The Cougars made long road trip to Swannanoa to take on ACA and came away winners 3-1.
Yancey started rather slow and were kept on their heels somewhat by a pressing ACA squad who moved with quickness and sharp passing. However, ACA was never able to mount a serious threat as the back line of Tyler Byrd, Martine and Tristan, with Tim playing in front of them, kept the ball out of our box.
The Cougars opened the scoring when Martine rushed up to take a free kick, about 10 yards inside the Yancey half. The ball went just over the head of a tall ACA defender, who had been heading away every long ball, and fell at the feet of Gabriel who raced ahead and beat the keeper to make give Yancey a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars were more focussed for the next 15 minutes and made numerous runs at the ACA box. Luke crashed the goal on a Yancey corner and just missed adding to his goal total. Likewise the ACA keeper made several good saves. The Cougars took their slim lead into the half.
The second half started with Yancey dominating possession and Eduardo driving across the top of the Asheville box to launch a rocket into the far corner to give Yancey a 2-0 lead.
ACA pressed hard, pushing the ball up the wings and making good, long, diagonal passes. Several times, Yancey defenders were beaten and committed lazy, stupid fouls resulting in several free kicks and a yellow card for Martine. They Yancey wall held up several times and denied Asheville a goal.
About midway through the second, an Asheville striker got on the end of an excellent through ball, got behind Martine, and beat Nester, who remained standing on the goal line. Nester needs to learn to come out on the shooter on breakaways.
Several times in the second half, I was struck by two of the Yancey palyers' reluctance to pass the ball. They seemed only interested in carrying the ball as far as they could. I hope next year, in high school, they have this predisposition drilled out of them.
In the last 5 minutes, Yancey pushed hard and Tim got on the end of a loose ball about 20 yards out and stroked a beautiful side footed shot into the far corner to give Yancey a comfortable 3-1 lead.
Yancey is 7-2-2 and will face Apple Valley, in Hendersonville, in the season finale this Wednesday.
Excellent job Cougars!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Yancey Wins Conference Championship!!!
On a COLD, overcast day in Newland (shocking, I know!), the Cougars captured their umpteenth straight Toe River Conference Championship by defeating the Avery Panthers 2-0 on the Panthers' home (artificial) field.
Our Cougars started off rather slow, maybe due to the 50 degree temperatures and brisk wind, as Avery dominated the first 8-9 mintues. That time period saw the Cougars called for multiple fouls and Avery had several chances to score. Timely defending and good goalkeeping kept Avery off the scoreboard.
Into the later 15 mintues, Luke was driving the ball upfield when he was fouled. The ref awarded the free kick and Martine drove the ball toward the goal. The ball eventually fell to Gabriel who punched past the Avery keeper to put the Cougars up 1-0. This goal defiitely settled Yancey down as the Cougars began to dominate possession and field position.
In the last 5 minutes of the half, the Cougars were awarded another free kick, resulting from an Avery foul. The ball was spotted on the Cougars' half of the field. Once again Martine launched a monster kick toward the Avery goal. One of the Avery defenders headed the ball down but Gerardo was able to get a foot on to beat the keeper, making the score 2-0 Yancey, which the Cougars took into the half.
Mr. Powell huddled the team outside of the field house, trying to find some relief from the wind.
The second half started much like the first, with Avery pressing and the officials awarding them numerous free kicks. Nester played solid goalie and kept the ball out of the back of the net several times.
As time wore on, the Cougars again began to dominate possession and field position. All the boys were playing hard, fighting for 50-50 balls. Avery needs to evaluate their program when playing home games. They provided one ball boy, who stayed on the team's side of the field. No one was patrolling the opposite side and no one was patrolling the ends. The Cougars were able to burn valuable minutes simply by retrieving balls that had been kicked out of bounds. Overall, Yancey dominated the second half and our guys erupted in cheers as the horn sounded and the ref blew the final whistle.
Final score - Yancey 2, Avery 0.
This team carried on the tradition of excellence that is Yancey Middle School soccer. They represented their school and themselves well with hard work and determination. The Cougars play two additional non-conference games next week when they travel to Apple Valley and Asheville Christian Academy.
Well Done Yancey!!!
