Newcastle arrived at Healy Field with a certain swagger having won 2 and tied 1 in their first 3 matches. Their air-tight defense had only allowed 2 goals all season. They didn't quite know what to make of a team that had already yielded 14 goals, but they seemed to like their chances.
The numbers, of course, never tell the whole story. What Newcastle didn't know was that Norwich had made steady improvement from week to week defensively and was due to make a big statement on the offensive side. Newcastle could not have known anything about the blazing speed of players like Jake, Max F, Cy, and Patrick. They could not have known anything about the relentless hustle of players like Caleb, Max H, and Josh. They knew nothing of the brick wall that is Zack S, Alex, and Ted on defense. They knew nothing about the footwork of Zack G and Tom. They had no idea how hungry Norwich was for their first victory of the season and how hard they would be willing to work to get it--all 12 players for all 60 minutes.
The match began with an impressive stand on defense as Newcastle mounted a high-pressure attack right from the start. Zack S set the tone defensively with several key tackles deep in our defensive zone, and Caleb was anywhere the ball was. The young speedster plays with an amazing intensity and energy, and he never, ever gives up on the ball.
The Newcastle attack saw that it was going to be very difficult to find any daylight near the Norwich goal. But the Norwich attack found a hole early, in the 10th minute of the match, when Tom cut and weaved his way to an opening in front of the net and touched it past the keeper to score. The goal was set up masterfully at midfield by Max F who found passing lanes and moved the ball quickly to Patrick and Tom. The play was a lesson in how to work together, passing and moving to space. These guys would do it all afternoon.
Newcastle was not going to be contained forever, though, and they answered with two quick goals of their own to take command 2-1.
But Cy was determined not to go out like that. Once again, he would use his speed very productively at midfield and on defense. His tackling skills, quick thinking, and crisp, accurate passes would create counter-attack after counter-attack. Zack G, who has worked tirelessly all season to develop his ball-control skills, also made good use of the ball, moving it upfield quickly and accurately. Along with Cy and Zack G on the counter-attack, Josh's much improved passing and dribbling skills helped move the ball to the striker and create a multitude of good scoring chances. In the 48th minute, Tom was again able to capitalize on the work of these guys, and receive the ball at close range in front of the net, where he placed it just past a diving goalkeeper to tie the game at 2 with about 10 minutes remaining.
That is when Patrick, who had been a one-man wrecking crew throughout the match, somehow dialed up the intensity and went on a rampage. He challenged nearly every ball, won it, and turned it upfield. When he wasn't winning it or carrying it past defenders, he was in perfect position in front of the net for a cross. Tom found him there with a short cross from the left side and Patrick punched it into the net for what would be the winning goal.
There was work yet to be done, though, as Newcastle threw everything they had at the Norwich defense. In net,Ted saved the game with a stop on a hard strike at short range, and Caleb was absolutely brilliant, once again, closing the game with several spectacular highlight-reel saves.
Our keepers were certainly grateful for an exceptional defensive effort during the last 10 minutes of the match. Max H, well-known by now for his hustle and smart play, disrupted the Newcastle attack, and forced the ball outside, away from the danger zone in the middle. Jake used his speed to stay goalside, slow down the attack, win the ball, and move it upfield. Alex, whose masterful tackling ability began to showcase itself in last week's match, was able to get the ball off the most skillful Newcastle ball-handlers all afternoon. But, his defensive work was never more critical than in the final moments of the match, when he made a key tackle and delivered the ball outside to our midfielders who were able to move it into our offensive zone and possess it there for the remainder of the game.
A tremendous team effort for Norwich resulting in our first victory of the season. Hustle, hard work, and smart play from all 12 players made it happen. Congratulations, Norwich! I have a feeling there's more where that came from.
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