MBA 4 - CPA 2 on Spot Kicks

In a rematch of their most physical game this season last week against CPA, the Junior School Soccer Team would need to bring all of their toughness to a scrappy HVAC semifinal contest with the Lions once again this afternoon.

 

The constant drizzle ensured that the pitch would be slick with a skipping ball difficult to control, and each team brought frenzied playoff effort that made possession that much more unlikely.  Yet when the Big Red would keep passing the ball on the ground, they creatively found pockets of space leading to multiple half chances that just wouldn't find the back of the net.  The best opportunity came after Charles Denton's speed and control drew contact in the box for a penalty kick.  However, the Lions goalkeeper would guess correctly and save our attempt.

 

The pattern continued in the second half, with MBA barely missing connection with several crosses and coming close to the target with headers and volleys.  Furthermore, Nathaniel Coreno had to react quickly to a loose ball that squeaked through the backline by putting his body on the line to make a break-away stop against CPA's free running striker.

 

In the waning moments, both squads refused to fold, and footraces, aggressive headers, and crunching slide tackles from both sides neutralized the other.  Through the 10 extra time minutes, MBA hit the post, but were unable to squeeze in a goal, so the game progressed to penalty kicks.

 

Though the CPA goalkeeper moved the correct direction on each penalty, he was only able to save one, because of the excellent power and accurate placement of shots by the MBA penalty takers. Evan Hopke (overpowering the keeper's outstretched finger tips to the top left corner), Jameson Meriwether (rooting the goalkeeper to his spot), and Drake Gambill (blasting his penalty to the top left corner) scored each of their kicks, while Nathaniel Coreno made excellent reads and displayed impressive agility to make TWO  enormous saves (diving and holding one to his left and diving to touch another to the right post and out) vs the Lions.  His heroics set the stage for what came next.  When Charles Denton stood over the ball, the referee blew his whistle, and after 6 seconds to attune his breath and focus to the moment, he proceeded to smash his shot to the right side netting! 

 

He and his teammates swarmed Nathaniel to celebrate the victory in what is a game that each boy will undoubtedly remember for a very long time.

 

The Big Red now has the chance to avenge their lone loss of the season versus Harding Academy (who won their semifinal 3-2 in overtime over Ensworth) in the HVAC final on Thursday at 4:30pm on the soccer pitch.