GW Beat Serbs to Open Indoor Season

On January 10, 2010, the Green White First Team opened the 2010 Metropolitan Major Division Indoor season against a familiar foe in the United Serbs from Gurnee, Illinois.  As the game got underway, Green White was the surprise aggressor, moving the ball forward with pace as prescribed by coach Jake Truty.  In the early going, GW had a superlative chance go for naught when Anthony Derose and Arso Mitreski exchanged touches that freed Mitreski for a 1 v. 1 with the keeper, but Mitreski hit the left post with the net minder falling back on his heels.  As the period continued, Serbs employed a post-up game unique to all teams in the Major Division this year.  But Green White bodied up and stood tall, with Jason Okroy, Colum Donahue, Monroe Bell Jr., Jimmy Romano and Sean Connor each taking turns in the central defense and refusing to bite as the portly Serbian forward danced with the ball under foot and his back to the goal.  Despite the generally good defending, at the 7:20 mark, Green White left a man unmarked in the middle as the ball was fed across the face of goal from the left.  The first time shot deflected off the right post and in to give Serbs a 1-0 lead that they carried into the intermission.  But Green White came out firing in the second half and found the equalizer when Mitreski carried up the gut before dishing to Brendan Connor on the right.  From an acute angle, the poster boy for Lucky Charms fired at the far post to knot the game at one apiece.   As the boys in green continued to press, Rolando Cruz cursed his luck when he missed a chance in front with only the keeper to beat, and then wanted back a volley that fell to him in the same rapid exchange.  But with just three minutes remaining, Green White captured the lead on the counter-attack.  It started with a nifty over the head flick from Art Rosiles to free himself of challengers near the Serbian bench.  Once cleared, Rosiles spotted Cruz down field.  Cruz received the pass and slotted Brandon Hardy, who had out raced the tired defense to find an opening on the doorstep.  Hardy managed to slide the ball past the keeper for the game winner, but not without paying the price, as the keeper barreled into his planted foot; severely twisting Hardy’s ankle.  The angular one needed assistance from the field and was forced to watch from the bench with a bag of ice as Green White anxiously tried to kill off the remaining time.  With just 25 seconds remaining, and the Serbs throwing everything forward, Brendan Connor nearly collected his brace to seal the deal, but his ¾ length attempt with the goalie stranded at midfield bounced off the post just inches from the prize.  Nonetheless, time soon thereafter expired on the Serbs and Green White picked up a deserved win on their first outing of the young season. 

Squad:  Jose Cornejo (k), Nick Dudziak, Brandon Hardy, Jason Okroy, James Limna, Sean Connor, Brendan Connor, Eric Spiess, Tom Czop, Arso Mitreski, Rolando Cruz, Jimmy Romano, Monroe Bell, Jr., Anthony Derose, Colum Donahue, Art Rosiles.  Goals:  BConnor (asst. AMitreski), BHardy (assts. RCruz, ARosiles).

In other Metropolitan League Major Division action on January 10, 2010:  HNK Zrinski 3 – Sockers FC 1; Vikings AA 6 – SC Connection 1; Maroons 1 – Schwaben AC 2; AAC Eagles 1 – International 0.