May 2, 2002
Memphis Shock at Rowdies

We knew that today would be a sloppy game, or at least whether wise. Threatening rain had been in the area all day long. Leading to tipoff, there was rain and lightning in the horizon. Luckily, it was far enough and not coming in the direction of the fields. In the first half there were a few instances of rain, but not enough to end the game. And the temparature had dropped nearly 20 degrees in the last couple of hours. But once the rain stopped the temperature started rising again. Game time conditions were mid 50’s on a wet, slick field.

We started the game off with 2 subs and the third coming later. We started off in usual fashion, pressing down on the oppositions goal and defense, but not getting anything in. At times the Rowdies forward would get a little run going, only to be pushed away in easy fashion. We were taking shots from all over the place. It almost seemed like target practice. Except the target the was Geoff, the Rowdies goalkeeper. Every single shot hit him in the stomach. I don’t know whether it was great positioning or unlucky shots, but he didn’t have a hard time this half.

Many of our crosses were going to the keeper coming off his line. That or the crosses would go out of bounds. We had a great chance early in the half when a ball was loose right in front of the goalmouth and 2 of our shots hit Rowdies defenders until Geoff scooped the ball up. Another great chance we had was when Thomas stole a ball from a defender near the touch-line in the goal area, slipped around the keeper, and shot at goal. He didn’t get enough on the shot and it was stopped by a defender only to be cleared away after some more shots getting bounced around. Kevin gave us a scare in goal when he fumbled a shot, but he turned around and stopped it fast enough to keep it out of the goal.

After weathering a few rain storms in the half we went into halftime tied at 0-0. We were not playing as well as we should have been. We were getting the chances on goal, we just couldn’t capitalize. The Rowdies keeper had at least 10 saves. We needed to keep shooting on goal, but not straight at the keeper. Not to mention we needed a goal.

Second half, totally different team. We came out firing on all cylinders. Our passing was crisp, we were talking on the field, and we were spreading the field. Finally in the 55th minute of the game, we broke through. From a pass that came from the back, Walt took a few dribbles and sent the ball up to Keith who made a forward run. Walt placed the ball perfectly to Keith who settled, took a big dribble, and just beat the keeper to the ball and hit the back of the net. Shock leading 1-0.

A few minutes after that, we had another what should have been a goal. Jeremy crossed a ball from the right side that Matt trapped. He turned to the right and shot. The shot skimmed the bottom of the crossbar at the upper right 90, hit the net and went down the hill for a goal kick. But wait, how can that happen? Although there were appeals from Mark and Dennis, they went on def ears. Apparently Mark said something to the ref before the game to inform him that the net wasn’t clipped to the goal frame in that area. He should know because he was the one who snapped it off on a shot before the game. The ref blew him off. On the sidelines, the side judge said that it was a valid argument that a shot cant do that and be goal kick. Not to mention, Matt talked to Jeremy Knutson who was officiating another game who said it was a goal. So Matt was denied his first goal of the year. Poor Matthew.

The more we played the better we got. With more and more pressure on the 5 man defense we were bound to get some more goals in. A cross that came in was bouncing around in the middle in between 3 defenders, Mark, and Bishop. After what seemed like 30 seconds of the ball moving 2 feet left, then right, then left again, Bishop somehow squirted the ball to the right to Jeremy. Jeremy blasted a left foot to the keepers left that bulged the onion bag. Shock leading 2-0.

Bishop was playing center forward and was getting absolutely mauled when he was trying to get through the defense. On what should have been a red card, he had beaten his defender who got a nice hand full of the back of his shirt just enough to slow him down. Then he came over and knocked him over. No foul called. Then later, Bishop was in the box and got bitch slapped in the nose from a defender. The flesh on flesh sound was incredibly loud. But yet, no foul. Which was strange because we accumulated 4 yellows this game, none from play, all from the ref who thought that we were being mean. The first was from Mark, who answered the refs answer with “We all are dressed funny.” Kip got his yellow for saying “What” from a questionable foul. Todd got his for asking the ref a question he didn’t like. Jordan got his when sitting on the bench. No one is safe with this ref!!! Last time I checked, “What” isn’t a cuss word.

The Rowdies had 3 chances on goal, but only one of them being serious. A Rowdies forward got loose on a breakaway, but when he was one-on-one with Kevin, he missed the goal completely. The other 2 chances were from 30 yards out trying to hit it over our keeper but both were way over the goal.

Finally, with 10 minutes left we put the game away. Matt was taken down from behind 35 yards out. He shot the ball low where Walt and Todd were standing. The ball knicked off Walt, and Todd shot left footed. The keeper didn’t even move as the ball hit the bottom of the left post and caromed in. Shock in control at 3-0. Minutes later the game was over giving Kevin his first shutout in his game in goal.

All I have to say is “D3 CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The first half, while playing well, we weren’t doing anything with the ball. The second half, we played what could be the best kind of ball you can play in the conditions given. We were in complete control of the second half. We could’ve had up near 10 goals. But with suspect finishing that wasn’t possible. Kevin didn’t have to do much tonight. He just had to stand back there and watch. Now that we have the regular season all wrapped up, lets go for the end of season tournament also.

Dennis Thompson