---
Once again, Luke played with determination and pride. He fought for possession, carried the ball up field several times, set up his teammates with good passes and played hard defense, stopping several potential runs.
Our Cougars started off rather slow, maybe due to the 50 degree temperatures and brisk wind, as Avery dominated the first 8-9 mintues. That time period saw the Cougars called for multiple fouls and Avery had several chances to score. Timely defending and good goalkeeping kept Avery off the scoreboard.
Into the later 15 mintues, Luke was driving the ball upfield when he was fouled. The ref awarded the free kick and Martine drove the ball toward the goal. The ball eventually fell to Gabriel who punched past the Avery keeper to put the Cougars up 1-0. This goal defiitely settled Yancey down as the Cougars began to dominate possession and field position.
In the last 5 minutes of the half, the Cougars were awarded another free kick, resulting from an Avery foul. The ball was spotted on the Cougars' half of the field. Once again Martine launched a monster kick toward the Avery goal. One of the Avery defenders headed the ball down but Gerardo was able to get a foot on to beat the keeper, making the score 2-0 Yancey, which the Cougars took into the half.
Mr. Powell huddled the team outside of the field house, trying to find some relief from the wind.
The second half started much like the first, with Avery pressing and the officials awarding them numerous free kicks. Nester played solid goalie and kept the ball out of the back of the net several times.
As time wore on, the Cougars again began to dominate possession and field position. All the boys were playing hard, fighting for 50-50 balls. Avery needs to evaluate their program when playing home games. They provided one ball boy, who stayed on the team's side of the field. No one was patrolling the opposite side and no one was patrolling the ends. The Cougars were able to burn valuable minutes simply by retrieving balls that had been kicked out of bounds. Overall, Yancey dominated the second half and our guys erupted in cheers as the horn sounded and the ref blew the final whistle.
Final score - Yancey 2, Avery 0.
This team carried on the tradition of excellence that is Yancey Middle School soccer. They represented their school and themselves well with hard work and determination. The Cougars play two additional non-conference games next week when they travel to Apple Valley and Asheville Christian Academy.
Well Done Yancey!!!
---
Once again, Luke played with determination and pride. He fought for possession, carried the ball up field several times, set up his teammates with good passes and played hard defense, stopping several potential runs.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Yancey 4, Avery 0
Yancey DOMINATES Avery to win 4-0 in Regular Season Finale!
Avery got the opening kickoff. That was the end of the good news for them.
60 seconds into the game, Luke played a beautiful through-ball that caught Martine in full stride and Martine buried the shot to make it 1-0 Yancey barely a minute into the game.
The Cougars played with fire and intensity, chasing down loose balls, hustling, playing very physically, and using consistent passing.
Martine scored the next Cougar goal off a corner kick and Gabriel worked an absolute feat of magic to beat two Avery defenders to make the score 3-0 at the half.
The Cougars were fired up.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were played quite evenly with neither team really threatening. With 15 minutes to go, Mr Powell made some adjustments and the Cougars once again dominated, keeping the ball in the Avery defensive third for long stretches. The diminutive Gabriel was on the end of another good pass and the little forward beat the keeper to make it 4-0. Yancey played hard and did not allow Avery a decent shot.
Luke played another solid game. He hustled, he made great passes, played tough defense and stayed involved in the flow of the game
The win, with the 4 goals, means Yancey wins the regular season. Mitchell and Avery will play Monday to earn the right to meet these Cougars again at Mountain Heritage High School on Wednesday, October 1st.
The Cougars finish the regular season 5-2-2.
Avery got the opening kickoff. That was the end of the good news for them.
60 seconds into the game, Luke played a beautiful through-ball that caught Martine in full stride and Martine buried the shot to make it 1-0 Yancey barely a minute into the game.
The Cougars played with fire and intensity, chasing down loose balls, hustling, playing very physically, and using consistent passing.
Martine scored the next Cougar goal off a corner kick and Gabriel worked an absolute feat of magic to beat two Avery defenders to make the score 3-0 at the half.
The Cougars were fired up.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were played quite evenly with neither team really threatening. With 15 minutes to go, Mr Powell made some adjustments and the Cougars once again dominated, keeping the ball in the Avery defensive third for long stretches. The diminutive Gabriel was on the end of another good pass and the little forward beat the keeper to make it 4-0. Yancey played hard and did not allow Avery a decent shot.
