Etown vs Albright: Terrors on the Turf part duex

Wednesday September 27th
Elizabethtown College vs Albright College Lions
4:00 pm Shirk Stadium...Albright’s Brand Spankin’ New Turf Field of Luxury and Pleasure
Conditions: Bright, Warm, Sunny afternoon...sleeves are rolled all the way up.

Starting 11

Etown - 5-2-1 (overall) 1-0 (conference)
GK- AJ Fleisher
4- Michael "Sunshine" Terry
5- Mike Helsel
8- Brennan Reichenbach
12- Josh Hoffman
14- Rick "King Richard" Winstanley
15- Luke Mitchell
16- Bryan Holt
18- James Runyon
27- Zach Galbraith
28- Brian Raveling
Coach- Skip Roderick

Albright- 4-2-1 (overall) 1-0 (conference)
GK- Joe Hartmann
8- Mike Depasquale
10- Steve Moran
11- Matt Fleissner
12- Tim Legendre
13- Brad Mease
14- Michael Goffredo
15- Matthew Spolski
17- Dan Martin
23- Joseph Kelly
25- Tommy Talarico
Coach- Pat Stanco

Pre-game Notes: I have been in many press boxes on both the professional and collegiate levels, and Albrights ‘box’ is by far one of the greatest...there is a kitchen, bathroom, even sliding windows...It’s FANTASTIC!...Although I despise playing on turf, this is a brand new facility with top of the line carpet....Albright enters the match-up coming off a pair of 2-1 wins against Gwynedd-Mercy and Moravian...However, the Lions competition looks to get stiffer as they continue into the season, after today’s match against Etown, they travel to Messiah, and then several days later face York....At the other end of the spectrum, the Blue Jays are coming off a devastating 1-0 loss to Lycoming College. While the Jays, lost earlier in the season to nationally ranked Stevens Tech, the Lyco upset came as an absolute shocker and will definitely have an impact on their chance to make the NCAA tournament if they do not win the conference...The Jays have a tough road ahead, but they must remain focused and take everything one game at a time...Today SHOULD be an easy victory, but the boys must capitalize on their opportunities (Skipper mentioned 5 missed breakaways in the Lycoming contest)...The Jays will be without the services of Junior George Severini and Sophomore Wes Bunting today(Have no fear, the blue Bunting throwback is still proudly being worn atop my shirt and tie)...Both are nursing injuries and are not dressing for the match....Etown will miss Bunting’s great air play and hard tackles in the back...Albright Sophomore forward Tommy Talarico, last years Conference Rookie of the Year, is currently tied for the conference lead with 5 goals, his goal this past Saturday marked the 20th of his young career.

1st: Blue Jays come out in a 3-5-2...everyone looks to be in a new position, I’m anxious to see how this works out

2nd: Just noticed Runyon’s freshly bic’d head...definitely more aerodynamic

5th: Zach sends a great through ball to a streaking Hoffman on the far side...Hoff can’t quite reach it though, and it’s scooped up by Hartmann.

6th: Raveling sends a great ball into the box, but it can’t find a head.

7th: Helsel with a shot from 20 yards out, but it’s high, wide and not at all handsome...I’ve always wanted to say that.

9th: Galbraith with a fantastic cross near the corner... Helsel’s unmarked, but his header sails just over the goal.

10th: Lions get first corner of the game...Martin sends an out-swinger into the box but it’s headed out for a Blue Jay throw.

12th: Hoffman shot from 25yds out easily picked up by Hartmann.

13th: Hoffman with another good look...If Jays keep knocking on the door, they’re bound to find the back of the net soon.

16th: Etown doing a real good job possessing the ball...Albright’s doing all they can just to get a foot on it.

18th: Blue Jays have 6 shots early on...only 1 has been on goal though.

20th: Etown- Matt Diller for Runyon

21st: Diller chases a ball deep into the corner...I just realized Diller looks like a giraffe when he runs...a menacing, vicious goal-scoring giraffe.

23rd: Albright foul 30yds out...Hoffman free kick sent into the mixer, but can’t find any Jays.

26th: Albright- 5 for Goffredo... "#5" is not listed on the Albright roster and no one has any idea who this mystery player is...this severely chaps my hide.

27th: Albright send a long ball into the box, but several Lions are called off-sides...where’s their pride???...I know I said, ‘never again,’ but I can’t help it, I have a soft spot for animal puns.

28th: Rick gets another shot, just wide...Blue Jays still having a tough time finding the wood work.

30th: Albright Foul 30yds out...Galbraith sends a beautiful ball into the box...Diller rises above the pack and sends it on goal...punched out by Hartman for a Blue Jay throw.

