Game report: ACU vs. Hunter Tornadoes (October 30th)

Game 6170, away at Hunter Tornadoes

At the risk of giving away the ending, Technical Director Chuck Gesing would like me to note that ACU Maroon has now gone 210+ minutes without giving up a goal. In fact, the boys have played 280 minutes of regular season soccer with only one goal surrendered; like the 150-mnute shutout run during the Walsh tournament, this is certainly a record for the team.

ACU faced a new challenge in the Hunter away rematch: A team that was aggressively running an offside trap, and winning the desired offside calls from the ref. The boys felt the sting of the trap in the 2nd minute, when Mike P scored a goal that was nullified because of an offside call. Jimmy and Harry would also draw calls in the early going, and it seemed to take the team about 20 minutes to adjust, though Harry and Jimmy both made multiple runs culminating in legitimate shots on goal. Footing on the field was also difficult because of morning dew, which also made the ball slippery and its movement unpredictable. The team's real breakthrough came in the 22nd minute, when Mike P drove home a goal on an assist from Nate. Hunter got a shot on goal early (4') from a foul, with keeper Connor C making the save, and the Tornadoes would take four more shots in the half, with no result.

Second half action opened up with an early skirmish from Hunter, but it was ACU that found the back of the net once again (44'), this time on a pinball setup in the box that rewarded Nate for his persistence. There was probably an assist on this goal, but from the vantage point on the sideline, it looked like about five guys put a touch on the ball before it landed home. Brad took bracketing shots (43' and 45') before and after the main thrust of the attack. Jimmy G notched one more for the road (52') on an assist from Harry, and then the ACU scoring machine fell quiet, with only two more shots in the half. Hunter built up a steady cadence of shots in the half, taking six in all, but could not sneak around Maroon's defense. Final score Hunter 0:3 ACU.

Attacks and Shots
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Game report: Ukrainian National Karpaty (October 23rd)

Game 6166, home vs. Ukrainian National Karpaty

The rematch part of the season is in full swing, and after opening the season up at Karpaty, ACU welcomed the Ukies to Ardsley Park. Mike P got on the board quickly for Maroon with a goal (4') that was set up by a corner kick a minute prior. Jimmy G took the shot that forced a corner, then took the corner, and also got the assist on Mike's goal. The Ukies turned around and went upfield for two shots on goal (5' and 6'), but keeper Steven H was not seriously tested. Both teams fell silent for about ten minutes, and then Nate, Harry, and Jimmy steadily built up an attack that culminated in ACU's second goal (19'), booted home by Harry on another Jimmy assist. The Ukies regained their composure around the 25th minute, taking two shots and requiring Steven to make a save, but they were unable to score.

The second half was opened up with a shot (35') by Brad T, who would go on to take four shots in total during the half. Nick S joined in with two more shots of his own (39' and 62'). Meanwhile, Jimmy and Mike were kept busy with corner kicks - seven of them in total during the half, coming in clumps around the 42nd, 55th, and 61st minutes. The Ukies challenged Steven and the defense again with multiple shots around the 47th minute, which Steven ably answered with two saves. Karpaty got in three more shots, but it was AC United who had the last word, with Nate slamming home a third goal on a monster throw-in from Kyle. Final score ACU 3:0 Karpaty.

Attacks and Shots
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