Chargers Begin Indoor Season with Convincing WinOctober 17, 2003 – Soccerzone – Portage, MichiganThe Chargers began the 2003-2004 indoor soccer season tonight against the young and quick KalSec “Reds” team. Several questions about the Chargers needed to be answered as the team transitioned to the indoor arena: Could the team continue their long-standing unbeaten streak? How would the new additions to the squad perform? Could Marcus Schoenherr (Collections) continue to score at the pace he finished the outdoor season with? All of these questions about the team would be answered in this level-setting first game of the season. The game started fast with the young Reds team outpacing the Chargers in the early minutes. Both teams were running on adrenalin during the opening minutes and play was hap-hazard on both sides of the ball. Five minutes into the game, a Reds midfield player hit a picture perfect shot low and left of Charger goalkeeper Leslie Stafford (Processing Services). Score: Chargers 0, Reds 1. Less than a minute later, Pete Rose (Collections) took a long ball deep into the Reds’ defense, dribbled a defender, and sent a shot past the goalkeeper to tie the game. Within three minutes, it was the same player on the Reds again scoring on another fine shot that went just past Stafford: Chargers 1, Reds 2. The Chargers tied the game just minutes later when new addition Kevin Tenant (Inbound) played a nice give and go pass to John Marucci (New Product), who put the ball past the Reds’ keeper. The Chargers then took the lead two minutes later when Rose found Schoenherr in front of the Reds’ goal in the 12th minute. Score: Chargers 3, Reds 2. Less than a minute later, Marucci picked up a rebound from a Schoenherr shot and slotted the ball past the Reds’ keeper for his second goal. The Reds did net another goal before the half expired. Score at half: Chargers 4, Reds 3 The second half started with an early Charger goal when Marucci found a rebound from a Tenant shot and juggled it past the Reds’ goalkeeper for his third goal. Score: Chargers 5, Reds 3. It became all Chargers as the half progressed with most of the play down in the Reds’ side of the field. Schoenherr again lived up to his nickname of “Garbage Man” in the 8th minute of the second half scrapping in front of the Reds’ goal, he picked up his second goal of the night, making the score Chargers 6, Reds 3. The Garbage Man struck again just two minutes later after picking up a shot that went wide by Ryan Potter (Collections), turning with the ball toward the goal and beating the Reds’ goalkeeper. It was now 7 to 3 Chargers with 12 minutes remaining. The Reds scored once more with 10 minutes remaining on a nice shot from the same player who had scored their other three goals. With five minutes remaining, it was Schoenherr playing a nice pass to a wide-open Marucci in front of the Reds’ goal to put the icing on the cake. Final Score: Chargers 8, Reds 4. “A great way to start the indoor campaign,” said Marucci, “we started a bit unsure, but quickly adjusted and then took over the game. Their team had one good player who scored all of their goals. We again showed that it is difficult for one player to beat an entire team. I again think Stacie (Vezeau) played solid on defense, especially in the second half, shutting down several of their attacks. Both Ken (Fouts) and Kevin (Tenant) added considerably to the team tonight. Ken hustled the entire game, and Kevin played very quality defense. Everyone played pretty well, and as we improve our fitness level, I think we should be able to compete nicely going forward. Of course, Marcus answered the question of being able to produce goals indoor. Three is pretty good for his first indoor game. The next Charger’s game will be on Friday, October 24th at 9:30 pm at Soccerzone in Portage. Everyone is invited to come out and cheer on your Chargers. |
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