31st: Blue Jay Corner...Rick sends a low drive into the box, but it’s cleared by the Albright Defense.

32nd: Fleissner receives a yellow for a hard tackle.

33rd: Albright- Abdul Khawam for Talarico

34th: Blue Jay Corner...Rick serves a great ball...Diller flicks it back post to Helsel who drives a header on goal...Nice effort, but Albright defense to save a goal.

38th: Hoffman with a hard shot from 25 yds out..nice save by Hartmann.

39th: Albright corner late in the half...Martin sends the cross right into AJ’s hands.

40th: Zach with another great serve from the corner...Helsel with a well-struck header that whizzes just past the post.

42nd: King Richard with some fancy footwork in the corner, but his cross can’t find anyone.

First Half Recap: Jays have out-shot the Lions 12-0 and are totally dominating every aspect of the game...I hope this doesn’t turn out like the Lycoming game...3-5-2 is working really well for Etown...Across the back, it’s Mitchell, Holt, and Raveling...In the mid-field it looks like Rick and Brennan are playing defensive, while Sunny’s attacking with Hoffman and Galbraith on the flanks...Runyon and Helsel started up top, but it’s the basic idea of a big target, with a little guy running off of him....Galbraith is playing really well, I like him making runs up and down the line, and he’s had some quality services...The three in the back look very solid, with Holt anchoring the trio...Jays just need to start making their shots dangerous, and the goals will come.

Stats at the Half-
Shots 12-0 Etown
Corner 3-2 Etown
Saves 3-0 Hartmann
Fouls 7-7

Start of 2nd: Despite my praises, Galbraith will start the 2nd on the bench in favor of Reading’s favorite son, and my former ‘Estate Neighbor,’ Pete Moore....Owen Friedrich in for Brennan in the back

47th: Hoffman with a great service...Helsel with a well-driven header...Nice save by Hartmann

48th: King Richard with a long throw deep in Albright territory, Runyon flicks it on to Helsel who keeps it going across to Sunny who drives it low and into the back corner of the net...GOAL! 1-0 Etown...Good Teamwork.

50th: "#5" is still in the gam and has yet to be identified...I hate him.

52nd: Blue Jays have numbers on the attack, but Rick one-touches it right to the keeper from 30yds out...I think King Richard may be exhausted from spending nearly 2 hours on our Greater China test earlier today...the average finishing time was 45-60 minutes.

56th: Jeff Warusz for Helsel, and Steve Petrosky for Diller

57th: Rick settles it 25yds out and hits a nice ‘square ball’ to Sunshine...Sunny’s shot not as quality as his last strike, and it sails high over the bar.

58th: Warusz flicks a great ball through to Petrosky who fights off two defenders and gets off a shot...Saved by Hartmann.

60th: Lions are tired, lazy, or just plain awful, and Jays are having their way in their offensive third.

61st: Lion foul 30yds out...Rick sends a great ball into the box that’s punched out by Hartmann...ball sent back into the mixer before Owen fires a shot from point-blank range that’s saved by Hartmann.

63rd: Rowdy Albright Hooligan-Thugs are starting to congregate along the sidelines and taunt the Etown players...Paging Nancy Latimore.

65th: Albright- Goffredo for Matt Metanchuk

67th: The game is two-thirds over and Albright has yet to record a shot on goal...I’m pretty sure my intramural team is better.

69th: Etown- Helsel, Runyon, Reichenbach, and Tommy Reinmiller for Warusz, Petrosky, Hoffman, and Winstanley....Before the game Skip assured me he wouldn’t be making that many subs...He lies.

72nd: Albright- Khawam for "#5"...could he possibly be out for the rest of the game???

73rd: Albright Corner...Martin sends an out-swinger into the box Legendre climbs over his defenders and hits a nice header top shelf..Goal! 1-1...It really looked like Legendre’s hands were all over his defender, but no call was made and the Jays are gonna need another late goal to get a victory.

76th: Albright- Fleissner and "#5" in for Mease and Khawam....why do you plague me #5??!?!?

78th: Mood has definitely changed from "Romping and Frollicking" to "Oh my goodness, we’re tied with Albright."

79th: I’m trying to come up with a fictional name for #5...right now I’m torn between Turd Ferguson and Dick Trickle.

79th: Another Albright Corner...Martin sends another in, but AJ punches it out for a Lion throw.

80th: Blue Jays being very cautious with the ball, they're waiting for the perfect shot.

80th: Albright- Mease for Ferguson/Trickle...I still haven’t decided.

