EKL & Huge 5A Clash

30 September @ STA vs. BV West (5-1)

Well, we were all excited for the preliminary of what will also be a huge post-season match-up: Saints against the newly-announced-5A Jags. The first match went soundly to us. But I would bet on a very different looking second match as West is quite good as their 8-1 record coming in suggested.

With both Kutey and Feuerborn out tonight, the door was open for some other forward to walk through it.  Lasse Nilsen ran through the door. He was sensational tonight with two excellent finishes (check those out), and then his earning of the PK on the first goal of the second half topped his performance off. The Norwegian Bandit played so well tonight that he earned the coveted BWhite Player of the Match.

Zach Schneller also played very well at forward, producing a goal and an assist. In fact about five minutes into the match, we we playing so sluggishly and going negatively with so many passes that we subbed half the line. Those subs quickly got us to a 2-0 lead, Lasse on goal one from Geist and Schneller finishing the corner on a great header.

BWhite also gave a shoutout to Nick D'Adamo at centerback as well. BV West had only a limited amount of quality opportunities (their only shot on goal, their free-kick). 

But overall I thought we really got some fine play up and down the line-up. And all of the goals were pretty spectacular. 

Good win, but it means nothing in what will happen the next time we meet.

The national tourney is next.  Let's keep playing with this intensity and enthusiasm.

Go Royals!

STATS:

First Half: Saints: Shots: 8 (5) Corners: 5 (Nilsen, Stoecklein, Geist 2, Heying)

32:23 Nilsen (Geist finds Lasse going forward)

30:02 Schneller (Johnston bends the corner to the PK)

2:19 Nilsen (Younger chips the back line for Lasse to take in)

Jags: Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 2

18:06 Gore (direct free kick from 30)

Second Half: Saints: Shots: 9 (4) Corners: 5 (Nilsen, Younger, H. Brown, Schiltz, Heying)

36:15 Brown (PK as Nilsen taken out in the box by keeper)

8:37 Arias (Schneller squares it for the shot)

Jags: Shots: 5 (0) Corners: 1

Game 9: EKL: Gardner

24 September @Home vs. Gardner (3-0)

We took on one of the best Gardner teams we have seen in awhile. They did bring a 5-2 record, and they did play very well against us.

Sure, we should have cashed a few more goals, but they played well defensively, and they did also generate a couple of nice chances. 

We had to get out of our 4-3-3 early as they just had too many midfielders for us to contend with. After we moved into the diamond we did pretty much take over the game.  Danny Geist and Tyler Stoecklein with Matthew on the bottom of the midfield triangle and Lucas on the top played well together all match.

BWhite named Jay Johnston the Player of the Match. Jay moved up top for a bit to quickly score what ended up the game-winning goal. He also just broke down their left back over and over again to generate corners and t-balls.  We had 10 corners in the second half, 15 for the game. That's just crazy.

Jay on the Quick Break-Away

We will find quite a challenge on Tuesday when we take on 9-1 BV West.  If we have any hope to still get a piece of the EKL title, we just have to defeat West on Tuesday.

STATS:

First Half: Saints: Shots: 12 (3) Corners: 5 (Stoecklein 3, Castinado, Johnston)

11:56 Johnston (Younger hits the through ball)

GE: Shots: 3 (0) Corners: 0

Second Half: Saints: Shots: 14 (9) Corners: 10 (Johnston 5. Johnson 2, Younger, Holland)

15:09 Brown (Bartlett earns the PK held on the corner)

5:02 Geist (Bartlett floats it across and Schneller brings it back across in the air)

Danny Finishes Schneller's Head Back Across

Note: Jay Johnston created 6 corners in the match

Game 8: Top Dawg, Game 3 vs. BVNW

21 September vs. BVNW in Top Dawg (2-4)

Well, despite being without Velasco and Kutey, we jumped off to a quick one goal lead against the Huskies, but when we had to replace Brown close to the end of the first half, we quickly gave up two goals to fall behind 2-1 at half.

