ECNL Texas: Albion Hurricanes B08 vs. Lonestar SC STH B08
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The ECNL regular season is coming to an end soon for the boys too as the final matches of the calendar will determine the teams that will make the trip to Greensboro, NC, to compete in the playoffs at the…
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Continue ReadingThe ECNL regular season is coming to an end soon for the boys too as the final matches of the calendar will determine the teams that will make the trip to Greensboro, NC, to compete in the playoffs at the end of June.
Competition remains intense in Texas and this past weekend, with the Girls in action at the ECNL New Jersey, the Boys were in the spotlight with some key matches taking place around the state. Prep Soccer was the Crossbar Academy, in Tomball, on Saturday, following the exciting duel between the Albion Hurricanes FC B08 and Lonestar SC STH B08 – click here to see the best photos of the match.
Albion Hurricanes FC B08 4 x 4 Lonestar SC STH B08
It was a very intense match, with a lot of back and forth, involving two of the best teams in the division. Albion stroke first, with forward Baker Day Jr. finding the back of the net in the very first minute with a well-placed left-footed finish. Lonestar fought back and a powerful shot from forward Sebastian Gonzalez Sebastian Gonzalez M TX hit the post and went it, evening the score. Before the halftime whistle, Day Jr. was taken down inside the penalty box and midfielder Flynn Suther converted from the spot to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Lonestar leveled things again early in the second half with midfielder Diego Martinez, but Albion’s captain Brayden Lehner Brayden Lehner F TX got on the scoresheet with a beautiful chip to score 3-2. The team from Austin seemed to be in trouble when defender Damian Monsivais was shown a red card, but a handball was called inside Albion’s penalty box and striker Daniel Miranda scored from the penalty kick stop to make it 3-3. Lonestar was very close to walking away with a win when a quick transition play ended with a goal from forward Johan Chamorro, but in the last play of the match, Albion’s midfielder Eugenio Labarthe scored to bring the match to an end with a 4-4 score.
Top Performers
Flynn Suther
Flynn Suther
Suther was a force in the center of the field for Albion, especially in the first half. Playing as a defensive midfielder, he controlled the game in the middle, playing with a lot of energy and great intelligence. Very dynamic, Suther covered a lot of ground and won several duels, but was also instrumental in possession, finding excellent passes and dictating the team’s rhythm. He was also very efficient when called to take a penalty kick, sending the ball out of reach for the goalkeeper. Suther started the second half on the bench and was brought in halfway through it. Used in a more offensive role, he couldn’t make the same impact he did in the first half, but was still very active and made some good plays.
Sebastian Gonzalez Sebastian Gonzalez M TX
Sebastian Gonzalez Sebastian Gonzalez M TX
Although he didn’t get to play the entire match, Gonzalez proved to be a goal-scoring threat for Lonestar SC with his intense game up top. A very intelligent offensive player, he moved really well in the final third, always looking for spaces to battle on the ball. He did very well when fed the ball in the central area of the field, using his dribbling ability to beat defenders, but was also very dangerous when we was in possession in wider positions, where he could use his pace to succeed in duels as well. A lefty, Gonzalez also finished very well, always having great precision and power, as in the play in which he scored his team’s first goal.
Baker Day Jr.
Baker Day Jr.
Day started the match on fire, creating all sorts of problems for Lonestar’s defense from his left-winger position. He scored his team’s first goal in the first minute of the match by making a good run off the ball and displaying great calm in front of goal, sending the ball into the lower corner with a close-range finish. Day was also directly involved in Albion’s second goal, drawing the penalty kick that was converted by Suther. He displayed great quality on the ball and was very direct when in possession, going at the defenders and taking the ball to the end line or into the penalty box. His physical strength also made it very difficult for defenders who attempted to challenge him. His level dropped a bit in the second half, but he kept pushing and trying to make things happen.
Diego Solis
Diego Solis
Solis played a huge role for Lonestar, appearing on the left side of their three-man backline. He was very solid in his duels, shutting down opponents and forcing Albion to concentrate their offensive efforts on the opposite side. A tall defender, Solis used his size to intercept long passes and also to make clearances inside the penalty box. He played hard and with great physicality when chasing opponents outside of the penalty box and was very successful with his defensive actions. A lefty, Solis was also very technical on the ball and connected good passes from the back. He was very effective with his long ball attempts and did a good job by taking some long free kicks into Albion’s penalty box.
Albion’s captain scored the most beautiful goal of the day, displaying excellent vision and quality on the ball to chip the Lonestar’s goalkeeper a relatively long distance. He operated around the penalty box for most of the time, working as more of a facilitator than a finisher, and had some success, assisting in the team’s fourth goal. Lehner made some good holdup play, getting the ball with his back to the goal and either combining with his teammates or making turns and moves in tight spaces to get into more dangerous spots. He was also involved in several physical plays, using his body to win the ball and shield it.
Diego Martinez
Diego Martinez
Martinez played with great intensity in the middle of the field for Lonestar. Despite having more offensive duties with the team, he also played an important role on defense, helping the team occupy spaces in the middle and cut passing lanes. In the first half, when Albion had more of the ball, he was one of the options to start breakaways, creating chances in some of them. Martinez combined well with his teammates on the left side of the field, but ended up scoring his goal, a beautiful one, in a nice solo run though the left in which he beat some opponents and finished from inside the penalty box. He displayed good quality on the ball during the entire match and was able to maintain the same intensity level at all times.