Newport uses Strong 2nd Half to Defeat FSU

Freshman Chris Herbert

On Saturday afternoon Christopher Newport rallied to defeat FSU 5-1.

We had a great first half and did exactly what we had set out to do.  I thought we pressed well, cut off the service to their forwards, and played with a high work rate.  We were even at shots for the half, 7-7, and had the slight 1-0 lead after Chris Herbert found the back of the net after CNU failed to clear a corner kick.

The second half was a different story as CNU came out with an intensity that we didn't match.  They started to dictate the tempo and got two early goals to take the lead about 10 minutes into the half.  I thought we struggled to respond to their early pressure and unlike Wednesday night where we always believed we would win I started to think the guys were second guessing themselves.  To make matters worse, Pablo Torrano picked up his second yellow with 30 minutes remaining and made it that much harder for us to respond.

We had no choice but to take some risks and go for it as we were down a goal and a man.  Unfortunately Newport took advantage of the spaces we left open and the fatigue of our players started to show later in the half.  CNU would tally three more times and hand us our worst loss of the season.

There are definitely some lessons to be learned from this game and hopefully we will respond accordingly as we prepare for the final 4 games of the season.  We are back at home this week on Wednesday as we take on CAC newcomer Southern Virginia at 5pm.

Jones's Late Game Heroics Rescue Bobcats

Senior Chris Jones

Chris Jones recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in dramatic fashion leading FSU to a 4-3 come from behind win against Marymount University.

The game started out even as both teams were adjusting to the rain and field conditions, but an early free kick by Marymount would give them the 1-0 lead.  Later in the half Marymount would again score on a free kick to take the 2-0 half-time lead.

We came out pressing and tweaked the line-up a little to be more offensive, but we got caught on a counter and on what may have been their first shot of the half a Marymount player hit a beautiful upper 90 shot and we were down 3-0.

This team has always shown a lot of heart and we were going to need it to get ourselves back into this one.  The push was on and were sending guys forward from all positions.  Basically down to two in the back we tried to keep Marymount pinned in their half.  Alex Brainard got us on the board with just 16 minutes remaining in the game when he one-timed a pass from Jason Bennett and blasted it over the keeper from about 20 yards out.

With just under 10 minutes left Jones headed home a beautifully driven cross from Jonah Mohre.  It took Jones less than three minutes to get his second when Jared Fohs played a diagonal ball in behind the back line for Jones to run onto to beat the keeper.  Incredibly Jones would win the game just 43 seconds later when he headed home a Bernard Fatusin free kick.

The boys did a good job seeing out the remaining 6:30 minutes to pick up their third CAC win of the year.  The game was getting heated when we started to make our run and in the final six minutes, three players were sent off for picking up their second yellow cards of the match.  Jason Bennett will have to miss this weekends match against Christopher Newport University.

Torrano Stays Hot for Bobcats

Senior Jared Fohs

Pablo Torrano continued his scoring ways as he tallied two more times to lead the Bobcats to a 3-1 win over Wesley College on Saturday afternoon.

We got off to another quick start when freshman Nabayee Tesfu scored his first collegiate goal when he volleyed home a long throw-in from Jared Fohs just minutes after kick-off.

http://youtu.be/xaVDjKBnTyA - Tesfu Goal 
   

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Torrano got his first of the game about five minutes later when he chipped the keeper after another Fohs throw-in put Torrano in behind the back-line.

http://youtu.be/IZqPFPbTyEs - Torrano Goal #1 

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The rest of the half was pretty uneventful as neither team seemed to register many scoring opportunities. 

The second half started like the first half when a Pablo Torrano shot was deflected and caught the keeper going the wrong way just three minutes into the half.  We were hoping that would put the game away, but to Wesley's credit they did not quit and were played us pretty even the rest of the match.  Wesley would get one back when a header off a free kick was saved by Hassan Mostafa, but the rebound went off the Wesley players arm and into the goal.  Despite the assistant referee bringing it to the referee's attention the goal was allowed.

http://youtu.be/CSOy28lB6HM - Torrano Goal #2 
   

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We didn't play our best game of the year, but we were happy with the three points and are just trying to focus on doing some of the little things better and be more efficient with the soccer ball.

We will be on the road Wednesday to face Marymount University at 7pm at Long Bridge Park.

Torrano leads Bobcats Past Lions

Senior Pablo Torrano

Wednesday night we had our first home CAC contest against conference newcomer Penn St. Harrisburg.  Pablo Torrano tallied two goals and Chris Jones netted his second of the season for the 3-0 win.

We started the match strong and with a little help from the PSH goalkeeper we got on the board early when he couldn't keep out a fairly routine shot by Torrano in the seventh minute.  I never thought we were in too much danger of surrendering a goal, but I thought we could have controlled the tempo of the game better after the early goal.

http://youtu.be/lXqnQqvfFpg - Torrano goal #1     

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Torrano would get his second of the match with 10 minutes remaining in the half when he challenged the keeper for a loose ball and was able to put away the turnover for the easy score.

