Mass Young Gunners - Seacoast United @ Generals

 Young Gunners 2012 - Generals

Mass Young Gunners - Generals vs. Seacoast United 2012

Thomas Prince School - Princeton, Ma

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Fast Learners - Slow Starters

The Generals have made some great gains since the start of the season. Keeping in mind that this is the first season that they have practiced as a team and not just working on individual skills. With about 12 total team practices, the amount of progress they have made together in just 5 weeks has been noticeable, and we can clearly see the potential with the Young Gunners! Once again the Gunners gave up a quick goal, going down to Seacoast 1-0 in the first minute of the game. The players rallied back with some great team passes which were created by making open runs. Alvyn Trotta opened up the game by making diagonal runs to the sidelines often, which he then possessed the ball and made several dangerous passes to his teammates in front of the goal. When in possession, the Gunners attacked the opponents with purpose, creating many counter attacks throughout the first half. Our defense at times looked nervous, as Seacoast left several attackers hanging on our half waiting for the ball, and we hesitated to join the attack and trap them in their own half. Seacoast scored two more hard fought goals and Alvyn Trotta tallied one for the Gunners. The half ended with Seacoast leading 3-1.

Half-Time Adjustments

Very little adjustments was needed from the Gunners at half-time from the coach’s perspective. He praised the team as a whole with the midfielders tracking back to recover the whole half, physical challenges were won more often by the Generals, and even though mistakes were made at times with passing, the decisions that the players made always seemed to be the smart soccer play. Seacoast continued to hang up top, just waiting for the easy play, but Ben Mason, Tyler Rice, Markens Benoit and Mason Mandraccia shut down their attack throughout the half. The only area of weakness came with our defenders not moving up to half to shrink the field size, which led to more space. Once the Gunner’s midfielders gained possession, the entire team was on the attack with some creative passing combinations. Cam Darlington, Connor LaChance and Alvyn were connecting consistently up front which created several chances each time they touched the ball. Danny McDonald, Braydon Tata and Ryan Chandonnet were very active on the wings this week. Danny and Braydon attacked the goal from the far side and almost connected from a cross, but the ball was just out of reach. Connor LaChance scored the second goal by following up his own shot after the keeper made a good save. 

Players of the Match

Players of the match go to Danny McDonald and Braydon Tata. Both players recovered on defense and immediately went out wide to open space as soon as the Generals gained possession. Their ability to be goalside of the ball, track back on defense and get into open space the past two games has drastically changed the team dynamic. The outside midfielders often do more running than other positions, but Braydon and Danny didn’t quit the entire time they were on the field, often having to sacrifice some field time for the good of the team with their constant sprinting back and forth. Both players had near misses in front of the goals, but it was the effort to be in front of the net as the cross came that was highly noticed as they put themselves in great position to help the team.