Our make-shift line-up kept us in the match in the second half until we created an own-goal on a corner that came off their first corner.  That was the second deadball goal we had given up. For a team that prides itself so much on the deadball, you would think we would defend them better.

We then moved Jay to forward where he quickly created a t-ball that Geist finished. All of a sudden we were back in the match.  Minutes later Jay was down on the baseline once again with a cross that Glass deflected right in front of the net with just a tremendous foot save (play of the match), but our runners had not gotten to their spots. Disappointing.

Now without Holland also in the back we gave up another goal as we pushed forward to get it tied.

So, after Top Dawg, we stand 6-2, ending the first half of our season.  The last two matches have been disappointing in that we have suddenly given up 8 goals.  Yes, we have had to deal with some injuries, but so has everyone else. 

Top Dawg tournament selection named Lucas Bartlett, Jay Johnston and Matthew Holland to the All Tournament Team. We do congratulate them.

In fact Jay was named the BWhite Player of the Match. He was instant offense today as well as the reliable defender he always is. 

We have one match next week, before we take on West a week from Tuesday before heading to St. Louis. We have some work to do before that tourney.

STATS:

First Half:  Saints: Shots: 4 (1) Corners: 3 (Feuerborn, Johnston, Younger)

37:03 Bartlett (Johnson re-corners it back post)

Huskies: Shots: 10 (7) Corners: 3

#18 finishes at 10:15 (#8 crosses)

#15 finishes the free kick at 5:32 (#23 chips it)


Second Half: Saints: Shots: 5 (4) Corners: 2 (Skevington, D'Adamo)

10: 37 Geist (Johnston t's the ball through a Bartlett front post run)

Huskies: Shots: 7 (5) Corners: 2

25: 15 Own Goal off the BNVW Corner

3:53 Brown (ball swung wide for a back post shot and finish)

Game 7: Top Dawg, Round 2 vs. Rockhurst

17 September at Top Dawg vs. Rockhurst (2-4)

Before we discuss the egg we laid tonight, I just have to mention the student body. Our school is smaller than it has been in like 20 years, and we just had a fantastic turnout from our student body, all dressed in black.  

And we were playing so well in the second half. When we tied the score with the stands rocking with about 20 minutes to go, I actually thought we would probably win the match 4 or 5 to 2.  

But within a minute or so we gave up a PK, garnered a red card, thus fell behind 3-2 and now had only 10 guys to get it tied with.  What an amazing change of circumstance in such a short period of time.

I will admit that we did some bonehead things: 1. We created a corner for them with 23 seconds left in the first half. 2. We went flying around during the opening five minutes destroying any shape we should have had in the back. 3. We voluntarily stepped up for a second yellow card after we had already earned the foul call and the deadball. 4. One of our top defenders took himself out of the game with 19 minutes to play with the score now even. 5. We were jawing with the ref after the match had ended to pick up another yellow.  And I am sure we all could add a few more things.

But the corner kick before half was a clear offsides. The ref even said "yes two of the players were in offsides positions, but they did not affect the play."  What? How can you not be affecting the play if you are standing inside the 6-box in front of our goalie. 

Granted we had huge controversy on our first goal. It was not called a goal and then it was a goal. But they got it right.

And then the PK call on the edge of the box. We did not like it, but they got that right as well. 

I do think the great atmosphere of this unreal high school soccer game had the refs pressing as much as some of the players and the coaches, but the center official got most all of it right all night, and under the circumstances that is big time. So hats off to him.

BWhite, and really the whole staff, almost unanimously named Pedro Arias the BWhite Player of the Match. He was just tremendous all game. His touch, his speed of play and his never-ending effort to get behind the ball to defend set him apart. 

