Wizards Juniors Fall to Solar 1-0

In an end-to-end game, one moment of brilliance ended the U-19 boys KC Wizards Juniors’ surprising run at the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

With the game seemingly heading for extra time, Dallas Texas’ Solar 89 stole the match 1-0 and the national title with a goal in the 92nd minute. Solar was awarded a free kick about 35 yards from goal, which was played short to tournament most valuable player Hunter Jumper, who fired a low shot through a crowded penalty area and in at the near post to give Solar 89 its first national title in four attempts.

In sweltering heat and humidity, with a heat index well above 100 degrees, Solar and the Wizards played at a blistering pace for 90 minutes. Solar had the best of the early chances, forcing Kansas City goalkeeper Alex Burton – who was awarded the Adidas Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper – into a couple easy saves. Just as it did when the two teams played Friday morning, Solar held possessions for long stretches in the attacking third, using short passes, dummies and quick one-twos to find space behind the Wizards’ defenders.

Midway through the first half, a give-and-go led to a goalmouth scramble that nearly yielded the first goal, as Burton came off his line to save a shot before clearing a header off his line from the rebound. The Wizards eventually cleared their penalty area, and with the near-miss behind them, began formulating more calculated attacks, particularly down the wings, creating several promising crosses that just missed their targets.

The teams played the second half at the same hectic pace, often foregoing midfield holding in favor of quick counterattacks. Just as it did in the first half, Burton’s brave goalkeeping kept Solar off the scoreboard. At the other end, the Wizards struggled to create scoring chances, as Solar’s defense continually frustrated Kansas City’s forwards by closing shooting lanes and deflecting shots.

The Wizards best chance came late, as Kelly Porter turned away from two defenders. The path to goal cleared momentarily, but Porter’s shot from dead center at the top of the penalty box was deflected as the Solar defense recovered to close the space.

With time winding down and an extra 30 minutes seeming inevitable, the Texans finally got the breakthrough, as Wizards captain Willie Koss fouled 35 yards from his own goal to stop a Solar attack. After Jumper’s goal, Kansas City threw all hands forward, including Burton, for a last-second corner kick, and although the ball fell in the penalty area, the Wizards could only scramble it well over the bar with the last kick of the match.

After the match, the Wizards were awarded the tournament's Fair Play award. Despite the disappointment of losing a national championship, which left the bench silent after the game and some players in tears, head coach Jon Parry credited his team’s effort and applauded its progress since forming in mid-May.

“This is something you’ll remember for the rest of your lives,” he told his players. “You’ve left a legacy for [the Juniors program] and for soccer in Kansas City.”

KC Wizards Juniors starting lineup
GK Alex Burton, RB Austin Eanes, CB Kyle Miller, CB Matt Griffin, LB Michael Perry, RM Brett Heinz, CM Coleton Henning, CM Willie Koss, LM Tyler Schwab, F Giovanni Edward, F Curt McDonald

Scoring summary
Solar 89 – Hunter Jumper, 92+

Discipline summary
KCW – Matt Griffin, 12 (professional foul)
KCW – Chase McCoy, 48+ (elbowing)
Solar – Ian Smith, 52 (reckless foul)

Statistics (KCW-Solar)
Shots: 15-19
Shots on goal: 4-14
Saves: 13-4
Corner kicks: 6-7
Yellow cards: 2-1
Offside: 2-2

U-19s vs. Solar 89 highlights and some postgame notes

Here are some highlights from today's 1-1 tie with Dallas' Solar 89. See below for the game recap.

After the game, Matt Kuhn, Giovanni Edward, coach Randall Porter and I went looking for a soccer shop that Matt said was "right off the highway" and "near the hotel." After we finally found it (a 10-15 minute drive from the fields that Randall later claimed was half an hour, then two hours), the store wasn't opening for another hour. Of course, this made Randall upset, but watching Eddie tell him to calm down and relax - exacerbating the situation - was pretty funny.

In some other news, some of the guys went and checked out Will Ferrell's new movie, "Step Brothers." Word is it's pretty funny, and it's good to know they're getting some time to relax. After three well-played games, they deserve it.

Also, be sure to check out the earlier entries, as some photos have been added. Laurie Westberg, Josh Westberg's mother, has been running up and down the sidelines this weekend taking pictures, and she's captured some great action shots. Thanks to her for sharing!

Wizards, Solar play to 1-1 tie

With a spot in Sunday’s championship game already secured, the Kansas City Wizards Juniors U-19 team played to a relaxed 1-1 tie with North Texas’ Solar 89 in a preview of the final of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

Head coach Jon Parry chose to rest many of the players who had logged a lot of minutes as starters in Wednesday and Thursday’s games, reaching to the depth of his bench. The lineup took a few minutes to find its feet, allowing Solar to hold most of the possession through the first 15 minutes, but the Texas side was unable to craft anything better than long-range and tight-angle shots.

