Game report: GF 2-1 HF

Monday September 26
Glens Falls 2-1 Hudson Falls

Glens Falls overcame a disappointing, sluggish performance to narrowly defeat Hudson Falls 2-1 at Morse Field. The Indians started brightly, moving the ball around the field well and dominating the play. Drew Nizolek opened the scoring in the 5th minute when he picked off an errant goal kick and rifled it into the net. Although GF had most of the ball throughout the game, their play became more sloppy and unfocused and many chances were wasted: 10 of 23 total shots were off goal. GF was punished for this mid-way through the 3rd quarter when a defensive mixup allowed the Tigers to even the score on one of their only opportunities of the game. Willy Herrmann won the game for the Indians late in the 3rd quarter when Andy Culliton laid a ball back to him and he fired it home from 12 yards out. The team will need a sharper, more focused effort on Thursday to compete with an excellent South High team. GF's main central defense pairing of Jacob West and Henry Vanderminden had an outstanding match.

SHOTS ON GOAL: GF 13, HF 3
SAVES: Julian Winston 2, Matt Parent 0

SCORING
5'-Drew Nizolek
44'-Willy Herrmann (Andy Culliton)


Click here to see team stats.

Clarification on playing time and objectives

Just a brief, further clarification on playing time: since the main purpose of modified is player development for all team members, it is my policy that every player will play in every half of every game, apart from disciplinary or injury/health reasons.

Players are reminded that while winning is nice, the main objective is for the team to play good soccer and for individuals to improve as players.

Game report: BP 2-3 GF

Saturday September 24
Broadalbin-Perth 2-3 Glens Falls

Glens Falls notched its first win of the season with a 3-2 win over a tough Broadalbin-Perth side. The Patriots controlled much of the 1st quarter as GF were sluggish early after a long Saturday morning bus ride. But the Indians opened the scoring with one of the best team goals seen at this level in a long time. A patient 13 pass sequence in which 7 different players touched the ball was finished off when Peter Mauro slid the ball across the top of the box to Willy Herrmann who shot above the keeper. BP evened the scoring when GF couldn't deal with a corner kick and took the lead on a fluky score when mishit cross hit the post, rebounded off an Indian defender's leg and into the goal. Glens Falls kept their heads and tied the game in the last minute of the 3rd quarter when Drew Nizolek took a pass from Dylan Balcom and poked it past the keeper. Nizolek scored the winner nine minutes later when he stole a ball and curled a shot that found its way into the net. Julian Winston made 5 saves, most of which were key early stops to keep GF in the game. The backline notched a very impressive, well-organized performance too.

SHOTS ON GOAL: BP 7, GF 8
SAVES: Julian Winston 5

SCORING
12'-Willy Herrmann (Peter Mauro)
45'-Drew Nizolek (Dylan Balcom)
54'-Nizolek


Click here to see team stats

Game report: Qby 4-2 GF

Wednesday September 21
Queensbury 4-2 Glens Falls

Glens Falls played well but was undone by a couple of defensive errors to lose their season opener 4-2 away to Queensbury's A team. The Indians opened the scoring against the run of play in the 5th minute when Dylan Balcom collected a pass from Drew Nizolek and floated a shot into the net from a tough angle. Queensbury controlled the second quarter as well and took advantage of a couple of defensive mixups to take a one-goal lead into halftime. Glens Falls dominated the 2nd half but Queensbury scored a pair goals on the counterattack. Despite the deficit, the Indians continued to play well, apply pressure and attack at pace, creating a number of chances in the process. This determination was rewarded in the final minute on a nice sequence when Nizolek beat two defenders on the right wing and slid a ball across the face of the goal which Balcom tapped in. Despite the result, the performance was greatly improved over Monday's scrimmage.

SHOTS ON GOAL: Queensbury 8, Glens Falls 7
SAVES: Luke Kelly 4

Note: ' means minute and () means assist so 5'-Balcom (Nizolek) means Balcom scored in the 5th minute with an assist from Balcom.

