Post Game thoughts / A10 rookie

After getting back from St. Louis with no delays for the first time I've travelled there  the bus picking us up at BWI airport was late to take us back to DC.  It finally came which was good and I walked through the door at home at 2am.  I can never sleep straiht away when i get home from a road trip probably due to the fact that ive had 8 cups of coffee throughout the day and the 15 minute drive from the office wakes me up so im a little wired. With early meetings this morning for our staff Leadership Academy there was no sleep in or rest for me so it was back to business. 

After getting home it was a chance to reflect on the game yesterday and how well we did to achieve the tie.  Being behind on the road and finishing as strong as we did after equalizing was quite a display and one that I was proud to be a part of.  

First half 

After absorbing long periods of st louis possession we were happy to let them have the ball so deep in their half and when we did win it back we attacked with purpose.  The best chance of the half fell to Ranalli but the keeper denied him another chance to add to his goal tally and then McQuitty was denied from a close range header.  Then at the worse possible moment, 2 minutes before the half we gave away a sloppy goal after losing our mark in the box. Dagger blow as we found ourselves 1-0 down at the half. 

Second Half

After a slow start to the second half we pushed hard for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes and just when it looked like it wasn't going to come we scored.  A quality service from Forrest was headed in by Hinners with just 3 minutes left. Another overtime would follow for the players but they somehow found the strength to get through it and after Farrell had saved us with a good double save in the first period of OT we would end the game strong.  The game ended 1-1 another tie on a very difficult weekend against nationally ranked teams and 2 of the A10 favorites. 

Today it was back to practice and after starting a little later I took the guys on a light jog.  Not letting the government shutdown deter me I took the guys from Foggy Bottom campus to the monuments through the barriers around the reflecting pool and back to the Charles E Smith Center.  The weather was great and it reminded me of the old days when we actually had to practice on the mall and running round the monuments was a weekly occurrence. After the stretch the players left and with an off day tomorrow they'll hopefully get their legs back for Wednesdays session and the preparation for our home game this Sunday v Fordham. 

Raise High Moment Of the Day

Tobi Adewole A10 rookie of the Week