The score today is deceiving. You see Brooks 3- Belmont Hill 0 and you think Brooks dominated. They did, but they didn't. Ball possession favored Brooks probably by a 65 min to 25 min margin. Brooks owned the ball. However, Belmont Hill was never out of this game. They looked strong throughout for sure. Brooks had many early chances, but the Belmont Hill keeper was solid when needed. Brooks also continued their trend of missing wide, high, and every possible way they could.
Zach was a marked man today. He had a follower or two no matter where he went on the field. It obviously frustrated him. But, it's something he should expect every game until the end of the season and learn to deal with. I did see him adapt over the course of the game. The beginning of the first half was tough as he was using his arms to get position or hold the marker off and was getting called by the referee. He'd make his runs and his tail was always there. He'd gather the ball, attempt to make a move get by the first defender only to meet 2 and sometimes 3 more. Initially he would try to bull his way through, but that never works. He realized it pretty quickly and began to lay off beautiful passes to teammates. He also began to lay back drawing the defenders to him and letting Greg, or Bruno or Pat spring to the front. For a bit I wondered why he was not pressing up and then I realized what he was doing. It was working really well!!
Sometime in the middle of the half he made a play over to Pat and found himself in the air along with his marker. The Belmont Hill player hit the ground first and then Zach came down. The BH player stayed down. Zach immediately rolled over to see if he could help the player. The BH player went to the sideline. We all assumed Zach must have stepped on his hand inadvertently. A few minutes later he was back with his hand and thumb taped up. And the battle continued. Zach made a cut with the ball near mid field, the BH defender on his back. All of a sudden the BH player goes down and is rolling on the ground screaming in pain. I thought I saw his leg slip out on the grass and assumed it was a groin or abdominal injury. The cart had to come out this time. It didn't look good at all.
Play resumed and Greg blasted a shot to the top corner a few minutes before the half. What a SHOT!!! After scoring, Greg charged to the sideline. Everyone assumed he was looking for mom or dad. But he found George from last years team and jumped into his arms!! George wasn't ready for that full speed jump and almost landed on his back. The whole team joined and celebrated about 10 yards off the sideline. The referee had to call them all back to the field.
The half ended. Greg had scored an earlier goal that was called back for being offside. Of course no one was comfortable with a 1-0 lead. About 10 minutes in, our fears come true. BH ties the game. Wait! The linesman has his flag up!! Offside!! Still 1-0. Ten minutes later, Pat and Bruno go in on a 2 v 1 break. Somehow Pat ends up to the right of the net, far to deep. A couple of cuts and the ball finds the net. Breathing room!! Play continues with Zach still being marked. Still playing back, drawing the defenders up and allowing runs by his teammates.
With just under 2 minutes to go, Zach pulls down a high arching ball near the mid line. Touches it to his left and beats the last defender to the ball. Zach and the keeper 1 v 1. The crowd is up screaming as he places the ball calmly to the keepers right and into the net. 3-0 Brooks!! We can all breath a little easier now. The ball comes back to center and the final whistle comes shortly after.
Belmont Hill played very well as they always do. This was their first loss of the year and put a bit of distance between Brooks and BH. Now to watch the scoreboard and hope for losses by Rivers and Lawrence. Another big one coming up Wednesday. Lawrence Academy on their home field.
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