It took 18 minutes for the Wizards to create a shot. Spencer Nash took control at the top of the penalty circle and hit a low right-footed shot to the near post. The ball was swerving away from Solar goalkeeper Ryan Englemann, but he got down to tip the ball around the post and out for a corner kick.

Four minutes later, the Wizards were ahead. Ian Christenson passed to Kelly Porter, who slipped a low shot past Englemann and just inside the far post (photo at right, thanks to Laurie Westberg, who has been running all over the sidelines this week snapping pictures). The goal disrupted Solar’s passing game and sparked the creativity of the Wizards’ attack, which generated six total shots in the first half.

Unluckily, though, the Wizards went into the half tied 1-1. Solar stormed down the wing and played a low cross into the Kansas City penalty area. The cross deflected off center back Matt Griffin and into the goal as the Wizards defender ran back toward his own goal.

The second half saw Solar regain its attacking edge, and in the 53rd minute the Texas team would have led were it not for a superb save by Wizards keeper Alex Burton. After Kansas City’s Tyler Schwab overcommitted on a tackle on the wing, Solar had a clear path toward the end line. Christopher Schneider ran into the Wizards’ penalty area before laying the ball back to forward Zachary Nulisch, who was unmarked near the penalty spot. Nulisch hit a one-timer hard and low to Burton’s far post, but the Kansas City keeper dove across his goal to steer the shot away for a corner kick.

With nothing on the line and neither team willing to risk injury, the game became more and more casual down the stretch, and by the 80th minute, it was clear that neither side was going to attempt to win the game. Instead, the two teams passed the ball around with each other and eventually formed a juggling circle as the last 10 minutes of the game became more of a cool down than a contest. Some tricky ball handling, a comical handball by Brett Heinz during the juggling session and a brief appearance from Wizards winger Matt Kuhn, who is rehabilitating a torn meniscus, highlighted that cool down.

Wizards assistant coach Randall Porter said the coaches agreed before the game to the casual ending.

“A lot of times in a game like this, the players will just stand and stand around and talk for 90 minutes,” Porter said. The kickaround Friday was supposed to start after halftime, but coaches from both teams wanted to get some game experience for their bench players instead of just killing off the game.

Solar and the Wizards meet again Sunday morning at 10:45 for the James P. McGuire Cup.

KCW Juniors Starting lineup
GK Alex Burton, LB Tyler Nichol, CB Michael Parry, CB Brett Heinz, RB Austin Eanes, LM Michael McDonald, CM Josh Westberg, CM Spencer Nash, RM Ian Christenson, F Chase McCoy, F Kelly Porter

Scoring summary
KCW - Kelly Porter, 22 (Ian Christenson)
Solar - Own goal, 46+ (Matt Griffin)

Game stats (KCW-Solar)
Shots: 10-12
Shots on goal: 4-6
Saves: 6-3
Corners: 8-5
Yellow cards: 0-0
Red cards: 0-0
Offsides: 1-2

U-19s vs. Colorado Rush Nike highlights

Here's the highlights from today's 3-1 win over Colorado Rush Nike at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark. The camera battery died shortly before Chase McCoy slammed the door closed with his stoppage time breakaway goal. Perhaps he'd be willing to re-enact the strike once the camera battery recharges, but if not, be assured that it was coolly struck past Rush's sweeper-keeper.

U-19s claim spot in National Championship final

Little Rock, Ark. – For the second consecutive day, the final 15 minutes made all the difference for the KC Wizards U-19 Juniors at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. Tied 1-1 with Colorado’s Rush Nike, the Wizards’ conditioning again carried them down the stretch as they netted two late goals en route to a 3-1 win that secures their spot in Sunday’s national championship game.

“Our fitness is really carrying us through,” head coach Jon Parry said after the game. Parry attributed late freshness to his side’s run through the Kansas State Cup and Region II tournaments. Thursday’s victory affords Parry the luxury of resting many key players against North Texas’ Solar Red, who also claimed a spot in the championship Thursday, beating Maryland’s Freestate United 4-0.

The Wizards jumped out to an early lead when forward Giovanni Edward raced onto a through ball near the top of the penalty area. Rush goalkeeper Morgan Maestes saved Edward’s initial shot, but the Wizard forward was first to the rebound for his second goal of the tournament to give his side a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.

The Wizards’ pressure continued in the game’s first half hour, as they created seven total shots and forced Maestes into three saves in the first half. Rush struggled to create anything on offense, relying on long through balls, counterattacks and long shots. The Wizards pressed hard in midfield and prevented Rush from organizing any attacks.

That changed in the last 15 minutes of the half, and Rush was unlucky not to go into halftime with a tie. It was in this period that Rush finally maintained some possession, and in the first minute of stoppage time the Wizards goalkeeper Alex Burton (seen at right clearing a cross in the second half) had his crossbar to thank for protecting the lead after a close range shot failed to find its way under the post.

