Mass Young Gunners - Commanders vs Seacoast United 14

 Young Gunners 2013 - Commanders

Mass Young Gunners - Commanders vs. Seacoast United 14

Wheelock School, Medfield, Ma

Sunday, April  3, 2022

Season Opener

Each season players and teams should focus on 1-2 concepts to improve throughout their soccer careers as a team and as individuals. Last fall, the primary focus was on controlling the ball and learning to maintain focus in a variety of positions. After the winter, the Commanders primary focus for the game was being goal side of their opponents, with too many easy goals occurring during the winter sessions by not recovering on defense. Their ability to recover on defense in this game was more noticeable from each individual throughout the game. A noticeable area of improvement for the team this year will be “containing” on defense and not stabbing at the ball, as a few players on the opposing team were able to use a few tricks and open up the field. Seacoast scored an early goal as they were better prepared mentally to start the game. Halfway through the first half, Seacoast had a corner kick which Tyler Rice controlled and sent a strong pass up to William LaChance who streaked away on a breakaway, scoring the first goal of the season! After a few errors with movement from the players and miscommunication when clearing the ball, Seacoast was able to score again making it 2-1 at half time. 

Half-Time Adjustments

The Commanders rallied after the first goal and ended the half strong. The ability to contain the opposing players as they attacked continued to be a liability for the Commanders, opening up several chances that could have been avoided. As a team, they were able to contain on a few occasions, but we were able to identify that as an area to improve on. For most of the second half, the score remained 2-1, and with 10 minutes left, there was a breakdown defensively which opened up a man in front of the net for Seacoast. Seacoast tallied another three goals after that in a five minute span as the team was unfocused mentally. The Commanders refused to quit and grinded out the rest of the game, but eventually lost 6-1. 

Players of the Match

Player of the match goes to Camden Ploss and Kai Hepler. Kai started off in goal making a few key saves. His biggest contribution came in the second half with his intense pressure on defense. Multiple times throughout the second half there was a six man scrum for the ball, and Kai managed to come out with the ball almost every time which gave the Commanders a strong chance to create something offensively. 

Camden showed great improve from the start of the winter session. He earned much praise from the coach on the sidelines for his ability to control and setting the ball and at times making a few simple, but effective passes to his teammates.