuri held the defender at bay and turned
the corner in the box to fire a pinpoint chip over the hands of
the onrushing Bier keeper into the far side netting. With the Hawks
up 1-0, the complexion of the game was fundamentally changed. Crisp
passing and possession was on display through the entire first half.
Midfielders Alan Golden and Doug Henry were orchestrating the Hawks
attack smartly and effectively. Marcos Araus and Joe Massie were
terrors on the flanks. Bier did have a couple of solid chances,
the first, a 25th minute breakaway was ended by a necessary goal-saving
foul by center back Richard Shaheen just outside the box, which
resulted in a yellow card. The second was a searing 20-yard shot
from Bier's center mid that was destined for the far side netting,
but a great save was made by goalie Anthony Peters, who plucked
the strike away from it's final destination with authority. Richard
Shaheen, Alex Peacher, and Jon Knight played tremendously in the
back all game long and Bier did not have an answer. The Hawks good
form continued in the 35th minute with a sweet outside-in-outside
sequence of two touch passing which left the Hawks' forward and
game MVP, Yuri Sudhakar, open on the wing. An accurate cross into
the box found midfielder Alan Golden for a beautiful 9-yard header
that found the top of the net for a solid goal. Hawks up 2-0 and
that's the way it stayed through the first half. At intermission,
the Hawks were eager to continue their attack and keep a dangerous
Bier team at bay. After many ties and some bitter losses against
Bier, the Hawks were determined to get a different result and cognizant
that the game was not yet in hand. The team responded well upon
resuming the game, where the first 15 minutes was arguably some
of the best soccer ever played by an Aegean Hawks side. Very nice
possession ball to keep a determined Bier team from finding the
nets. The last half-hour was mostly Bier pressing a Hawks side that
was content to sit back and pack in the defense. A couple dangerous
crosses by Bier were snuffed handily by keeper Anthony Peters, who
played an excellent game throughout. All in all a great and deserved
victory for the Aegean Hawks that will build confidence for the
rest of the season. The team was encouraged to get the services
of midfielder Tom Wasley, after three weeks on the injured reserve
with a busted ankle. Coupled with the return of star forward Craig
Cochran after a year-long ACL rehabilitation anticipated by mid
season and plenty of good ballers poised to lend a hand when needed,
the Hawks are a team poised to make some waves in the Premier this
season. Next Sunday, the team will face league nemesis, UAE, in
a much-anticipated match up. The unpredicatable UAE side should
always be respected, and the Hawks will be ready.
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