Franklin, OH (AP) - The Dayton-Cincinnati Megalopoli shook off the cobwebs to defeat a pesky FC Barcelona squad in this season's opening indoor soccer game at Kingdom Sports Recreation. The final score, 10-5, might lead you to believe that this game wasn't that tight, but as anyone from the near capacity crowd in attendance will tell you, DCM needed to give everything they had to pull this one out.
The team returns many familiar faces, in addition to the continuing influx of young talent that made them so successful last year. "You win a league title for one reason - to defend it," said team co-captain Mark McDonald. "We knew that to win this year, we would need to rely on youthful legs more than ever." This can be seen not only through the growth of the young stars who joined the team last year, but with a couple rookies who are brand new to the squad. Ervin "Chocolate Thunder" Perviz, the heralded Bosnian import, was suiting up for the first time with the team last night, as well as local product Chris Bills, and each made significant impacts on the game.
Right from the opening kickoff, you could tell FC Barcelona had a thing or two to prove. They looked to show the defending champion Megalopoli that this year would be different. Going away from the beautiful game that FC Barcelona is traditionally known for playing, the team came out displaying a physical style that knocked DCM onto their heels. Despite a back and forth game, no goals were scored for nearly 8 minutes - a near eternity in indoor soccer. During this time, all-league goaltender John Pallant showed why he's so important to the team, and why he earned Kingdom Sports Adult Men's League Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year honors. He continually stopped short-range shots, giving his field players some time to find their stride. Clearly the physical play was getting to the Megalopoli, and frustrations were rising. That's when Phil Johnson subbed in, immediately making his mark on the game by fouling a Barcelona player before getting even a single touch on the ball. Johnson aimed to show the Barcelona players that his team wouldn't be pushed around, and the early message was sent. Finally, a dazzling display of footwork from last year's league Rookie of the Year, Justin Davisson, ended with a simple finish past the fat Barcelona goal keeper. Davisson is going to be relied upon heavily to create scoring opportunities this year, and he certainly seemed fit to the task.
DCM scored again a few minutes later on a long range shot from McDonald, much to the delight of his biggest supporter, John Pallant. After giving up a goal to Barcelona, JD added another to make the score 3-1. It appeared that, seemingly as always, everything would fall in place for the Megalopoli. However, Barcelona stormed back with back to back goals to knot the score at 3 at the midway point of the game. Crowds that had gathered in Catalonia, Spain, cheered as their heroes had tied the score against the might Megalopoli. "I'll tell you, when FCB tied the score, it had us all wondering if this could be the year we lose a game," said defensive stalwart and 10 time all-league performer, Dan Kimble, who is also the team's inspirational leader. "We've got a target on our backs every game. Still, I've been to war with these guys so many times. There's no one you'd want in your bunker more than an Eddie Marrinan, or a "Chocolate Thunder," or a "Kyle." These guys just know how to win."
DCM took control of the tight game from there, after Ben Sicnolf recorded his first goal of the season to put the team up 4-3. The contest stayed close for most of the way, but the Megalopoli pulled it out, as Kimble had predicted. And, just like Kimble pointed out, the team relied heavily on the play of Kyle, Eddie Marrinan, and Phil Johnson in the middle. The two way players made the difference in this game, continually gathered possession of the ball in the back and got it to the feet of their forwards. The highlight of the night may have come from Chris Bills' goal on his debut with the team. With his team clinging to a two goal lead, Bills received the ball at the midfield, and raced down to the offensive third. With Kyle and Sicnolf flanking him on either side, he paused the with the ball and coolly assessed the best method for attack. Working a give-and-go with Kyle in the corner, Bills scored an impressive first tally. "I'll admit it - I was a little nervous being out there with some of these guys. It's only natural when you're playing with living legends like Mark McDonald and Eddied Marrinan to hang back and let them take the reigns. But, I just went for it on that goal - it worked out," said Bills, grinning from ear to ear. "I know that we have a lot to accomplish this year as a team, but I'm going to let this feeling soak in for a while."
Game Notes...Zach Hensler missed the season opener due to undisclosed vagina issues...The team will be off next week, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, and will return Thursday, December 2, to take on Bargo's FC.
Frank Z Chevrolet Game Ball Recipient: John Pallant - Pallant is the epitome of the "Last Line of Defense, First Line of Offense," descriptor for a goal keeper. Pallant continually made save after save, tending the net, then unleashed his patented long range throws to offensive players, which is literally DCM's best offense. He is also one of the more vocal players on the team, continually imploring Davisson, McDonald and Kyle to "SHOOT THE BALL!" Something tells us with way he's playing, he may be the league's first ever recipient of back-to-back goalkeeper of the year awards.
