Last year FSSC finished dead last in the St. Joe Summerfest Tournament. This year they were determined to have a better showing. After learning of the death of FSSC member Homer Gumbs just hours before their first game, FSSC played inspired ball throughout the tournament. The team defense was particularly spectacular, specifically keeper Geoff Gale. FSSC did not allow a goal the entire tournament with the exception of a penalty shot in the final game. After leaving the pitch tied 1-1 in the Championship game, FSSC would eventually lose in PKs. Although it was a disappointing finish, everyone should be proud that the team stuck together throughout the tournament. Everyone represented the Club and the City of Flint with class and pride. Well done gentlemen.
Player Reviews:
Chris Hallstrand – Who would have thought a man his size would be able to play 4 games in one day. Nice performance by Chris…with the exception of that missed penalty shot in the finals.
Geoff Gale – Playing with a heavy heart, Geoff turned in an MVP performance. He was phenomenal. All tournament team.
Michael Vance – Took on the role of Tom Beaubien with his consistent whining to the officials. But you have to give him props for actually voluntarily subbing out of the games on numerous occasions…Wow.
Fabian Villarreal – Continued his goal scoring spree. However, his spot kick in the finals left a lot to be desired.
Pat Killian – Co-leader of the team in yellow cards and led the team in cigarettes smoked.
Rick McQueary – Gritty performance after coming back from a hyper-extended knee. Actually played some center-mid and stopper. Well done.
Ronnie Thomas – “Need a knee” was consistent and composed. Solidified a starting spot for the playoffs.
Rob Roney – Despite a limp reminiscent of Coach Bridgett, Rob played great. Sure wish he could have finished that breakaway though.
Rob Knuckles – Rock solid. All tournament team.
M. Farrar – Played through poison ivy and turned in a solid, if not spectacular performance.
B. Farrar – Key contributor to a defense that did not give up a goal all tournament.
P. Vance – Most fouled player by opposing teams.
Andy Toth – Played with his usually composure the first two games. Could have really used him in the last two.
LaJuan Grigsby – Had a nice assist in the first game…came down with cramps almost immediately thereafter. Maybe if he played in our league games once in a while he would not be so out of shape?
Randy Blake – We got to see a glimpse of how effective Randy can be when he actually plays with decent players. Thanks for playing Randy!
Ryan Cabell – Despite the added beef, Ryan can still run and jump. He even played a little bit of defense.
Omar – A true finisher. All tournament team.
7 comments:
Paul, you have forgotten to add 3 words to your description as well, "All-tournament team." As well as FSSC MVP. Also, you forgot to add that Chris "mastermind Holtslander" implemented the 4-5-1 into the mix the last couple of games which worked out beautifully.
Once again it is apparent that FSSC can play brilliantly but come out short of victory when they are missing "the Chief".
Also, we heard Tom B played with his college buddies. Did Knucks lay him out (fair tackle) as he made one of his runs through the middle?
I would like to thank everyone that played w/ FSSC (raincheck) this weekend, the boyz from the El Toro team & the guest players of Omar, Randy, Ryan & Tommy Beaubien, yes he was a guest player. Tommy played the last game for us and did a really good job @ the stop pos. holding down the middle & composing the team when needed! We all know the team from a yr ago finished last & I must admit that really was a wake-up call to all of us. We were overconfident & ill-prepared.
This year Michael & I took everything into consideration & tried to change a few things. For one, we tried to get commitments from everyone as soon as possible, even if it mattered that we were bugging them. We asked members from other teams to play after we had gotten all of our guyz to commit. Every guest player was a compliment, but Omar was brilliant. His scoring class showed & everyone should thank Michael for that pick-up. Last yr. we mos-def were undermanned, the 17man assembly this yr could've even used a couple more!(or just a few more of us to be in shape) Also, with Paul Vance running this site for our amusement, it slowly has become a very imformational tool. He has put numerous effort & time into helping us get messages along to everyone. I just wish everyone would get with the program & hop on the site.