 

http://youtu.be/PDifR2wCQaU - Torrano goal #2 

   

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The second half we had a better focus and dictated the tempo of the game.  We held PSH to 1 shot and registered 14 of our own.  Chris Jones found the back of the net late in the half when he headed a ball off a PSU player from a Kyle Walczak corner kick.

 

http://youtu.be/B5tBHxxjDZ0 - Jones goal     

 

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It's nice to get our first CAC win of the season as we look to pick up 3 more points this weekend when we face Wesley College at 2pm at Bobcat Stadium.

Bobcats Drop CAC Opener to #24 Salisbury

On Saturday afternoon the boys dropped a hard fought contest to #24 ranked Salisbury University 1-0.

In the first half Salisbury carried the possession as we played a little more defensive and wanted to absorb the early pressure.  I thought we did a good job staying organized and limited their quality scoring opportunities, but we switched off for a moment and left some guys open near the box after a contested header that we couldn't clear away.  Salisbury picked up the loose ball and after 1 pass found the back of the net with just under 3 minutes to play in the half.

The second half we came out much stronger and began to apply more pressure to the Salisbury defense.  Chris Herbert made a good run into the box and was fouled for a penalty kick just minutes into the half.  We did not convert, but kept our heads up and kept fighting to get the equalizer.  We gave good effort all the way to the end, but still came up short.

I thought the boys put out their best effort of the season, but at the same time we are not happy with the loss.  We know playing Salisbury, CNU, Mary Washington, and York all away from home this year will be a tough road to travel, but we are still setting our sights on a top 4 finish which will guarantee us at least 1 home game in the CAC playoffs.

We will look to get our first conference win on Wednesday when we host CAC new-comer Penn St. Harrisburg at 7pm at Bobcat Stadium.

FSU Rolls Past Hood 3-1

Senior Defender Bernard Fatusin

The boys closed up their non-conference schedule with a 3-1 road win over Hood College on Wednesday.

Defenders Bernard Fatusin and Jason Bennett had a hand in all 3 goals as Fatusin opened the scoring in the first five minutes of  the match while Bennett doubled the lead 15 minutes later.  Fatusin would also assist on the third goal of the game while Joe Clarke picked up his first goal of the season.

I thought we played fairly well to start the game and had some nice possession leading to a few early scoring opportunities.  Bernard made a nice run from the back and was able to get in behind the Hood defense after a nice give and go and perhaps a fortunate bounce off the defender.  He snuck the ball past the keeper near post just as the goalie was about to cheat for the cross.

http://youtu.be/-NQLyHM7yoQ - Fatusin goal

Jason Bennett picked up his first goal of the season after a nice switching of the point of attack allowed him to dribble towards the box and get a shot off to the far corner beating the keeper.     

http://youtu.be/O1832GHHfA0 - Bennett goal

The third goal from Joe Clarke came off another run out of the back from Fatusin and after beating the defender 1v1 he found Clarke for a shot inside the box (unfortunately no video of this goal). 

Overall it was nice to get the road win and close up the non-conference schedule with a 6-1 record.  Our defense played well again only allowing an unfortunate PK with about 3 minutes left in the match.  Freshman GK Jackson Bicknell got his first minutes of the season subbing in for Hassan Mostafa in the second half and Kyle Walczak and Mitchell Muise both played their first minutes of the season after being out with injuries to start the year.

CAC play will begin this weekend with an away match against Salisbury at 2pm.

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Second Half Spurt Gives Bobcats First Road Win

Senior Alex Brainard

Tuesday night the boys took on former AMCC rival Penn St. Altoona.  The game entered the second half deadlocked at 0-0, but senior Alex Brainard would supply the go ahead goal seven minutes into the half and classmate Brandon Rodgers would add the insurance with just under 10 minutes to go for the 2-0 road win.

The first half both teams were kind of feeling each other out.  I thought we missed some opportunities to get on the board, but at least we were creating scoring chances.  Both teams recorded 5 shots, but Altoona's best opportunity came off a free kick that GK Drew Hock was able to dive and touch wide of the goal.

The second half we came out strong and controlled the tempo.  Brainard got us on track after hitting a nice left footed shot to the far corner well out of the reach of the Altoona keeper.  After the goal Altoona seemed to pick up their play, but our defense stayed compact and held the Lions to only 1 shot in the half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c5WI4jUxrs&feature=youtu.be - Altoona video

With about 10 minutes left Rodgers got a hold of a loose ball in the box and buried it in the back of the net to secure the win.  It was nice to get our first road victory and with 1 non-conference game remaining we now stand out 5-1 on the season.

We have a bye this weekend and hopefully that will allow a little more time for some of the injured guys to get back on the field and get their fitness back.  We will be at Hood College at 4pm on September, 25th.