2012 Game Summaries

2012 Olympia JV Soccer Game Summaries

 

 

9/1/12 Olympia @ Hilton (Loss 6-0):

Olympia kicked off the season visiting host Hilton on a hot and sunny afternoon.  The team was very excited to get the season underway despite having just enough players for a full team.  Hilton started off the game very strong taking it to the Spartans and capitalizing on a free kick just 3 and a half minutes into the game.  The Spartans would stay positive and play some great defensive soccer until Hilton finally broke through the defense scoring another 3 goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half as the Spartans started to fatigue.  The second half was a much better showing for the Spartans playing better possession soccer and stellar defensive play by backs Jawaun Wilson and Ben Haskins.  Goalkeeper Ashton Payne also came up with several big saves.  Hilton would end up scoring 2 more goals late against the tired Spartans as it ended 6-0.

 

9/6/12 Olympia @ Arcadia (loss 9-0):

Olympia travelled to cross town rival Arcadia in a league game.  The Spartans again playing with only a full team and no substitutes were looking to battle the Titans and come away with a victory.  That however would not be the case.  Arcadia was able to capitalize on two goalkeeping errors in the first 10 minutes to take a 2-0 lead.  Three minutes later they would score again on a nice shot from 18 yards out.  Olympia would be relentless in using the counter attack testing the Titans goalkeeper the final 30 minutes of the half.  In the second half Arcadia would overpower the Spartans and continue to put pressure on from all angles scoring six more goals.  Olympia’s Kevin Sloan and Alpha Barry earned players of the game for the Spartans.  The game would end as a 9-0 loss for the visiting Spartans.

 

9/12/12 Olympia @ Odyssey (loss 3-0):

Olympia would take the short bus trip over to Odyssey to play the Leopards.  Finally Olympia would have enough players to start playing a better brand of soccer and using some fresh legs off the bench.  The first half saw the Spartans take advantage of several Odyssey defensive lapses and have two great scoring chances on breakaways by Sophomore Tin Pham.  He however was not able to capitalize on them.  Odyssey would then gain some momentum themselves and started to find their rhythm taking several shots in which goalkeeper Ashton Payne was able to save.  With ten minutes remaining in the first half Odyssey was able to convert off a rebound in the box.  The score would go into the break 1-0.  Olympia started the second half determined to even the score.  Sophomore captain Duc Dang and Freshman Fabio Sacco were able to pass their way around the Odyssey defense multiple times however all attempted shots seemed to be right at the Odyssey goalie making it easy.  Again this would give Odyssey momentum and they would find the back of the net off a high driven shot that Olympia’s goalie Pedro Torres thought would be going over the goal.  Odyssey would go on to score again five minutes later finding a wide open player unmarked to slot in their third and final goal of the game.  Players of the game for the Spartans were freshman center back Alpha Barry, forward Tin Pham, and midfield duo Duc Dang and Fabio Sacco.

 

9/17/12 Olympia vs. Odyssey (loss 2-0):

Olympia would host Odyssey in a rematch of their last loss.  The Spartans would be playing on the varsity field and for the JV players this was a great experience to partake in as they work on becoming varsity caliber players.  This game would be a battle as both teams had their opportunities to score.  It would be Odyssey coming up big 9 minutes into the first half finishing on a header to the far post of great ball crossed into the box.  The Spartans always showing their resiliency and grit were able to play tough and took it to the Leopards.  This would not be enough as the Leopards goalkeeper came up with several good saves and just before halftime Odyssey would score from a corner kick with under minutes left.  The second half found both teams battling each other back and forth for possession and exchanging chances.  Both goalkeepers played well making save after save and the defensive core of Jawaun Wilson, Ben Haskins, Alpha Barry, and Pedro Torres put forth a fantastic effort.  It would be the play of Captain Duc Dang and forward Tin Pham who were successful in creating several chances for Olympia again just as they had done in the previous game but forward Tin Pham was unable to convert and Duc Dang’s 30 yard strike just went wide.  Olympia would end up losing the hard fought match 2-0.

 

9/18/12 Olympia vs. Athena (loss 8-1):

Olympia would play Greece rival Athena having just played a day prior and with a fatigued and injured squad.  This game would be all Athena playing some wonderful possession style soccer and converting on nearly every chance they had.  Within the first 15 minutes Athena held a 5-0 advantage.  Olympia would never give up or stop playing and it would be Sophomore Tin Pham who seemed to finally find his scoring form.  Tin was able to take advantage of Athena’s goalie misplaying a ball out of the back and found the back of the net for Olympia’s first goal of the season.  This would give the Spartans a glimpse of hope and a great reward to the hard work they had been putting forth over the past two weeks with just enough players to play.  Final score would be Athena 8-1.  Players of the game were Sophomore Tin Pham and Fabio Sacco. 

