fknbuflobo

How did Trapp get the red card?

Wow! I will be smiling about that video for hours.

I cannot make this one for many of the reasons cited above. I expect someone to step up and provide some sort of recap here. Please.

I believe Souders is our starting CB, and I think Zips coaching staff thinks that too. Spring is for experimentation and development. My guess is that both Ruhaak and Cross are auditioning to be Souders' back line mate.

Regarding Centre Backs; do not forget incoming frosh Ezana Kahsay. I believe he will play CB. We shall see.

Ken Lolla has roots in the area. He played for Canton Invaders. His wife grew up here. Lolla was head coach here twice as long as Porter, though perhaps half as successful. Lolla has never been as charismatic as Porter is. He felt he could never recruit the blue chip, TDS 5-stars, to Akron. Porter proved that assertion false. I painfully remember Lolla’s defection after the OT tournament loss at Maryland in 2005, the announcement almost immediately following the match. I totally understand your sentiment, Fred, but it was obvious Saturday that not everyone feels the way you do. Many people waited to talk to Ken Lolla. I noticed that most of these folks were coaches. Now, I am not above holding an irrational grudge. It would be disingenuous for me to claim otherwise. But I have personally absolved Ken Lolla of past sins once he lost the championship to Zips. It seemed an appropriate opportunity for closure. Ken Lolla is a fine coach, and a good man. Without his defection, who knows, Cub Cadet Field may never have been built, we may never have won a title. Lolla’s defection really shook the Athletic Department, an occurrence arguably necessary in the soccer program’s growth. But it still smarts the way Ken Lolla left us for a prettier date. I am eternally grateful to Caleb Porter for (among many other things) never stilting us for another NCAA gig.

Campus was buzzing Easter weekend, not only with the spring Soccer, but with Baseball and spring Football intra-squad scrimmage. There was a healthy comingling of crowds checking out the other sports. The throng was consequently large for an exhibition match, and was bolstered by a significant Cardinals contingent who traveled north. Weather was a bright and brisk 60* at 11:00 kick-off. 4-4-2 Starters #3 Saad Abdul-Salaam, #10 Richmond Laryea, and #7 Nathan Quirk did not play for whatever reasons, presumably injuries. Louisville thoroughly dominated the match from stem to stern, in all aspects. But Zips were still fortunate enough to create a handful of chances, ones they failed, often miserably, to convert. Goalkeeper #24 Jake Fenlason virtually stood on his head, to borrow a Hockey term. Without his Herculean effort, match could have been a real embarrassment. He executed several diving reaction saves to nullify what appeared to be certain scores. Even so, at least one of his goal kicks was laughably bad, if harmlessly over touch. Defense was once again porous at best and absolutely deplorable at worst. Not one defender played well, allowing Cardinals to possess the ball in our third for long stretches. Even #2 Andrew Souders, usually tenaciously dependable, had a bad game. Though I loathe doing so, I must call out one youngster in particular. #15 Louis Cross had better shape up or he will be sitting come fall. This whole spring, he has failed to anticipate the attackers’ play, has been caught flat-footed on the through pass, and has given the ball away easily. These things cannot consistently come from a center back. Cross showed considerable promise last season. He had best realize that potential, or he will be watching. The 4-4-2 apparently left #8 Victor Souto as the sole holding midfielder, a task for which he evidently lacks sufficient range. Coming close last week to ejection, an obviously frustrated Souto earned a second yellow mid-way through the second half. Victor has been burning hot, and he must control himself much better than he has recently. Without Laryea there to support the midfield, Louisville had but to shut down #6 Adam Najem, and the Zips attack stalled. Cardinals smartly baited Souto and double-teamed Najem. Mission accomplished! #17 Riley Grant was paired with #13 Sean Sepe up top. Sepe continues to impress even when he does not benefit from quality service. He makes things happen. The athletically gifted Grant has not yet recognized that he is physically superior to most defenders in terms of size and speed. His first touch is often surprisingly heavy, and his short passing lacks crispness and accuracy. He also lacks a confidence on the ball one would assume a player of his pedigree to possess. Zips faithful are still waiting for Riley Grant to put it all together. In summary, only Zips who could walk away with their heads held high were Fenlason and Sepe. The rest should review the game video just once, and quickly move on. Louisville looked like a contender for the title. It was heart-warming to see how many Zips faithful waited after the match to shake the hand of Cardinals’ Coach Ken Lolla, or to shout appreciation from afar. We do not forget.

Good questions on Gainford and Seremba. I have heard the same regarding these players. Gainford will be a beast (possible starter) in the Fall. One must conclude that Sam is quite the player for Zips to tolerate his academic ineligibility for a full twelve months. Seremba is mending nicely and will practice informally in July.

