August 18, 2002
Memphis Shock vs Oriente

After winning D3 in the Spring, we started our campaign in D2 against a newly formed team called Oriente. We were expecting a hard fought game as on average, we really never play very well against international teams. Then add in the factor that we would only have a maximum 2 subs, and hot weather, you could have a recipe for disaster. Game time conditions were mid 90’s and very high humidity due to rain for 5 of the 6 days before our game.

We started the game with 10 players ready to take the field, 2 getting ready, and one who got called to work. In the first 45 seconds, Oriente stole a pass in the back and scored upper left. Oriente up quickly, 1-0.

Oriente had control for the game for the first 7 or 8 minutes, but we started making our way into it. About 17 minutes later, another Oriente stole another ball and made his way to our goal. The shooter shot hard in which Baxter made a diving save, but couldn’t deflect it enough to keep it out of the goal. Oriente 2-0.

After this time we changed our formation. We had to do something to get back into the game. As the game went on we were gaining more confidence and more time on the ball. We were coming close to scoring; Bishop hit the crossbar, Kevin missed a header just inches wide, Dennis forced the keeper into a diving save, Jeremy missed just wide, Jason’s shot deflected wide, and John’s center just squeaked through. We were on our way to score. Finally, Dennis stole a pass in midfield and sent the ball up for JJ. JJ took it up to the goal, shot at the keeper, followed up his shot and buried the ball that the goalie couldn’t handle initially. Oriente 2-1.

The goaltender for Oriente was living dangerously. He played more with his feet than he did his hands. At times he would take a ball up the field showing he was not a regular goalie. In his last run up the field, he took it up to near midfield, Walt stole the ball from him, and he took a long range bomb that he pulled just a bit too much. Man that would’ve been sweet had he made that. Finally, the ref called halftime.

At half, we were trying to get some energy back. Both teams were running short on players and needed the break. Just before half, players were getting tired and the attitudes were getting the best of everyone. We got one goal back, we just needed to get at least 1 more.

The second half the wind started blowing, cooling us off like 2 degrees. The best thing about the wind, it was in our favor. Oriente tried to pull the same trick of scoring early again. They pushed up 2 forwards, and left everyone back. Of course these 2 guys had to take on like 6 of us. After trying to juke everyone and getting nowhere, we finally won the ball from them.

As the half went on, we were playing more offensively, and Oriente players were dropping like flies. A ball was sent up to JJ who ran into the goalie. JJ came away unscathed but Oriente had to make a keeper change. Minutes later, a throw in went to Jeremy who passed the ball to John. John dribbled to the middle of the half circle and shot a low laser that nearly ripped through the back of the net. Game tied 2-2.

We received our 3 yellow cards this half as did Oriente. John received his card from a crunching tackle, JJ’s wasn’t warranted for telling some guy not to step on his balls, and Walt’s from a tackle the ref deemed hard. Midway during the second half, after Jordan and an Oriente hit shins, the ref told us to control our tackling. As all international teams do, any tackle was shown with phantom pain by screaming as if their leg had been sawed off, and my favorite, a player lifting his leg to stretch his muscle. What about the magical spray? A few times this warranted a chuckle from the side judge.

With 15 left in the game, another goal was scored. John took a ball from the back, and sent it up to JJ. JJ outran 3 defenders and nailed a shot upper left that the keeper had no chance on. Memphis Shock up 3-2. After many more attempts on goal, the ref blew the whistle to end the game.

This was a good opening game for us. We played a lot better than expected considering we haven’t had any practices and only 1 scrimmage in which 8 people showed up. Coming down from a 2-0 deficit isn’t easy. Our defense held strong after the first 20 minutes getting numerous offside calls. Midfield did a good job in controlling midfield on both sides of the ball. The forward kept the defenders and goalie on edge all game long. With it being hot and only having one sub, we did a great job subbing in and out. Kudos to everyone.

Dennis Thompson