Ten days ago the Southridge Suns were 3-1 in league, right in the middle of the table with a bunch of other teams, and had the daunting task of playing four games in one week. Of the four games two were at home and two were away, with the away games taking us from the edge of South Eastern Washington to the middle of Central Washington in three days. As coaches we want to win every game but in all actuality we would have been happy to walk away from this stretch winning three games, and as tough as the stretch was two victories wouldn't have been the end of the world.
After sweeping our way through the first three we faced a stern challenge in the Wenatchee Panthers. They have some very dangerous attacking players and a very good goalkeeper. We knew going up there that despite their recent run of three losses in a row that we had a battle on our hands from the very beginning. The Suns played physical and challenged every ball, we were getting some good chances on goal and in the 29th minute Senior Captain Tanner Crass drove a free kick into the box where Jarad Brisbin headed it home for his Seventh goal of the campaign. It was Tanner's third assist of the season as the defender/midfielder/forward continues to do everything that is asked of him. He is currently enjoying his best season as a Sun, and look for more great things from him as the season continues.
The one goal would be enough to carry us through after some great goalkeeping and stout play from the back line. After posting his fourth shutout of the week Junior Captain Brandon Hale tied his own record of shutouts in a season with seven. Hale is quick to point out how great his defense is playing and acknowledges that without their effort things could be drastically different. Head Coach Chip Elfering has also credited the defense for not allowing a goal in the past 360 minutes "it's a total team effort, yes Conner Cravens, Phil Vorhies, Tanner Crass, and Josh Mendoza are playing great but without the midfielders coming back to help and even the forwards applying pressure to the ball the defense wouldn't be able to shut teams down"
The Suns are currently tied with cross town rival Kamiakin in second place with our next opponent Kennewick one game back. Please tell all your family members and friends to come to the game on Thursday at 7:00 pm. This is also a rivalry game and with both teams fighting to be top of the table it should be a great high school soccer match.
Apr 13, 2009
Apr 10, 2009
Stoppage Time Winner
Last night we traveled to Walla Walla in an attempt to win our third road game in a row and our sixth overall. The game was an important one with Kennewick one game back a loss would have dropped us to fourth place. The boys understood the importance of the game and decided to focus all their attention on it from the moment they got on the bus until the final whistle.
The first half was dominated by Southridge's defense as they didn't allow a shot on goal and forced the Blue Devil keeper into three important saves. Senior Corey Grady played really well in the middle winning the majority of the 50-50 balls, as well as dribbling through the middle of the field on several occasions. The half time talk was one of encouragement as we felt the boys were playing really well and just needed a few more opportunities to find the back of the net.
In the first fifteen minutes of the second half the Suns had four golden goal scoring opportunities that unfortunately were either wide of the mark or just over the cross bar. in the 65th minute Jarad Brisbin broke down the right side of the defense and after Bill Landefeld stepped over the ball Trent Mccoullgh struck a powerful shot that required a diving save from the keeper. A scary moment just seconds later saw a loose ball in front of Branden Hales goal get struck by a Walla Walla attacker and luckily for us hit the post and was cleared away by sweeper Josh Mendoza. After some time wasting by the home side and about two minutes into stoppage time Jarad Brisbin took the ball form the left side of the field and switched it to the other side where Freshmen Jake Zoulek let the ball bounce once before hitting a first time shot to the far post thus winning the game for the Suns. It was Brisbins Seventh assist of the season, and Zouleks fifth goal. It should also be noted that of the five goals, three of them have been game winners.
An important match with Wenatchee will be played on Saturday at the Apple Bowl, and a Suns victory will cap an impressive four matches in one week unbeaten run.
The first half was dominated by Southridge's defense as they didn't allow a shot on goal and forced the Blue Devil keeper into three important saves. Senior Corey Grady played really well in the middle winning the majority of the 50-50 balls, as well as dribbling through the middle of the field on several occasions. The half time talk was one of encouragement as we felt the boys were playing really well and just needed a few more opportunities to find the back of the net.