Game 1
Starters: Gayle,Nuchols,M.Farrar, B.Farrar,Hallstrand,M.Vance,P.VanceF.Villarreal,P.Kiilian,R.Roney,
R.McQueary
Subs: Omar,R.Blake,R.Thomas,A.Toth,
R.Cabel,L.Grigsby
Gametime: 9:55am
Field #2 Grass, Hard, & Hilly
Conditions-Hot Humid
FSSC vs. The Red Team
Final Score FSSC 2-0 The Red Team
Scoring:
FSSC Omar(35th) from L.Gragsby
FSSC F.Villarreal(43rd)unassisted
Gayle(GK)-Clean Sheet
Discipline:
YC-Red Team #2
Man of Match: Paul Vance, he set the tone for the tourney w/ his relentless tackling & physical play!
Game Summary:
Took FSSC a good 10 min. to shed the 1st game jitters, but they settled quickly, gaining control of the middle & using the open width of the pitch. There really weren't many chances created by either team though through the 1st half 0-0. Coming out strong in the 2nd, FSSC started quickly w/ The Chosen 1, Omar, putting a couple shots on net. The game realled opened up with The Vance Bros. pushing the tempo. While putting The Reds on their heels in the 35th min, a thru ball put LaJuan in the box alone w/ the keeper, he slotted the ball over to Omar & a calm finish. FSSC's 1st goal of tourney. Shortly after, in the 43rd min Fab found himself alone @ the 12 & put a nice half volley past the keeper, 2-0 FSSC. Game over. The defense played exceptionally well, holding The Reds two only 3 shots on goal & winning every ball in the air!
Game 2
Starters: Gayle,Nuchols,M.Farrar,B.
Farrar,Hallstrand,P.Vance,M.Vance,
Villarreal,Killian,Roney,Omar
Subs: Blake,Thomas,Toth,Cabel, Grigsby,McQueary*
*Injured: McQueary(hyper-extended knee)
Gametime: 11:45am
Field #1 Grass, Thick & Slow
Conditions: Hotter & Humid
FSSC vs. K-Zoo Fags
Final Score FSSC 1-0 K-Zoo Fags
Scoring:
FSSC Omar(17th) from Cabell
Gayle(GK)-Clean Sheet
Discipline:
YC-FSSC P.Vance
YC-KZOO #1 (white shorts)
YC-KZOO #13
RC-KZOO #13 (2YC)
Man of Match: The Back 4 (Gayle & The Bald Tripletts): They put a thwart to all of the KZOO attack, winning every ball in the air as usuall & getting to the 50/50 balls. They really stepped up to help the midfield, who couldn't seem to get ahold on the KZOO system.
Game Summary:
Started a little the same as Game 1with KZOO controlling the ball & FSSC chasing. They ran a weird 2-4-2-2 system, that resembled a Dutch TOTAL VOETBAL attack. They just seemed to be all over the place. FSSC settled a bit a BOOM, in the 17th min. Paul Vance stole the ball, made a nice move & pass to R. Cabel. Cabel then beat his man to the touchline & sent a good ball across to Omar who gently slid it into an empty net! All the momentum KZOO had built keeping possession was gone in a second & they trailed @ halftime 1-0. The second half was more of the same with Kzoo controlling the majority of the poss, but not being able to penetrate the FSSC defense. They really had no one who could score. FSSC had a few really good counter attacks midway thru the 2nd but couldn't put it away. With Vance & Hallstrand really sticking people & the time winding down, the Fags became irritated & began to push. Vance drew a double yellow card on #13 for just being the antagonist that he is(I would hate to play against him!) & beating him to a ball. The defense stepped up again without allowing a goal, they figured out that giving Kzoo possession wasn't bad as long as they stepped it up in our own 30(KZOO didn't have a scorer either).
