November 11, 2001
Memphis Shock vs Colts

To start the game we were having an easy time moving the ball up the field. We were getting chances on goal but were having a hard time getting the ball in the goal. One of the first chances we had was Cam passed a ball off to J.J. He dribbled the ball to the middle of the field about 20 yards out. On his shot the ball flew up and over the crossbar. The next chance we had was Cam stole a ball in midfield and was running up the left wing. He centered a ball in which Dennis got a head on that went inches over the crossbar.

We finally broke through halfway thru the first half. J.J. was challenging a defender with the ball, and the ball got loose from the defender. Nathan was in the right spot at the right time and shot a toe ball in the back of the net from just outside the goal box. Memphis Shock 1-0. We were getting numerous chances on the goal with our shots going wide or straight at the keeper. Close to the end of the half we had a chance to get another goal and really make the Colts play catch up. J.J. was left wide open in the middle of the field at the midfield stripe. The ball was played to him and he was off to the races. Still with no one within 10 feet of him, he was 1-on-1 with the keeper. J.J. shot and the ball went way over the crossbar and hit the back of the net on the other field. During this half, Todd managed to get his second yellow of the season.

At halftime we were counting our missed opportunities. We needed 2 hands to count that high. As much pressure as we put on the defense and how easily we were penetrating into their defense, the Colts were lucky to have only given up 1 goal.

At the start of the second half we could not seem to get the ball past the midfield stripe. Its not that we were having trouble moving it, nearly everyone’s passes and clears were going out of bounds. Almost like our problems with scoring the first couple of games, there seemed to be a wall at the midfield stripe. Then, on a goal kick, Kip was late breaking for the ball. The Colt ran around him, settled the ball and shot towards the goal. Nearly everyone on the field was surprised that the ball went in the goal when the ref pointed towards the kick off spot. A still beleaguered Baxter complimented the guy on the shot the next time they came down the field. The Colt player admitted that he was shooting for the upper 90 near post, but he didn’t expect it to go in. Game tied 1-1.

The Colts have a bald headed forward who had been all but shut down by our stout defense all night long. If you read the summary from the other game when we played them, you will see that this guy flopped to get a gift pk. After this game, he will forever be known as “Flop”. While in the box, he was running without control of the ball. Our player nicked the ball away from him. The ball came to Cam who kicked it out of bounds. One of our players hit shins with Flop, who wasn’t near the ball. With this sound, one of the Colt players yelled ‘Dive”! Next thing you know, Flop takes a step and is on the ground. And the ref blows his whistle and calls for a penalty kick. With the grade for refs, I wonder if they have one grade “S” for SUCK. So after us getting all pissed at the ref for blowing this call, the Colt player took the pk and shot right of Baxter for another goal. Colts 2-1.

So due to Flop making a fool of the ref, we had to treat him like he was fragile glass when he had the ball. All of his cutting and juking only lead to cleared balls or goal kicks. With darkness falling we were pressing further and further up the field. At this time, the Colts were playing a more defensive game only pushing 1 forward up front. Two chances for ties came back to back when both Dennis and Matt had headers from corners that were grabbed by the goalie and over the cross bar respectively. From a loose ball in the defense, it was sent up to the front where Matt was waiting unmarked. He settled the ball and started dribbling towards the goal. Having defenders collapse on him, he took a shot. The goalie mishandled the shot, and with it bouncing to the goal, just barely knocked it out of the goal mouth and he seemed to run into the goal post. A collective sigh was heard on the Memphis Shock side of field with the feeling of “Why can’t we score?!?”.

Finally the lights started to come on with about 10 minutes left in the game and it getting pretty dark. Bishop stole a ball from a Colt just on our side of the stripe, and sent the ball up for J.J. With 3 guys around him, he outpaced all three of them and shot a low liner past the keeper into the goal. Tie 2-2. A few minutes later the ref called game.

If you witnessed this game one would wonder, how did we not get at least 5 goals? The only other game we had this many opportunities on goal was against the Rowdies when we tied them. The difference, we played against a much better goalie against the Rowdies then the Colts, and this game we were not on target. This was a totally different game than the last time we played the Colts. Last game we came out strong, and ended weak. This game we came out strong, and played strong all game long. Yeah the Colts scored two times, but one was a goal I don’t think anyone could’ve stopped, and the other was a horrible call. But that’s soccer, ya know. I’m sure we have gotten a few lucky calls, no pk’s though. Bottom line, we should have won this game big. I love the way we played, we just needed to get balls on goal.

In closing, defense was extremely stout in shutting down the little offense that the Colts displayed. Midfield was strong again controlling the game, and winning a ton of balls. The forwards were great moving the ball around and picking the defense apart. With a long layoff until our next game, everyone have a nice Thanksgiving and get ready to beat CFC to ruin their chances of winning the division.

Dennis Thompson