1st | 2nd | Final | |
---|---|---|---|
Neosho County |
1
|
2
|
3
|
Hesston |
3
|
2
|
5
|
1st half: 1 HC Craig Mast (assist Mark Yoder); 1 NC Ivan Coco
Jr. (unassisted); 2 HC Raul Martinez (assist Craig Mast); 3 HC Philip
Hartzler (unassisted)
2nd half: 2 NC Bryan Villela; 4 HC Zack Miller (assist Raul
Martinez); 5 HC Craig Mast (penalty kick); 3 NC Angel Aguirre (unassisted)
Shots: HC 13 (11 SOG); NC 18 (13 SOG)
Saves: HC 10 Danny Yoder; NC 6 Ian Thomson & Justin Seever
Yellow cards: HC Brett Brand; NC 4 Angel Aquirre, Rueben Barerra (2), Coach
Red cards: Rueben Barerra (2 yellow cards)
Coach's Summary: The Larks first afternoon home game had all
the atmosphere of their home night games. The large homecoming crowd
gave the Larks added energy for their match against Region VI foe Neosho
County Community College. Hesston was looking to end a five-game losing
skid which included two overtime loses. Neosho on the other hand was
just looking for their first win. Although Neosho hadnt
won a game yet I knew that they would still be a tough team. They have
some dangerous players just like any of our opponents in the region.
Theyve played a very tough schedule and still had some close games.
I was hoping that we could get an early goal and catch them a little
down.
Coach Sharp got his wish as the
Larks scored 10 minutes into the match. Mark Yoder calmly brought the
ball down the right side, sent a nicely driven ball into the box, which
Craig Mast redirected nicely into the corner of the net. Neosho countered
quickly as Ivan Coco Jr sliced through the Lark defense and pounded
the ball past a diving Danny Yoder. I was excited that we got
the early goal but disappointed that we allowed them to cut through
us they way they did. I was worried that this game was going to look
like our Allen County game where we scored first and then gave up 3
weak goals.
The play went back and forth with
the Larks getting the better of the possession. The Larks efforts would
pay off 35 minutes into the first half when Craig Mast bent a nice corner
kick in and off the far side of the crossbar. The ball caromed off to
an onrushing Raul Martinez who made quick work to head the ball past
the keeper. The second goal was a real momentum boost. I felt
that we did a good job moving the ball around and creating more attack.
It was nice to see our team rebound from the disappointment of the tying
goal earlier. The wind was really wreaking havoc with the ball which
made it difficult on the keepers.
But the Larks werent done.
Just three minutes later the Larks were awarded a free kick from 30
yards out on the left side of the field. Philip Hartzler sent a hard
bending ball into the far side of the net. Philip has such a powerful
boot. He makes it look effortless too. Were trying to find ways
to get him more involved in the attack but hes such a vital part
of our defense that its hard for him to find the time (and sometimes
energy) to make those overlapping runs.
NC looked like they were going to
draw one back when Gustavo Hernandez found himself on a break away.
However, Yoder was quick to come off his line and deflect the shot wide
of the post. Breakaways are something Danny has really improved
on. Last year he was a little timid but not any more. That was a big
time save.
Neosho County certainly did not
have the look of a team that was going to give up. NC came out the second
half more determined and got back one goal when Bryan Villela finished
off a ball that rebounded off the post just five minutes into the second
half. But the Larks would not be shaken. Just a couple of minutes later
the Larks were looking at another set piece just outside the 18. Raul
Martinez bent the ball over the wall and off the post. The ball quickly
rebounded to an opportunistic Zack Miller who ripped a cracker past
the keeper. Our guys did a nice job today of crashing the goal
after shots and it paid off on three of our goals.
Hesston, still hungry for goals,
went searching for more. A few minutes after their fourth goal Raul
Martinez was brought down in the box. Craig Mast made neat work of the
penalty kick to make the score 52. Neosho was struck a further
blow when Reuben Barerra was given his second yellow card of the game
and sent off. Im always nervous when the other team gets
a player red carded. The other teams knows they have to play harder
being down a man and its easy for our players to think that this
is going to make our job easier. I try to stress to our guys that they
have to play as if the other team has 11 so that there is no let down.
NC did pick up their play and were
now finding cracks in the Hesston defense. With 20 minutes still remaining
in the game Neosho found the back of the net again as Angel Aquirre
slipped through the back and placed the ball nicely past Yoder. The
goal seemed to inspire both teams as now the ball was moving end to
end. Hesston was finding lots of space in the midfield and using it
to put pressure on the backs.
Hesston would hold their lead thanks
to some better possession and some outstanding play by goalkeeper Danny
Yoder. The thing that most people are going to miss when they
dont see our team play live is the outstanding job Danny is doing
in goal. He continues to make fantastic saves in virtually every game.
Id say the only let down for him might be the game against Barton,
but nobody played well that day. He is easily one of the best keepers
in the region. I know Im biased but Id put him up against
anyone. Were just giving other teams too many shots on goal and
there are lots of reasons for that not the least of which is the outstanding
play of our opponents.
Overall I was pleased with
the game. It was nice to get another victory. We really are coming along
offensively, but defensively as a team were allowing our opponents
too much space in the middle of the field. We need to put the kind of
defensive effort together that we showed against KCK and combine that
with some better possession. Then well give ourselves a chance
to beat anyone. I was really impressed with the play of Eric Bixler
today. His name doesnt appear on the score sheet but he really
did a good job of opening things up for his teammates. Several players
really had great performances today offensively. Craig Mast did a good
job of being in the right place at the right time and helping us possessing
the ball. Philip Hartzlers free kicks give us a legitimate chance
of scoring either directly or indirectly from anywhere inside the attacking
half. I thought offensively other players really stepped up their game
today. Were getting our backs more involved, which is giving us
more dynamic play. The guys really played hard today. Some were too
exhausted to even look excited after the win. Im really proud
of these guys and the effort they put into practice and games. Were
still experimenting with guys in different positions. We know that everything
points to the regional tournament. As long as were playing our best
soccer then, anything can happen.