May 12, 2002
Memphis Shock vs Rowdies

In what was our last game of the Championship season we were playing the Rowdies for the third time. So far this season we had beaten them twice before and were hoping to make it a third. Having 3 red cards from our last game, and 2 guys out of town left us with 1 sub. We knew it was going to be a long day. Besides, what a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day than on the old soccer pitch. NOTE: No mothers were at the game. Game time conditions were mid 80’s with buckets of sun.

Our worst fears came true when we looked up and saw the center ref, the guy who officiated our last game and did a horrible job. Matt said that one of the AR’s asked him what we had done to the center ref. The center ref said he was going to go out and show who was boss.

We started with 11 and the Rowdies started with 10. Kevin left very sick when our twelfth player showed. A few minutes later the Rowdies got their eleventh player. Just as soon as he stepped on the field, the Rowdies scored from a beautiful shot from long range that hit the crossbar and bounced down into the goal. Rowdies up 1-0. Minutes later they got another goal from the left side. Rowdies 2-0. Then to end the goal scoring spree they got yet another one. This one came as Baxter was going up for the bouncing ball but was run into causing him to misplay the ball and the Rowdies forward who bumped into him settled and score. Rowdies up 3-0. Somehow, there was not a foul called.

That short 13-minute span was the end of any momentum that the Rowdies had on the game. We put on the “offensive” face on. Shot after shot was sent either to the keeper or just wide. There were 2 times when we should have been awarded a penalty kick. The first was when Matt was running toward the touchline when he was tripped up. With the divot where he fell inside the box, the ref ran over, looked at the divot, and promptly placed the kick an inch outside the box. Then later, Jeremy was being held back at the top of the box and was pulled down one his back while shooting. The player who pulled him down was awarded a yellow. But, the Rowdies got the free kick inside the penalty box. WHAT?!?!?!?

So at the half we were all frustrated at everything that had happened. We knew we had to start scoring to get back into this game. Easier said than done.

To say that we dominated this half would be the understatement of the year. Out of 45 minutes, maybe, just maybe, 4 of it were not on the Rowdies side of the field. We were in complete control of the second half, and also for the game except for that little lapse in the first half. To give away the ending, we didn’t score. But man did we have our chances.

We had over 50 shots, over 30 of which were on target. The ones that weren’t on target did not miss by much either. 6 times we hit the woodwork. Each player had at least 2 shots on goal, except for our goalie. How did we not score? I don’t know. This one play that typified our day will tell you. Matt was on the left side and fired a daisy cutter back post. The goalie dove too late and it got past him. The ball hit the inside of the right post, and rolled back across the goalmouth and just missed the other post by an inch. Keith shoots the rebound and it nicks the outside left post, with the deflection spin the ball flies across the goalmouth where Dennis dove and was just short of making contact. I mean what can you do?

In the end, we might have lost, but we still won the division. WOO-HOO!! What’s left for us is the D3 tournament. Hopefully we can get off this snide and win the tourney.

Dennis Thompson