Link to photo gallery: http://sos.exposuremanager.com/g/082908_wissahickon_vs_cr_north_kc
By Alex Frazier
Council Rock North has a point to prove this year.
After winning states in 2006, the Indians faltered last year.
“Last year was a disappointment for the guys returning,” said senior forward Dan McNamara. “We got a little full of ourselves as a team. We weren’t unified like we are this year. We hope to bounce back.”
In Friday’s 2008 season opener at Wissahickon, the Indians took a small step toward redemption.
Although the 1-1 result wasn’t what Rock had hoped for, the progress of the game was encouraging.
“This isn’t the result we wanted, but it’s a good start to the season,” said McNamara, who scored Rock’s only goal.
Wissahickon’s Nick Matthews, the Trojans’ lone scorer, echoed McNamara’s sentiment.
“We didn’t knock the ball around as well as we should have,” he said, “but we started off the season well.”
Especially considering the Trojans lost to Rock 4-2 last year.
Taking advantage of its home field, Wissahickon came out strong, taking the lead in the ninth minute of play. Defender Jason Bilotti was awarded a free kick near midfield on the right side. He lofted the ball toward the Rock goal. Keeper Andrew Foran came out but the ball bounced over him to an awaiting Matthews, who tapped it into the open goal. It was the only mistake the senior goalie made all day.
“I wasn’t sure if it was direct or indirect; that’s why I knocked it in,” said Matthews. “It was going in anyway.”
Wissahickon had a number of opportunities in the first half as the Trojans aggressively attacked. Rock gave up four corner kicks in the first 17 minutes of play, but the Trojans couldn’t capitalize.
After an 8 a.m. start and a long bus trip, the Indians started getting their legs toward the end of the first half.
“The first 10-15 minutes were nerves,” said new Rock coach Wendell Beres. “Once the nerves settled down, you saw 50 minutes of pretty good soccer. By halftime we righted the ship. I thought we played really well in the second half. We’re certainly going to be more fit than most teams we play, and that certainly came into play.”
The Indians’ fitness might have had more of an affect if they had played on a larger field. Wissahickon’s normal game field was being watered, so the game was play on a hockey field.
“On a bigger field the result may have been different,” said Beres. “With the speed we’ve got and the fitness level that we’re at, we certainly would like a bigger field.”
Rock’s momentum carried over into the second half. Wissahickon sophomore keeper Erik Riefenstahl, who was playing his first varsity game, showed considerable poise under pressure in the second half and overtime when he made 11 of his 14 saves.
“He played really well,” said Matthews. “He stepped up big time. He’s been working really hard during preseason.”
He even drew Beres’ attention. “Their keeper came up big,” he said. “He made a couple of big saves.”
Riefenstahl came up big on a 50/50 ball against McNamara in the third minute of the second half but couldn’t stop him four minutes later. Midfielder Jake Fields worked the ball to the left side of the field near the end line and crossed it to McNamara at the right post, and he buried it to tie the score 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the second half.
“Jake Fields is an amazing player,” said McNamara. “He made a great play. He took the man one-on-one. All I had to do was make a run into the box and leave it to him to put it right on my foot. If gets the guy one-on-one, you’re not going to stop him. When he’s on that end line, you know it’s coming across to your head, your foot, whatever you want. “
The goal gave even more impetus to an awakening Rock team, which allowed the Trojans just two shots the entire half.
“We felt going into the season we could go pretty deep on the bench, but unfortunately we got one or two knocks and injuries putting people in and out, and it disrupted the flow of play when you have to do that,” said Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm. “The players that started the game did a nice job creating opportunities. Once they got their goal we just lost our way. We didn’t get the second ball, we didn’t support each other, and we didn’t push as much. We went into a defensive shell.”
When the game ended in a deadlock, the teams played two overtimes. Rock took the offensive, not allowing a shot, while taking six. Riefenstahl came up big twice in the first period against Fields and Eric Mazurkiewicz.
Fields nearly ended the game two minutes into the second OT, but his shot banged off the left post. Alex Ruhfass also had an excellent shot toward the left post, but Riefenstahl dove and deflected it wide.
The game ended with Rock nearly scoring on a long free kick.
It was a matter of finishing,” said Beres. “Our preseason we actually finished pretty well. It wasn’t our day to finish. We certainly had our chances.”
Credit should go to Wissahickon sweeper Jake Helman, who was a wall against the Rock attack, especially in the air.
“He wins a lot of balls and keeps them out of the way,” said Matthews. “They’re not able to get them over the top.”
For Wissahickon the tie was easier to accept.
“Normally we struggle at the beginning,” said Malcolm. “It’s good for the players to play a big school like this. It was nice to get somewhat of a result.”
Malcolm was particularly pleased with the play of Stefan Daschbach and Joe Farrell, a pair of freshmen making their varsity debut.
“Considering they both started and were involved in that first 25 minutes of play, that’s obviously a positive we have to take away,” he said.
Council Rock North 1, Wissahickon 1 (OT)
Goals: Nick Matthews (W), Dan McNamara (CRN)
Shots: Council Rock North 17, Wissahickon 9
Saves: Andrew Foran (CRN) 7, Erik Riefenstahl (W) 14
Corners: Council Rock North 3, Wissahickon 5
Fouls: Council Rock North 21 (2 yellow cards), Wissahickon 20
Link to photo gallery: http://sos.exposuremanager.com/g/082908_wissahickon_vs_cr_north_kc
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