UCCS Recap

Sorry for the couple of day delay on getting the write up out here, it was a wild weekend. 

Anyway...

Friday night was crazy cold and it was great to see a couple of Helms out making the trek down to the Springs. We had the usual starting lineup we have seen all year, with the exception of Hoang and Joey replacing Keano and Euan respectively. Springs played a very direct game all night long. The outside backs playing a long diagonal over the top and hoping the forwards will get on the end of it. Quick as they were, very few balls got past our twin towers in the back. In the first half, our offense was treating the game as if it were a powerplay. Passing along the offensive third of the field looking for the opening. Settle got plenty of service coming down the right side and playing the ball in. Springs packed the box appropriately and frustrated our attack. As all good offenses do, we switched our focus in attack to going down the middle looking for Barden and Joe to turn their man or lay it off into the midfield for Thomas and Jeff to strike. The breakthrough came when Abdel came in and gave a change in pace. A nice ball over the top was miss played by the UCCS back and 'Del ran on to it tipping it over the on rushing keepers head, and left it bounding into the empty net. That was pretty much it for the first half, Barden did have a smashing header rejected off the crossbar before the whistle.

At the start of the 2nd half Springs challenged with a couple balls over the top again, and forced Zane off his line and charging into a charging forward and Fabian. Fabian picked up a slight knock and would have to be subbed off later in the game. Throughout the 1st half UCCS had been double teaming Barden on every cross,  and early on in the 2nd half we capitalized on that fact. A nice cross from the left side to the back post found a wide open Joey on the back post slamming home a header. The remaining half was played again in our offensive half. We switched fields finding space on the left side this time, as Byron and Sam terrorized the right mid and back for Springs. Sam played great attacking and putting it in the mixer all game long. Springs did have some luck with the long play later in the half, forcing Zane to make a great save and with about 12 left Springs beat Zane to the ball and the forward popped the ball over his head. The crowd arupts and the random English guy who had been talking sh*t to the helms all game celebrates....just in time for the ball to take a bounce off the artificial turf and hit the crossbar....classic.

With a couple minutes left in the game, a nice build up through the middle found Barnd again, taking players on and as he dipped his shoulder, found enough space to fire a bullet into the lower corner. 3-0.

Overall, good display on a bitter cold night, away, missing two key players. Great showing on the depth of the bench as Cory, Byron, Berek and Abdel all influenced the game in positive ways.

Players of the Match: Sam Morris and Joe Barnd - I had to go with the co MVPs because Sammy's cool play and dynamic runs forward gave Springs fits all night and Joe's knack for finding the net made it hard to pick either/or.

Another 10 goals scored and 0 allowed on the weekend. A +60 goal differential in league is ridiculous and I couldn't be happier for the boys.

For the current player that read this....it all means nothing now. Playoffs are here and this is where the Fort makes its name. Take home our trophy this weekend, and bring home the big one in a month. We are at a point now where the Fort Lewis owns the RMAC, and we have done just that. Live up to the potential boys and let's get some more December parades!!!