RLC vs McKendree

After our loss to East Central on Monday, we were hoping to get back on the winning track with a W at McKendree today. This is the second time that we have made the trip to Lebanon in the past three years. They were scheduled to come to The Lake last year but we had a rain out and couldn't squeeze a make up date in. We lost to McKendree's JV two years ago 5-4.

It's a shame when a game that is played on such a large field as soccer gets managed by two officials. It's hard enough for a three man crew to watch twenty two guys, much less two men. It's especially hard when those two men aren't very mobile. We had two officials today that had trouble walking up and down the field much less running at a pace that they need to in order to keep up with the game. I know it's a JV game for McKendree and it's a non conference game for us, but try telling that to the guys that play. They play for a win whether it's a scrimmage, a JV, or a regular schedule conference match. Officials rarely play a part in the outcome of the match, but today they did, for both sides. Okay now that I have that off of my chest I feel a little better.

McKendree scored first about half way through the first half. Yes it was a questionable goal but nonetheless it was a goal. They found the back of the net 10 minutes later on another questionable goal. We came close to scoring two or three times as the result of some very nice shots on goal, but their Keeper was able to keep them out of the net. The half time talk was about how we could get back in the game. I stressed the need to play 1 and 2 touch ball as we build the attack and to utilize our wide players to stretch the defense so that our forwards can match up with the backs one on one, then we can send the ball in and hopefully get a goal. I think that talk went in one ear and out the other one without touching anything inbetween.

The score remained 2-0 until Jordan Grace had a nice shot on the frame that beat their Keeper. That seemed to stir a fire in us and we played with renewed interest for the rest of the half until they scored on a thirty yard shot late in the half.

We're on a losing skid. We have to find a way to put the brakes on and turn this thing around. Half of the season is gone and our record is 3-7. We have some hard games ahead of us. If we don't find a way to rack up a few wins we're in danger of not finishing above 500.