One Last Shift: Beach FC B08 Start Well, Get Washed Out by End

With all the excitement of the high school postseason in full swing for Virginia, it's notable that several of the Premier teams in the state would still be showcasing in ECNL events.  Nonetheless, Memorial Day Weekend was circled on the calendar for three Beach FC teams to travel up to their state capitol in Richmond and fend off the nation's best that planned to make a stand at ECNL Virginia.   For the Beach FC 2008 Boys, what started as a promising showcase weekend turned sour and wet by 815 Monday morning with a weather related abandonment of their final match.  As far as their on field play, a mixed bag of outcomes pervaded this group's DNA, with some spectacular individual and collective efforts on display.  Alternatively, they did have moments that left one grasping at air for the final product, desiring just that little bit more to complete what was started.    On the scoresheet this weekend for Beach were forward Griffin Weaver and defender Kristo Litchmore, both making the most of opportunities gifted to them by the defense in their respective games.    Griffin displayed a high motor and an intensity throughout the two matches, regularly turning opponents over and pressing in advance of the play. This effort earned him the opportunity for his goal in the opener, pickpocketing the defender receiving what should have been a routine swing pass, immediately going to goal, and completing a deft croqueta around the goalkeeper before slotting home in the empty net.   He also had several other opportunities and shots on goal, providing his team with a fantastic forward option. It would serve him well to work on his left foot shot as well as finishing low and hard, but his instincts and ability to sniff out the ball make for a solid attacking presence.     The second scorer, Litchmore, would find himself in the thick of the action in Beach FC's second match vs Match Fit United. Venturing forward from his center back role, he found the ball at his feet and placed it in the back of the net before anyone quite realized what had happened. It was a definitive response from the side after having just allowed an own goal, and it was an impressive feat from the backline stalwart.   Throughout the team's other action, Litchmore would show out well. Defensively he offered a strong frame, shielding balls away from attackers to win possession and providing definitive forward playing options for his goalkeeper and fellow back liners. He can head the ball forward on a clearance when asked and plays a strong pass along the ground as well as when clearing a long ball forward.      While the results on the weekend were less than ideal (a last minute draw vs OK Energy and a head scratching loss to Match Fit), the squad still showed out in individual performances and displayed quality. Forwards Carter Goetz and Luke Rutter both provided solid options as they made their marks on play.    Goetz would regularly find himself on the ball, rotating with Weaver into and out of the center of the park and the wing to attack defenders repeatedly. When his dribbles did come off, he was up for finding the next best option, choosing to shoot and pass in equal measure.      Rutter was a workhorse on the left and worked hard to win possession as well as free kicks in dangerous areas. His timing and body positioning in tackles earned his side several opportunities that they wouldn't have had otherwise, and he definitively showed prowess in his role.   In the middle of the park, Caiden Bernstein and Nathaniel White provided solid reinforcement to the side.  White showed proficiency with playing attackers in and seeing dangerous opportunities for his team to get forward, while displaying his ability to go box to box for extended periods of time.    Bernstein is an enforcer who takes no prisoners in the run of play, showing an affinity for running down the ball carrier and using quality body positioning mixed with a strong frame to win possession repeatedly when asked.    His ability to show for the ball and turn out of pressure when receiving is further accentuated by the passes he finds upon going forward from those situations.  A quality striker of the ball, you can hear a difference when it comes off his foot, and he places his free kicks and corners in dangerous areas consistently.   Holding serve along the back beyond Litchmore was the combo of John Maggio and David Priest.  Maggio operated as a fine counterpart to Litchmore in the center portion of defense, routinely offering clearances both headed and kicked that found space forward where his teammates could ask questions of defenders to win possession.    His passing from the back regularly found its intended target and he showed a knack for tracking down opposition runs and breakouts, taking the correct angles to get himself back into the play if he was unsure or beaten, and then putting his body in the line of fire to make impressive tackles both with his body and on the ground.   Priest operated often on the wings, providing both defensive solidarity as well as an attacking threat when he was able to get forward.  His combination play with the midfielders and forwards to move the ball between the thirds was impressive, and his work rate in attack matched those he was engaged with.    On the back end, he was even better, with lightning quick recoveries and a swift foot to stick in and nick the ball away from dribblers, with the agility and recognition to swiftly get past them to win the ball back.  He regularly showed up as one of the most dangerous players on the team and was consistent with his pace and effort throughout.   In net, Brady Miller had a strong showing.  He made the saves he always should have and found his way to two shots that were audacious from range.  He made a strong show to come and retrieve balls over the top and played into the no-mans-land, and came for the crosses and free kicks he would have been responsible for.  His leg strength for goal kicks will increase over time and his punts were more than adequate for his side, a couple going beyond the center circle.  Essential communication was present and his chemistry with his defenders was evident.

With all the excitement of the high school postseason in full swing for Virginia, it's notable that several of the Premier teams in the state would still be showcasing in ECNL events. Nonetheless, Memorial Day Weekend was circled on the calendar for three Beach FC teams to travel up to their state capitol in Richmond and fend off the nation's best that planned to make a stand at ECNL Virginia.