Memorial Bridge, Jonesy could be back, losing teams

Leaving the house early today with the sun still rising I love the drive into Washington DC over Memorial Bridge.  With very little traffic the six lanes make the bridge look bigger and give it a certain majestic, powerful feel and look sitting above the Potomac river the entryway into the nations capital.  The Lincoln Monument gets bigger and bigger directly in front of you as you cross, Arlington Cemetery gets smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror and peering over the city you see the top of the Washington Monument.  Its okay everyone I'm not writing this as  drive.

Today was a recovery session with the group that played significant minutes Friday with Dan Black our new strength and conditioning coach who has already brought some new ideas to the program to help us better prepare and recover for games this Fall.  The rest of the lads did a quick 15 minutes of speed work with the ball and finished with a 12 minute small sided game.  It was a chance for me to make my debut this season in practice and despite having Irizarry ready to replace me after a brief cameo appearance it was enough time for me to get a goal and leave my team in the lead and Irizarry would enter.  Just a brief note on my goal, not sure if Farrell saw it but the placement into the corner was precise enough that to even dive would have been worthless.

On a day when all the teams I supported lost including Southampton, I attended the GW volleyball game only to see them lose and my last chance of some success was late tonight watching DC United on TV v New York only to see them miss a PK to tie the game and losing 2-1.  Just like us tomorrow all those teams will be looking to bounce back next game.  For us its going to be a physical encounter against Howard and after watching them defend valiantly only to concede a game winning penalty against Mason in the 86th minute I know we're in for a battle.  The last few years we've always had close games with Howard and they have the players and athleticism to cause any team trouble on their day a credit to Coach Lawrence.

Raise High Moment of the Day
Its a close call between:
1. My goal in practice
2. The guys finding the bag of balls we lost (left on the van)
Gotta give it to number 1, number 2 was more a relief than a Raise High Moment

Post Game Blog Aug 30

Well it wasn't the start to the season that we wanted but we have to move on and get ready for the game on Sunday v Howard at 5pm at Mason. 

I felt that we started the game well and pressured the ball forcing AU to turn it over as we gave them very little time on the ball to try and play.  Winning the ball higher up field allowed us to get some possession in the final third but unfortunately we didn't quite have that final pass, play or shot in the central area and on the top of the box to take advantage of our early play.  Out wide an impressive college debut from Heine on the right saw him create chances and be assertive on the ball leading the way for the rest of the lads to follow.  Hinners marshaled the middle of the field and gave a mature performance that deserved a win, we'll need him to do this again and again throughout the year as the and thrive on the senior leadership on the field.  Our set plays looked dangerous and a great save to deny Alexandersson and later in the half Valencia keep the score at 0-0.  Then just 4 minutes before the break AU scored on a counter.  Something we spoke about but with a hint of offside to start the play we couldn't recover to stop the play and goal 1-0 at the half.

Second half we again started well and about 15 minutes into the half we got our equalizer.  Higgins intercepted a pass close to the half way line and went all the way beating the last defender and blasting a shot into the upper 90.  Great individual goal and the killer instinct in the final third that I mentioned yesterday and lacking in the first half.  Just after the goal we probably played our best sequence of the game stringing passes together and going east west to find Angel in space wide in the box but his serve wasn't quite good enough to get that go ahead goal.  Unfortunately it wouldn't stay that way for long as AU scored off a long thrown in which was not cleared by us and they got to the ball first to shoot past JP.  Disappointed that we would concede again from a set piece with about 15 mins to go to really put us in it.  Despite a late rally we were unable to break AU again and the score finished 3-1.

Some positives from the game included the spells we had in possession and chances that we created.  Also some solid performances from individuals who probably solidified a starting spot for Sunday.  We did suffer some injuries mostly to our back line so I'll be in early tomorrow to get an update and see how much we have to reshuffle for the game Sunday.  Practice tomorrow at 10am so i'm gonna watch the first half of the game tonight and hit the sack then watch the second half tomorrow beofre we meet with the lads.

Raise High Moment of The Day
Ross Higgins Goal - a touch of class from the man from Delaware.

Aug 29 - Practice, Hot Dogs and Smoothies

With our opening game tomorrow todays session was a little lighter for the players but still managed to have the intensity and sharpness that we were looking for leading into the game. The game against AU will be tough.  They won the regular season Patriot League conference last year and have been predicted to repeat the same in preseason polls this year.  Coach West always has them playing an attractive style of soccer combined with a lot of energy from the group.  For us the key will be to match the intensity and have a killer instinct in the final third.