Individual Goal Tallies
Sicnolf - 6
Davisson - 2
McDonald - 1
Bills - 1
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Shooters Back on Track
Team Shooters were as hungry as we've ever seen them heading into Tuesday's match up against BW3's. Having had a consecutive win streak of over 20 games snapped, any team would want to get right back into the gym to start another run. Unfortunately, back to back bye weeks derailed the return of Team Shooters to the hardwood for 20 days. But shaking off the rust, Team Shooters used a masterful game from long range bomber John Pallant to defeat BW3's by 10 to begin a new streak.
The game started out as a defensive battle, with neither team managing more than 4 points in the game's opening 10 minutes. Despite some early frustrations on the offensive side of the ball, Team Shooters displayed their patented lock down defense, holding BW3's until their offense could begin to pick up the slack. Eddie Marrinan was able to hold their front court players at bay, with his bruising style of play. The Shooters began to find their groove offensively when John Pallant - who thus far into the season has not met the lofty expectations had by himself and his teammates in terms of 3-point shooting - bombed in back to back three's to give the team their first lead. "We've always said that when Pallant is hitting, we're a tough team to beat. It opens up so much inside for our banger John Beyer, and allows Kimble to punish teams from the wing." The game stayed tight, however, throughout the first half, and Team Shooters found themselves trailing by two with 15 seconds remaining. That's when point guard Ben Sicnolf secured a deflection and pushed it up the court. Passing ahead, Dan Kimble attacked the paint. Drawing Pallant's defender, Kimble kicked leaving the sharp shooter wide open. As he hoisted the shot, you could see the heads of the BW3's defenders drop. The ball swished through, and Team Shooters went into the locker room with a 1 point half time lead.
The three point shooting of Pallant seemed to give confidence to everyone on the team, as Sicnolf, Beyer and Hensler (2) each hit three pointers in the second half. However, Team Shooters couldn't shake the pesky BW3's squad, and found themselves ahead by just 2 with 7 minutes remaining. That's when Pallant again hit back to back three-pointers to give the Shooters some breathing room. At this point, BW's came out of their 2-3 zone, and attempted to play man-to-man. Shooters spread the floor, and Kimble took the manhood of the man guarding him by beating him off the dribble for a short runner to effectively put the game away. After a couple free throws, the game was a wrap. Team Shooters 51 - BW3's 41.
Asked after the game about his barrage of long balls (7-10 from three), Pallant said, "I just try to fill my role on the team. Everyone brings something to the table. My teammates continually penetrate and are able to get me open looks - it's up to me to knock them down."
Game MVP and Approximated Box Score
John Beyer - 7 points, 5 rebounds - Beyer had a flashback to the Ping, when he spiked a high arcing 26 foot 3 point shot in the second half. Beyer continually found open spots in the middle of BW3's zone. This forced the team to collapse, and allowed for more open outside shots for Hensler and Pallant, and was a key to jumpstarting the offense.
Zach Hensler - 10 points, 8 rebounds - Hensler struggled with foul trouble for much of the game, picking up his fourth in the first 20 seconds of the second half. However, Hensler is a heady ball-player, and knows how to play the game no matter the situation. He banged in two three pointers, and had a nice lay-in during the first half run that got Team Shooters their initial lead.
Dan Kimble - 4 points, 6 rebounds - As stated before, Kimble did his part by taking the manhood of his opponent to close out the game. Immediately recognizing that the "shitty guard" would have to defend either himself or Sicnolf, he told his team to spread the floor and to attack whoever the "shitty guard" was guarding. That became Kimble, and Kimble drove on back to back plays, setting up a three in the corner for Pallant, and following it with a bucket of his own.
Eddie Marrinan - 0 points, 10 rebounds - Known for his dominance on the soccer field, this two-sport star showed he's more than a bruiser on the pitch. Eddie has filled in admirably for absent Team Shooter's big man Sam. He defends the post and rebounds so well, that his opponents get frustrated EVERY game. Very quick outlet after he gets boards. That may seem like it's not a huge deal, but getting the ball to Kimble and Sicnolf in a hurry sets up their early offense.
John Pallant - 24 points, 7-10 from three - Stroked the ball incredibly well from deep. You could tell early that Pallant was feeling it, and he let them fly all night, destroying the will of his opponents with each deep ball sunk. Played well on defense, and moved very well without the ball on offense, finding gaps against the zone.
Ben Sicnolf - 6 points, 8 assists - Sicnolf didn't shoot particularly well from the field, but he had perhaps his best game setting up his teammates for shots in good positions.
Mountain Dew Code Red Game Ball - John Pallant - This was the easiest decision of the year. Pallant's back might be tired from all the three balls he was hoisting, and from the added weight of carrying his entire team offensively. This is the type of performance that can spring board a player into again becoming an all-league performer, and putting this team in contention for back-to-back crowns. If Pallant can shoot like that, the sky is the limit for this team in the post season.