 

9/28/12 Olympia @ East Irondequoit (loss 3-1):

Olympia travelled to Irondequoit looking to get there first win of the season.  The Spartans felt rejuvenated after a good week of practices and some rest.  The Spartans started off the game very strong keeping possession and playing an attack minded game through Captain Duc Dang and central midfield Fabio Sacco.  Several opportunities were created and sophomore forward Tin Pham along with Fabio, and Duc Dang however could not find the back of the net.  Irondequoit would capitalize on a switch of fields to find an open attacker to take the lead.  Irondequoit now having gained momentum and confidence for the next 10 minutes of the half played a strong high pressure on the Spartans defensive unit which led to several mistakes.  Irondequoit would gain a corner kick in which they scored from after a botched save from keeper Ashton Payne.  The half ended with East Irondequoit up 2-0.  In the second half Olympia were inspired to play better as the game so far had been back and forth.  Outside back Jawaun Wilson combined with central midfield Fabio Sacco and Duc Dang were playing solid combinations and would again find Tin Pham up the left side of the field where he placed a pass across to Captain Duc Dang who was fouled inside the box.  The Spartans were awarded a penalty kick and Captain Duc Dang struck a low hard driven shot right down the middle which the keeper had guessed wrong on.  For the ensuing 20 minutes the teams battled back and forth with both midfields struggling to keep any kind of possession.  With 15 minutes to go in the game East Irondequoit Captain broke free in the midfield and placed a perfectly timed through ball to their forward who slotted it home for their third goal of the evening.  The score would end 3-1.

 

10/2/12 Olympia vs. Arcadia (loss 10-1):

This game would be played in terrible conditions as it was a very windy and wet day.  Arcadia would come into the game full of confidence having beaten the Spartans previously 9-0.  Arcadia would play a very physical and tough brand of soccer which the Spartans couldn’t come back with.  Sophomore Captain Duc Dang would continue the Spartans goal streak having scored a goal in their last 2 games.  Duc took a great free kick about 25 yards away from goal which struck the crossbar and then into the goal.  The game would end after continuous downpour Arcadia coming away with the victory 10-1.  Players of the game were Duc Dang and Fabio Sacco.

 

10/9/12 Olympia vs. East Irondequoit (win 2-1):

The Spartans hosted East Irondequoit in a divisional matchup and for some players their last game on the JV team as they would be moving up to Varsity for the remainder of the season and onto sectionals.  The game kicked off and East Irondequoit came ready to play.  They controlled possession for the first 5 minutes of the game and looked as if they were going to get a goal first.  Strong play in the back by Ben Haskins and Alpha Barry prevented any opportunities and great positional play by keeper Ashton Payne swallowed up any balls played through the defense.  In the 8th minute of play East Irondequoit would take a corner kick which was cleared out to the half line by defender Jawaun Wilson.  East Irondequoit would not be prepared for this as their sweeper mistimed the ball and forward Tin Pham came away with it.  Tin was now one on one with the keeper.  Tin would take a touch to the side of the outstretched keeper’s arms and go around him in which he kicked the ball into the wide open goal.  Olympia would take the lead.  Olympia and East Irondequoit would again trade several chances as defender Alpha Barry and forward Miralem Buljina back from injury looked dangerous.  With 8 minutes remaining in the half East Irondequoit would tie the game off a corner kick.  The Spartans entered half time upbeat, hungry, and looking to avenge their mistake before halftime.  The second half was a half to remember.  Both goalies played exceptionally well as no team could finish.  Defender Pedro Torres was able to control the battle in the air.  Strong midfield play the entire team stopped any positive possession for East Irondequoit and the Spartans continued a strong passing game.  In the 70th minute Ben Haskins found Miralem Buljina who creatively touched the ball into space around the defender and passed the ball across the box to Tin Pham who beat the defender and goalie to the ball to get his 2nd goal and eventual game winner.  For the final 10 minutes of the game the Spartans anxiously played and each player put forth great effort and heart.  When the final whistle blew the Spartans celebrated a win for the first time in 4 years at the JV level.  All players, coaches, and parents earned this win for the program and enjoyed the victory.