Back to practice.  Starting with a "chalk talk" (a term I picked up yesterday from our Lacrosse Head Coach Tara Hannaford) reviewing some of our keys for the game and recapping some of our set pieces we were then onto the field for a quick hour or so.  All the staff were put to work today with Irizarry taking the warm up, myself an activity to goal and game and Coach Ouimet taking the shooting exercise.  As always Coach Pasquinelli put the keepers through their paces with what looked like an standard session as opposed to some of his wacky but effective sessions. Guys looked good today, better movement on the field and technically cleaner with the ball created a fast moving and exciting session.  Forrest way getting off the floor quicker, McQuitty was thinking before the ball got to him, our wide guys Higgins, Valencia, Heine and Gallelli looked like they wanted to beat players, with the ball that is, and overall everyone else helped the session to flow smoothly.  Shaban even scored from a set piece free kick which almost made me end the session right there and then.  The shooting was good and had to be to beat Farrell, Lopez and Van der Merwe who pulled off some fine saves.  Overall a good day at the office.

For a brief preview on the games this weekend you can visit  GWSports DC College Cup Preview on our website.  Also wanted to wish GW Volleyball good luck as they also open the season tomorrow with a game v Maryland at the Charles E. Smith Center at 7pm and GW Women's soccer who play local rivals Georgetown at 4pm at Mount Vernon.

Raise High Moment of the Day
After a run to Costco to get some protein shakes and bars for the team a great way to end my day  sitting down having a hotdog with my daughter Cerys.  I tried to make it somewhat healthy by ordering 2 smoothies.

Aug 28 Back to Practice - "I Had a Dream"

 I thought I'd never get into the city today with the road closures this morning for the March On Washington anniversary events.  I was not alive 50 years ago never mind our players but I'm sure they have all listened to, read, may have partaken in events today, remembering that famous day 50 years ago that Martin Luther King Jr's  "I have a Dream Speech" gave hope to millions during the Civil Rights Movement.  This is another example of what makes GW unique living in Washington DC and the great opportunities, events and history that you can be a part of. #onlyatgw

Onto Practice and after 2 days off for the players it was back to the field getting ready for our season opener Friday. (Not that I'm getting lazy but there will be limited blogging during our players off days, not that I will be off personally {violin playing} but just so I don't disappoint my every growing readers I wanted to let you know)

Back to practice.  After the off days the guys were ready to play and looked sharp physically but were a little slow mentally getting back into things.  A technical warm up by Irizarry followed by myself leading the team through some attacking play.  Coaching can be frustrating when you keep seeing the same mistakes over and over no matter how little they are.  The higher up the soccer food change you get the big difference between the top players and okay guys is their mental application to the game.  Physically, technically, tactically there is very little to differentiate players but how players prepare, see the game on the field and their concentration for 90 minutes is distinguishing factor.  (if I was playing scrabble I've just used 2 words over 10 letters starting with D in that last sentence)

With the session finishing with a 11v 11 game it was good to see the guys playing and playing with smiles on their faces.  Its a game and when you stop having fun playing it theres a problem. 

Raise High Moment of the Day
Getting stuck in a Motorcade on Foggy Bottom.  No matter how many times its happened to me I still enjoy sitting in my car waiting for the numerous police motorcycles, cars, black SUV's and finally some limos with the presidents flag on followed by more police motorcycles, cars, black SUV's and when they've all passed you're allowed to move again.  Its like playing the longest game of musical statues. #onlyatgw

Final Day Preseason - Day 12

Its officially our last day of preseason and despite us only being here for under 2 weeks its felt longer.  The two a day sessions were as far away as ever.  Our freshman had come through their first collegiate preseason and touch wood, injury free.  A fitting way to end the hard work of the past two weeks was a light recovery session after the game yesterday and we were done for the day.

As a group overall we've had a good preseason and I am excited with the potential of the group as we look to begin the regular season.  Our new guys have been fantastic and our returners have led the way with their attitude and commitment.  All we have to do now is put it all together on the field and I'll be a very happy coach.  I know that the season will throw up some speed bumps along the way but from what I have seen so far the group has a togetherness that can get us through those times and move on.  We still have work to do on the training ground to keep the team moving in the right direction and more importantly the same direction.  We're still not quite in sync in certain areas of the game but each game we have shown that we are and can get there.

I was asked recently if there were any surprises or players who had surprised me so far this preseason. I answered that when coaching players from 18-22 life is full of surprises.  Each day I see and hear something new that reminds me I'm getting older but also that I'm doing something that I love doing and I hope if little else, I can instill on my guys the privilege and passion I have for the sport and GW Mens Soccer.

Look forward to seeing my thousands of readers LOL at our games this Fall.  GO COLONIALS!!!

I'm heading home to watch Welsh Soccer teams Swansea and Cardiff play in the premier league on the telly and have a relaxing afternoon.

Raise High Moment of the Day:
Its a 3 way tie:
1 Burnadette Burke getting our guys through preseason healthy
2 the return from injury of Coach Ouimet in the 5v5 (still not 100% though)
3 Freshman Leadership retreat Day to Mount Vernon