This one had to be one of the most entertaining of the Rockhurst/Aquinas matches.  6 goals scored with some other shots ringing off the posts, just going wide. It was wild. It is just fun to watch high school kids play so hard for so long. We did not get the result, but this match certainly is a reason for high school soccer. Wow!

And our play in the second half was pretty snappy. Rockhurst got two shots off all of second half with no corners (we did play with only 10 guys the last 17 minutes of the match as well). The effort, the crowd, the opponent all at their best last night.

So, we need to right the ship Saturday, stay unbeaten in Kansas and put ourselves in position to win the EKL. Keep in mind Northwest beat the Rock fairly easily. But Rockhurst/Aquinas is just a whole different beast.

One more shoutout for our student body. Just fantastic.

STATS:

First Half: Saints: Shots: 5 (2) Corners: 4 (Younger, Johnston, Bartlett, Kutey)

15:33 Bartlett (Stoecklein finds his feet.

Rock: Shots: 4 (3) Corners: 1

35:46 Schieffer (Evans crosses it)

0:02 Dewitt (gets the rebound off the corner)

Second Half:  Saints: Shots: 9 (5) Corners: 1 (Johnston) 

18:38 Johnston (Velasco's throw comes back out)

Rock: Shots: 2 (2) Corners: 0

17:49 Schieffer (PK)

5:44 Dewitt (Evans on a counter)

Game 6: Opening Match of Top Dawg 2014

15 September @ Swi DAC vs. BV North (2-0)

Top Dawg started off very well as we downed a very good BV North team 2-0.  We limited them to very few opportunities, playing a stifling defense. Derek Engel made a tremendous save in the first half in what was to be North's best and only real scoring opportunity. (Check it out.)

BWhite noted one of the reasons for our defensive prowess in the return of Michael Velasco to an almost full match at centerback.  He was very, very good. He also allowed Jay to move out to right back where he shut down all attacks on that side as well.  Michael Velasco was the BWhite Player of the Match.


We also got back Tyler Stoecklein from injury, and he had a very good match in the middle of the field. We won the match with our control of the center of the field. That took a lot of great play from Arias, Bartlett, Geist to go along with Stoecklein.  

We only cashed two goals, but we were all around the net with opportunity.  We just missed finishing a few more deadballs.  

Probably our greatest weakness came in our inability to get the back post framed, whether those opportunities came on deadballs or from the run of play.


This opening win doubled as a big EKL win for us as well, moving us to 2-0 in the league.  

We are now all excited to get back in action against The Rock on Wednesday.  It is always a great match, marked by a great crowd.

STATS:

First Half:  Saints: Shots: 10 (5) Corners: 2 (Feuerborn, Kutey)

19:37 Heying (Kutey heaves it in for a Brown head-flick for an on-running Heying)

1:54 Bartlett (The goal kick ends up quickly back on goal)

Mustangs: Shots: 2 (1) Corners: 2

Second Half:  Saints:Shots: 13 (5) Corners: 4 (Geist, Feuerborn, Bartlett, Kutey)

Offsides Corner Kick 

Mustangs: Shots: 2 (0) Corners: 1

Game 5: Opening of EKL Season

9 September @ Miege for our first EKL Match (5-0)

Large day, September 9, with Apple debuting iPhone 6, iPhone 6plus, and iWatch, us heading to Miege for our EKL opener (and that means The Peanut afterwards with BWhite downing a Triple), and the start of the last season of Sons, so. . .

But at the end of one half the match stood 0-0.  There was an almost Spring wind, and we did not have it, but Miege beat us to most balls, and we fumbled around in our 4-3-3, connecting very few passes. So we headed to half time with not much going on.

Second half we exploded and exploded early with 2-3 goals in the opening 10 minutes (4 if you credit us with the Younger goal that was on the scoreboard for quite a while before being ruled an offsides).  

Luke Kutey continues to play very well, and we continue to cash a lot of deadballs, 3 more tonight. Luke's hat trick may have sealed another BWhite Player of the Match for him, but his hard, consistent play in the front third for us has just made us a much better team.

