Northview Titans Varsity Boys Game Summaries

Northview v. North Springs 9-0
February 24th

The Titans displayed both offensive and defensive mastery in an overwhelming 9-0 win that was both a scoring fest and another shutout thru denial of good scoring opportunities for the opponent. 

The first two scores for Northview came on rebound shots close in, as the Titans’ gained open position in the penalty area. The rest of the Titan goals showcased pinpoint passing and ball control, one-touch shooting, and free kick scoring to corners of the net.  Several Northview players outmaneuvered the Spartan defense as they worked the ball in for attacks all night long.

Midfield play was just plain ol’ fun to watch, with the Titans coming back to the ball and working passes back and forth to open areas to start attacks.  The defense held steady and allowed few clean shots, and keeper Will Whorton arrested the few shots that threatened.  Midfielders shielded well to prevent North Springs from winning free balls, and cleared most incoming passes effectively.

The first half score was 2-0 on goals from AJ Johnson and Cameron Pratt, both of whom worked themselves open and scored on rebound shots, the first coming at 8 minutes from an Andrew Cameron throw-in to the box from 25 yards out on the left, and the second at 23 minutes on a typical Jeff Scannella to Andrew Cameron passing attack

Well into the first half, Jeff Scannella was fouled by an already frustrated Spartan who couldn’t contain Jeff’s footwork.  Scannella and the Spartan both were shown yellow cards after Scannella was smacked in the face and went to the ground. That same Spartan was shown the red card and removed from the game just before the end of the first half, after collecting his second yellow for kicking the ball at the keeper after a stoppage in play from a Spartan foul.

The Titans came out in the second half and notched seven more scores, while keeping the Spartans from any prolonged attacks.  Tanner Chamblin (game ball award) led the stingy defense, with headers to clear away incoming long aerial passes from the Spartans.  Whorton made a particularly fine save on a drilled shot from 30 yards on the right midway in the second half, and spent much of the rest of his time well off his line in support of the ongoing Titan attack.

Other highlights – and lots of them:
3 min
Scannella at midfield passes in for Andrew Cameron on left at 20 yards, and the Spartan defense is forced to clear for a corner kick; the Spartans can only defend by clearing for a repeat corner kick.  This pattern of repeated corner kicks occurred twice more in the game.

4 min
Jeremy Stille from 5 yards heads a throw-in down low and on goal, but the Spartan keeper saves.

 

10 min
Sam Bevan sends the first of several free kicks from midfield into the box; this one finds no Titan on a run, and the Spartan keeper collects the ball alone.

13 min
Whorton comes out to 10 yards to vacuum up a head flick by North Springs from 20 yards out, from a free kick that was set up by a Stephen Gulia foul on a 1 on 1 challenge alone at 40 yards.

14 min
The touch-passing clinic begins, this time with Mario Perazza from 35 yards finding Scannella, who leads Andrew Cameron.  His shot goes high.

21 min
Cameron steals the ball at midfield and dribbles in to 15 yards, ending with a shot that goes low left.

22 min
Bevan sends a free kick from 50 yards to Cameron, who tries a header from 10 yards that misses left.

27 min
Bevan’s next long free kick from 35 yards is snagged high by the Spartan keeper to save a score.

28 min
Mario Perazza is shown the yellow card after kicking the ball over the goal after an offside call against him at 15 yards.  Fans don’t appreciate the referee’s interpretation, but a similar offense against North Springs late in the first half shows even-handed calling by the official.

29 min
Paul Kornmayer, AJ Johnson and Jeff Scannella find themselves flying in triple formation down the left side against two defenders, but a lead pass to the corner finds nothing but the end line.

32 min
Stille fouls at 35 yards out, but Jacob Lee clears a threatening inbound free kick at 15 yards with a solid header.

37 min
Lee steals at 25 yards and with great footwork brings it in then passes to Johnson, who shoots wide left.

38, 40 min
Scannella makes two attacks from the left, and each shot is saved by the Spartan keeper before onrushing Titans can rebound.

43 min
AJ Johnson wins the ball on the left touch line, takes it into the corner, then crosses to Andrew Cameron all alone at 10 yards, who scores the Titans GOAL. (3-0)

43 min
Seconds later, Jeff Scannella passes in from 35 yards on the right to Cameron, who beautifully controls from his chest to his foot, then BURIES THE BALL INTO THE NET.  (4-0)

44 min
Jeremy Stille’s run on goal ends with a header from 5 yards that bounces off the left post, and the shell shocked Spartans clear for a corner kick.

52 min
The Titans show solid defense as Bevan heads out a ball to stop a North Springs offensive push.

53 min
The Titans score again as Andrew Cameron’s throw in from the left touch at ten yards finds Scanella, who puts it in for a GOAL.  (5-0)

61 min
Scannella dribbles through the Spartan defense on the left, crosses in to Andrew Cameron at 8 yards whose one touch shot goes in low for a GOAL. (6-0)

63 min
Jacob Lee at midfield hears Jeff Scannella call for the ball and sends him a perfect pass at 30 yards; with a defender out of position on the right side, Scannella lures the keeper out, then puts it past him for the GOAL. (7-0)

68 min
Scannella receives a pass and advances from 40 yards to 15 yards and again draws out the keeper, then shoots low past him for the Titans’ eighth GOAL. (8-0)

69 min
The Titans cap the scoring after a Spartan tripping foul to Jacob Lee at 24 yards provides a free kick; the defensive wall was for naught as Jeff Scannella blasted the ball high into the right corner for the final GOAL (9-0)

71 min
Perazza energizes the crowd with some fine dribbling outside the penalty area, then sends the ball to Stephen Glover whose shot goes high.

79 min
Perazza sends a pass to Scannella at 20 yards, and his shot is blocked.  The Spartans clear for a corner kick, then clear again and again for three successive corner kicks.