List of 8 news stories.

• STATE CHAMPIONS!

  5/28/2009
  Gary Gerstle

  Some of you, like me, may have found The Tennessean

  ’s recap of Friday’s (May 22, 2009) state championship between USN and Webb, both the one that appeared in print on Saturday, May 23, 2009, and the longer one that appeared online, disappointing.  Rather than allow that to stand as the last written word on the game, I’ve decided to write my own account—as a way of being able to recapture this special moment in the years to come.   Feel free to amend or comment on what I have written as you would like.  And please forgive my hyperbole, when I fall victim to it.  I am not an unbiased observer!  Because this has become a rather lengthy account, I’m also attaching a version in Word that, in terms of formatting, may be easier for you to read.

   

  The state championship game that occurred on Friday (noon), May 22, 2009, was an amazing game against a team, Webb, that has become USN’s archrival. The two teams had played a marathon game in the mud two weeks earlier in the regional final, with USN losing in heartbreaking fashion in the 108^{th minute, sudden death overtime, off a free kick.  Both teams qualified for the state tournament, however, with Webb, by virtue of its regional championship, having the easier path to the state final; indeed Webb defeated an overmatched King’s Academy team on Thursday evening, May 21, 5-1, while USN had to overcome the reigning and supremely gifted champion, St. George’s.  That USN did (also on Thursday evening), scoring early on a blast by Kareem Gordon, and then going into a defensive posture for a draining 75 additional minutes against a team with a lot of offensive weapons.  The championship game began the next day, a mere sixteen hours after the match against St. George’s ended.}

   

  Webb got a goal in the first five minutes, off a strangely bouncing ball in the box that the USN defense, not yet in its rhythm, failed to handle.  The first fifteen minutes were all Webb, but slowly USN began to get its footing, and to generate offense.   As USN’s attacks increased in intensity and coordination, Webb was forced to foul to stop them.  One of those fouls, at the 35th minute mark, gave USN a free kick on the right side of the Webb goal, thirty yards out.  Kareem, who has quietly developed a devastating right foot over the last month of the season, was called on to put the ball in play.  He struck the ball expertly, on a low line drive into the box.  Sam Gerstle, darting in from his midfield position, leapt to bring the ball under control with his foot.  In a flash, Sam pivoted and struck the ball into the goal underneath the outstretched hand of the diving Webb keeper.  It was a big goal—the first that USN had scored on Webb in 145 minutes over two games.  It equalized the score right before halftime, and gave USN a confidence and freedom in the second half that it otherwise might not have had.  

   

  The first fifteen minutes of the second half resembled the opening of the game, as Webb carried play and, with its skillful offense, began generating chances.  But the USN defense—Aaron Yazdian at sweeper, Takuma Johnson at left back, Joseph Marshall at right back, Will Weiglein at stopper—was superb in parrying just about every blow.  Especially impressive was their coolness under pressure, their ability to win balls against Webb attackers one-on-one, and their coordinated work, so that Webb found it almost impossible to get through every line of defense.  Webb did get through the USN defense once, however, at about the 60 minute mark.  Seemingly out of nowhere, one of Webb’s two star offensive players, #22, broke in on the USN goal all alone, with the ball at his feet. 

   

  The chance of a skilled player scoring on a breakaway like the one #22 had created is about 75 percent; had he scored the game would have in all likelihood gone in Webb’s favor, for falling behind for a second time in a championship game, and so late in the match, would likely have been too big an obstacle for USN to overcome.  Only Trey Leeper stood between Webb and its victory; with #22 rushing in on him, he first retreated to the goal line and, then, at the last moment, came charging out.  As #22 struck his shot from 10 yards, Trey was in perfect position, colliding with the ball in a boom heard around the world.  As the entire stadium crowd held its breath, the ball careened off Trey’s body and popped up in the air and over the goal.  Match saved, in what has to count as one of the most spectacular saves in a big game ever made by a USN keeper. 

