Day 11 - Game Day

 After watching my team Southampton dominate their game on TV this morning but having to equalize late to tie their game 1-1, I was ready to leave the house and head to the office.  It was Game day and our last preseason scrimmage before we open our regular season on Friday August 30^th v American University.  We were once again on the road for a trip to James Madison University in Harrisonburg VA.  It’s only a 2 and a quarter-hour trip and for once the traffic out of DC was good.  It allowed us to take our time and stop after an hour to eat a pre game meal on the way and for me watch the Liverpool v Villa game in the restaurant on my laptop. 

The new facility at JMU was great and the game field was in pristine condition ready for the game.  Some guys walked the field and others relaxed in the locker room until it was time to start getting the game gear on and our pregame meeting at 4pm.  A quick 8 min chat and the goalkeepers we on the field with our team warm up for the field players starting at 4.20pm and then kick off at 5pm.

The game started and I felt we were a little flat for the first 10mins.  Mentally I felt we weren’t sharp enough and not being exact with our passes didn’t allow us to keep possession.  That being said, we competed and put together some good passing movements but once again lacked the conviction and aggression in the final third to make anything count.  Probably giving them too much space in the first half they created some chances which JP did well to keep out and then broke the dead lock on a fast break out wide on the left and after a disputed call that the ball had crossed the end line it was centered for JMU to tap home from 6 yards and take the lead 1-0 in the 24^th minute.  The remainder of the half would see the score line stay the same with both teams having half chances but not adding to the score.

Second half I felt we pressed more all over the field and got closer to players not allowing them as much time to play which was one area we wanted to focus on before the game.  Our best chance probably came early in the second half as Higgins did so well to lose his marker from a corner and his free header went agonizingly wide.  Distance shots from Forrest and McQuitty would also go close but we were never able to get that goal and the game finished at 1-0 to JMU.

Despite not playing our best in the attacking third there were many positives to take from the game.  There were no new injuries and with only Shaban missing today we hope to be at full strength for our season opener.  Eight of our freshman saw playing time and lastly we were able to pair guys up to see them playing together and try some guys in different positions.

As I write my blog we are on our way home and I hope I don’t jinx it but there has been no traffic so far.  Hopefully we’ll be home by 10.30pm and I’ll be in bed by 11pm.  A recover session tomorrow at 8am and then our new players have a student athlete retreat to Mount Vernon, home of the first president of the United States George Washington.

Raise High Moment of the Day

Our underclassmen contribution today as they push for starting spots and minutes in next weeks season opener

Day 10

The weather for this mornings session was perfect the chance of rain took the humidity of last night away and the sun had not yet come through those clouds to heat up the Mount Vernon Field.  With our final scrimmage on the road against James Madison tomorrow at 5pm the AM session would put the players through their paces.  Trying to put everything together from the past 2 days we needed to get some sharpness back in the legs ready for the game.  A fun warm up with Coach Ouimet followed by some technical work and we were ready to go into the meat of the session and continuing our attacking theme from yesterday.  After practice it was a lifting day so the players did an extra 45 minutes in the gym hopefully not working too hard with the game tomorrow.

For me, the last 2 days have seen me meet with players individually to discuss their progress, how they're feeling and address any questions and concerns they have.  I enjoy these meetings as it gives me a chance to chat with everyone and learn a little more about their personalities.  After completing the last of my meetings between sessions we moved the pm session forward so we could watch the womens team and get our guys out early to rest up.

The PM session was back to the dry erase board briefly and then onto the field to walk through some attacking set plays for tomorrows game.  Getting out early the whole team took the short trip to American University to watch the Womens team open their regular season.  A light drizzle didn't spoil the game and the team would eventually win a close encounter 1-0.  Its a result we will be looking to emulate as we open our regular season next Friday August 30 at 5pm v American in the DC College Cup hosted by George Mason our new A10 rivals.  Congrats Coach Barnes and the team on a winning start for the team and GW Sports.  Go Colonials!!  I was happy to see most of the GW athletic department staff at the game showing their support I only hope that no one called the department as there couldn't have been anyone left at work.  I take that back Chandra Beirwirth called me at 5.30 from the office so she must have been holding down the fort.

