So a bit of a lay-off since I last wrote—cricket, cricket... Well, we got through pre-season and life was grand and I was going to write while we were on that glorious four game stretch of wins, but I didn't and then we started to skid... and my computer broke... and I got sand in my eye in Florida... and I had a really bad hang nail that effected my typing fingers... oh, they're all lies (except for the computer broke one, hard drive did crash…gremlins in my computer)! What can I say, I missed my chance when times were good and I'm a sore loser so there was nothing to say during the skid. My mom always told me, 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all.' And so, there was silence...a couple of wins and the silence is now broken!
Well, it has only been a month (actually two...but who is really counting! Now you know what my time clock is like, very tough for my lovely wife Kristina who somehow deals with me—although, she knows that 'be home in 15' is really more like 30-45, sometimes an hour...I can't help it, no concept of time nor being on time...plus I get distracted easily...how ‘bout those Yankees?...Phills are keeping pace…hockey season is starting…I like blue…my A.D.D. has A.D.D. I think...perhaps this is a thing for me to discuss with someone in four years time, I'll be 40, laying on a couch...some Yanni on in the background...keys to my Mazda Miata in hand... hairline severely receded... kidding, no mid-life crisis here...just a mid-season crisis!).
Anyhow, on with it. The young Dragons have proven to be a bit of a formidable opponent this season. We are currently sitting at 6-4-1 overall, 2-2 in the ever-so-challenging Colonial Athletic Association (notice that we are an association, not a conference... there's a difference, we like to associate with one another, not confer...).
So 20 of 28 games played thus far in the CAA have been one goal differential or less affairs (if you are struggling figuring out the less part, it's because there are ties in soccer...get over it, it's part of our sport and it's beautiful). All but one of our four games have been decided by a goal, and the one that was more than a goal certainly didn't seem like it. While the two one goal losses to start the league (2-1 away at William & Mary and 1-0 home to UNCW) were respectable results against two teams that have been atop the league the last two years, they didn't sit well with us. We knew full well that we missed opportunities in both to collect points in the league. More importantly, I believe they solidified belief that when we play, we can play with anyone.
Good spot to take a breath and thank all of the Alumni that attended the UNC Wilmington game, and took part in the pre-game festivities. It was a barn burner in the alumni game that saw the Blue side take down the Gold's 4-2...goals galore and it's fare share of nutmegs (love it Thiago!). It was also great to spend a little time talking with all of you in our pre-match "chalk talk"...would have been even better if we actually implemented any of the things that we spoke about in Kopp Lounge...but as a good friend, Woody Woodruff once told me, “such is life when you choose a profession that rests on the decisions of 18-21 year old ‘men’ that run around in short pants”... Nonetheless, it was a beautiful day, that saw both of my predecessors, Johnson Bowie and Lew Meehl, honored for their service to Drexel. I was fortunate to take part in the day and certainly glad to meet you all!
The 4-1 win over George Mason last week was a tightly contested match, far more than the score line lends itself to. 0-0 at the half and then a wonder start for us in the 2nd stanza. Three goals in six minutes that started with a Malcolm LeBourne double—first one off a splitting pass from CAA Rookie of the Week, Ken Tribbett; and then off a splitting pass from CAA Co-Player of the week, Nate Baker. Then it went 3-1, and it did seem like either team could score the next goal. Thankfully young rookie, Mark Donohue, did the business to beat the goalkeeper and his fellow countryman, Nate Page, cleaned up the ball off the post to finish the game 4-1...Ryder Cup style on the alternate shot, 1 point for the Euros, and 3 in the ASSOCIATION for the Dragons!
Off to Baltimore we went, little did we know that we would be in for a gunfight at the O.K. Corral! An absolutely crazy game...we got pounded in the first 15 minutes, I mean punched and jabbed, left and right! Thankfully we were only down a goal when Nate "Doc Holiday" Baker entered the game (Nate is a Red Sox fan by the way...get ready for 86 more years of frustration...ha, kidding. Even though I am a Yankee fan—in October, when it actually matters—4 Days in October was an excellent 30 for 30 on ESPN). His first touch in the game was a sublime chip that did Towson's goalkeeper in off a well weighted pass from John "Wyatt Earp" Carroll in the midfield...1-1. Just 43 seconds later, the English Nate (that's Nate Page) gets on the board with a shot from 20+ out that beats the gk at the near post...2-1. Ten minutes later, Carroll is serving to Tribbett's head at the back post...3-1.
Half-time ends and I barely find my place on the bench...3-2. I get a drink, make my way back...3-3. Um, what is going on?!? Four minutes later we counter up the right side, Baker serves, Brandon "The Situation" Zeller collects calmly at the back post, squares to an on-rushing and very talkative, Tribbett (that's sarcasm folks, I think Kenny has talked to me one time since deciding to come to Drexel...that's an exaggeration, I do that like a million times a minute)...4-3 Dragons. So we left Tombstone wounded, but alive and with three points secured.
Last year's game was a 6-5 affair...10-8 aggregate for the two years...for all the nay-sayers that like to rip soccer for low-scoring games, hmmmm, you might want to put the Towson / Drexel game on your calendar for next year. For the record, I hate 4-3...I like 2-1, 1-0, 2-0. This 4-3 score, eh! I think I lost 5 years of my life during that game and at least an inch on my hairline (no Miata keys though).
It has been fun to watch this team develop over the past couple of months, as well as see different players step up at different moments throughout the first part of the season. To this point, we have had 20 different guys start at least one game, as well as seven different goal-scorers. Balance and competitiveness within the group is so important and I do believe that this will help us down the stretch.
Seven games to go and none more important than the two right in front of us. Down at Delaware this Wednesday, Oct. 13th for a 7 pm kick-off with the Blue Hens; followed by a return to Vidas Complex in Philly on Saturday, Oct. 16th for a 3 pm match-up with the Georgia State Panthers. I hope you will come out and watch us play. As always, drop me a line if you want to chat...have a great week!
All the best,
Doug
dfh25@drexel.edu
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