Team challenged by strong offensive intensity of pro team
By Andy Matarrese
The men's soccer team tied 1-1 in a heated exhibition match last Friday against the Portland Timbers.
"I felt like I was getting whacked all over the park," said sophomore Collen Warner, who was on the receiving end of a head-butt.
Although the teams appeared to have made nice quickly, they didn't do so before four yellow cards were issued to the Pilots, with another yellow and a red shown to the Timbers.
"As soon as the whistle blows, they're just another team," said sophomore Logan Emory, granting that, when playing professionals, it's a good feeling to get in a few goals and a few tackles.
Head Coach Bill Irwin wasn't surprised with the level of intensity that the Timbers brought to the match.
"It's another level up, and our players have to respond to it," he said, explaining that the Timbers' players were all fighting for starting spots. The match Friday was their last preseason match before they face off against Puerto Rico for their season opener.
The Men of Merlo were forced to spend much of the first half reacting to the Timbers' offense, and struggled to move the ball past midfield. The Timbers doubled the Pilots' eight shots on the night, keeping the pressure constant throughout the match.
The Timbers, while leading eight shots to the Pilots' three at the end of the first, were unable to squeeze one by freshman goalkeeper Austin Guerrero, who had a total of five saves for his 78 minutes of play. Sophomore Daniel Rhine filled in for the rest of the half, recording one save.
The game's first goal came in the 49th minute. Former Pilot and Timbers forward Chris Brown took aim from 15 yards out, off a corner kick from another former Pilot, Andrew Gregor. Guerrero deflected the shot, but Timbers defender Cameron Knowles was able to scoop UP the loose ball and pinch one in from six yards away.
All three Pilot alums on the Timbers side, Gregor, Brown and Miguel Guante, who came in during the second stanza to rack up one shot, saw time on the field last Friday.
Down 1-0 with the time running out, things looked bleak for the Pilot faithful, but in the 88th minute Emory wrested a ball from the Timber defense and proceeded to blast a shot into the top right from 22 yards to tie it up.
Within less than a minute, Emory closed for another attempt, only to have it deflected: The game ended as a 1-1 tie.
The men's regular season begins Aug. 29 with the Nike Invitational. If you're still jonesing for some spring soccer action, the women face off tomorrow against the United States U-23 National Team.
