The night started with massive bolts of lightning thundering across the sky accompanied by a few sparse showers, causing an hour and fifteen-minute delay to the start of the game. Both teams were antsy to begin, burning off nervous energy and trying to contain their pregame jitters and excitement. Finally the all clear was given and both teams rushed onto the field to complete their warm-ups and pregame routines.
Immediately following the starting whistle both teams exploded with energy all the way through the first half. In the first ten minutes Valor keeper Connor Georgopulos completed a fantastic one arm save headed straight for the right corner of the net and proceeded to punt the ball to the other half of the field, riding the developing wind to place the ball near the forwards and forcing Pine Creek’s defense to take a few steps back. The Valor Eagles were very solid as an attacking unit, “but tonight we were not at the same standards were we have been, probably because we played in a defensive formation instead of an attacking formation,” remarked head coach Brian Shultz. “Actually I would say that is one of the things we need to do better next time.” Both teams utilized their respective forwards’ quickness with deep passes through the defensive lines and using headers to position and pass the ball to the point they wanted. With two minutes left in the first half number eight of Valor Christian, Ian Crawford, received a yellow card amidst a mass of noise from the stands and the benches. Both teams pushed hard leaving the halftime score zero to zero.
The stating whistle pierced through the air signaling the second half being underway. Soon after number fourteen of Pine Creek, Nico Farley, received a yellow card for an alteration with one of the Valor Eagles in a fight for the ball. The pace of play began to heat back up. Valor keeper Georgopulos saved two blisteringly fast strikes from entering the goal with fast hands. Georgopulos had a great leg all night, constantly ramming balls downfield off of punts, goal kicks, and penalty kicks. With seventeen minuets left number ten of Pine Creek, Alex Cullen, made a brilliant shot to the right upper ninety dropped in from around top left side of goalie box. After the goal the pace of play changed slightly until about eight minutes later when a massive punt downwind by Pine Creek keeper number 1, David Meyer, bounced deep in Valor territory. Pine Creek forward Michael Steffy battled with defense to a last second lob over Valor’s keeper bringing the score to two zero. Both teams persevered through the final ten minuets though despite Valor’s best efforts, the score remained Pine Creek Eagles two, Valor Christian Eagles zero.
A goal for the Valor Eagles as the season progresses “In terms of on the field,” remarked Shultz, “We’ve been knocked out of the playoffs three years in a row in the first round and so the guys are adamant that number one, they return to the playoffs and two, get deeper.”