We filed in to a breezy 70* with bright sun. God, I love spring soccer. 4-2-3-1 Team defense must be much stronger if the Zips are going to succeed in 2014. There admittedly were key personnel playing out of position, but the overall team defense was poorly organized and generally shabby. Far too often opposing forwards turned the ball in relative comfort. Flyers made it difficult for Zips to maintain possession through the midfield. Their physical tackling took the Zips out of rhythm throughout the match. This is an imposing bunch. Very large! Looked like Chelsea taking the pitch. http://daytonflyers.com/roster.aspx?path=msoc Zips did not react well to the chippy and choppy nature of the match. In particular, Victor Souto #8 lost composure, leaving Embick no recourse but to remove him from the contest to prevent a second yellow (or worse). Adam Najem #6 also did not cover himself in glory, reacting poorly to both the physical play and to the substandard officiating. In the final third, Zips lacked connection on the assisting pass, which was frequently intercepted by Dayton defenders. Sean Sepe #13 was frustrated all evening by poor service. Even so, he scored late to make it interesting and rang potential equalizer low and off the post in the waning moments. Zips acquitting themselves well were the aforementioned Sean Sepe #13, Richmond (Silk) Laryea #10, and the unrelenting stalwart Andrew Souders #2. The rest were either mediocre or dismal. Zips clearly have much work ahead. Dayton had plenty to do with the Akron’s bad night. A surprisingly technical side, Flyers strung together several impressive sequences, building to shots. Their second goal was thing of beauty, with four consecutive one touch passes involving four different players, and the score off the post. In a starting lineup averaging over 6’0” in height, the primary playmaker was 5”7” Amass Amankona #16. Dayton looks ready to rumble.

A quality schedule, but I think they could have done better. Too bad the first two exhibitions are not actual matches. And what is up with all these Florida schools?

Technically flawless has always been my description of Wil Trapp. The attached statistical analysis demonstrates just how active Trapp is in the central mid-field. Glad somebody has developed a method to capture this. 

Very tough injury from which to return, at any level of competition. I know this.

Trip to Richmond for Zips/VCU spring clash was great fun. I love road trips for spring soccer. Venerable City Stadium remains a suitable soccer venue. College Cup should return there. First time to Richmond, we blindly and fortuitously stumbled upon Can Can Brasserie, in the heart of historic Carytown, for Saturday brunch. Succulent! There we also made acquaintance with Devil’s Backbone Brewery (Vienna lager). Weather was a gorgeous 70* and clear. Rams went up a goal in the 2nd minute, before I could even start working on my sunburn. Zips fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation for the entirety of the contest. Not only is this formation en vogue throughout the world, but it caters to the talent of our current roster. Too many times last year our defensive midfield was stretched out of position. Zips equalized midway through the first half on a good build up to a garbage finish that trickled over the line. We will take it. Easily the goal of the match was #13 Sean Sepe’s text book receipt and turn in the box. Next touch BAM inside the post. Kid is quick, really quick. And he has the mentality of a finisher. He is never looking to pass, not ever. Very aggressive! I noticed Sepe last season when Zips played St. John’s. How Dr. Masur ever let this kid get away, I will never understand. VCU 1-2 Akron Dave Giffard’s VCU Rams are organized, aggressive, and very athletic. 2014’s squad may surpass last season’s underdog darlings.

Anyone traveling to VCU?

Wow. The planets are aligning for Yedlin to go to Brasil. But he must show well tomorrow vs. El Tri.

It is a mystery (to me) that the Columbus Crew declined to sign their own homegrown in Eric Stevenson. He could just as easily be loaned out to Dayton Dutch Lions right now. In this match, E had 1 goal and 2 assists. Man Of the Match. Right?

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/03/feilhaber-torres-mexico.html DeAndre Yedlin will be on USMNT for next week's tune-up vs. Mexico. Who is watching? Where?

Yeah. Exactly. Yedlin might get a spot on the WC roster. Even getting a serious mention is really achievement enough for a second year pro. Should he actually make it, that would be a HUGE story, the biggest story in on ZNO ever. In any event, raise your class to DeAndre Yedlin! He has done us proud. I too heard the new schedule is almost ready. Let us hope that every single match is scheduled with RPI in mind. Remember that we have one less MAC mandatory this year due to ouster of Hartwick. Still trying these fonts...............

This is not really news, as Yedlin has been rumored as having a USMNT jersey for many months. Where have you been, lost on a tropical island somewhere? No, wait. Forget that. Now, it will be news indeed if DeA actually makes the WC squad. I see his chances as improved with the retirement of Steve Cherundolo.

I have known about this for a while. That does not change the fact that this is an incredibly good hire.

Great night out to watch Zips! Many of us were motivated to see the four newcomers. We were not disappointed. M Laryea aptly wore #10. Definite starter, Very quick. Very technical. Unlikely he will play out all of his eligibility. F Sepe #13 is extraordinarily quick of foot. Aggressive around the goal. Probable starter. He is already acclimated to the physicality of college ball. D Cregan #16 manned the left flank admirably. Caught out of position by more experienced CSU players. Room to improve. Good athlete. Potential starter. F Quirk #7 saw limited time in second half. Quick. Failed to threaten on numerous good opportunities. Need to see more. All in all a good showing by these four. It is going to be a fun spring.

Who will be @ CSU tonight?