Luke played another solid game. He hustled, he made great passes, played tough defense and stayed involved in the flow of the game
The win, with the 4 goals, means Yancey wins the regular season. Mitchell and Avery will play Monday to earn the right to meet these Cougars again at Mountain Heritage High School on Wednesday, October 1st.
The Cougars finish the regular season 5-2-2.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Yancey 6, Harris 0
Yancey completely dominated Harris yet again. Luke played his best overall game of the season. Were it not for the Mitchell goal keeper, probably the best keeper in the league, Luke would have notched one, if not two goals.
The team passed the ball very well and stayed away from the "boom ball" style. Goals were too numerous to remember. I think the score was 4-0 at the half. Several 8th graders sat out long minutes of the second half and as the game wore on, Mr. Powell began pulling players off. Yancey ended the game with seven men on the field and Eduardo in goal.
Yancey needs to carry this momentum in to the clash with Avery tomorrow.
GO COUGARS!!
The team passed the ball very well and stayed away from the "boom ball" style. Goals were too numerous to remember. I think the score was 4-0 at the half. Several 8th graders sat out long minutes of the second half and as the game wore on, Mr. Powell began pulling players off. Yancey ended the game with seven men on the field and Eduardo in goal.
Yancey needs to carry this momentum in to the clash with Avery tomorrow.
GO COUGARS!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
YMS 1, Avery MS 1
The Cougars hosted Avery in a hard fought match in Burnsville. The Cougars had more chances but neither team could engineer a goal during the first half.
The second half saw Yancey crank up the pressure and in two instances had balls cross the Avery goal line that were not counted as goals.
Avery scored off a rebounded shot with about three minutes left. The Cougars threw everything forward and were rewarded with a penalty kick for a deliberate handball in the Avery box.
Eduardo stepped up and buried the penalty shot.
The teams played two tough, five minute extra periods , but neither were able to manufacture a goal.
Yancey was missing starting defender Tyler Byrd and substitue Antonio. Luke says having those two players would have made a huge difference.
Luke had an excellent chance late in the second half but his shot carried over the bar.
Yancey's record stands at 3-2-2 with games next week at Harris and Avery at home.
The second half saw Yancey crank up the pressure and in two instances had balls cross the Avery goal line that were not counted as goals.
Avery scored off a rebounded shot with about three minutes left. The Cougars threw everything forward and were rewarded with a penalty kick for a deliberate handball in the Avery box.
Eduardo stepped up and buried the penalty shot.
The teams played two tough, five minute extra periods , but neither were able to manufacture a goal.
Yancey was missing starting defender Tyler Byrd and substitue Antonio. Luke says having those two players would have made a huge difference.
Luke had an excellent chance late in the second half but his shot carried over the bar.
Yancey's record stands at 3-2-2 with games next week at Harris and Avery at home.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
EYMS 3 , Asheville MS 3
The cougars road the bus to Asheville to meet AMS on their home field. Luke opened the scoring for Yancey, notching his first goal; a half volley with an assist from Eduardo. Asheville equalized and the teams went into the half knotted at 2-2.
Once again, our Cougars found the net to make the score 3-2, only to see Asheville equalize in the last two minutes.
After two, five minute overtime periods, neither team had been able to push across, though Yancey had several good chances. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Once again, our Cougars found the net to make the score 3-2, only to see Asheville equalize in the last two minutes.
After two, five minute overtime periods, neither team had been able to push across, though Yancey had several good chances. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Yancey 4, Harris 1
The Cougars traveled over to Spruce Pine and handily defeated Harris. The score would have been much worse had Mr. Powell not played with ten, nine, and finally eight players in the second half (and several untimely off-side calls).
Gabriel contributed two goals with his bursts of speed and solid footwork. Gerardo drove in a long shot from his favorite spot; out near the right corner of the box. Jacob picked up his first goal of the season as he tapped in a loose ball that fell in front of the goal off a corner kick.
Harris' lone goal came late in the game with the Cougars playing with nine men on the field.
Luke played his best all around game with solid defending, unselfish passing, and several good drives up the field.
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