In the first fifteen minutes of the second half the Suns had four golden goal scoring opportunities that unfortunately were either wide of the mark or just over the cross bar. in the 65th minute Jarad Brisbin broke down the right side of the defense and after Bill Landefeld stepped over the ball Trent Mccoullgh struck a powerful shot that required a diving save from the keeper. A scary moment just seconds later saw a loose ball in front of Branden Hales goal get struck by a Walla Walla attacker and luckily for us hit the post and was cleared away by sweeper Josh Mendoza. After some time wasting by the home side and about two minutes into stoppage time Jarad Brisbin took the ball form the left side of the field and switched it to the other side where Freshmen Jake Zoulek let the ball bounce once before hitting a first time shot to the far post thus winning the game for the Suns. It was Brisbins Seventh assist of the season, and Zouleks fifth goal. It should also be noted that of the five goals, three of them have been game winners.
An important match with Wenatchee will be played on Saturday at the Apple Bowl, and a Suns victory will cap an impressive four matches in one week unbeaten run.
Apr 9, 2009
Long Time Coming
On Tuesday we faced Eastmont and this game has been circled on the schedule since last year. A little history on the series; Southridge has never beat them, last season we lost at home in a shootout after a 0-0 draw, then we played them in a regional playoff game and after a 1-1 draw we lost the shootout again thus ending our season. So as you could imagine the boys wanted to win this game very badly.
Eastmont is having a down year. This could be expected after losing the league MVP from two seasons ago as well as all conference defenders, goal keeper and forward. However, after the first few minutes of the game we could tell they aren't that far off from their quality of play over the last three seasons. They were able to knock the ball around with precision and purpose. The only thing they were lacking was a good goal scorer or a player to set up goals. Luckily for us we have both of those, Jarad Brisbin got his conference leading sixth assist in the 15th minute on a beautiful ball that was crossed to Sophomore Zach Russell. Congratulations are in order to Zach who got his first career varsity goal. Freshmen Jake Zoulek who has enjoyed all four of his goals on assists form Brisbin decided to repay the favor as he set up Jarad's sixth goal of the year. Goalkeeper Branden Hale booted a long ball which Senior Corey Grady flicked on to the feet of Zoulek, who then played a nice ball down the line. After Brisbin beat a defender he dispatched the keeper with a well struck left footed shot to the far post. Hale earned his fifth shutout of the year and his fourth through six league games.
Well done to the boys as they can cross another off the list of team goals they set at the beginning of the season. Also in the last four games the team has earned 21 points out of a possible 24. They head into tonight's tough Walla Walla road game seeking their sixth win in a row.
Eastmont is having a down year. This could be expected after losing the league MVP from two seasons ago as well as all conference defenders, goal keeper and forward. However, after the first few minutes of the game we could tell they aren't that far off from their quality of play over the last three seasons. They were able to knock the ball around with precision and purpose. The only thing they were lacking was a good goal scorer or a player to set up goals. Luckily for us we have both of those, Jarad Brisbin got his conference leading sixth assist in the 15th minute on a beautiful ball that was crossed to Sophomore Zach Russell. Congratulations are in order to Zach who got his first career varsity goal. Freshmen Jake Zoulek who has enjoyed all four of his goals on assists form Brisbin decided to repay the favor as he set up Jarad's sixth goal of the year. Goalkeeper Branden Hale booted a long ball which Senior Corey Grady flicked on to the feet of Zoulek, who then played a nice ball down the line. After Brisbin beat a defender he dispatched the keeper with a well struck left footed shot to the far post. Hale earned his fifth shutout of the year and his fourth through six league games.
Well done to the boys as they can cross another off the list of team goals they set at the beginning of the season. Also in the last four games the team has earned 21 points out of a possible 24. They head into tonight's tough Walla Walla road game seeking their sixth win in a row.
Apr 7, 2009
Four In A Row
On Saturday we had our most beautiful day of the spring, 60 degree weather, no wind, no rain it was lovely. We also got to see some pretty good soccer as well. In playing Moses Lake we ran into a team who plays very physical like we do so it was going to be interesting to see how we'd respond. The boys held their own, they didn't allow the Chiefs physical play to bother them and they stuck to the game plan well. The Jarad Brisbin-Jake Zoulek connection came through for the fourth game in a row as the Suns took a 1-0 lead into the half.
Southridge played well the whole game and were unlucky to not score a few more goals. Senior Captain Tanner Crass had a great game and had two beautiful shots with one saved out of the upper ninety of the goal, and the other striking the post which led to Bill Landefeld's second goal of the season. Branden Hale earned his third shut out in league and his fourth overall. He praised the defensive effort and felt most of his saves were routine as Phil Vorhies, Josh Mendoza, and Conner Cravens turned away several dangerous Moses Lake attacks.
