Weekly comments and updates about the previous weeks games and tournaments.
The Month of May started out tough for the Patriots as they lost in the US Club State Cup and NJYS State Cup to Ironbound Cosmos in the same week. In the US Club State cup game, the Patriots started going up 1-0 in the first 10 minutes with a beautifully worked run by Andrew Young and finished by Andrew Wilkinson. The Patriots then gave up 3 quick goals at the beginning of the 2nd half and were down 3-1 with 25 remaining. Wilkinson was then awarded a pk after colliding with the keeper. His bravery gave the Patriots a Tim Janes pk goal and made the game 3-2. After a scramble in the box, Ryan Thomas somehow poked in another goal and the score was tied with 10 minutes remaining. Chris Renna created the best 2 chances at the end of the game but they Patriots couldn't finish their chances and were sent to the dreaded penalty shootout and lost 4-3.
4 days later, the Patriots traveled to Newark again and were outplayed by a motivated Ironbound team. After getting a bogus red card at the beginning of the 2nd half and down 2-0, the Cosmos put the nail in the coffin after a beautifully taken free kick gave the Cosmos the win and a 4-0 final score.
This weekend at the New England Showcase, the Patriots started against local rival North Hunterdon and were 1-0, 8 minutes into the game and flying. Andrew Wilkinson managed to play Andrew Young in on a breakaway and Young nutmegged the keeper. After a 45 minute thunderstorm delay, the Patriots lost momentum and were outplayed for much of the game. North Hunterdon won every 50-50 ball and eventually scored with 8 minutes to go to tie the game 1-1.
The 2nd game of the day was against a big strong side in FC United of Massachusetts. Once again the Patriots opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game with a great run by Chris Renna who found Young who coolly laid the ball off to Wilkinson and he confidently finished in the bottom corner. The Patriots then gave up goal #2 of the day and #3 of the day in the same manner-lazy, back post defending by outside midfielders. The Patriots worked hard through out the 2nd half and deserved to tie the game with numerous chances that went wide.
In game 3, the Patriots faced their toughest game of the tournament on paper, FC Stars of Massachusetts who had won both games the day before. With only 13 healthy field players and down 1-0 after 10 minutes, the Patriots made a fantastic comeback. Colton Klein's excellent finish after an FC Star's defending mistake at the back, evened the score 1-1 going into halftime. Now down to only 12 healthy field players and missing 5 regular starting players, the Patriots finally got the lucky goal they've been waiting for all season. James Pirro's extra effort to cross a ball ended up going in the back of the net with 9 minutes remaining. It was a gutsy, scrappy performance, but the boys worked extra hard defensively and got the win. Tim Janes made some excellent saves and the defensive efforts of Ryan Frazier, Jason Rainier, Marc DiFalco, Austin Wilkinson and Tim Beekman were outstanding.
The Patriots play 2 MAPS game in the next 2 weeks and then are off to the Potomac Memorial Day Tournament.
