SOCCER HAWKS COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL SPRING

On Sunday 5/5 the Soccer Hawks defeated the Metro United U17 Academy team 8-1. When the game was scheduled it was thought that at least some of the Metro Academy’s excellent U18’s would play. However, those players were given the day off. Only the younger Academy squad was used because their coaching staff wanted them to play against some really stiff competition. The Academy team came with some skillful players, however, they all needed to be two years older and pack on an additional 10 to 12 pounds of muscle. Though the score was lopsided, the younger players gave a good account of themselves. And, for the Hawks, even though they were not physically challenged, the game gave them another opportunity to fine-tune their offensive skills of passing, crossing and shooting. On the day, the Hawks moved the ball around very well, created numerous scoring chances, and produced some spectacular goals.

It took the Hawks 20 minutes to finally break down the younger squad. The opening goal came on a nice up-back-through passing combination with Mike DiSalvo and Jayme Groark providing the assist passes and Grant Ellison finishing off the sequence with a great goal.

Four minutes later, Justin Bower launched a driven corner kick that sailed past the far bar where it was met with a great put-back header by Corey Eatherton. Corey’s header sent the ball back across the 6 yard box about chest high and Bane Isailovic blasted it into the net with a full side volley.

Toward the end of the first half Jayme Groark picked up a loose ball and hit a great pass that split the opponent’s defense and found
Grant Ellison streaking in toward goal to finish off QU’s third score of the first half.

At half time the young Metro team got themselves together determined to step up their play in the second half. Right from kick-off they came out hard and caught the Hawks a bit off guard and stuck in their own end under one particular siege. During that siege the Hawks committed a foul near the penalty area. The re-start was a hard shot that rebounded off Hawk keeper Kyle Dillman right onto the foot of an Academy player who knocked in the opening goal of the second half making the score now 3-1 Hawks.

Re-awakened now, the Hawks got serious and surged back quickly. Justin Bower raced down the left sideline and hit a wicked cross that the Academy’s goal keeper dove to try to snatch, but it got away from him, and that rebound was blasted in by Jayme Groark who was racing in trying to get onto the end of Bower’ initial cross pass.

Soon after that, Justin Bower started another play on the left wing and his crossing pass found Jack Wedemeier in front of goal and Jack supplied the lethal finishing touch.

The Hawks sixth goal came when Jayme Groark out hustled a defender to a ball almost going out of bounds on the left sideline, won the ball blowing past the defender. Once free, Jayme played a nice pass into Jack Wedemeier in the middle if the field about 20 yards out from goal. As he received the ball, Jack, who could have tried for a go at goal himself, immediately passed to his right to a totally unmarked Corey Eatherton who came in on an angle and slide the ball into an open net.

The 7th goal came from a cross by Jack Wedemeier onto the foot of a sliding Abe Dirnberger who knocked it into the net.

Almost at the end of time the Hawks racked up their 8th score when Greg Schaeffer played a nice through ball to Jake Pittroff who had broken free of his marker. Jake collected Schaeffer’s pass, beat a defender, and then soloed in and beat the keeper 1 v 1.

The Spring Season is now concluded. The Hawks did a lot to build on the strong team that came together last fall. They finished the Spring competitions with a 4-0-1 record, scoring 17 goals and allowing only two. These games allowed both the defensive and attacking segments of the team to become better coordinated. It is understood that with the exception of the 1-1 tie with SIU-E the other Spring opponents were as not strong as those that will be faced come Fall. It was hoped that the Hawk Spring schedule would include more challenges such as SLU; WIU, Truman. However, those matches could not be worked out. Never-the–less, the Hawks accepted each opponent with respect and went out in each game to use it as an opportunity to build a strong team for Fall 2008.

GO HAWKS…