Wednesday we had our first preseason scrimmage against Chestnut Hill College. The final team consisting of 32 people hopped on the bus to head to Philly to play them. I honestly think the team is a little bit too big and sometimes question some of coach's tactics including one of the sophomores he cut, but it's his team and it's not my place to interfere. Anyway we got to the field and I got my ankle taped and was called to start at right mid. My ankle is getting better but it is still sore and I'm just trying to strengthen it while still taping it. The beginning of the game was fairly close. We were able to knock the ball around and got some decent chances while they, being D2 and overall a bigger (size-wise) team, played a very direct game and almost had a few chances targeting their 6'6" forward. Then about hallway through the half, our forward pressed and won the ball. I quickly followed in the box, he played it across to me, I somewhat wiffed the shot, and it went right to our left mid who put it in the back of the goal. It was an accidental assist by me, but hey, I'll take it! A goal's a goal, and an assist is an assist. Then with less than three minutes left in the half we got a throw in and it bounced around the box for a while, came to my feet, I took a touch and poked it in the back of the net. It was an important goal that set our lead strong for the half and kept the momentum with us for the rest of the game. I was subbed at half and watched the rest of the game from the side. Overall I was very pleased with my performance. An assist and goal for our first two goals of the game. Coach has started to give me much more freedom with my runs from the outside mid position and I am cutting across the field a lot more which has given me and the team a lot more chances. It reminds me of my junior year at Gibbons being able to basically make whatever runs I want and get open in places that the defense isn't expecting.
At the end of the game we won 5-0. It was a convincing win even though it was just a scrimmage, but it helps the team gain confidence. It was also very nice to catch up with Jason Woloski at the game. On the way to the game, I remembered he was working in Philly so I texted him where we were playing and he got to make it to the game and catch up afterwards. I always enjoy having family and friends at the game and it was great he could make it even while being very busy at Med school.
Now we are now expecting some better competition today when we face off against Randolph-Macon at 4pm. They have two Gibbons alum Kyle Unruh and Will Wolfe. It should be a good match, but I personally think we should be able to outplay them. We shall see. Then tomorrow we have our annual alumni game followed by our first day off on Sunday! This past week has seemed like a month (preseason always stretches on), so it will be nice to have a day to rest. Still grinding for two more scrimmages and we need wins!
-TZ
