Lobo Faithful:
Two big matches in California and we would know quite a bit about ourselves after this challenging four day road trip . It was difficult naming the traveling team of 20. We have 26 players on the roster and everyone makes an impact and works incredibly hard on and off the field. 26 STRONG! 20 players traveled and our mantra was “we are playing for the boys at home”. We trained in Albuquerque Thursday morning and then headed straight to the airport fueled by Frontier breakfast burritos. This was our first road trip and I was nervous to see what kind of suits the new boys would be wearing (we travel in coat and tie). Jason Beaulieu won the prize for most debonaire: rock and roll tight pants, purple shirt and black tie….only a Canadian could pull it off. The rest of the boys were pretty boring…black or blue suits and not much color…future morticians. Smooth trip into LAX and straight to the hotel. It was sizzling hot in the Valley. Quick walk around the Northridge game field and then off to dinner at everyones favorite, Olive Garden. We hit the rack early and saved the scouting report for the am. Breakfast at 9:00, scout 9:30, 10:30 training session, 3:30 pre-game meal and off for the match at 5:00.
LOBOS VS CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE MATADORS 7:00 PM
Friday night was the Northridge Matadors home opener and the stands were packed! Band, student section, on-field VIP Suites…the house was rocking! We had our best 45 minutes of the year the first half. Ball speed, interchange, pressing…”total football”. 7-1 advantage in shots and we were rewarded in the 19th minute with a Chris Wehan right footed rocket coming inside from the left flank. 1-0 Lobos and the only tally of the first half. Northridge played straight up against us the first half, but changed tactics in the second 45. Direct play, battles for seconds and lots of substituting (Northridge played 7 off the bench). They took the rhythm from us and made a mess of the game. We were unable to settle and got caught up in the back and forth. Pretty ugly, but efficient from the Matadors. We committed 12 fouls, about 6 too many and GK Jason Beaulieu made 2 saves on the night. We maturely saw the match out and came away with a well deserved 1-0 victory. A big one in a tough environment. Little time to enjoy, as we had to recover and make the journey south early Saturday morning for Sundays match vs an undefeated University of San Diego.
LOBOS VS UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TOREROS 5:00 PM
We headed out of LA late morning Saturday after a pool recovery session and the low minute guys getting a short training session. Coach Mike Graczyk and I headed out early to watch two youth games at the Stub Hub Center and met up with team in San Diego late afternoon. The boys were treated to a wonderful lunch at the home of Mike and Julianne Wehan, Chris’s parents, on the trip down to SD. Upon the teams arrival, we all walked the field at the University of San Diego, brought dinner to the hotel and reviewed the scout for Sundays match. USD was undefeated and were coming off a 5-2 Friday night victory. Tough one ahead! We kicked off at 5:00 and the temperature was in the low 90’s. We came out strong, but couldn’t find the net. Things settled and the half ended scoreless. I thought we were a bit lethargic and the team wasn’t playing to form. An animated half time talk and the boys came out firing. 6 minutes into the second half, Oniel Fisher with a great rebound goal off a Niko Hansen blast. 1-0 Lobos and we started to find our rhythm. 19 minutes later, Sam Gleadle with a “whipped in” cross and assist to James Rogers for our second goal. 2-0 Lobos with the game finishing without another score. 2-0 Lobo victory, another clean sheet and sweep for the weekend. Great job from the entire team!
This weeks guest on “Fish Off The Pitch” is freshman goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu. Jason with a great weekend, picking up two wins and two shutouts.
Lobo Soccer needs your support. To maintain our standard of excellence in the classroom, community and on the playing field, we need to raise $80,000+ to supplement our operating budget. Our booster club is the Golden Goal Club and 100% of membership dollars goes directly to our program. Click here to find out more!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 7:00 PM: LOBOS VS 2013 NCAA TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT DREXEL UNIVERSITY
TWO BIG HOME MATCHES THIS WEEKEND AT THE TLC PLUMBING AND UTILITY INVITATIONAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST AT 6:00 PM: LOBOS VS 2013 NCAA TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT AND “TOP 16 SEED” VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
Thanks for all your support and we look forward to seeing you this weekend. GO LOBOS!
FISH