So our team has won four games in a row, currently sit third in the table and face some important games coming up. Today we play Eastmont at 5:00 pm. We are looking for our first ever victory over the Wildcats, as well as some revenge over last years two shootout losses. After that we hit the road for games at Walla Walla on Thursday and Wenatchee on Saturday. Again this is a very important three game stretch, three victories will be tough but would put us exactly where we wanted to be when we set our goals for the season.
Southridge played well the whole game and were unlucky to not score a few more goals. Senior Captain Tanner Crass had a great game and had two beautiful shots with one saved out of the upper ninety of the goal, and the other striking the post which led to Bill Landefeld's second goal of the season. Branden Hale earned his third shut out in league and his fourth overall. He praised the defensive effort and felt most of his saves were routine as Phil Vorhies, Josh Mendoza, and Conner Cravens turned away several dangerous Moses Lake attacks.
So our team has won four games in a row, currently sit third in the table and face some important games coming up. Today we play Eastmont at 5:00 pm. We are looking for our first ever victory over the Wildcats, as well as some revenge over last years two shootout losses. After that we hit the road for games at Walla Walla on Thursday and Wenatchee on Saturday. Again this is a very important three game stretch, three victories will be tough but would put us exactly where we wanted to be when we set our goals for the season.
Apr 5, 2009
Richland
Last Tuesday we traveled to Richland to renew the cross river rivalry that hasn't been played in the last three years. In the past the rivalry was pretty one sided with Richland enjoying the majority of the victories. This is a new batch of Suns however, and they are looking to create their own legacy.
The game started out pretty uneventful. The boys were a little sluggish to start off and played pretty flat. It took thirty minutes for the Suns to put some dangerous runs together. Eventually Phil Vorhies sent a long ball down to the corner that Jarad Brisbin tracked down and crossed to the waiting Jake Zoulek who got a boot to it and sent the ball to the back of the net. It was a beautiful play and a wonderful finish by Zoulek. Brisbin on the other hand got some cleat marks on the ankle for his trouble, he was happy though as he collected his third assist of the season. The Bombers wouldn't be happy to go to the half with a 1-0 deficit so with two minutes left in the half their outside mid crossed the ball over two of our defenders to the waiting Richland striker who calmly chipped the ball over Branden Hale. This unfortunately ended Hales shutout streak which had just surpassed 200 minutes.
At half time the boys were made aware of their lackluster half as the coaches asked them to come out and play with more passion and a greater desire to win. For the second game in a row the boys responded with a goal in opening minutes of the second half. It was once again the Brisbin-Zoulek connection that netted the second goal. Freshmen Jake Zoulek earned his first career multi goal game and his second game winning goal in three games.
The coaches were happy with the second half play even though the game ended 2-1. We uncharacteristically missed a penalty kick, as well as a break away with just a few minutes left in the game. It was a huge win to keep the Suns at the top of the league table at 3-1,
The game started out pretty uneventful. The boys were a little sluggish to start off and played pretty flat. It took thirty minutes for the Suns to put some dangerous runs together. Eventually Phil Vorhies sent a long ball down to the corner that Jarad Brisbin tracked down and crossed to the waiting Jake Zoulek who got a boot to it and sent the ball to the back of the net. It was a beautiful play and a wonderful finish by Zoulek. Brisbin on the other hand got some cleat marks on the ankle for his trouble, he was happy though as he collected his third assist of the season. The Bombers wouldn't be happy to go to the half with a 1-0 deficit so with two minutes left in the half their outside mid crossed the ball over two of our defenders to the waiting Richland striker who calmly chipped the ball over Branden Hale. This unfortunately ended Hales shutout streak which had just surpassed 200 minutes.
At half time the boys were made aware of their lackluster half as the coaches asked them to come out and play with more passion and a greater desire to win. For the second game in a row the boys responded with a goal in opening minutes of the second half. It was once again the Brisbin-Zoulek connection that netted the second goal. Freshmen Jake Zoulek earned his first career multi goal game and his second game winning goal in three games.
The coaches were happy with the second half play even though the game ended 2-1. We uncharacteristically missed a penalty kick, as well as a break away with just a few minutes left in the game. It was a huge win to keep the Suns at the top of the league table at 3-1,
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