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. 

Live Stream for Central Methodist and Iowa Central Match

It is 11:46 on the 16th and the computer guru just left and was unable to solve the live stream problem. However, the game will be recorded and will be broadcast on this site as soon as possible. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Watch live streaming video from backacrefield at livestream.com

Great Quotes From Great Leaders Movie

Great Quotes From Great Leaders Movie: "Throughout history the words of great leaders have inspired, comforted, persuaded, and motivated us. Regardless of their fields of endeavor, they were all visionaries who led by example and whose actions transformed ideas into incredible results."

New Technology=Sharp Learning Curve

    The pitch is almost ready for April 16th.  All I have left to do is paint and mow.  We had .40 of an inch of rain today and more coming later tonight with a sharp warm up to the mid 80's for the weekend.  That should make the grass really grow.
    I have been working on the possibility of live streaming the match so that fans (parents) would be able to watch their daughters play.  It has been quite a mental challenge for me but I think I have most of the problems solved.  I am awaiting the arrival of a special cord to connect the video camera to the computer to complete the testing, and it should be here Monday or Tuesday of next week.
  To view the game you need to scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the test screen.  The site is currently offline but clicking on the arrow it should bring it up on your computer.  There will not be any audio with the live stream of the game but there will be a chat line.  I don't know if I will monitor it and chat or not but I will post scores.
    You should be able to click on the icon in the middle of the screen to display the game in full screen.  I would appreciate your help in testing this to see if everything works when you read this and let me know on the comment section that is on this blog post.  I will also ask for your help in testing when I get the camera hooked up to make sure that it works and what quality of video that you are getting.

April 16th Press Release

I have posted below the press release and coaches quotes for the game on April 16th.

Central Methodist University and Iowa Central Community College extend an invitation for anyone interested in watching a college soccer match in Chillicothe to join us on Saturday, April 16th.  The game will start at 1:00 pm at the soccer field behind the Brick’s house, 1 mile west of Highway 65 on Highway 190.  There is no charge to watch this game so bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon.

Both teams have local connections with Meredith Brick playing on the Central Methodist squad and Madeline Brick and Kathleen Vondera on the Iowa Central team.  The Brick twins were the first two female players from Chillicothe High School to receive an athletic scholarship to play college soccer and lettered all 4 years on the CHS soccer team.  Kathleen is from Davenport, Iowa  and was also a four-year letter-winner and team captain her senior year at North High School.  Kathleen’s grandparents are Red and Vicki Marrs of Chillicothe.

There will be a “meet the players and coaches” session at the tailgate party after the game.  Hy-Vee Catering will be available at the field for all spectators for the post-game tailgate meal for $7.00. 

**********

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our sport and to help with the overall development of soccer.  A big misconception about the collegiate level is that you must be from a big city and competed on a powerhouse high school or club team.  The reality is that if you are a good athlete and a hard working player you can make it onto a collegiate team.  We really recruit Missouri hard, since it has a good soccer reputation.
 
Central Methodist University is in partnership with the NAIA and competes in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.  (Heart of America Athletic Conference-HAAC).  In 2009 our women's soccer team completed the season with most wins in School history.”
 

Dan Schmidlin
Central Methodist University Head Soccer Coach
dschmidl@centralmethodist.edu
Office (660) 248-6350
Cell (937) 750-8062

“Iowa Central provides many opportunities for players to grow and develop their soccer, academic, and social skills.  We are a 2-year school which has the distinct feel of many 4-year colleges and universities.  Our facilities are excellent and with more than 950 student living on campus we have a strong and vibrant residence life department which oversees the apartment-style housing, student activities, intramural sports, and campus security. 

The program is affiliated with the NJCAA and competes at the Division I level.  The majority of our student athletes attend Iowa Central before looking to move on to the 4-year level.  We have the proud tradition of having placed every player who has wanted to move on and play while providing an environment conducive to being competitive and attaining academic excellence.  Iowa Central is currently going for it’s third straight National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators Cup which is given to the Community College with the best overall athletic program based off of national tournament appearances, national placing, and national rankings.”

Willie McGowan,  Head Women's Soccer Coach
 Iowa Central Community College
One Triton Circle
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-574-1351
http://www.iowacentral.edu/athletics/womens_soccer/index.asp