October 7, 2001
Memphis Shock at Colts
Today our match-up was against the Colts. The last time we played them was back in Fall 1999 and we lost to them by a score of 2-1. Although they should’ve smashed us back then we somehow hung tough with them. Now, we are a much better team and don’t expect that from anyone. The Colts are a very menacing looking team. They have 2 guys that look like they have shoulder pads underneath their jerseys, and another forward who resembles Stone Cold. Although the appearance, we were looking for a good game from the foes. Game day conditions were in the low 70’s with the temperature dropping nearly 15 degrees by the time the game was over.
After some quick back and forth action we broke through first roughly 10 minutes into the game. Matt was on the right side of the field and sent a low screamer into the middle. JJ coolly right footed the ball past the keeper. Memphis Shock 1-0. Just like last game, less than a minute later the Colts marched right back down the field and got of all things, a penalty kick. The Colt player with the shaven head took the ball past a defender, and got the ref to bite on a total flop in the box. Although the ball went flying away it was called. The Colt player came up and took a hard penalty shot that ripped the back of the net. No keeper would’ve had a chance on that shot. Game tied 1-1.
In between this goal and the next was some good play on the part of the Shock. We were pressuring the Colts defense with vengeance. As Micah later pointed out, nearly all of our crosses were hitting the defenders heads. Jon managed to get his first yellow of the year when he was trying to track back on a play and slid to stop a Colt player sending the ball. He got the players foot and tripped him up. More on this later. Minutes after that, Cam slid in to deflect a ball and it worked. When the ref blew the whistle on Cam, the Colt player cowardly kicked Cam in the butt. We nearly got another goal when a pass was sent up to Micah, who with a 1-on-1 with the keeper shot the ball a foot over the goal.
With minutes left in the half, we were aching for another goal. Bishop gobbled up an errant pass on our side of the field. He took a few dribbles and sent a long ball up to JJ. JJ somewhat settled the ball, and sent a cross to the middle to Matt. Matt one-timed a shot to the right of the keeper for a goal. Memphis Shock 2-1 at halftime.
We rested.
Other than normal game play nothing in the first part of the second half changed. Mark was beginning to pick up some of his speed after a throw in when he got tripped up and had a harmful looking face plant. To visualize the face would be to lay a banana on the ground, and put on side on the ground and the other in the air. Anyways, we nearly got another goal when someone sent a ball in to the middle and Ryan had a butt-pass that dropped to Bishop who shot the ball right at the keeper. Last season Ryan scored with his ear. This season almost a butt assist. What’s next?!?
Back to the subject of penalty kicks, we got a break. Cam took down a Colt player in the box and didn’t get a call. I think this could’ve been a non-call to make up for the earlier call. Whatever it was, for our sake, it was a good non-call. This also prompted the guy who was playing goalie to start going off about something and he received a yellow card.
Minutes later there was another goal recorded. The Colts midfielder won a loose ball and sent a soft ball to the far post from the right. Chris was leaping to deflect the pass but missed the ball by a matter of inches. A Colt player was behind him and headed the ball into the back of the net. Tied 2-2. With around 15 minutes left a Colt player was on a short breakaway from our defense. A second before Bishop who was covering back slid to deflect the shot did the player shoot and got it just inside the post. Colts leading 3-2.
Minutes later JJ headed a ball into the middle where Dennis was at the 18. He shot the ball right to the keeper. From a corner JJ nearly headed one in. Those were our last 2 attempts to tie the game. The end of the game saw the Colts with a 3-2 win.
Like last week, we should’ve won this game. We have improved this season and we are showing that we can be competitive in this division. Only problem is if we continue to lose, we wont be up here much longer. One way to get better and get over the hump is to have practices with more than 5 people there. Once that starts happening we will get better and will win a few games. I know we can do it. We just need to get people making the effort to be better.
Something that I wanted to mention. When it comes to tackling from behind there is usually a set rule. If you tackle or take someone down from behind, you get a card. Or at least that rule applies to us, not for us. Jon slid from the side but a little behind and got a yellow. There were 3 instances this game where although it wasn’t a tackle from behind, the Colt player kicked our guy in the back of the leg and our player went down. All of them not going for the ball. Ok, refs, why is that not a card. The players back is to you, so in essence you took them down from behind. So, why is that not a card? Kinda like giving a card for language. We nearly got a another card for a player cussing, but how many cards have the opponents got for cussing? Zero. I know different refs have different preferences, but we seem to get the ones that decide they want to call calls sometimes and not all. Am I missing something?
As far as the game went, we played very good. Although we are lacking conditioning, our subs should help us with that. If we can get people to sub off when they get tired then that would help out our team more. Forwards have started gaining confidence and we know we can score now. Midfield is helping out the forwards and coming back on defense to help. And defense is doing well under pressure. All in all it was a good game that we should’ve won. Maybe next time.
Dennis Thompson
| 
