Crossroads Shows Strong Potential against Willows

Coach Pierce Maher said this of the team's performance, "Willows opened the scorers sheet with a goal in the first minute.  The Red Team was caught off guard by such a quick start.  The first half was all Willows.  They continued to keep the attack coming and finished the first half with 5 more goals leading the Red Team 6 - 0 at halftime.  Despite the score line goal keeper Ben Kamer made a few big saves pushing one shot over the crossbar and making a couple more saves on the front post. The second half was a different story.  The Red Team was able to shut out Willows and keep a clean sheet in the second half.  The defensive unit was lead by a center back pairing of Quin Olds and Shant Kassabian.  They kept the Red Team organized at the back and pressured the ball high up the field.  Second half goal keepers Matt Walley was also instrumental in cutting off through ball passes being quick off his goal line to protect the 18 yard box.  There was also plenty of support in the midfield from holding midfielders Liam Shiflett and Jake Suster.  Together they kept the ball in the attacking half and disrupted Willows attack in the middle of the field.  Rio Davis provided high ball pressure and lots of attacking runs to keep a continuous  attacking threat in the second half for the Roadrunners.    With about 12 minutes in the game Stanford Fram won a free kick after being fouled just outside the left corner of the Willows penalty box.  Fram took the free kick and crossed it into the danger area.  6th Grader, Wylie Douglas found himself on the end of the cross and kicked the ball into the back of the net to put the Red Team on the score board.  The final scored ended 6 - 1 in Willows favor, but the second half was clearly a more focused Red Team that showed signs of what's to come."