2008 Woodie Awards
Bear attack
Lions drop game to WNEC, wait for playoffs to begin Saturday
David Bartlett
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Sports
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The Emerson men's soccer players knew they had a difficult task ahead of them as 15-1 Western New England College (WNEC) stormed into town. The Lions hoped to play their game and slow down a tough Golden Bears squad, ranked 15th in the nation as of last Saturday.
WNEC overcame a gritty Lions attack, however, and pulled away with a sound 5-0 victory.
"We knew they were the best team we had faced this year," said junior Cody Schram, the Lions' co-captain.
In order to face such a formidable opponent, the Lions entered the game with a detailed plan to defeat the Golden Bears, said Head Coach Jared Scarpaci.
"We used a four-five-one style of offense," Scarpaci said.
This type of attack involves using four forwards and five midfielders and often results in more scoring, according to Scarpaci.
"We didn't want to let them score in the first 10 minutes," said Schram, who noted that in its last two games the team allowed goals toward the beginning of the contests that put Emerson in early holes.
The Lions succeeded in this plan and held WNEC scoreless for the first 21 minutes. With 23:37 left to play in the first half, however, WNEC struck, sending a shot past junior goalie Galen Wilk to make the score 1-0.
The Golden Bears quickly added insurance as senior Paul Russo launched a goal past Wilk less than a minute later to make it 2-0.
"The first 20 minutes were a dogfight," Scarpaci said. "[WNEC is] a very good, well-organized team."
WNEC would add two more goals late in the first half, and at halftime, the score stood at 4-0 in favor of the Golden Bears.
"They just piled on," Schram said.
But, the Lions were a different team after the break.
"The second half I was very pleased," Schram said.
The Lions allowed only a single goal during the last half. They had several near-misses of their own in front of WNEC's goal, but were not quite able to score.
In spite of the team being shut out, Schram said he still saw some encouraging signs.
WNEC overcame a gritty Lions attack, however, and pulled away with a sound 5-0 victory.
"We knew they were the best team we had faced this year," said junior Cody Schram, the Lions' co-captain.
In order to face such a formidable opponent, the Lions entered the game with a detailed plan to defeat the Golden Bears, said Head Coach Jared Scarpaci.
"We used a four-five-one style of offense," Scarpaci said.
This type of attack involves using four forwards and five midfielders and often results in more scoring, according to Scarpaci.
"We didn't want to let them score in the first 10 minutes," said Schram, who noted that in its last two games the team allowed goals toward the beginning of the contests that put Emerson in early holes.
The Lions succeeded in this plan and held WNEC scoreless for the first 21 minutes. With 23:37 left to play in the first half, however, WNEC struck, sending a shot past junior goalie Galen Wilk to make the score 1-0.
The Golden Bears quickly added insurance as senior Paul Russo launched a goal past Wilk less than a minute later to make it 2-0.
"The first 20 minutes were a dogfight," Scarpaci said. "[WNEC is] a very good, well-organized team."
WNEC would add two more goals late in the first half, and at halftime, the score stood at 4-0 in favor of the Golden Bears.
"They just piled on," Schram said.
But, the Lions were a different team after the break.
"The second half I was very pleased," Schram said.
The Lions allowed only a single goal during the last half. They had several near-misses of their own in front of WNEC's goal, but were not quite able to score.
In spite of the team being shut out, Schram said he still saw some encouraging signs.