   

  That save energized USN. Indeed, USN outplayed Webb for the rest of the second half and for the first overtime period (two ten minute halves).  Webb’s goalie, Zack Crownover, was outstanding, and if it had not been for several superb saves that he made, USN probably would have won the game either during regulation or early in the overtime.   Crownover made at least four of these saves: first, against William B. Scott, who had broken in alone on him; then, against Tre Hardin, who also broke in alone on him, and needed one more yard to get to the ball before Crownover did; then on a soaring crossing shot by Malcolm Moutenot from thirty five yards out on the right that Crownover plucked out of the air a moment before Elliott Goldfarb would have gotten his head on it to knock it into the goal.  The final save was the most remarkable. This occurred in the second half of the first overtime, at about the 95th minute mark.  USN pressure, by Neil Halper and others, on Webb once again caused Webb to start fouling, and one foul got USN a free kick just outside the penalty box.   Once again Kareem lined up to take the shot.  He struck a low line drive that he actually bent (like Beckham) around the right side of the Webb wall of defenders and sent screaming toward the lower right hand corner of the goal.  No player in the world could have struck the ball any better.  No keeper, not even in England’s premier league, had any business making that save.  The game should have ended right there.  But Crownover dove to the left corner and somehow got his hand on the ball, pushing it beyond the goal mouth.  Unbelievable.   At that moment, one felt that one was no longer watching a high school championship game, but an epic match between Manchester United and Chelsea. 

   

  That Crownover had to make four game-saving saves (while Trey Leeper had to make only one, a reverse of the earlier match when Trey had to come up with five big saves and Crownover only one) testifies to how much USN was beating Webb at its own game—offensive intensity and creativity.  By the end of the first overtime, which USN dominated, it had become clear that Coach Daniel Gordon’s coaching was a big part of that domination.  Coach Gordon used his bench throughout the game, and every one who came off the bench—Tre' Hardin, Hobey Kuhn, Malcolm Moutenot, and Nicholas Williams—proved equal to the task.   In the first overtime, Coach Gordon changed his lineup of players on the field—putting Sam at stopper, Will at left back, and Eliot at right outside midfield—to give Webb a different look.  Webb’s coach, meanwhile, did not manage his personnel nearly as well, and it became clear over the course of the first overtime that his star players—#22 and #7 (Danny)—were spent. 

   

  But goalie Crownover kept Webb in the game; once the overtime sudden death period began at the hundredth minute, anything could have happened.  All the collected spectators held their breath through the first five minutes of sudden death, as each side generated attacks that got them close to the opponent’s goal.  A similar pattern held for the second overtime period, until the 108th minute mark.  Coach Gordon had just put back into the game two starters whom he had rested for a good chunk of the first overtime period, Ian Ball and Takuma. With relatively fresh legs, they went to work: Takuma took the ball way from a Webb player in the midfield, fed it to Ian, who slipped it to striker Austin Criner who suddenly broke free, ball at his feet, with no offsides flag having been raised and with no defender standing between him and the Webb goalie. Oh goodness.  Would Crownover make a fifth spectacular save?  Could Austin finish?  How many times this year had USN had an open shot on goal only to shoot it high or wide (a lot) ? Not this time, however.  Austin raced from twenty yards to ten to five, as cool as could be, living entirely within the moment.  As soon as Crownover committed himself by rushing toward him, Austin struck a low ball that hugged the ground to the right.  Crownover sprawled to his left, but he could not get the ball, which eluded his grasp and hit nothing but net.  Game over.  USN 2, Webb 1.  Tigers were state champions!  Austin had come up with the shot of his lifetime. USN soccer had a victory for the ages. 

   

  This USN team gave themselves, their coach, their families, and their school a great gift.  The quality of their game matched the significance of the occasion.   Their play and their victory form a moment that they will always remember.  The three seniors, Austin, Sam, and William B., ended their high school careers on the highest of highs. The underclassmen who were such a numerous and vital part of this team—including Oliver Prince and Manuel Guerrero in addition to those already mentioned—are now the carriers of a new championship tradition. 

   

  Their achievement is all the more significant because it was so hard earned.  The team did not have an easy season.  From the start, they lacked numbers, playing most of the season with fourteen or fifteen players; with so many freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, they also lacked experience.  Everyone who watched their games early in the season wondered about their heart or their skill or both.  No wonder no one outside the team itself gave the Tigers a chance to go far in the postseason, let alone win a championship.  And yet now, in retrospect, we can see that this team began to change in significant ways in the second half of their season.  They began playing surprisingly well against teams that were expected to dominate them.  They played from behind so often that they began to relish that role.  They developed a creativity and coordination on offense that had not been there earlier in the season; they began finishing plays and, against weaker opponent, piling up goals.  They became sturdy in every phase of the game—defense, midfield, offense.  They were cool under pressure.   The young players acquired new confidence.  The team as a whole could no longer be easily rattled.  All the players began to trust and believe in each other.  Somewhere in the depths of that cool and rainy April a real team was being born.  Webb may have had more offensive firepower than USN, but USN had become a stronger team, its strength manifesting itself in every phase of the game.  The full story of how this team came together can only be told by those on the inside—by the players themselves, and by Coach Gordon and Assistant Coach Charles Onofua, who lived with this team every day for four months.  But those on the outside can appreciate how far they have come.  It makes the magnitude of their accomplishment all the more impressive.  We thank them for giving us and their school a thrilling season.

