Boys Soccer
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| GFS Boys Soccer Falls to AFS in OT
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| October 9, 2009
GFS 1, AFS 2
GFS varsity boys soccer played its second consecutive overtime game on Friday against AFS, coming out on the short end of a 2-1 game. AFS scored the game winner with about 2 minutes to go in the second overtime..
Abington played with great determination and hustle, and in the first half they were clearly the harder-working team. GFS scored first, in the 8th minute, when Manolo Sanchez played a perfect through pass to Jason Symonette, who dribbled around the onrushing goalie and scored easily. It was Jason's 41st career goal, one short of the number scored by former star Zevi Tilles, GFS '94, who is currently in 3rd place on the all-time scoring list. Jason has been a consistent goal-scorer throughout his career, and this was his 9th of the season, one behind Manolo for the team lead. GFS coach Matt Zipin said, "We thought we might add onto the lead, but Abington stiffened their defense, and we couldn't score any more, despite several excellent chances." At one point, GFS earned a direct free kick from about 25 yards out on the left side, and Manolo stood over the ball, setting it up. Zipin described, "The AFS players and goalie were busy setting up a defensive wall when Manolo unexpectedly shot, hitting a beautiful curving ball that had the goalie beat but, unfortunately, smacked into the right upright and bounced straight back. It's hard to get much closer than that."
"Meanwhile, AFS was getting virtually no chances, mainly due to the stellar play of Evan Miller at sweeper back. Abington positioned an offensive player as far up as possible, and generally that meant that Evan was guarding him 1 on 1 most of the half. Evan shut him down completely, making excellent decisions about when to step in and when to delay, and his passes and free kicks were on the money all day. However, in the 20th minute, we fouled an Abington player in the penalty box, and the AFS shooter stepped up and buried the resulting penalty kick, tying the game," Zipin said.
In the second half, GFS picked up its intensity and played better overall. "However," commented Zipin, "the AFS goalie was in the right place at the right time, never more evident than when wing fullback Brendan Turner hit a rolling ball from about 35 yards out. It was a laser shot but, unfortunately, it was right at the goalie. Two feet either way and it's an all-time highlight film goal, but not this day. Then a few minutes before the end of regulation, Nick Marini, our other wing fullback, took another rolling ball and hit a screamer that went about 15 feet before smashing into an AFS player, well short of the goal."
In the second overtime, GFS committed a foul. "AFS chipped the ball towards the goal mouth and one of their players headed it into the near corner for the winning score," explained Zipin.
"Goalie Nick Fromell did a fine job filling in for Jay Query. Neither goal was his fault, and he made 3 saves. Ibz Kamara worked hard all day, both offensively and defensively, giving us a lift."
The loss drops GFS to 6-3-1, 3-1-1 in the Friends League. We have to regroup and get ready to go to Westtown on Tuesday for yet another important league match. Then on next Saturday, Fun Day, we play Upper Moreland at home.
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