Soccer Team Attains Next Level in Lopsided Victory
Germantown, OH (September 1, 2004) A first loss isn't always a failure, especially when it pushes the team to another level. After the boys soccer team fell 1-0 to Fenwick last week, the team went to a week full of practices with a different perspective on things and then, last night, erupted with full-force on the Carlisle Indians.
"I think we were lucky to have that first loss and then a week off to practice. Everyone was right on tonight," Coach Devin Stoutenborough said.
The game wasn't really a sight to see if you didn't look in between the lines, and the score, to see just how great Valley View was really doing. They were making passes, protecting their goal and knocking in some great goals.
"We did wonderful! I think we played as well as a college team tonight. I know Carlisle isn't one of the best teams, but the things we were doing, we were doing like the college level," Stoutenborough said.
A lot of times coaches grade their players on how they do in the first game, how the handle the pressure and how they step up at crucial points, but for Stoutenborough it was a first game loss that made the team realize just what they needed to do this season. The Spartans avenged their loss with Fenwick last night and Stoutenborough hopes that the game sets the tone for the remainder of the season.
"I think we were taking out our frustrations from the Fenwick game. We out-shot Carlisle 26-11 and that was good. The difference tonight was the way we played in the first five minute when we scored four goals," Stoutenborough mentioned.
At half time the score was 8-0 and by games' end it was 12-0. The Spartans may have not scored as many goals in the second half, but that's not what Stoutenborough was looking at.
"Before the second half I told them I was looking for them to pass the ball a little more and they did," Stoutenborough added.
Things seem to be falling into place now and the piece of the puzzle that was missing during the Fenwick game has now been recovered.
"This is the first time our goalie didn't have to save anything and that showed just how well our defense did. They all did their jobs," Stoutenborough said.
"We just did what we were supposed to do," noted Stoutenborough.
Now that the Spartans have all the pieces to their puzzle, they are ready to continue their season tomorrow (Thursday) as they host Monroe.
"When we played Monroe last year we were down 2-1 at the half and then they came out to beat us 7-1. I thought we were capable of beating them and still I have a bitter taste in my mouth from that game," Stoutenborough stated.
