FIRST TEAM - AUGUST RECAP

The Green White First Team opened the 2011-2012 season with a road trip to Round Lake for a match with FC Connection. Surveying the side prior to the start of the match, with just eleven players on hand, two of them being dedicated keepers, the assembled crew probably surmised that it would be a long afternoon. Still, despite the lack of substitutes, Green White largely controlled the match. Unfortunately, it was their own mistakes that proved to be their undoing. In the first half, a Nate Downing back pass came in a little too hot for Danny Caruso. Of course, it is well known that every goal keeper secretly fancies themselves to be deftly skilled with the ball at their feet and, given the chance, would roam the field to school the opposition with a dazzling display of fancy footwork.

Noticeably missing from the list, however, is Green White’s Danny Caruso. And so when the back pass came to Caruso, he was perhaps preoccupied with a planned 80 yard jaunt up field to strike a cracker into the upper ninety. Caruso saw the ball roll under his foot for an own goal to join the ranks of the infamous.

Perhaps almost as stunning, video of the gaff has already made its way onto the internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18QsjFUqu 8

In any event, the result was a 1-0 deficit at the half. Following the intermission, Connection widened the gap through another own goal. This time it was off the leg of Anthony DeRose as he stretched in front of a forward in an attempt to clear a corner kick. (And no, OGs do not count in the Mr. Irrelevant competition.) But with a two goal advantage gifted to them, Connection must have felt a bit of guilt and unconsciously tried to level the game by having two players ejected in the span of five minutes. The first received a second yellow card for removing his shirt, which was convenient because it was that much less to take off on his way to the shower. Minutes later, a second player was ejected for striking Sean Conner while on the ground. The more amazing part of that incident was that Connor did not retaliate, which candidly, is what most would have expected. So with 30 minutes remaining, Green White had an 11-9 numerical advantage. But with the two goal lead, Connection simply packed the box and Green White could only manage a handful of Jimmy Romano strikes from distance. In the end, it was a disappointing way to start the season.

(Reported by Fritz Schneider).

O30 TEAM - AUGUST RECAP

Not much was reported about the Over 30 Team’s August 27th match against league newboys, FC Szymanski. However, it was noted that the lone goal of the match was scored by Brandon McLemore off a nicely executed give and go pass with Rob Czop. There were a few other opportunities in close that went for naught (read Wilkinson and Christopher), but Gabby Sepiashvili and the defensive line made the goal stand up. With the victory, the team sits at the top of the table.

(Reported by Fritz Schneider)

O40 TEAM - AUGUST RECAP

In the lead up to the 2008 Presidential election, then Senator Barack Obama famously said about the Cain/Palin campaign rhetoric, “You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig.” That sentiment also properly described the Green White O40 Team’s opening match of the 2011-2012 Metro League season when they took on the team formerly known as Youths, but now going by the moniker, “FC Srpska.” They changed their name, but still played like a bunch of thugs. To be fair, the malevolent style of the league’s perennial foot stool could not be cast on the entire team. This time it was only one player. The same player who ran down David Breines to cleat him in the thigh as he jogged back into position after a weaving run at goal. The same player who threw an elbow at Todd Schneider off the ball. But Green White held their temper and exacted their revenge by burying their opponents with an onslaught of goals. Rich Moroney opened the scoring when he was picked out by Marc Wisnevitz at the back stick for an open header. Moroney then turned provider to serve strike partner Marc Stein. Before the end of the half, Moroney collected his brace after Jeff Baker put David Breines through. Breines lifted the keeper but his trickler was cleared off the line by a sliding defender. Jason Thodos ran down the short clearance and crossed the ball into the far post, just eluding the head of Breines, who was still cursing the cleat marks on his thigh, and fell to the foot of Moroney for the side-footed volley. Following the intermission, Jeff Baker continued the scoring; pouncing on cross into the box from Schneider that was misplayed by the defense. John Dunkas then latched onto a driven cross from Schneider to make it 5-0. Schneider then put in one of his own through a defender’s legs; off the post and the keeper to make it 6-0. Marc Stein was then fouled in the box, by guess who, for a penalty kick. Schneider stepped up to take the kick, but Stein pleaded that his son was present and wanted to see his Daddy score. Perhaps the sting of his first half whiff in front of goal was still fresh in Stein’s mind and the need for personal redemption resonated in his voice. Perhaps it was the sad, puppy dog eyes with which he pleaded his case. Perhaps it was the fact that Schneider was too tired to think straight. Whatever it was, despite Stein’s record from the spot (zero for life in a GW uniform), Schneider relented and gave Stein the ball. And true to form, Stein missed to the right. Thankfully, Mike Grosse followed the rebound and bumbled it across the line to make it 7-0. In the end, Srpska converted a dubiously awarded penalty to make the final score 7-1, denying Manny Romero the clean sheet.

(Reported by Fritz Schneider)

Green White (BU08)

Coach Manolo Rider; Trainer Simone Lodge

The Green White (BU08) Team kicked off the 2011 fall season with the Buffalo Grove Tournament on August 27-28th. Playing up a level in the U09 division, the Green White BU08 Team managed to hold their own against their older and bigger opponents.

Green White Cosmos (BU09)

Coach Dennis Cantu; Trainer Mike Waters

The Green White Cosmos kicked off the 2011 fall season with the Buffalo Grove Tournament on August 27-28th. The squad split their games on day one, falling to Trevians (7-3) in the opener, but turned the tables in game two, besting Spartan FC (4-1), to finish day one of the tournament in second place. But day two proved to be a bit tougher as the team dropped both games to finish the tournament with a 1-3-0 (WLD) record.