Hard Work

Utah –vs– Colorado, the Wasatch Front –vs– the Front Range, RSL and the Colorado Rapids, the UVU Wolverines and the DU Pioneers. All part of our own unique Friday night lights pastime.

On a night when RSL played in front of a sell-out crowd in Sandy, UT, 45 minutes south at UVU’s Clyde Field the stands filled to 240% of capacity to watch their Wolverines play against a nationally ranked side for the first time in its young history.

Even during team warm ups, just watching the Denver players, it was obvious this was a well-assembled team. And once the game kicked off, their #21 national ranking certain looked legitimate. The Pioneers brought a big, polished, skilled, technically sound side to Utah. These guys are good, and from the outset it was clear that if the Wolverines were going to walk away with a result, they were going to have to find a new gear.

Our Wolverines did not disappoint. They looked incredibly sharp in the new black and green kit they wore onto the field, and from the opening whistle they fought just as sharply, playing nothing like a team that only had four complete matches under its belt. In the first half, neither side was dominant, both had forays into the attacking third, but the defenses were up to the task. Denver had chances – it is difficult to shut down such a well-practiced team, but defensive pressure limited their shot opportunities. A couple of trys looked a little problematic, but the ball scooted wide or was blasted high of the frame. Only one Pioneer shot was actually put on frame in the first half – and that was easily handled by Collin Partee. The Wolverines had chances too, with perhaps its most promising scoring chance coming with just a couple of minutes left when Austin Buxton took a shot towards the goal inside the eighteen from the left side. The Pioneer keeper dropped low to take the ball – it was UVU’s second SOG of the first half.

The second half began sharper, both teams seemed more determined and there was extra effort put into winning every 50/50 ball. The Wolverines also played a higher backline, strategically this puts more pressure into the attacking half of the field – but it also means they had to maintain a more disciplined, well shaped defense (it also means more ground covered with every turnover, so players must be in top physical form to play this high line well).

In this game of soccer, the best overall team usually wins. Obviously, there are times when goals are scored against the “run of play,” which keeps the game interesting, and means every once in a while the weaker team wins. When two teams are equal on the field (especially when defenses are strong), it is difficult to score a goal. In those games, goals come only when one team is willing to work harder than the other. It means fighting for every 50/50 ball; it means putting your body between the ball and the defense; it means running and challenging, and running and tackling, and then running some more. While doing all that running, players have to keep their head in the game. They have to know where their teammates are, they have to watch the defense as it constantly shifts, they must perceive weaknesses and get creative to take advantage of them.

There is an eleven minute stretch in the second half of our match that clearly illustrates why the Wolverines will ultimately prevail in this match – and it all has to do with the hard work [HW] they individually and collectively put into their play.

(I hope you can follow this. It would be better if I had an edited video to illustrate each point.)

It starts in the 56^th minute:

 Beginning with a Wolverine free kick, the ball travels from midfield to a dangerous position at the end line just six yards left of the goal. Passes move from Payden Pemberton to Alex Neff to Tyler Brown to Lucas Cawley to Cameron Kidwell, then a long diagonal pass to Paul Hoffmeister (magic in the way The Hoffmeister receives and moves the ball), back to Cawley who tries a cross, which is cleared by Denver [defensive challenges throughout – so it's all HW unrewarded]. Then a throw-in by Neff to Kidwell, a pass to Pemberton, another long diagonal to Matt Gay who runs onto the ball, shoulders off the defense and takes a shot [HW unrewarded as the shot goes wide].

60^th minute:

Denver has possession – but every pass is challenged. Pressure comes from Hoffmeister, Gay, Karson Payton, Cawley, Brown, Neff and Kidwell. Clearing it forward Cawley scoops the ball to Gay who holds off a defender on his back [HW] and plays it back to Payton, who has it taken away from behind [lots of collective unrewarded HW]. One minute later The Hoffmeister takes a cleared ball forward to the edge of the 18, but is dispossessed by two Denver players - their outlet pass is lazy, and a timely step by Pemberton takes it back, feeding it to Payton. Payton ends up ten yards from goal on the right side [HW by all three, unrewarded as Payton seems to snag his toe on the turf and a defender puts a knee into his thigh sending him to ground].

63^rd minute:

Denver possession, The Hoffmeister sprints forty yards to challenge and win the ball [HW unrewarded as he is whistled for a foul – no grabbing, no body blow, he just sprints in front of the Denver midfielder and takes the ball – but the whistle still blows].