SCORING
5'-Dylan Balcom (Drew Nizolek)
60'-Balcom (Nizolek)

2011 team stats (final)

RECORD
6 wins, 6 losses
30 goals scored
28 goals allowed

TEAM GOALS BY QUARTER
GF 8-9-7-6--0=30
Opp. 8-9-6-4--1=28

TEAM SHOTS ON GOAL
GF 101
Opp. 106

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SCORING
Dylan Balcom 10 goals, 2 assists = 22 points
Drew Nizolek 6 goals, 6 assists = 18 points
Andrew Stamatel 3 goals, 2 assists = 8 points
Peter Mauro 2 goals, 2 assists = 6 points
Kellen Wolfe 2 goals, 2 assists = 6 points
Willy Herrmann 2 goals, 2 assists = 6 points
Andrew Bulmer 2 goals = 4 points
Mike Schrammel 1 goal, 1 assist = 3 points
Andy Culliton 1 goal, 1 assist = 3 points
Liam Forbes 1 goal = 2 points
Matt Parent 2 assists = 2 points
Cooper Knapp 1 assist = 1 point
Team: 30 goals, 21 assists

SHOOTING
Dylan Balcom: 32 shots - 23 on goal
Drew Nizolek: 27 shots - 21 on goal
Willy Herrmann: 20 shots - 14 on goal
Andrew Bulmer: 13 shots - 10 on goal
Andrew Stamatel: 10 shots - 8 on goal
Kellen Wolfe: 8 shots - 6 on goal
Andy Culliton: 12 shots - 6 on goal
Peter Mauro: 6 shots - 4 on goal
Liam Forbes: 6 shots - 4 on goal
Mike Schrammel: 3 shots - 3 on goal
Matt Parent: 4 shots - 2 on goal
Henry Vanderminden: 1 shot
Team: 142 shots - 101 on goal

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GOALKEEPERS
Julian Winston:
218 minutes, 26 saves, 6 goals allowed
3-1 record
1.65 goals allowed and 7.2 saves per 60 minutes
1/2 shutuout

Luke Kelly:
290 minutes, 31 saves, 16 goals allowed
0-5 record
3.31 goals allowed and 6.4 saves per 60 minutes
1/2 shutout

Matt Parent:
3-0 record
190 minutes, 18 saves, 4 goals allowed
1.26 goals allowed and 5.7 saves per 60 minutes
1 shutout

Mike Schrammel
30 minutes, 3 saves, 2 goals allowed

Reminders about jerseys

Unless otherwise stated, players should wear their white jerseys to home games and their black jerseys to away games. Exception: someone who is attending the game but is unavailable to play should wear the opposite color jersey.

Also, players are encouraged to wear their jersey to school on game days. But aside from this and games, players should not wear their jerseys or shorts so as to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

Respect

Players are reminded that they are expected to act in a respectful way not only towards referees, teammates and their coach, but also toward opponents. Disrespectful behavior will be dealt with accordingly and may result in the sitting out of matches.

A few words on playing time

The course of pre-season training has made it timely to post a reminder to players (and parents) about how playing time will be decided. The #1 factor in the amount of playing time each player receives will be his attitude. Particularly, his willingness to focus, to work hard, to push himself to improve and to follow instructions without constantly arguing, having to be told repeatedly or goofing off all the time. While other factors like squad size (23 players) and individual skill will be taken into account, the main factor will be attitude and focus.

How to play possession soccer

2011 team page

(Click here to see full team stats)

2011 SCHEDULE
Mon 9/19: vs South Glens Falls (scrimmage)
Wed 9/21: at Queensbury A: Lost 2-4 (report)
Sat 9/24: at Broadalbin-Perth: Won 3-2 (report)
Mon 9/26: vs Hudson Falls: Won 2-1 (report)
Mon 10/3: vs Queensbury B: Won 3-0 (report)
Wed 10/5: at SGF: Lost 0-2 (report)
Thu 10/6: at Hudson Falls: Won 5-0 (report)
Sat 10/8: vs Scotia: Lost 1-2 (report)
Wed 10/12: vs SGF: Lost 0-7 (report)
Thu 10/13: at Queensbury: Lost 2-3 OT (report)
Sat 10/15: at Gloversville (cancelled)
Tue 10/18: vs Hudson Falls: Won 6-2 (report)
Thurs 10/20: at Lake George: Lost 2-3 (report)
Sat 10/22: vs Johnstown: Won 4-2 (report)