After the restart, Rush continued to press forward and needed only 19 seconds to find a reward. Benjamin Medina ran onto a flicked header near the top of the Wizards’ penalty area, beat a defender and hit a low left footed shot past Burton and into the far side of the net. It was a frustrating start to the half, Parry said, because his team had talked at the break about staying focused.

Still, the Wizards responded well, quickly generating a couple half chances, but the team’s efforts in the first 25 minutes of the second half were all off target. Meanwhile, Rush continued to move forward aggressively, the Coloradoans looking more confident the more they were able to hold possession.

In the 66th minute, forward Curt McDonald took a ball on the wing and dribbled past three defenders, but the Wizards striker was unable to get a shot away. After a Rush defender stabbed the ball away from McDonald, Edward had a chance, but he rushed his shot and missed high.

Rush nearly took the lead in the 72nd minute. The Wizards cleared a dangerous free kick, but only as far as the wing. The ensuing cross found an unmarked Rush attacker, but Burton dove quickly to his right to parry the shot wide. Burton’s tip didn’t get out of bounds, but the Wizards defense did well to block two Rush shots in the scramble that followed.

Six minutes later, it was the Wizards who grabbed the lead. Edward steamrolled into the Rush box, drawing two defenders. As he approached the end line, he played the ball back across his body and through the defense. Maestes dove, but the cross eluded him. Substitute winger Josh Westberg had plenty of time to compose himself before tapping the ball into the empty net (photo at right, courtesy of Laurie Westberg, who has been snapping pictures like crazy this weekend).

Rush pushed every field player forward, leaving Maestes unprotected in a counter attack. In the second minute of stoppage time, the Wizards took advantage and scored an insurance goal. Spencer Nash slid a ball to substitute forward Chase McCoy. With Maestes way off his line, playing as more of a sweeper than a goalkeeper, McCoy slid the Wizards’ third goal into the empty net from about 35 yards out.

KC Wizards Juniors starting line up
GK Alex Burton, LB Michael Parry, CB Matt Griffin, CB Kyle Miller, RB Austin Eanes, LM Tyler Schwab, CM Coleton Henning, CM Willie Koss, RM Brett Heinz, F Giovanni Edward, F Curt McDonald

Scoring summary
KCW – Giovanni Edward, 12 (unassisted)
Rush – Benjamin Medina, 46
KCW – Josh Westberg, 78 (Edward)
KCW – Chase McCoy, 92+ (Spencer Nash)

Discipline
KCW – Willie Koss, caution, 45 (tackle from behind)
Rush – Kellen Frye, caution, 82 (reckless foul)

Statistics (KCW – Rush)
Shots: 16-14
Shots on goal: 7-6
Saves: 5-4
Corner kicks: 6-2
Offsides: 5-2

Fun and games off the pitch too

Of course the focus down in Arkansas is on winning the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, but with free afternoons and evenings, the U-19 KC Wizards Juniors are finding fun stuff to do around Little Rock.

We’re staying at the Peabody Hotel, overlooking the Arkansas River and all of downtown Little Rock. The Peabody chain is famous for its ducks, a motif that’s everywhere around here. There’s a duck parade every morning at 11, when the ducks board an elevator, come downstairs and walk a red carpet to the lobby’s fountain (at right without ducks), where they spend the afternoon. Our game is at 11:30 tomorrow morning, but look for some pictures of the ducks sometime soon. There’s also a piano bar in the lobby, and the piano music filling the hotel’s atrium makes for wonderful ambient sound.

Most of us had lunch at the Hop Diner just down the street from the hotel. If you’re ever in downtown Little Rock, the Hop’s chili cheeseburger is a delicious way to clog an artery or two.

Several of the guys spent some time at the mall today, and others went to The Dark Knight this evening and gave it positive reviews (hasn’t everybody) upon their return. We were on our own for dinner, which led to the only major prank of the trip so far, when Curt McDonald’s teammates gave an overly flirtatious waitress at Olive Garden his number. No word yet on whether she’s called him to go dancing yet.

Of course, with early mornings the past two days for practice and today’s first game, most of the players have been napping for at least part of the afternoon. It’s hard to blame them. The beds at the Peabody are ridiculously comfortable.

Tune in tomorrow for a recap of the team's second round-robin game against Colorado's Nike Rush. Rush lost 4-3 to North Texas' Solar 89, so the Coloradans will be playing for their tournament lives in the 11:30 a.m. showdown.

U-19s vs. Freestate United highlights

Here's some video highlights from Wednesday's 3-2 win against Maryland's Freestate United at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark. Apologies for the poor camera work on the second and third goals. Tomorrow against Colorado's Nike Rush will be better.