Gayle came out 2 punch many balls from our box with confidence & bravado! Way to go Geoff! Game Over FSSC 1-0 For the Fags(TOMMY included)6PTS thru 2 games-stoked!
Game 3
Starters: Gayle,Knuchols,M.Farrar,B
Farrar,Hallstrand,P.Vance,M.Vance,
Villarreal,Killian,Roney,Omar
Subs: Blake,Thomas,Cabel,Gragsby*,
McQueary*
Injured: Grigsby(toe), McQueary(knee)
Andy Toth had family obligations & had to leave.
Gametime: 1:30pm
Field #1 Grass, Thick & Slow
Conditions: Hotter & Humid
FSSC vs. Chicago Tigeres
Final score FSSC 0-0 Tigeres
Scoring: NONE
Discipline:
YC-FSSC Killian
YC-FSSC Hallstrand
YC-FSSC Knuchols
RC-Tigeres Dick that kicked me!
Gayle(GK)-Clean Sheet
Man of Match: The Back 4! (Gayle & The Bald Tripletts: NOTHING LESS THAN SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!
Game Summary:
Nothing really to talk about, they flat out killed us! We have to count our blessings for that game. They were just all in better shape & played a better brand of soccer that day. But as usuall, we didn't allow a goal! FSSC tied Chicago Tigeres 0-0, but as I tell my kids, u cannot get beat if u do not give up a goal. Might not be pretty, but deff effective & that's all we needed. FSSC won their group w/ 7 pts 2-0-1 & were on to the finals to face The South Bend Internationals. FSSC played them the 1st game of last years tournament. They took an early lead on a goal by McQueary from Roney in the 5th min, but just could not hold on & that 2-1 loss sent them spiraling for the rest of the day.
I will have Part II tomorrow, I am tired (includes-Finals Game Report & Summary, The Big Platini's, & my final thought)
Platini,
VERY disappointed, I didn't get put on the YC sheet vs. La Tigeres. My one highpoint of the tourney was decking that old man that kept antagonizing Mike Vizzie. Help a brotha' out man!!!
Game 4
Staters: Gayle,Knuchols,M.Farrar,B.
Farrar,Hallstrand,Thomas,M.Vance,
Blake,Killian,Villarreal,P.Vance
Subs:McQueary*,Gragsby*,Omar,Roney,
Cabel
Injuries: McQueary(knee),Grigsby(toe),& everybody else, we all had knocks or cramps
Gametime: 4:00pm
Field #1 Grass, Thick & Slow
Conditions-Hotter & Humid
FSSC vs. SB Internationals
Final score FSSC 1-1 SB end of reg.
Penalties FSSC 3-4 SB Int
Scoring:
SBInt ?(15th) Pen Kick
FSSC Omar(20th) from Roney
Gayle(GK)-1 goal (pk)
Discipline:
YC-FSSC P.Vance
YC-FSSC P.Killian
YC-FSSC R.Thomas
Game Summary:
FSSC Interim Coach Hallstrand made a switch in the line-up cuz they were getting killed in the midfield running a 3-1-4-2 the last game & a half. & w/ no one really to run anymore he decided to take a more defensive approach using a diamond back 4-5-1, leaving P.Vance to fend for himself uptop & other midfielders needing to help out.
The move made a difference, & in FSSC's 4th game of the day they were looking pretty good, controlling more of the midfield & as usuall taking care of business in the back. In the 13th minute the Rob's hooked up, Knuchols floated a Route 1 ball & Roney took off running straight thru both defenders. Cause confusion & panic Roney had the ball @ his feet w/ 35 yards of open pitch, 4 touches later & he didn't even get a shot off! Still zero's. Shortly after, a SB Int. got a call on a clumbsy foul by L.Grigsby on the edge of the box & a penalty was awarded! Geoff Gayle guessed left & made the initial save, tipping the ball off the post only to have it redirect unluckily off his forearm & into the net. FSSC is down for the first time in the tournament, it was the 1st goal of the tournament they had let in on a ?able call. The El Toro boyz seem to have a panic button when trailing & I was curious to see what THIS team was about. 5 minutes later, Michael Vance tracked back & stole the ball, looked upfield & spotted Roney, who turned & dimed Omr who was making a beautiful run splitting SB Int's back two. Omar didn't miss & FSSC tied it up 1-1, which is where it ended @ half.