   

  Gary Gerstle

   

  May 25, 2009

• USN upset St. George

  5/28/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The USN soccer team defeated St. George 1-0 in semi-finals of the State Championship game. Sophomore Kareem Gordon scored from a powerful left foot shot in the 10th minutes of play for the win. Our entire team held on to the 1-0 lead throughout the game with tremendous team effort from all. Sophomore GK Trey Leeper had 17 saves on the night with defensive help from Joseph Marshall, Will Wieglein, Aaron Yazdian, Takuma Johnson and Sam Gerstle. Way to go boys!

• State Championship Performance

  5/16/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The USN Tigers defeated Harding Academy 7-0 to book a spot in the Final Four of the TSSAA DII-A Championship in Murfreesboro. The entire team played to their full potential throughout the game with the understanding that a win will once again punched their ticket to another State appearance. Our sophomore and freshman class with the assists from the juniors and seniors contributed t six of the seven goals and shut-out on the night. Eliot Goldfarb ( 4 goals), Kareem Gordon (1), Tre' Hardin (1), Neal Halper/ junior striker ( 1). Trey Leeper ( GK) along with defenders, Joseph Marshall, Will Wieglein, Takuma Johnson and Aaron Yazdian had the shut-out. Go Tigers!

• Boys Soccer finishes Region Runner-up, advances to SubState

  5/10/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The boys' soccer team lost 1-0 in double overtime against the Webb School in the Regional Final on Saturday. The Tigers never gave in to their talented opponent. They fought to the very end, but ended up second by a goal in the last two minutes of the second overtime period (golden goal). Our boys played like real champions with hearts of stone and a desire to be the best. Congratulations are in order to the entire team for their outstanding performance in the post season. The Tigers will now focus their attention to the Sub-State game, which is scheduled to be played at home on Saturday, May 16 against Harding Academy. Go Tigers!

• Into Regional Final

  5/7/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The USN Tigers made the first step to another State appearance by defeating Kings Academy 4-0 in the first of two semi-finals games at the River Campus. Sophomore Eliot Goldfarb scored for the Tigers in the first half of the game to put us up 1-0. The second half proved to be too much for the Kings' team as Kareem Gordon, Neil Halper and Manuel Guerrero scored to send us into the Regional Finals on Saturday against the Webb School. Trey Leeper had the shut out as the entire defense played exceptionally well throughout the game. Congratulations are in order to the entire team on their fantastic win. Go Tigers!
• 

  Slow Start

  4/29/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The boys' soccer team loss 4-2 to visiting Webb School. Our boys came out flat against a very talented Webb team who seized the opportunity for the victory. Eliot Goldfarb and Austin Criner scored for the Tigers. Despite the worse defeat of the season, the Tigers are not out of the standings for the Regional Tournament which will be held at the River Campus beginning on Thursday, May 7. Go Tigers!

• Back to winning form

  4/22/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The boys' soccer team defeated Divisional opponents Davidson Academy 4-0 in a well contested match-up. The Tigers struck early in first half of play from a 30 yards rocket off the boot of sophomore Will Weiglein. Eliot Goldfarb, Sam Gerstle and Neal Halper scored to finish the game 4-0. Trey Leeper had the shut-out. Our entire team played very well after losing the last two games in the USN Invitational Tournament. The team bounced back to winning form with excellent attacking and superb defending from all. Go Tigers.

• Victory in Tournament opener

  4/17/2009
  Daniel Gordon
  The boys' soccer team defeated Mt. Juliet HS 3-0 in opening play of the USN Invitational Soccer Tournament. Three second half goals by Austin Criner, Neal Halper and Tre' Harding ( from the penalty spot) lifted the Tigers to victory. The entire team played extremely well in the second half with extraordinary play from our defensive backs; Joseph Marshal, Aaron Yazdian, Takuma Johnson and Will Weiglein. Trey Leeper had the shut-out.