JV Bells defeat VC 7-1  -  1/4/05

JV - Valley Christian 1, Bellarmine College Prep 7

Resuming WCAL play after the holiday break, the Valley Christian boys JV soccer team hosted the Bellarmine Bells. The underdog Warriors looked for a strong showing against the perpetual WCAL powerhouse.  The weather was cold and dark with rain finally falling during the second half. Going into this game the Warriors Junior Varsity team had never scored on the powerful Bellarmine soccer team.  Despite a tough game with a disappointing result, the scoring drought would finally be broken, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing showing.

Due to injuries and other factors the Warriors took the field minus several key players: starting Goalkeeper Theo Matheou, forwards Jordan Pereira and George Fahmy, defender Sean Kennedy, and midfielder David Yun did not play. Despite the missing players the Warriors were determined to play aggressively, looking to control Bellarmine’s powerful offense and penetrate their solid defense. The game would actually be closer than the final score would indicate, but still a disappointing loss.

Despite an upbeat pre-game warm-up and a plan to attack right from the opening kickoff, the Warriors began the game playing too tentatively, with most players facing Bellarmine for the first time, and falling into a prevent defense without mounting a quality attack on the Bellarmine goal. It was midway through the first half before VC finally got a shot on goal. Despite pretty good defense in the early stages of the game the Bells scored in the 10^th minute taking some wind out of the Warriors sails.

Later in the half VC began to probe deeper toward the Bellarmine goal and managed a few shots but never seriously threatened, despite solid, aggressive play by starting forward Nick Reyes who played tenaciously both with and without the ball, disrupting Bellarmine’s rhythm. The Bells scored again late in the half on a Warrior miscue and VC went into the break down 2-0; still a manageable deficit. Following tactical halftime plans and an exhortation to press the Bells more aggressively and defend more tightly, the Warriors took the field for the second half determined to score and to hold off the Bells.

Unfortunately this game proved to be one of the most challenging so far for the VC defense, which gave up several more goals through confusion and disorganization in the back, and lack of tight marking near goal. The game was tough and when VC accidentally put in an ‘own goal’ through an awkward clearance attempt, the Warriors noticeably sagged.

Sweeper Tyler Seaman was repeatedly taken down hard and temporarily knocked out of the game several times. Seaman iced-down his injuries and came back in each time looking to hold off the Bellarmine attack. VC finally started attacking more with forwards Ryan Favre and Nick Reyes taking shots and winning the ball back more quickly and aggressively up front to prevent the Bellarmine counter-attack. Reyes particularly played forcefully and doggedly throughout the game until the final whistle. 

Finally VC got a break on a corner kick when Ryan Favre was obviously fouled by the Bells in their box, leading to a penalty kick. John Walitsch coolly stepped up and drilled the ball past a diving Bellarmine keeper for the Warriors first ever goal against the Bells. Unfortunately this was the only score for the Warriors who managed only a few quality shots-on-goal, which were snagged by the Bells tall, athletic and vocal keeper.

Despite playing a perennially powerful, highly disciplined and well-coached Bellarmine team it was difficult to accept losing by such a wide margin, especially putting in an ‘own goal.’ This was a bitter loss for the Warriors, who hope for a much stronger showing against Bellarmine when we play again January 25^th.

vcsoccer.com man of the match: Nick Reyes

VC Starting Lineup: Neilsen, Seaman, Hill, Norman, Williamson, Garrison, Hughes, Rothenberg, Walitsch, Reyes, Favre

Scoring: Walitsch (PK)

Weather: Drizzle and Rain -  53 degrees