A Busy Soccer Weekend

Iowa Central played their first official game of the season on the 26th at home against Anoka Ramsey and had a favorable 4-0 result. Madeline started and played all but the last 15 minutes or so.  Here is what was written on the team's Facebook page. 

"See the news got out...IC beat Anoka Ramsey 4-0 in the season opener. Goals by Andrea Bailey, Kami Paulsen, Maddie Brick, and Jessie Glasgow were enough to see off the Rams. Two assists by Jordan Walgren, Bailey, and Bri Miller. Shutout shared by Hilary van Praag and Shelby Curry. 1 down, 16 to go!!"

Debra and I celebrated our 28th anniversary on Saturday by watching my sister Nancy granddaughters, Allison and Emma play their first matches of the season at Green Hills Soccer Club.  They both played very well and I believe that each of their teams won, it is difficult to tell without keeping a written tally.  What was obvious was that they were having fun.

Right after their game we moved to Danner Park to watch the home opener of the high school boys.  They were playing a tough seasoned team from Fulton.  I was very impressed with the improvement in the CHS team and although they lost 1-3, I believe that they will have a great season.  Just a couple of defensive miscues prevented them from notching their first win of the season.

I was starving by games end so we went to get something to eat and returned to watch the junior varsity win their first game.  The numbers of players are up so there will be a complete schedule of JV games which is a first for CHS and I know will improve the overall quality of play.

We came home to watch Central Methodist play their first game of the season vs. Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas through the miracles of modern technology on the internet.  CMU won easily 5-0.  Meredith only got to play the last 15 minutes and notched 1 save.  Here is a link to the box score.       Box score against Tabor College.   I finished off the day by watching Sporting Kansas City lose in a ugly match 3-2 to FC Dallas.

Debra and I decided to go watch the CMU match against Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.  We left Chillicothe about 7:30 and arrived in North Newton about 12:00.  We talked to Meredith a bit and then had lunch and was at the stadium about 1:30 for the 2:00 start.  The temperature at the start was 100 degrees and they were playing on a turf field.  We found seats in the shade and at the top of the stadium so there was a breeze.   CMU played very well against a determined Bethel team and ended up a 1-0 winner with the only goal scored very late into the first half.  The only bad part was that Meredith did not get to play.  Here is the link to the box score.  Box score.   We left shortly after the game and got home about 9:20.

Meredith has two home games this next weekend, however we will be going to Rosemount, MN to watch Madeline play in a tournament there.  So I expect to make a long post after next weekend.

Let the Real Season Begin

The Iowa Central team played their last pre-season match today at Simpson College and came away a 1-0 winner.  Madeline said after the game that the defense played well and thought they had only allowed 1 shot on goal.   She also said the coach was happy and it is evident with what he wrote on the team FaceBook page.  (Two of the three preseason wins were against 4 year programs.)

What a difference a week makes. Excellent job today ladies. Simpson tested us all the way but our defensive shape was solid and we took our chance when it came. Paulsen on the goal and Mayberry on the assist. Congrats, we went 3-0 in preseason games!!! Now the real season starts Friday!! Go Tritons!

An Interesting Soccer Story and Proof That It Can Be Done

We are Back!!!!!!!

The fall soccer season has started at My View of the Pitch with a whirlwind day.  I woke up at 6:30 this morning to watch the Arsenal vs Liverpool match that was starting at 6:45.  I had just got the TV on when I got a call from the boys high school coach to request to use my field for a scrimmage.  The high school field was unplayable because of last nights rain and the GHSC's fields were unavailable due to a soccer camp.  I had talked to the coach on Thursday evening and offered my field for the Saturday scrimmage when I saw the 3 day weather forecast but he thought that he would not need it.   The inter squad scrimmage with a breakfast afterword is a relatively new tradition, and the team and parents really enjoy it and it is very good for team bonding and introduction of new players parents.  There are 26 out for soccer this year and the season looks very promising.  There is level of excitement in this team that has never been there in the previous 4 years.  The scrimmage started about 7:45 and ended about 9:15 and the players and parents went to Danner Park shelter house for breakfast after.   

Madeline's first team scrimmage against a college team for this season was scheduled for 2:00 in Ft. Dodge against Waldorf College.  I don't have many details but one of her team mates parents texted me as Debra and I were on the way to Fayette to take the rest of the "stuff" that Meredith needed and to watch her first scrimmage against a Columbia Pride U-19 team.

The text said that Madeline had scored the first goal off a corner with a nice volley shot into the net.  I didn't receive any additional texts, so I sent one about 2 hours after the scheduled start of the game and found out that Iowa Central had won 3 to 2.  Here is what the coach posted on the facebook page about the game: 

"Good outing today vs Waldorf. Gave a good account of ourselves and held the majority of play. Goals scored by Brick, Bailey, and Paulsen and Van Praag and Zulk both had shutouts. Overall, a good day. Starting to get things to gel and ball movement was good at times. Coach is happy!!"

Debra and I are hitting the road again about 7:00 in the morning to meet Madeline in Des Moines to deliver her "stuff" and to eat breakfast, so I will have more details about the game later. 


Meredith's team has made several changes and improvements with new personal.  Everyone is anticipating a better season this year.  Because it was a scrimmage they played 3 thirty minute periods to allow for additional coaching instruction, and CMU won 3 to 1.  The goal keepers split the time between the posts and the lone goal was scored against Meredith with a penalty kick when one of Columbia's players was taken down in the box.


My analysis of the game includes the following details.  Possession appeared to be better than last year but passing still needs a lot of improvement.  The first touch with many of the players is poor and the loss of possession was because of that instead of a intercepted pass. There was ton of square passes in the midfield that served no purpose but to lose possession.  The forwards do not push up to crowd the defenders and there is almost no movement by the forwards off the ball.  It appears to me as a matter of timing of the runs.  What I observed was the cross or the penetrating pass being made and then the attacking player making a run to the ball.  In my opinion, run should be started and the pass find the player.  The defense looked better and faster than last year, but was really not tested with this opponent.  The play in the center midfield was solid and I was impressed with the quality of new players.  The team is faster in all positions and the transitions from offense to defense is good.  There are several rough spots in the transition from defense to offense and I think with the new speed on the team they should occasionally attempt a long ball over the top to keep the defense guessing. 

I am certain that the coaches will be addressing most of these problems and with their practices this week and their road trip to Kansas next weekend the Eagles will be ready and primed for the season.

(P.S. Arsenal lost 2-0 to Liverpool and I will have to endure the taunts from Madeline's coach until the rematch on March 3rd.)  My Gunners look pretty disorganized and not ready to start the season.  It is my prediction that there will be a coaching change before season end.