Northview Titans Varsity Boys Game Summary
Norcross v. Northview, 2-1
March 8th
Game Conditions: 42 degrees, windy at game time 7:45pm
On a cold night, the wind stopped whistling, but one referee didn't, in a well contested match that found Northview on the short end of a 1-2 game.
The Titans were plagued with foul after foul in the midfield, giving the Norcross team restarts that gave their offense plenty of opportunities. Most were turned away by a fine Northview defensive effort this night, and some gutsy decision by keeper BJ Luksis that reduced the number of shots that the Blue Devils were able to take.
In the first 11 minutes, Northview was whistled for fouls five times at midfield on challenges for balls in the air. Norcross kept possession well, but was turned back on the shots they did send in, with Luksis coming out to the left side of the box in the 18th minute to stop an attacker, and again at the 21st minute coming out 20 yards from the goal line. Both corner kicks that Norcross gained were turned away by the Titan defense.
Northview's offense was thwarted during much of the first twenty minutes, as drives in to the Norcross end yielded few shots.
At the 25th minute, the first of four yellow cards that Northview was shown came out on Sayeed Mehrjerdian. One minute later, Brian Colyer collected a yellow for tripping just inside the penalty area. Norcross' penalty kick sailed over the bar.
Three more fouls on the Titans on midfield challenges preceded the only goal of the half. Norcross drove in to ten yards on the left side, and placed a chip shot over Luksis, who was coming out to cut down the attack, into the right side of the goal.
Northview's defense kept pace with the Blue Devils forwards when it came to footraces, steering away the Blue Devils several times as they came one on one from just inside midfield, with Colyer, Andrew Stoniecki, David Cantor and Stephen Gulia all protecting the penalty area. On offense, Jeff Scannella and Andrew Cameron continued to take passes from midfield and dribble in to attack, but Norcross was able to clear away, for throw-in's or the few Northview corner kicks that came in the first half.
After yet another foul by Northview on the left side at 30 yards out, the incoming Blue Devil shot was punched out by BJ Luksis, and a rebound also was punched out with Luksis coming out 15 yards to take control.
A rare Norcross foul for holding as Northview attacked at the 37th minute, was greeted with something the referee determined inappropriate, and both Brandon McCollum and Jeff Scannella were shown yellow cards. In the last two minutes of the half, Tanner Chamblin made a fine run in on the right side, but Norcross was able to clear his attempt. Alex Alonso cranked up two shots from within the penalty area after a free kick from 30 yards out came in to play, but both were blocked, and the half ended with Norcross holding a 1-0 lead.
The Titans stepped it up as the second half began, winning their share of balls on open challenges at midfield. Scannella got fouled in the 42nd minute at 30 yards out, and his free kick over the wall went just wide right of the net.
The first half style was evident again in the 2nd half, with Northview whistled four times within the next five minutes as Cameron, Stoniecki and Cantor all were deemed to have committed fouls within Northview's half of the field. Luksis came out 15 yards on one Norcross drive to punch out a ball in the air; Norcross's rebound shot was wide far right of the goal. On another free kick restart, Norcross shot just high over the bar.
At the 50th minute, Josh Carter's turn came up for a yellow card on a hold at midfield. Both teams then battled in the midfield area for several minutes, before McCollum collected a throw-in and circled in toward the net, but was turned back by the Norcross defense. As Northview cranked it up another notch, they found more time in the Blue Devil end of the field, but were whistled offside on two drives.
On defense, Colyer continued to stand out, running down Norcross attackers deep in the penalty area to prevent crossing passes, and clearing out Norcross corner kicks to prevent shots.
At sixty minutes, McCollum was fouled at midfield while mounting a charge. The free kick found Andrew Cameron at 15 yards, who headed from the left side of the box to Cameron Pratt streaking in toward the post on the right, but the connection couldn't be made. Scannella's shot in the 66th minute from the left side at 25 yards was blocked out for a corner kick. Northview kept up the attack after the corner kick was cleared, and Alex Alonso came in from 20 yards out on the left, and shot at ten yards past the Norcross keeper into the right side of the net for a GOAL. Northview 1 - Norcross 1.
The Blue Devils continued their attack, and repeated long throw-ins to the top of the penalty area were turned away by the Titans with traps, kicks and headers. Brian Luksis made a diving save to his left on a steeply angled shot from 15 yards out on his right side. Then as the Titans got deep into Norcross territory, a pass in toward the middle from the left side was knocked down by Norcross and handling was called. Northview was awarded the penalty kick, but Scannella's shot went just over the bar.
At 75 minutes, Norcross found an opening in the Northview penalty area. A quick bicycle kick shot from 8 yards out on the right side found the far left side of the net, and Norcross regained the lead. In the remaining minutes, Luksis made fine saves, including coming out to 20 yards to kick the ball away from a Blue Devil attacker, all the way out to midfield, then quickly backpedaling to reach up and save the long shot that came in from 50 yards out. In the last two minutes Scannella circled in on the right side of the penalty area, but was taken out by the Norcross defense, which then was able to use up the last seconds of the match.