64^th minute:

Denver free kick cleared, and Karson Payton sprints with the ball at his feet down the left side, carrying it into a dangerous position. There is a defensive challenge, Payton wins the challenge but is whistled for a foul [HW unrewarded – no comment on the whistle].

65^th minute:

The ensuing Denver free kick is won in the air by the UVU backline. The ball is moving out of bounds, but Karson Payton sprints to the sideline to send it back into play with a bicycle kick [HW]. Austin Buxton sprints onto that ball [HW], and heads it to Matt Gay. Gay heads the ball forward to himself (now a well recognized move), turns as he is met by two defenders [HW], and pushes the ball to Lucas Cawley who has come running [HW] into space. Cawley sets the ball forward with a gentle push then blasts it from 25 yard out into the back of the net! Such a pretty goal, which is scored unassisted because there is the slightest deflection when Gay feeds the ball to Cawley even though it is clearly Gay's boot that moves the ball where it needs to go.

To recap, its eleven minutes of Hard Work unrewarded times nine before we get a magnificent goal. UVU 1, Denver 0, but it only happens because Payton, Buxton, Gay and Cawley all bust their gut to make the last play work.

Denver scores six minutes later, but more Hard Work leads to a Cawley to Buxton to Skyler Milne goal in the 75^th minute. UVU then plays challenge and deny for 15 minutes to close out the match as the Wolverines upset a very, very good Denver Pioneer side.

So much fun to be there. If you happen onto this blog, live in the area, and like soccer or not, you should consider joining the crowd for the next match. There is always room for a few more. The Wolverines next play at Clyde Field on Saturday, October 4 at 7:00 pm.

Personal Observations

I know a lot of people think soccer would be a better game if we saw more scoring. Well, a 5 – 4 match can be exciting, but a 2 -1 final says a lot about the play on field. It means the teams were even, it means there was a lot of passion in the match, it means the crowd never felt comfortable with the lead. It usually means the victory came after a hard-fought struggle. All true in this match – and it’s always just a bit sweeter when it doesn’t come easy.

The Denver side was, in all honestly, very good. Compliments to their number 9, Ryan Dodson, who plays left mid. He did a lot of [HW], and kept Payden Pemberton, Chandler Baddley, and Karson Payton all busy at various times in the match. Dodson and Payton were particularly well acquainted by the final whistle.

The Wolverine forwards continue to play aggressively, the midfield continues to shine and the backline continues to play well organized, working with and for each other. The backline had an especially difficult task this week dealing with 6’7” Denver midfielder, Reid Hukari, who won a lot of balls in the air. The fact that Denver only put two shots on goals is a testament to the Hard Work put in by the UVU defense.

Diego Serna started this match at center mid. He has good vision, quick feet, and an excellent feel for the flow of the game. David Adams came in and played a spirited twenty five minutes, Victor Galindo put in 34 minutes of work in relief. Dillon Richens and Joe Barakat also saw playing time. It was Barakat’s first home game time this season. Coach Greg Maas has both the benefit and the challenge of having a side full of talent and passion. It’s a luxury to be able to give recovery time to some players during the match without seeing a drop in on field play. But it also has to be difficult – I am quite sure he wants to reward everyone on the squad with playing time. From the stands, spectators can hear coach Maas shouting individual instructions, "Payden, tighten it up... Cameron, keep it organized... Skyler, good idea!" 

I feel like I could list every player that took part in the game and chronicle their contribution. This Wolverine side grows a little with every match. They seem to have a very healthy team-first attitude. Everyone contributes.

I am sure the other teams in the WAC have taken notice of what’s happening here in Orem. Several teams in our conference are having a great start. UNLV and Air Force are still undefeated, Seattle looks to have picked up where it left off, having won the WAC and an NCAA Tournament match last year. California State Bakersfield also is off to a fast start. Both Seattle and UNLV will play at Clyde field this year (in fact, UVU and Seattle will meet twice this year), so there are plenty of challenges still ahead for our Wolverines.

Overheard in the stands as the clock was counting down: Twenty seconds remaining with the ball near the far corner on the Denver side of the field, a fan sitting near me stood up and yelled, “Hey, Denver, you should know – we don’t loose on this field!” The field isn't magic though, a lot of things have to go right if you want to upset a ranked opponent. It takes a whole lot of hard work.

Post Game Comments

Entire Game Here

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Huge Challenge next week in Las Vegas. Our young Wolverines play UC Riverside and the sixth ranked UC Irvine. Good luck  - I hope it's broadcast somewhere.