James Madison will be a difficult encounter for a team tomorrow and our last test before we open the season next week.

Raise High Moment of the Day
I'll give it to Womens Soccer on their opening game win today.

Day 9 - White House and More.

After yesterdays day off it was a two session day with our morning session starting at 9.30am.  After a day off I always find that the players are a little slow o get going so after a FIFA 11+ warm up we were onto a technical  activity.  To finish we then went into some full field activities where for the first time this preseason I almost lost the plot as our sloppy play was starting to wear thin on my patience.  Luckily for the lads we finished with a great goal and passing movement which allowed me to to gain my composure and settle down.

Between sessions it was a day for team photos on the Foggy bottom campus so all players got on the Vern shuttle in full uniform and headed to the photo shoot.  28 guys walking around the city in a soccer uniform can get some pretty strange looks even on campus although I hope we drew some positive attention to the team and letting people know we have some games coming up.  For our new players we took a stroll to the White House and managed to evade the political protest and fellow picture takers to get a nice shot of the guys.

When the players were done with team and individual head shots it was some much needed rest for them and back to the office for me and the staff.  Planning the evening session I realized that we only have 3 days before classes start and preseason will be over.  How time flies when your having fun.  

This evenings session got rather intense as we finished with a small sided tournament that got the best out of the players and their competitive drive.  Some great goals, bad goals, fouls, good goalkeeping, bad refereeing all on a steamy night in DC made for a great way to end the day.  Back tomorrow at 9.30am.

Good luck to our women's soccer team that opens its season at American University 4pm kick off tomorrow.  Go Colonials!!!!

Raise High Moment of the Day

Only at GW Moment new players getting picture at the White House.

Game Day and Off Day - Day 7 & 8

Day 8 - Off Day

It seems that yesterdays blog did not post so I have copied in below and will take this much needed off day for the players to also limit my blog entry for today.  Its been rather quiet in the office with no one around and I hope the players are having a quiet relaxing day also as they recover from the game yesterday and the first week of preseason.

Raise High Moment of the Day
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Day 7- Game Day

With the game today at 4pm there was no morning session just a pregame meal for the players and then everyone reporting to the Vern for 2.30pm.  Having the AM off practice gave me time to catch up on my battle with getting somewhat in shape so I decided to hit the treadmill and get a work out in.  I enjoy working out the day of games as it takes my mind off the games and no matter how little I work out I feel somewhat better afterwards.  

It seems that every time we play a game someone turns up the heat at kick off.  The weather has been hot but quite cool for DC in August but as we approached the game it became the hottest day we have trained or played in.  No complains from me, I'm not the one running around and it gets the players used to playing in the heat which they will be doing for at least the first month of the Fall regular season.  Anyways, just as expected the game was a physical encounter.  Despite having the better of possession and territory Montgomery always looked dangerous on the break and had the players who could create chances for them so we had to be cautious not to get caught out.  We couldn't convert on several chances in the first half with the 2 best chances falling to Alexandersson and McClearn who both volleyed over from close distance of set plays.  Not complaining too much as they obviously were still thinking they were defending.  We found it hard to get into a rhythm with numerous stoppages for fouls, subs and allowed ourselves to play at their tempo which didn't help us put any consistent possession and quality chances together.   The half finished 0-0.

Second half we stated strongly only to give a goal away less than five minuets into the half.  Going down a goal only seemed to spur on the players more and we finally got some controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game.  Creating better opportunities in front of goal we were still missing that bit of luck or genius to prize open their solid defence and get the goal our play deserved.  Games like this are a Coaches nightmare as no matter what you do it seems like you'll never score even if you played an extra 2 hours.

Then if finally came.  Great free kick served into the box and Adewole rose at the far post to bravely win the header and take out at least 2 players and McQuitty managing to get the final touch to even the scores.  Now we were certainly on a high and despite riding our luck a little at the back we pressed for a winning goal and were rewarded in the 85th minute when Hinners, who seems to have found his shooting boots this season after hitting the crossbar at Duke he collected a pass and struck another laser that the keeper could only parry with freshman Valencia following in and blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.  Just when I thought the game was done MC had a great chance to tie it in the final 30 secs but came up short as they shot wide.  Lucky to get away with that chance but overall I certainly thought we deserved the win. 