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2011 ROSTER AN UNIFORM NUMBERS
1-Mike Schrammel
2-Andrew Bulmer, captain
3-Peter Mauro, captain
4-Tymothy Dorvee
5-Josh Greenwood
6-Andy Culliton
7-Liam Forbes
8-Matt Parent
9-Willy Herrmann
10-Luke Kelly
11-Julian Winston
12-Kellen Wolfe, alternate captain
14-Drew Nizolek
15-Henry Vanderminden
16-Jacob West
18-Cooper Knapp
19-Andrew Nichols
20-Greyson Brady
21-Dylan Balcom
23-Austin Shufelt
24-Andrew Stamatel

For kids only

A great column from Soccer America on what makes soccer fun (and what can make it not fun)...

For Kids Only ...
by Mike Woitalla


Dear Soccer-Playing Children of America,

The fall season is underway and I'm hoping you're having a great time. I'm hoping that you're playing soccer more than you have to stand in line and do drills.

I hope you're falling in love with the soccer ball and keep it with you as much as you can. Juggling it. Kicking it against a wall. Dribbling it around in your backyard.

And I especially hope that your parents aren't screaming at you during your soccer games.

I worry that you probably do get yelled at, because that's what I see at almost all the youth soccer games I go to. Hopefully you just ignore it. But I don't blame you if it bothers you.

No one enjoys getting screamed at. Sure, if you start crossing the street on a red light or throw a toy at your little sister or brother, your parents are justified in raising their voices. But they shouldn't scream at you while you're playing a game.

If they do, it doesn't mean they're bad people. But, unfortunately, sports does something to adults that makes them behave in ways they usually wouldn't.

You may have noticed this if you watched sports on TV. A coach, for example, dresses up in a fancy suit and throws tantrums like a 3-year-old.

Get adults around sports and all of a sudden they forget the same manners they try to teach you. In a way, sports are like driving. A grown-up gets behind the wheel and all of a sudden forgets you're not supposed to pick your nose in public.

And when grown-ups go watch their children play soccer, they, for some reason, think it's OK to scream like maniacs. Perhaps they don't realize what they're doing. Like the nose-pickers on the freeway who think they've suddenly gone invisible.

I hope you're able to block out all the sideline noise. But maybe you do hear their shouts. Telling you when to shoot the ball, when to pass it. Ignore all that!

You need to dribble the ball. Try to dribble past players. If you're dribbling too much, your teammates will let you know. And they'll help you make the decision of when to pass and when to dribble.

You decide when to shoot. When you're dribbling toward the goal and the goalkeeper is 20 yards away, and the adults are screaming at you to shoot, don't pay attention. Because if you get closer to the goal, it will be harder for the goalkeeper to stop your shot.

One of the really cool things about my job is that I get to interview the best coaches in America. And you know what the national team coaches tell me? They say young players are far more likely to become great players if they're allowed to make their own decisions when they play soccer.

They say that coaches should coach at practice, and when it's game time, it's time for the children to figure things out on their own. It's like at school. The teachers help you learn. Your parents may help you with homework. But when you get a test, you're on your own.

That's just an analogy. I'm not saying soccer is school! Soccer is your playtime.

I hope you have lots of playtime, on the soccer field and elsewhere. But I bet that you don't have as much time playing without adults around as we did when we were children.

When we were kids we had summer days when we would leave the house in the morning, be only with other children all day, then see our parents when we got back in the late afternoon.

Things have changed. The reasons adults are much more involved in your activities than they were when they were children are complicated, and a result of your parents' good intentions.

But sometimes we adults forget how important it is for you to play without us interfering. We love watching you play, especially on the soccer field, because it is such a wonderful sport. But we need to be reminded that it's your playtime.

You should decide. Ignore the shouts if you can. But don't be afraid to say, "I'm trying my best. Please, don't scream at me."

(Mike Woitalla, the executive editor of Soccer America, coaches youth soccer for East Bay United in Oakland, Calif. His youth soccer articles are archived at YouthSoccerFun.com.)