Sunday April 5th, 2009

Down 3-1 with under ten minutes to play it looked to be a second straight defeat for Wolfpac. At least until Goodwin's 20 yard surprise knocked life into the orange side and swung momentum into Lashbrook's head for the equalizer, ending the game 3-3 and snatching a point from a then flat Tire.

Shoreline, Shorecrest high school - Mid to upper 60's, perfect. Wolfpac and Spare Tire, both without a win in their openers, hoped today would be their day.

Wolfpac's early play looked promising compared to its week one performance when the team played from behind almost the entire match. This week, it notched its mark on the score-sheet first.

The early lead was awarded to Wolfpac when Merrifield was tripped up in the Tire box on a ball played over the top. A Spare Tire defender let the ball bounce and tried to shield it into his keeper, but Merrifield snuck past, taking one touch on the ball before the players feet tangled and both hit the turf. The PK was hit low and in the corner as the Tire GK started a lunge in the opposite direction, then quit helplessly as he watched the ball pass.

Despite the quick goal possession was nearly 50/50 as both teams tactically read each others game plan. It had been four-plus years since these teams last played each other and personnel and tactics had undoubtedly changed.

Spare Tire's luck looked to be getting worse as their GK took a couple of bad knocks on almost back-to-back plays, one to the abdomen and another to the wrist. The bad luck didn't last long though when Tire found their equalizer on a counter-attack leading to a corner kick. The ball was swung in to the far post where it was headed on goal, off the crossbar, then taking an immediate ricochet off a Tire players head before finding net.

Communication and passing broke down for Wolfpac leading up to halftime and possession shifted largely in Tire's favor. Passes were forced, easy options not taken and an overall lack of cohesiveness affected the team.

Blunders continued for Wolfpac after the break and through most of the second half. Spare Tire continued to win possession and use the field best and it paid off as they added two (3-1), and looked far more dangerous around goal - hitting the near post twice in one spell.

Bickering and frustration were the themes around the team in orange. Unable to get anything going and unable to shake the rust off from a three plus month off season the team just looked... bad.

Goodwin, a late substitution into the midfield, injected some much needed momentum into Wolfpac. Absolutely not expecting a shot, because Wolfpac hadn't tried it's chances much in the second half and definitely not from 18+ yards out, the Spare Tire goalie was caught sleeping as Goodwin's ambitious attempt from 20 bounced under a late dive.

Wolfpac, finally seeing some light, kept pressure on the Tire defense in its dying minutes and found an equalizer off a late evading corner kick taken by Merrifield to Kyle, just six yards out. The ball, placed perfectly off Lashbrook's head, split the defenders marking their posts.

In the end, it seems a point was stolen from the deservingly better team (in blue) on this day but a late comeback may be just what Wolfpac needs to get back in form.

GSSL takes next week off for Easter. Wolfpac will resume play on the 19th of April when they face FC Atlas at Grasslawn park, 1 PM.

* Pictures from this weeks game are available by clicking on the picture at the top of this post.
** No stats other than Goals / Assists were tracked this week.