We tried to rest Brownie for the match, but we brought him in for the second half, and he did change how we build the attack, he and our movement into the diamond. That defensive center midfield spot has a lot to do with how successful we are, and it does take awhile to get comfortable with our style there in that spot. 

Mister 80-minutes, Matt Holland, continues to have his defense compact and aggressive, allowing the opposition very little opportunity. B starts every BWhite Player of the Game nomination with: "Well Holland was great again."

Miege has a young team but with quite a bit of skill, so I would have to think they will be in the 1A-4A race again this year. And they play hard.

We are off for the rest of the week, leading into a huge week at Top Dawg. We will see what we are made of next week.

STATS:

First Half: Saints: Shots: 7 (1) Corners: 2 (Kutey, Bartlett)

Miege: Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 0

Second Half: Saints:  Shots: 14 (10) Corners: 5 (Geist, Heying, Kutey, Brown, Johnson).

37:36 Kutey (Johnson drives the perfect T-ball)
31:26 Kutey (Arias lofts the box cross)
25:18 Feuerborn (D'Adamo bends the driven corner in front of the keeper)
19:40 Kutey (D'Adamo zips it back post for the header)
15:53 Cole (Nilsen's left-footed corner brings out a back-heel part with Johnson first and Will for the goal).

Stags: Shots: 0 (0) Corners: 0

Shawnee Dispatch on Troop Out

By Mike Lavieri

September 1, 2014

OVERLAND PARK — The last time St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High boys soccer met prior to Friday night’s season-opening game was in the 5A state championship in November.

Like the championship game, Aquinas got the better of St. James, winning 4-0.

SJA coach Rick Enna said the 2013 season is over and that the tables are turned. He said St. James had all the fire power last year, while Aquinas has it this season.

STA’s Kevin Feuerborn scored less than eight minutes in to give the Saints the early lead. Marshall was in the middle of the box on a STA corner kick. The ball sailed past the goal but was tapped back to Marshall, who buried it into the back of the net.

He then celebrated by lifting his shirt over his head, a stunt the head referee missed.

Prior to the ensuing kickoff, a linesman waved the referee over, told him what happened and Feuerborn was issued a yellow card.

“I really did not know what to expect going into this game,” Enna said. “We graduated seemingly 90 percent of our team last year. We had a great team last year, we had a great run. Last year was kind of a fairy tale season for both our programs. We met at the beginning and played in a knock-down, drag-out overtime tie.”

A few minutes before the half, Aquinas had another opportunity, this one a free kick about 25 yards out. The Saints’ Matt Brown bent a left-footed shot around the wall and just past the post. SJA keeper Colin McCausland didn’t have a chance.

Zach Schneller and Luke Kutey added second half goals before the game was called with 6:09 remaining in the second half because of lightning.

Enna thought his team competed well, but doesn’t think they know how to score yet. The first shot on goal came in the second half.

“We had three great goal scoring opportunities,” Enna said. “We gave Aquinas a lot of their opportunities. We had a number of shots, they just weren’t on goal. We have to figure out how to get them on goal.”

St. James keeper Colin McCausland punches away a St. Thomas Aquinas corner kick. McCausland recorded eight shots in the 4-0 loss.

Last season, the Thunder relied on Steven Enna and Spencer Jones for scoring. However, they and seven other starters are gone.

Ramsey McMullin and Danny Phillips are the only two returning starters. While this current team has 13 seniors, Enna said for most this was their first real substantial varsity experience.

Enna think this team can go as far as it wants to if it eliminates mistakes in the midfield and also finding ways to score. He also said this team is capable of going home early.”

“In many ways our team tried to find (Steven Enna and Spencer Jones) a lot,” Enna said of 2013. “What makes this team potentially different and more competitive, maybe dangerous, is we’re going to have to find ways to score from a lot of different people. We don’t have tunnel vision this year.”