19th September 2009
Although sloppy at the end, Hopkins destroys Lafayette
Macgriff steals the show as Hopkins win 7-4
By Chris de LaiglesiaIt was a fair drive to the first away challenge that faced our young heroes. The current team had never played against Lafayette, and the 9.45am wake up call was not going to be easy on many. Khan celebrated his 21st the night before, and many on the team had the "pro-soccer-player-lifestyle" that angered managers everywhere, but everyone was prompt and the team was off.
Upon arrival the team was greeted by the forever faithful "Parents Army", who would travel to the ends of the earth for their little ones, and whom provided the team with much needed water, Gatorade and delicious foods.
It was a beautiful day for soccer, with the sun shining, cute girls practicing on the field next door (no doubt checking out the attractive, but modest boys in light blue) and the grass so green, it really was not the setting for a massacre. At 1pm, the $50 ref started the game.
This was the first game that Hopkins played on grass, and it took the team sometime to get used to the ground. Having said this, it was apparent from the start that Lafayette were not at the standard of this team. With most of the possession, it took no time for Mandel to put Hopkins ahead. Macgriff pounced on the ball, and attempted a shot that the keeper could only parry into the path of Mandel, who coolly dribbled the ball into the net. Hopkins continued to threaten the goal, with the de Laiglesia - Macgriff partnership creating chances all over the place. Tait and Ruppel, as they do in most games, dominated play in the midfield, although the large Lafayette center mids did not not make it easy on them, particularly in the air. Mandel and Mieles provided the cover on the sides as they dribbled effortlessly around their players.
However, Lafayette leveled the game minutes later, where an apparent offside was not given, and the striker clinically finished past Edwards. Due to there not being any linesmen or replays to view the play, the ref allowed the goal to stand. It wasn't long until Hopkins were on top again, as Tait took a corner and placed it into the middle of the area, where unmarked de Laiglesia finished easily into the net. The game was still very much under Hopkins control with Contijoch, Hamilton, Dunlap and Henry holding down the fort defensively, but it wasn't till later in the half, when Macgriff steals the ball from the right back, on the left hand corner of the area, and blasts it across the goal, that Hopkins were able to get another goal to leave the game at 3-1 at half time.
The second half started in the same fashion as it had ended. Plover and Roscoe gave so much to the attacking side of the team, as Seo and Sise kept the Lafayette strikers at bay. This inevitably led to Mieles, Macgriff and Khan all scoring in quick succession. At 6-1 the game was over and Hopkins started to rest players, as they were expected to play against SJU 15 mins after this game was over. This was where the team started to slack off, and essentially gift Lafayette with 3 goals. The central striker for Lafayette was a large child, who was fantastic at bringing the ball down, by using his strength to keep defenders behind him, and if allowed to turn, would punish teams with his finishing. The defense, at this point, did not really try to stop the player until it was too late, and Edwards was then required to take the ball out from the back of the net several times after. Hopkins scored a final goal at the end when Dunlap, playing forward for the first time, scoring an absolute screamer, half vollying the ball from 35-40 yards out into the top of the goal. The whistle was then blown for full time.
Although it was a good scoreline for Hopkins, they did lack the "killer instinct" in this game, which was a problem in previous years. However this win kept the team undefeated and got the team ready to face SJU on a morale high.