A gritty performance that again saw us play alot of guys and come through the game injury free.  Its an off day tomorrow and much needed rest and recovery for the players before we start preparing for our final scrimmage against James Madison 5pm kick off on Saturday

Raise High Moment of the Day
Valencia blasting the ball into the roof of the net for the game winner.

Day 6 - Back at the Vern

After yesterdays game and long bus ride home I decided that it would be a good idea for the players and staff if we took the morning session off.  I must admit that i rather enjoyed catching up on all the goings on from the opening weekend of the premier league at home today and then making a late start into the office for the PM session.

Preseason is a tough time.  Trying to judge when the players are tired and possibly over worked is difficult and I always feel that we have so little time and so much to do.  Trying to raise players intensity on days they are tired can be difficult and sometimes if and when you hit this point its probably best not doing a session.  Overall so far the sessions have been sharp and I hope we can continue this for the remainder of preseason before classes start and we are on our regular schedule.

Back to practice.  An early pm session hoping to give the guys some more rest time in the evening saw us starting at 3pm.  A quick recap of some points from the game yesterday and we were on the field and into our FIFA 11+ warmup.  Something new this year in the hopes to strengthen our players but also to assist with injury prevention.  A quick passing exercise and 11v11 game was followed by 20mins of shooting with our prolific goalscoring Coach Jake Ouimet.  Not sure if Alexandersson knew we were doing shooting but the 2 shots I saw him take sailed at least 20 meters over the crossbar, great defending!!

Session ending and we're off practice in the AM due to our scrimmage at 4pm v Montgomery College.  It should be another tough game as they had a great season last Fall and return most of that team.  For us it will be a chance to play at home and see what we learned from the last game and hopefully improve in the areas we focused on.

Raise High Moment of the Day
Has to be the absolute gem of a gaol that Spiros Tsakos scored to end the practice.  First time curler with pace into the top corner/upper 90 leaving Lopez no chance.

Day 5 - Game Day v Duke

Today was our first scrimmage of the  preseason and for those of you not familiar with the term scrimmage, its a friendly.  After traveling to Duke last night and wrestling with traffic the whole trip down I think the guys were glad when we got to the hotel last night and were able to get to bed and rest up.  Breakfast/pregame meal was at 9.30am for the players and it seemed that the guys had got a good nights rest and were ready for the game.  I on the other hand had the pleasure of rooming with our goalkeeping guru Pasquinelli who may have woken up the rooms either side of us with his snoring so my sleep was not the best but luckily I'm not playing.

We left the hotel at 10.45am and arrived at Duke at 11.15am so we had plenty of time to check out the field and relax a little (if that's possible) before the game.  After the pre game chat we were on the field for warm up and ready to get going.  After a rainy night on Saturday the temperature was cool before kickoff but it seemed that someone turned up the heat as the game started which would certainly play its part near the end as players tired.  The first half was fairly even with neither team really challenging the goalkeepers but both teams trying to play but not quite connecting in the final third.  The second half saw both teams hit the woodwork but the game finished 0-0 and a good result as Duke are quality team with some great players.  Just as important as the result was the fact we were able to see most of our new guys play, no new injuries and the return of Scott and Painter after missing last season due to injury.  Its very early and we still have a long way to go and lots of work to do but today set a good foundation for us to build on.

Post game it was great to see the Legend, Coach Lidster who had traveled with his wife Val to support the boys.  It meant even more to me knowing he had taken a day off from fishing on what was a beautiful day.  He said he'll be at the alumni game this October so I look forward to seeing him back in DC.

Traffic again hampered our progress home to the Nations Capital but when we finally got there i was looking forward to seeing the family, getting to bed and hopefully having a good nights sleep.

Duke Game Report
GW Game Report

Raise High Moment of the Day
All Round Team Performance