November 19, 2000
Bumrushers vs. Arsenal

Going into this game we were either 1 win or 2 ties away from being promoted to D3. We have 2 game to accomplish this, and both of them are against Arsenal. Last season was the same way, our last 2 games were against this same team. We split the 2 games and hope to at least split them again this season. With all the cold weather that we had had this week it was nice to have a pleasant sunny day. The temperature was in the low 50's with a nice breeze.

We started the game with 11 players and the opponents started with 3 subs. We had 2 more show up 10 minutes in, wondering where one more was at. The game was started off pretty quickly. With both teams trying to move the ball around and play their own game. Arsenal is tough, they make all these easy passes that we usually do. So it set up to be a good tough game.

The scoring started off in bad style. A non-call on an offside led to Arsenals first goal. An Arsenal player sent the ball from the middle to a guy on his right. The opponent got the ball and shot top-shelf pass Baxter. Arsenal 1-0. This is the first time we had been down all year long. Not to long after this our tempers started flaring. Which is sad, cause had we kept our heads in the game we woulda played much better and possibly even won. Good play by Arsenal and mediocre play by us was what stood in the way of that goal and the next. This one play can explain the whole game. With 2 minutes left in the game, we won a corner kick. Robert sent a long ball that Sam headed on the backside of the goal. The ball was deflected on the back by a leaping defender, bounced to one of our guys, shot was deflected again out, another shot miss-hit, and the races were on toward our goal. Our defenders held the rushing forwards, won the ball from them, and tried to clear it. Once again the ball was deflected off the back of an Arsenal player and went forward. So when the offside player got the deflection, he shot the ball and scored. Arsenal 2-0.

This point tempers were at an all time high. A few guys yelling at each other and just bickering were just plain ridiculous. We had seen this from other teams in our league but not ours, at least not at this magnitude. It was really embarrassing.

While going onto the field to start the second half cooler heads started prevailing. THANK GOD. The play in the second half was the same as the first, Arsenal getting all the bounces and non-calls and us having good could be passes just barely cut off. Arsenal got another goal 15 minutes in when a handball was called on us and they had a quick start. The old guy ran up the left side and centered it to an open player. Shot and got the ball past Baxter. Arsenal 3-0.

Baxter was making some great saves today. Reaction saves are hard, he made them look routine. There was a penalty kick against him, which he saved with his foot. Just like all game long, he pounced on the rebound not allowing another shot on him, like all great goalies do. But, there is only so much one man can do at any position.

Arsenal got their last goal with just over 10 minutes left in the game when they were bringing the ball down the left side. Their midfielder sent the ball up to an offsides man in the middle. He shot the ball to Baxter's left and beat him. Arsenal 4-0. We finally got a goal when Robert stole a ball from the opponents, sent it to Micah, who gave it to Sam who easily shot it past the keeper from the left side. Arsenal 4-1.

Well we lost our first game of the year. I do not like to get the refs involved in any game, win or lose, but this one it was evident to see that calls were against us. Yes, we did get 10 offsides calls, and those were right. But 4 other ones, 2 that we know of that led to goals, weren't called. Prime example: Arsenal player 15 feet offsides, ball deflected from one of our guys onto them that went to his teammate wasn't called. We had 2 goals like that taken away from us as deflections being offsides. Even though they didn't score, it should've been called. Two offsides calls on us were wrong. Our 1 handball was given a call, where their 2 handballs weren't. As long as I have been playing soccer, the arm is an extension of the hand. Not only were they not called, and we did not have any type of continuation, Arsenal played the ball with resulted in 2 shots.

We lost this game because we didn't play well. We had good passes that didn't make it, and were overplayed. Our tempers didn't help us out at all either. I don't care who you are but if you get subbed out, take it like a man and wait to get back in the game. Also, if someone says run through for a ball, don't take exception. I can guarantee the person is not trying to make you look bad. We are all out there to help the team out to be better players. If a suggestion is made, and you don't like it, keep it to yourself. When you complain and talk back, well, its just plain stupid. We are all adults here and we should know how to act without getting our pannies in a wad. Be forewarned, if anyone starts yapping, expect to be subbed our to cool your head. There is no room on our team for that.

We can beat this team. And we will beat them when the game is made-up. Things that we need to do; not play with the ball, we can still make the simple passes, we were inches from making great passes, make sure that we get the ball to our forwards who can outrun the defense, shoot on goal, and keep tempers down. If these things are done, we can win. We have a great team and for us to completely dismantle like this is odd.

This game is for the D4 title, whoever wins, they are champs. If we tie, Kodiak wins. Hopefully the game will be on a date that full squads will be able to show up to see who really is the best. If we do lose, I'll be disappointed, but I'll be happy that we got this far in just one year.

If any spectator wants to come to this game, my suggestion is come. It has the potential to be a good one.

Dennis Thompson