3rd October 2009
Johns Hopkins 4 - Messiah 1
Messiah Crash Out of Hopkins' Invitational
By John MacElveenVictors of their last six games on the trot, The Johns Hopkins University Men’s Club Soccer team entered last Saturday’s round robin tournament brimming with confidence. Jogging out into the abundant sunshine of Ryan Wade Stadium, there was a buzz about the ground. The Messiah v. St. Mary’s clash nearly stopped mid game to applaud the top-ranked Blue Jays as they warmed up behind the goal at the home end of the stadium. In good form, they finished their contest and lined up to provide an honor guard for the team that represented their region at the National Championships just one short year ago. Once introductions were complete, the second game slated for Saturday kicked off.
Messiah weathered a strong start from the Blue Jays, but struggled with the suffocating space that must have felt smaller than normal. The home ground of the Blue Jays, with the rabid fans right on top of the pitch, provides one of the great home field advantages in soccer. The atmosphere wanted for naught but a goal, and it was not long in coming. Spencer Macgriff took advantage of the tactical error in positioning that would plague Messiah throughout the contest and launched a pile driver from distance. Leaving the goalkeeper in no-man’s land, his shot rocketed off the crossbar. Groans quickly turned to cheers as Chris de Laiglesia was on hand to tap the rebound into an empty net. The fans were in full throat at this point and the volume clearly rattled the Messiah Falcons.
The defense had suffered a shock at the late news that stalwart Danny “Alves” Mandel was lost for what may amount to the season with a devastating heel injury. Also missing was veteran Francisco Contijoch with an ongoing fitness battle. “Big” Bob Hamilton and Stephen “Miles” Dunlap held the makeshift back line together, as Brian “The Mad Asian” Seo and Andrew Henry provided more than serviceable play at the outside back positions. Christopher Tait played the domestique position to perfection, covering box to box, simultaneously breaking up attacks and starting counterattacks for the Blue Jays. Nick Khan and David “Papo” Mieles dominated the outside play, and Khan turned provider for the Hopkins’ strikeforce’s second tally of the afternoon. A ball to de La’s feet was quickly turned into a nutmeg on the last defender, and de Laiglesia ran free at the Messiah netminder. Showing the coolness of mind and the finishing touch that has elevated him to frontrunner for the Balon d’ Or in Region I, de La tapped the ball into the side netting to pad the lead just seconds before the halftime whistle blew.
With a lead that would prove insurmountable, Hopkins went on the rampage for the strike that would put the game beyond the reach of the Falcons. Super sub Colin Plover once more took advantage of the goalkeeper’s positioning and lobbed a ball from 30 yards that bulged the onion bag. The result safe in hand, Hopkins emptied the bench in an attempt to rest players for the long day ahead. This included the introduction of veteran John MacElveen. As well known for his ruthless insults of opposing players as for his defensive talent, MacElveen took a turn in the midfielder to capitalize on his burgeoning bond with Wyatt “Colo-Colo” Roscoe. Controversy quickly surrounded his on-field product. While the stat sheet was stuffed with olés for the Hopkins squad, a ball appeared to trickle through the open legs of the unsuspecting MacElveen. Dunlap was on hand to quickly clean up any potential disaster, however, and unleashed a shot that the Messiah goalie could only parry away for a corner. Despite cries from the bench, MacElveen was able to shake off grime for glory just minutes later. An inswinging corner proved too much for the Messiah defense to handle as Papo rose convincingly and sent a header towards goal. Still shaken from the howler he had surrendered to Plover, the Messiah goalie spilled the ball where the predatory instincts of MacElveen – who counts Super Pippo Inzaghi among his attacking influences – shined brightest as he pounded the ball into the gaping goal mouth.
Songs rained down from the terraces on the fan’s returning hero, whose teary-eyed celebrations showed what the goal meant to him after a long layoff from the first team. The goal was also welcome from the board of directors and manager as the usual offensive midfielder, Kevin Ruppel, has not provided the cutting edge in terms of goals that he was counted on for in the build up to the campaign. With the imminent return of Edgar “El Topo” Olivas, perhaps the wait for goals will not be much longer.
The action was all but over, and the Falcons bagged a late consolation after a failed clearance took a deflection off the midriff of a Messiah striker. An otherwise comfortable afternoon for Orestes “Development” Mavrothalassitis was marred by the lost clean sheet, but he was hardly at fault. Shortly afterwards the final whistle blew much to the relief of the Messiah Falcons who trudged off to rest before their meaningless game with Buffalo. Hopkins lingered about the pitch to thank their loyal fans and rejoice in the upbeat atmosphere. It was another strong result for the insatiable Blue Jays, who continue their march towards a number one seed at the Region I Tournament just a few short weeks away.
