(May 29, 2006)
The Generals added to their trophy case with a hard-earned triumph in the 31st Annual Virginian Soccer Tournament.
The Generals opened the weekend with a convincing 6-0 win over the overmatched CSSC Shooters. From the start the Generals controlled the ball, the field and the action, generating early chances and converting them. On balance, however, despite a fine showing, the match may have done more harm than good for the Generals.
Their second opponent, the Reston Revolution, were a much stronger opponent, and they came ready to play from the opening whistle. The Generals scored a convincing win over the Revolution in an early spring tournament, but this was decidedly another day. With the Generals struggling to find their game, the Revolution put on the pressure, and eventually took the lead with a well timed through ball and a quality finish. The Generals then fought back, and eventually earned the equalizer.
The Generals regained their composure, and it appeared they had regained the lead, but the referee waved off an apparent goal, ruling a foul. The tide turned yet again, when just before the break a mental lapse put the Generals down a goal for the second time.
After the break the Generals came out with renewed purpose, but despite their efforts and the resulting constant pressure, they were unable to find the equalizer. As time wound down, once again it appeared that the Generals had found the back of the net, with the referee pointing to the center of the pitch. This time, however, it was the assistant referee who waved off the goal, ruling that the ball had crossed the goal line before being crossed in front of the goal for the score. The final whistle followed soon after, with the Generals on the short end of a 2-1 final score, and their tournament life now in the balance.
On the second morning of the tournament the Generals faced a very familiar opponent, the LMVSC Patriots. To progress in the tournament the Generals needed a win, and then trust to the tournament tiebreaker system. There was definitely no margin for error, and no way the Generals could survive another indifferent performance.
This was the third time in less than a year that the Generals and the Patriots have met in tournament play, and for the third time the Generals came out on top, this time 2-0. In fact, this was the third consecutive shutout win over the Patriots for the Generals, but anyone who has seen these two teams play knows that these are tough, hard fought, and physical matches. The two goal margin, along with the bonus points for the shutout, was enough to put the Generals into the knockout phase of the tournament – just barely.
In the semifinals the Generals met the McLean Fire. Having learned a valuable lesson against the Revolution earlier in the tournament, the Generals once again took the field ready to take care of business from the start. They spread the field, attacked down the flanks, and applied massive pressure, and that pressure lead to a two goal lead by midway through the first half. A momentary setback allowed the Fire to cut the lead in half, but the Generals stormed back, scoring two more times for a convincing 4-1 victory and a spot in the championship match the next day.
In the final match the Generals faced the FCSC Lions, a team that had scored 17 goals while conceding none on their way to the finals. Once again the Generals took the field ready to play, and their quick passing game and flank attacks kept the pressure on the Lions for much of the first half. The Lions, however, were up to the challenge, and with a deep sweeper, a four man back line, and their midfield tracking back, they were often able to get seven men behind the ball. The chances the Generals did create were smartly defended by the Lions keeper.
At the break there was no score, and the second half started just as the first ended, with the Generals pressing forward and the Lions defending in numbers. The Lions keeper stepped his game up another notch on several occasions, but eventually the Generals’ pressure produced a lashing shot that even he couldn’t handle. Even with the Generals up a goal, the Lions were content to defend and counterattack, and with few exceptions the Generals defense left little doubt about the outcome. The Generals had several chances to extend their lead, but in the end it mattered little. When the final whistle of the tournament blew the score was 1-0, and the Generals were the champions.
Well done boys! Congratulations!
