Well, they wanted the Champions...a DU write up

On a chilly night in southern Denver, the 2009 Fort Lewis Men's team took a final curtain call. Division 1 University of Denver had requested to christen their new stadium against Fort Lewis College, but not the upcoming 2010 version, they wanted a shot at the champs. Queue the 'Rocky' music.

It was good seeing the boys back out there sans Settle and Sam. We did see some new wrinkles out on the starting line up with Keane alongside Thomas Hoang in the middle and Cory Dean outside right. Blackwell filled in as the new leftback position. The starting lineup to the best of my memory was, Euan, Barden, Dimo, Keane, Hoang, Dean, Wood, Jamie, Fabian, Blackwell and Zane. 

Okay, first of all, the DU stadium is pretty nice, good setting for a match but the build up to the game was comical. The players leading little kids out like a Champions League match, all the ceremony, team picture. Too funny and on a chilly night, I was ready to go.  At the start of the game two things were apparent: we are going to play soccer and DU is going to kick and run and hope for the best. Some early miscommunications in the FLC backline led to some breaks for DU that we quickly snuffed out. This was expected as this is spring and the boys have been playing futsal in the SLC for the last couple of months most likely. As we got our flow and starting pinging the ball around, DU was left chasing for the majority of the half. It came to a head when Thomas was played in the box, took a touch by a donkey on the DU backline and was thrashed properly D1 style. Penalty much to the dismay of the 5,000 youth players who were hopped up on mountain dew and fun dip. Euan stepped up and sent the goalie the wrong way, 1-0. Minutes later, substitute, Byron latched on to a beautiful through ball and popped it over the on rushing keeper who I don't think made a proper save all night. Best part of the night here as the Fort Lewis team, led by Byron began to take the piss out of the home fans signaling to the many helms in attendance that this wasn't a scrimmage, they were here to embarrass the DU team. DU must have gotten that message too, as they quickly changed tactics from kicking and running to just straight up thuggery. A tackle on..I think Jamie..mid shin that easily could have broken his leg led to a scrum in the middle of the field led by the top two guys on the FLC tough list, Barden and Woody. Two yellows were awarded to Barden and the DU player who should have been sent off for a rash tackle...it's spring.

Second half started much like the 1st had finished, a goal very quickly in the half. Thomas got on the end of a cross and sent it against the keepers momentum, 3-0. The alums in post season form were going mental, leading cheers and getting the DU faithful a little tight in their private school undies. An odd scramble and a mistake from Zane coming into the dreaded, keepers "no man's land" ended up in DU grabbing one back to make it 3-1, 20 minutes in. That was really all that DU would have on the night. The back four keep things tight most of the night, and Zane made his saves as you would expect from Zane, who is going to be tough to replace. FLC is a goalkeeping hotbed, and Oige is a tremendous coach so I have no worries there. It was mostly a midfield match with Fort Lewis having possession and DU kicking us until Thomas put the final nail in the coffin bringing the score to 4-1. The stands that were packed at the beginning of the match, were now emptied. The Alums ran everyone out. This was now FLC's field, well, it had been the whole night. 

Recap: The 2010 version of this side looks solid, the back four are going to be as tough as last year. Berek is not a like-for-like with Sam, but he has long legs and gets stuck in. The midfield is going to be just as solid as well. Keane and Hoang are going to control any team in the RMAC and the nation. Having Dimo, Byron and Dean on the wings is going to be a nightmare for opponents, with speed, service and goalscoring. Still an unknown with this team is going to be goalkeeping and strikers. Euan and Barden played the majority of the game with Zane in the nets. I think that Wirth is going to be a solid keeper, he is an incredible kid, with a high work rate. I trust Oige and whoever he sends out there, trust me, will be ready. Up top we may see Abdel and Jo, who last year did very well in limitied time. It will be different than last year as both Euan and Barden are dominant in the air. We will see, all I can say is, I expect a very successful 2010 season.

Player of the game: Thomas Hoang. What a game, draws a PK and gets two goals. Kid has a knack for goals and coming out of the center midfield is going to be a great weight off the shoulders of our two new forwards. He is calm on the ball and loves to get forward which works great with Keane as he would much rather put studs into legs and do the dirty work. Great game by all the boys though, Jamie and Fabian were tearing up the back and winning everything as well.

Quick Note on Denver, then I'm done: To whoever organized this game...you have a great complex, packed stands. Play a walkover team! I'm not in marketing, but I am sure you want repeat customers. Getting runover by a DII program is not the way to do that. They wanted that champs, they got the champs. Boy did they. At halftime I was approached by two gentlemen who asked if I went to Fort Lewis and played. I said I did, but playing was an overstatement, I was really good at warming up and the whole "sitting on the bench" side of the game. Anyway, they were blown away at the amount of talent we had out there and how we just ran through the DU team. How do you gets these kids they said?!? I quickly pointed out, we have talent and so does DU, it's our style of play that is the difference. We play soccer, or football...whatever. We work as a team and work for each other. We are not individuals, we are nothing without everyone else. I pointed out to the gentlemen to notice the alums at the game tonight, it's a spring game! We have passion for the program and we are tighter than any team in the country and that's why were are so successful and that's why we get players and win trophy after trophy. They were impressed, and I was proud to be a part of this team.

Till next year boys!

Hardin