82nd: Eotwn- Rick and Diller for Runyon and Owen

83rd: Albright sends a long cross into the box...AJ gets beat near post but Raveling saves a goal with a header that ricochets off the cross-bar, but back into the middle of the 6...Another Blue Jay defender ends the madness and clears it out for a corner.

84th: Alrbight corner...AJ tries for diving save, but is bowled over by Albright player...foul is called, Lion fans protest....I’m pretty sure they’ve never actually watched soccer before.

85th: I just heard what sounds like a duck call, and I know there are no water fowl in beautiful downtown Reading...It’s music to my ears, but will it rally the Jays?

86th: Albright has no desire to win this game...Lions have everyone bunkered in, and are playing for a tie.

88th: Brennan gets a shot from 18yds out...deflects off Albright defender, great diving save by Hartmann.

89th: I hate looking up at the scoreboard...the realization of what is going on right now makes me sick.

90th: 30 seconds left...Blue Jays get free-kick from 20yds out...Holt drives a hard shot off the wall...ball bounces out-of-bounds...End of Regulation.

End of Regulation Recap: All you need to know is this...SHOTS: 21-1 ETOWN...Jays scored early, they didn’t stop attacking, but Albright scored a lucky, possibly controversial goal off a corner to equalize late...Blue Jays have dominated, and just need to continue playing the way they have, and they’ll net the winner in one of the two 10-minute OT’s.

Start of First Extra Period: Starters are back in, except Diller is uptop for Runyon.

91st: Albright with a great look from 30yds out...ball sent back stick but can’t find a head.

93rd: Talarico touches the ball...I forgot he was playing today.

94th: Albright free kick 40yds out...cleared by Blue Jay defense.

95th: Rick settles and sends a great ball to Helsel down the flank, but the speedster can’t quite get to it...Albright goalkick.

96th: Albright keeper has wasted a full minute between retrieving the ball, and taking the kick.

96th: Diller with a great look 10yds out...leans back just a little too much while striking it, and sends it just over the bar.

96th: Etown- Runyon for Diller, Albright- Martin for Mease.

97th: Deep throw for the Jays...cleared by Albright.

99th: Rick with a nice move, is tripped up, he falls on the ball, then grabs a hold of it...that’s a cheeky move from the Englishmen...Blue Jay free kick 20yds out

99th: Hoffman shoots a laser right at Hartmann.

100th: Galbraith with a good, clean tackle outside the Blue Jays box...Albright supporters screaming murder...No call.

100th: Helsel takes it baseline and peppers another shot at Hartmann.

End of 1st Extra Period Recap: Jays continue their dominance....they’re painfully close with their shots...they just need a little extra from someone...who will it be?

Start of 2nd Extra Period: Warusz and Petey are into the game for Zach and Helsel.

102nd: Albright with a free kick from 20 yds out...eventually cleared by King Richard.

103rd: Rick makes a clean tackle...but ref calls a foul from other side of the field...and there’s the first ‘wanker’ of the game.

105th: Albright Corner...Martin’s outswinger cleared for an Albright throw.

105th: Albright has officially wasted more time than they spent warming up for the game.

106th: Petey with some nice moves along the baseline but his bangu can’t find anyone.

107th: If desparation hasn’t sunk in yet, it should...we’re 3 minutes away from tying Albright.

109th: Etown- Helsel for Runyon, Albright- "#5" for Mease...There was honestly NO need to sub him back in...I think Coach Stanco is simply trying to spite me.

110th: 20 seconds... Blue Jay corner...Warusz with a nice ball, finds Brennan head....but it sails wide...End of Game...1-1 tie.

Final Stats-
Shots 23-1 Etown
Corners 5-5
Saves 11-0 Hartmann
fouls 15-13 Albright

Man of the Match: Michael Terry
Buffalo Bills Award: Joe Hartmann

End of Game Recap: The stats tell the story of this game...The Jays had all the opportunities but couldn’t net the goals when they needed them...I thought several Jays had strong performances including Galbraith, Holt, Helsel, Hoffman, and Sunny.... Although a draw isn’t a horrible result, it’s far from ideal. The Blue Jays are now in a position where they cannot afford to have anymore games like this for this rest of the season....They host Lebanon Valley this weekend, but in the near future they play Muhlenberg, Getysburg, and Wilkes, all of whom are ranked higher than the Blue Jays in the regional rankings....Someone needs to step up and be a finisher on this team.

p.s. I still think my intramural team is better than Albright.

Next Up:
Etown vs Lebanon Valley
Sunday October 1st
2:00 pm
Ira R. Herr Field