MS Boys Soccer Drop Heartbreaker Late On The Road

The USN Middle School Boys team fall on the road to Pope John Paul to a late goal. The Tigers started a bit slowly and had some trouble with JPP's speedy forwards, falling behind early 2-0. However, after 10-12 minutes USN took control of the game. The back four of Caleb Little, William Tong, Yother Phillips and Loch McMillian settled in to work together to control the dangerous forwards. Additionally, the Tiger midfield and forward line developed a rhythm, varying their attack to create multiple chances and goal line scrambles in the JPP box throughout the game. 

Loch McMillan scored a wonderful long distance free kick before half time to draw the score closer. In the second half USN picked up where they left off in the first half, controlling the game with the ball, creating chances and snuffing out any counter attacks from the opposition. JPP finally bowed to the pressure, as Ben Scretchen calmly beat the goal keeper to draw the contest level. JPP took the lead with 43 seconds left off of a broken play as USN tried to clear the ball after JPP had played a free kick from near the mid line into the box. The Tigers got it away, but not quite far enough. The ball fell to an opponent outside the box and his long shot somehow flew through a crowd of USN players and into the lower corner. 

The boys were sorely disappointed, but their performance after a slow start was quite impressive. They have made strong progress in our short time together. There were many quality performances today, such has the 7th grade midfield trio of Abe Boehler, Ben Scretchen and Jesse Yamagishi. They protected the back line, controlled the midfield and distributed well for our fowards to apply consistent pressure on the opposition goal.