‘Total team effort’ noted vs. Pirates
From our weekly issue dated November 04, 2009
Cougar Daniel Nordal vies for the ball with a Pirate. (Photo by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
The Cougars took a new tack in hosting the #1-ranked Pirates in a boys soccer match at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
In 14 games this season, the Pirates have given up only one goal, and that was to
4th-ranked Henley. Phoenix has had a clean sheet for 12 consecutive games.
I.V. coach Gary Enoch didn’t want it to be a scoring contest, so he mixed it up and went with a 5-5 on defense, instead of the normal 2-4-4. This defense, known as “Bunker D,” puts more bodies in the attack areas which forces the opposing shots to be high and wide.
However, the Pirates were well prepared and scored four times in the first half. The Cougars played a much better brand of soccer in the second half, and Phoenix only scored twice, one of which was a deflection off a Cougar on an attempted header in the box.
“I have to take the blame for the first half,” lamented Enoch. “I did not have the proper match-ups, speed-wise. We made the adjustment and played better in the second half.
“Today was a total team effort, considering the fact that Phoenix has a good chance to be state champion.”
David Perata had 24 saves in goal. The final score was 6-0 Phoenix.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, Illinois Valley took on
4th-ranked Henley in Cave Junction. The Cougars looked sharp for the first 12 minutes until the Hornets scored twice, a minute apart. They scored again at the 20-minute mark to make the score 3-0.
Five minutes later on a Cougar corner kick, Jovany Sanchez showed that he can “Bend it like Beckham” and kicked the ball untouched into the far side of the net. The Hornet goalie was so surprised by Sanchez’s skill level that he was a deer in the headlights.
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“Jovany works on this all the time,” observed Enoch. “It takes a lot of practice to strike the ball on the outside right to get the sideways spin.”
Sanchez’s hard work obviously paid off. Henley scored with five minutes left in the first half to make the score 4-1 Hornets.
Eight minutes into the second half the Hornets made it 5-0. Sanchez scored again, but it was nullified due to a questionable off-side call. Nevertheless, I.V. was picture perfect. Jordan Crouse cleared the ball wide to “the Bear” Dylan Skidmore, who then passed across post to Sanchez, who scored.
Both passes and the shot were one touches. Perata had 13 saves in goal.
“Jordan had his best game of the year as a Cougar. He stepped up his game and did what he was supposed to do,” lauded Enoch.
The Cougars faced North Valley on Monday, Nov. 2 in a play-off to see who will play Hidden Valley for the last play-off spot.
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