Springbrook bedevils JV Blazers

Oct. 3, BLAZER STADIUM

Despite good effort and strong desire, the junior varsity boys' soccer team 's mistakes got the best of them during their game against the Springbrook Blue Devils, ending in a discouraging 4-1 loss to Springbrook. The defeat was surprising because the Blazers trounced the Blue Devils during their scrimmage against the team five weeks ago.

"They lost to a very good team, with very strong players" said assistant-coach Howard Kohn. "They could have played better and they know they'll need to play better in the next game."

With the knowledge that there were three varsity-caliber players that day on Springbrook's team, head coach Marc Grossman and Kohn urged the Blazers to communicate, spread the field and play aggressively on offense and in the midfield.

The Blazers began the game well, controlling the tempo, keeping the ball in Blue Devil territory and limiting Springbrook attacks. Blair struck first when forward Frank Cubas slipped behind the Springbrook defense and tapped the ball past the goalkeeper, giving the Blazers an early 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to set off the Blue-Devils as they began to possess the ball and pressure the Blair defense. The Blazers began to fall apart towards the end of the first half when an unmarked Springbrook player received the ball at the top of the box and fired the ball into the back of the net to tie the score in the 33rd minute.

The Blue Devils continued their strong play to start the second half. Only two minutes into the second half, a Springbrook forward evaded Blair's defenders and blasted the ball into the net, taking the lead. The Blazers seemed to falter after the second goal, and despite freshman goalkeeper Tomas Deza's tenacious goal-keeping, Blair's defense yielded another Springbrook goal only five minutes after the previous goal.

Still, with much of the half left to play, the Blazers had plenty of time to get back in the game. But before Blair could get a second goal, a Springbrook struck again when a forward fired a shot on Blair's goal that was nearly deflected but snuck in, making the score 4-1.

Blair's performance disappointed both players and coaches. "We were just outmatched by their players," said sophomore co-captain Wayne Henderson.

Blair's junior varsity boys' soccer team's next game is at home against Watkins Mill on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m.