The 2nd half was much the same, a physical battle of two tired teams trying desparately to win a championship after a long day of soccer. Geoff and the defense played brilliantly again, & the midfield stepped it up. I don't remember too many close calls for goal opportunities & then the game was over after 25 min of hard 2nd half play. Straight to PK's
Coach Hallstrand had already made up his mind who was going to shoot, he won the toss & figured put the pressure on them now! P.Vance drilled it in the upper rt. corner 1-0, SB missed on a great save by Gayle, kicking it clear of the goal . Hallstrand called his own # in the 2nd slot (what he thought was the most important)FSSC could go up 2-0 & force some serious pressure on the team from South Bend....HE MISSED..didn't even put it on frame(wide rt{B.Bowden})! SB made their 2nd to tie it 1-1. M.Vance took the 3rd & buried it just inside the post to the rt, SB matched, Kicker #4 was the goal scoring machine Villarreal, straight @ the keeper & after a SB make FSSC are down 2-3 w/ the last to kick. Omar, the consumate finishers took the best penalty I've ever seen, both posts Upper 90 rt! SBend's final kicker calmly put in past out MVP of the tourney & it was over! 2nd place to a team that only had the ball go in thier net via the dreaded PENALTY!
SHOOT OUT:
FSSC shooters SB Int
1) Paul Vance-Made Miss
2) Hallstrand-Miss Made
3) M. Vance---Made Made
4) Villarreal-Miss Made
5) Omar-------Made Made
FSSC 3-4 SB Int
2nd Place
**The Big Platini's**
MVP-Geoff Gayle (commanded his box & didn't allow a goal in run of play)
Golden Boot-Omar (calm, cool finisher-w/out him we'd be like last yr 1 goal!)
BIG Timer Award-Paul Vance (he was the best player in the tournament, bar none. With his hard nose tackling, speed, decision making, & most of, his ability to piss everyone off that plays against him-- FSSC couldn't have gone anywhere in the tourney without him! Great Job Paul!
Gutsiest Perf-Ron Thomas (RT Has been playing all summer with a bad wheel & he knows he shouldn't, but he gutted it out this weekend. 4 games in one day on a bad knee-WOW!
Quotes of the day
1) "These are the longest 25 minute halves I've ever played!" -
P.Vance
2) "Ref, HEY REF, I've got a calf over here"-M.Vance speaking of the cramp he was faking trying to eat up some time
3) "I didn't even want to come in in the first place"- R. Cabel when confronted by P.Vance about getting back & helping out on defense
Best Coaching Move-Hallstrand switching to the 4-5-1 for championship
Worst Coaching Move-Hallstrand keeping himself in for Pk when he'd been cramping all championship game
Suprise Performance-Tommy Beaubien putting on the Raincheck shirt & helping his boyz out when in need!
Tireless Award-Rob Knuchols (he made a big difference this yr playing back in the middle & he never CAME OUT! Robbie was the only player besides Gayle that didn't get a break! WOW!
There are many things that I have thought about saying, both about individuals & team efforts, but I don't want to forget any one thing or slight anyone who I can commend for ANYTHING! I guess I will just say that I was proud to have Michael put this team together with me & to go down there & perform the way we did. It was a tough loss & I feel very responsible for that, but I will always remember the 2008 St.Joe Summerfest Soccer Tournament, we almost went from worst 2 first! Thanx for everyones efforts, from playing, to keeping our area clean, to respresenting our club respectfully, & everything else I am forgetting.
Chris Hallstrand
hoping for this picture!
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