North Handles Roman: Martinez, Hall and Hiltwine Do the Scoring

Archbishop Ryan was once again hosted our home game against Roman as we head into the second half of the season.  I don’t think I have said this all year, but thanks to George Todt for his generosity and for being a gracious host.

North has struggled in the past few games with scoring as its defense and the goal keeping of John McCarthy kept it in games and was a big reason for several of its wins. But last night it seems that North’s offense awoke.  While Roman had the first real crack at goal in the tenth minute, a ball that McCarthy was able to get his finger tips on to deflect off the cross bar, North for the most part pushed the action and attempted to exploit the Roman defense.  Forwards Martinez and Hall continually found open teammates running through on the flanks.  When the flanks were covered they spotted other midfielders or defenders as they pushed into the bottom third.  Sr. Dan Micucci missed from 12 with a bullet over the right corner soon after Ira Woodruff missed from 18 on a through ball from Martinez.

In the 15^th minute, Austin Baranukas delivered a ball into the box that we steered onto the foot of Martinez alone on the 18 going toward goal.  He calmly slipped a low ball into the far corner to make the score 1-0. Just a few minutes later, Hall was sent in on the left side and he too slipped a low shot into the far corner to increase the lead to 2-0.  Ten minutes later, after another ball served from Baranukas into the box was corralled by Hall, he possessed, beat his men to the line, held possession and slipped the ball to Frosh, Justin Hiltwine who deflected the pass into the goal for a 3-0 lead and his first goal as a Falcon.

With a 3-0 lead, North did not take anything for granted against Roman.  North again tried to push the action.  Roman was dangerous a few times on the counter as North looked for its fourth goal.  McCarthy came up big on a swerving shot from the 18 on one of these counters.  After losing possession at midfield, North again was on its heels.  Roman attacked on the right flank into the box and towards the goal line.  As many of us can attest, the ball actually went out of bounds by about two feet. Somehow however, the referee was not in position to see this.  While we have all been told to play the whistle, the natural inclination is too relax as the ball heads out of bounds. In this case, North did just that. The quick thinking Roman forward just served a line drive across the box unto the head of a Roman forward that beat the startled and frustrated McCarthy.

Soon after, North got the three goal cushion back. Martinez, as he did all night, gained possession at 40 yards out on the near, left side.  He possessed going left to right and probably got fouled two or three times with no calls. His penetration put him in the penalty box where again he was fouled and awarded the PK.  Martinez drove a low hard shot into the lower left side of the cage to make the score 4-1 with about 17 minutes left to play.  Roman again did not die or lay down.  They attacked where they could and with 14 minutes remaining, a Roman forward was able to break through North’s right backs for a 1 on 1 with McCarthy.  The striker hit a ball that John was able to deflect it but its pace and spin moved it into the goal.  While that was the final score (4-2) each team created several more attempts before the final whistle.

Next up is the Prep at the Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park, right off Kelly Drive at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.  Friday brings the Lions of O’Hara for a 5:30 game time tilt at Lighthouse field.

Let’s not forget our Annual Alumni Game scheduled for 10/17 at 2PM at Danubia.  This is our kick-off for the start of our Hall of Fame selection and brings ideas and names forward.  For $50, you are most importantly supporting the cause and our legacy, will receive the collectable North Soccer Alumni t-shirt plus there will be some food and refreshments. Come and bring the kids as well.