Greetings from the Dub!
We hosted the UNCW Jameson Inn Classic last weekend and finished 1-1 on the weekend. We managed to get our first win on Friday, playing very well to defeat Coastal Carolina 1-0 in front of a fervent crowd. Captain David "The Enforcer" Acosta (Fort Bragg, N.C.) scored his first goal of the season with a well executed goal, after a surging run from freshman midfielder Albert "The Board" Alwang (Blacksburg, Va.), who slipped him in for a neat finish.
Our passing and movement was very good and we played some entertaining soccer. Coastal pressed us more in the second half, which allowed us some additional opportunities as they got stretched, and Allen "Bling" Lomax (Lake Norman, N.C.) and Daniel "Silk" Roberts (Sugarland, Texas) both went close. All in all, it was a pleasing performance and a deserved win.
On Sunday, we faced the Liberty Flames who had lost a close game on the Friday against College of Charleston, losing 2-0 despite being the better team for the first half of that game that I saw. We started very slowly and were duly punished when Liberty went ahead 1-0 early in the first half. Credit to our opponents, they played well and did a good job of bossing the game. We regrouped at half time, and did a better job of upping the level in the second half and were rewarded with an equalizer when sophomore Kirk "Poo" Hudgins (Cary, N.C.) fed Roberts for a smart finish. It was not enough, however, as Liberty retook the lead for good with about 10 minutes to go.
So, from the heights of Friday, to the lows of Sunday, we experienced both emotions and we certainly have to do a better job of being more consistent in our performances. It was a bit like Jekyll and Hyde, and with all our CAA games played in a Friday - Sunday format, we have to perform at a high level on both days……….and hopefully without the drama of that particular play as well!
We now turn our attentions to playing UNC Greensboro on Saturday night at home, followed by nationally ranked Duke at home on Tuesday. I always enjoy playing against the Spartans, having been an assistant coach there while playing with the Greensboro Dynamo in the early 90's, and I also played for Coach Michael Parker with the Dynamo. All the games I have been involved in have been exciting ones, none more so than when we defeated the then unbeaten and #1 ranked Spartans in 2004. What a great night!
We also have our distinguished alumni returning this weekend, so we look forward to seeing the old players and the alumni game on Saturday afternoon. We are expecting a good turnout so it should be a spirited weekend!
The Awards for the week
Player of the Week - Will "Flip" Friesinger (Wilmington, N.C.). All Tournament selection at the UNCW Jameson Inn Soccer Classic. Led by example with his play.
Hard As Nails - Brock "The Wedding Singer" Duckworth (Parker, Texas). During the Coastal Carolina game, Brock came out for a through ball, and their player thought he would go in hard but he ended up flat on his back as he literally bounced off Brock. He's a big boy!
Green Award - Jordan "How" Long (Wilmington, N.C.). At dinner last week, when asked to tell a the rest of the table something they might not know about him, he relayed a story about getting stuck on a rollercoaster. Minutes passed, with new discussion already taking place, when Jordan (who had obviously been thinking hard about what else we might not know) blurted out that "We used to have 32 gerbils". Timing was priceless………..and I guess you had to be there.