Stay tuned for TWO ADDITIONAL posts this week - Team Shooters continues their season tomorrow night, while the Dayton-Cincinnati Megalopoli begin their indoor soccer season on Thursday.
The game started out as a defensive battle, with neither team managing more than 4 points in the game's opening 10 minutes. Despite some early frustrations on the offensive side of the ball, Team Shooters displayed their patented lock down defense, holding BW3's until their offense could begin to pick up the slack. Eddie Marrinan was able to hold their front court players at bay, with his bruising style of play. The Shooters began to find their groove offensively when John Pallant - who thus far into the season has not met the lofty expectations had by himself and his teammates in terms of 3-point shooting - bombed in back to back three's to give the team their first lead. "We've always said that when Pallant is hitting, we're a tough team to beat. It opens up so much inside for our banger John Beyer, and allows Kimble to punish teams from the wing." The game stayed tight, however, throughout the first half, and Team Shooters found themselves trailing by two with 15 seconds remaining. That's when point guard Ben Sicnolf secured a deflection and pushed it up the court. Passing ahead, Dan Kimble attacked the paint. Drawing Pallant's defender, Kimble kicked leaving the sharp shooter wide open. As he hoisted the shot, you could see the heads of the BW3's defenders drop. The ball swished through, and Team Shooters went into the locker room with a 1 point half time lead.
The three point shooting of Pallant seemed to give confidence to everyone on the team, as Sicnolf, Beyer and Hensler (2) each hit three pointers in the second half. However, Team Shooters couldn't shake the pesky BW3's squad, and found themselves ahead by just 2 with 7 minutes remaining. That's when Pallant again hit back to back three-pointers to give the Shooters some breathing room. At this point, BW's came out of their 2-3 zone, and attempted to play man-to-man. Shooters spread the floor, and Kimble took the manhood of the man guarding him by beating him off the dribble for a short runner to effectively put the game away. After a couple free throws, the game was a wrap. Team Shooters 51 - BW3's 41.
Asked after the game about his barrage of long balls (7-10 from three), Pallant said, "I just try to fill my role on the team. Everyone brings something to the table. My teammates continually penetrate and are able to get me open looks - it's up to me to knock them down."
Game MVP and Approximated Box Score
John Beyer - 7 points, 5 rebounds - Beyer had a flashback to the Ping, when he spiked a high arcing 26 foot 3 point shot in the second half. Beyer continually found open spots in the middle of BW3's zone. This forced the team to collapse, and allowed for more open outside shots for Hensler and Pallant, and was a key to jumpstarting the offense.
Zach Hensler - 10 points, 8 rebounds - Hensler struggled with foul trouble for much of the game, picking up his fourth in the first 20 seconds of the second half. However, Hensler is a heady ball-player, and knows how to play the game no matter the situation. He banged in two three pointers, and had a nice lay-in during the first half run that got Team Shooters their initial lead.
Dan Kimble - 4 points, 6 rebounds - As stated before, Kimble did his part by taking the manhood of his opponent to close out the game. Immediately recognizing that the "shitty guard" would have to defend either himself or Sicnolf, he told his team to spread the floor and to attack whoever the "shitty guard" was guarding. That became Kimble, and Kimble drove on back to back plays, setting up a three in the corner for Pallant, and following it with a bucket of his own.
Eddie Marrinan - 0 points, 10 rebounds - Known for his dominance on the soccer field, this two-sport star showed he's more than a bruiser on the pitch. Eddie has filled in admirably for absent Team Shooter's big man Sam. He defends the post and rebounds so well, that his opponents get frustrated EVERY game. Very quick outlet after he gets boards. That may seem like it's not a huge deal, but getting the ball to Kimble and Sicnolf in a hurry sets up their early offense.
John Pallant - 24 points, 7-10 from three - Stroked the ball incredibly well from deep. You could tell early that Pallant was feeling it, and he let them fly all night, destroying the will of his opponents with each deep ball sunk. Played well on defense, and moved very well without the ball on offense, finding gaps against the zone.
Ben Sicnolf - 6 points, 8 assists - Sicnolf didn't shoot particularly well from the field, but he had perhaps his best game setting up his teammates for shots in good positions.
Mountain Dew Code Red Game Ball - John Pallant - This was the easiest decision of the year. Pallant's back might be tired from all the three balls he was hoisting, and from the added weight of carrying his entire team offensively. This is the type of performance that can spring board a player into again becoming an all-league performer, and putting this team in contention for back-to-back crowns. If Pallant can shoot like that, the sky is the limit for this team in the post season.
Stay tuned for TWO ADDITIONAL posts this week - Team Shooters continues their season tomorrow night, while the Dayton-Cincinnati Megalopoli begin their indoor soccer season on Thursday.
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