The End of the Road...

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Though the very thoughts of the Bears were drowned out by the roar of the #2 Terrapin supporters as they stepped out onto the frigid pitch, the boys played without fear. Hungry, sharp, vicious, they attacked with confidence, outworking and outplaying a team that had stood atop the National standings for the duration of the season. Making these Terrapins duck back inside their shells. This was a Bear squad that deserved to be here.

We possessed and combined with patience, our defense standing strong, allowing the offense time to create and surge forward. Hard fought tackles, inventive passes, and some inspired movement kept us knocking on Maryland’s door, until, in only the 17^th minute of the game, a beautiful corner from Dylan connected with Bizzle’s noggin to put us up a deserving 1-0. It was the first time in 11 games that the Terrapins had trailed.

Throughout the first half, the Bears energy and aggression persisted, but Maryland began rising to the challenge. The game became an offensive battle with Big Ben sending a breakaway just wide, and Schloss and “the Wall” standing strong. But in the last minute of the half the Terrapins drew level, sending an absolute firecracker from 30 yards out passed the outstretched mitts of Schloss to make it 1-1.

The half ended on a bitter note, a note that would unfortunately be echoed once more at the end of the game.

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I will not belabor you all with detailed descriptions of the second half. The brilliant efforts of Bizzle and Big Ben, the dancing dangles of Tmac, the courageous goal line saves of Erob and Schloss, these are moments that you’ve no doubt heard and seen before, that are perhaps customary to us now after a truly remarkable season for BMS. I won’t paint a heartbreaking picture of Maryland’s winning goal in the final minute of the game, a tear-streaked face for sympathy, or a classic “you win some you lose some” quote.

But I will say that the boys played their F-ing hearts out.

I will say we showed one of the best teams in the country we could play the Beautiful Game.

I will say that, despite the heartbreak, I was proud.

To the Players: A huge congratulations for yet another incredible season and a huge thank you for letting me be a part of it and relive the glory days in our 1 touch games

To the Coaches: It was a great privilege to peek behind the curtain this year and recognize the time, effort and dedication you put in day in and day out.

And To Parents and Readers: Thank you all so much for listening to me blather on this season, and write about something that – still – matters so much to me.

Thank you all and Happy Holidays,

Evan

The First Step...

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Though the glimmer of another Ivy League ring had fizzled out with our loss to Dartmouth, though Stevenson would stand pristine and vacant for the first round of the NCAA tournament, hope sprung eternal in the hearts and minds of the Bears, as once again they loaded onto the bus, this time bound for Drexel, Pennsylvania.

Opening the playoffs on foreign soil is never an easy task, but as the announcer called out the Brown players one by one, it was clear that, regardless of location, our devout fan base would make the Bears feel right at home with impassioned cheers and shrieks that far outshone the roar of the Dragon’s supporters.

As the whistle blew the game to life, the Bears sprung into action with confidence and composure, putting the yellowy-white Dragons under siege in their own defensive half. Strong tackles from Markes and Erob set the tone for the backline’s unflinching stinginess throughout the match, while offensively we created space, with speculative efforts coming for Markes and Tmac, and a brilliant ball from Tmac that found Bizzle at the corner of the 6’ to force a strong save by the Drexel keeper.

A corner came for Brown. Dylan stepped up cooly to the plate and sent in a scintillating ball to the raucous “Ooooohs” of the Brown supporters, which was deftly headed in by Tmac at the front post! It was not a familiar type of goal for the quick-footed middy Mcnamara, but seemed somehow fitting that the teams lead dancer on the field should start the Bears tournament dance off with such a strong step. 1-0 Brown in the 17^th minute!

The half carried on with the Bears pulling away from the Dragons, possessing well and putting pressure on Drexel at every step. Although we struggled to produce any significant chances in our offensive half, defensively we remained organized, solidified and confident in our passes and control of the ball. And then, in the dying minutes of the half, a brilliant piece of one-touch, combination play arose.

A distant memory of the boys spring Spain trip seemed to materialize on the field. It began with Tmac, snatching the ball from a Dragon winger, then to V at midfield, one touch to D.T., one touch to Bobby, one touch layoff back to V, one touch to Dyl on the left who sent an arcing ball right to the forehead of D.T. The ball ended its beautiful trajectory in the back of the net to make it 2-0. The Bears were up, and the half had finished gloriously. 

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After a brilliant first half for the Bears, the second half was, shall we say, a little lackluster. Perhaps there was an expectation that the Dragons’ fire had been extinguished, perhaps thoughts already lingered on the promise of facing Maryland in the 2^nd round, but whatever the reason, the Bears found themselves struggling, and caged in their own box for the majority of the half. 

In the first 10 minutes alone, the Dragons registered 6 shots, many of which had to be dealt with by the wall of our backline, and all of which fell just shy of the goal frame. Indeed, as the sun set across Drexel’s pitch, the glorious dominance and confidence of the Bears’ first half seemed a thing of the past as the sky and our hopes darkened. Yes, we had claimed the coveted 2^nd goal for our own, but as the Bears blocked shot after shot, one couldn’t help but think on the energy that would accompany a rebuttal goal for Drexel. 

Credit must be given, however, to our generals in the back. After a calm and breezy first half of possession which saw Markes and Remick push confidently up the wings, our back five proved well up for the offensive onslaught of the Dragon’s attack in the second half. Erob in particular seemed to be on the end of nearly every ball that crossed into our half, sticking vital tackles and clearing shots off the line, shredding Drexel’s last hopes repeatedly. 

Finally, and thankfully, after a few final moments of offense for the Bears, the final whistle blew. Yes the Dragons had outmatched us in the second half (putting up 14 shots to our pitiful 5), yes we would have to improve our performance for Maryland, but much, much more importantly… 
WE WERE ON TO THE 2^nd ROUND!

On to the # 2 Maryland Terrapins!

The Big Green Closer

Lights flooded across the pristine Dartmouth pitch. The monstrous Fox Soccer Channel cameras whirred on, tracking the boys as they jogged out to take their places for a match that has consistently been one of the greatest Ivy League battles each year. As Dartmouth huddled together across the field, their green-and-white-hooped jerseys blinding cameramen everywhere, the Bears formed a black, 11-man knot in preparation for the match that lay before them at the end of the season.

The whistle blew, and both sides sprung into action on the slick surface. Although play seemed to remain mostly in the center of the pitch, the energy emitted from both sides was exhilarating, as sliding challenges and monstrous aerial battles dominated the narrative of the game. Urged on by the hordes of grunting frat-boy fans, The Big Green seemed to gain the upper hand in the first quarter of play, putting in several nerve-racking crosses and forcing knuckle punches from the veteran keeper Schloss.

Then, finally at around the 18^th minute the Bears put on one of their first real offensive surges, combining well and finding Big Ben in space for a blast just over the bar. Moments later, Tmac danced his way up the left side of the pitch, and forced his defender into a lunging poke for a Brown corner. Tmac took it magnificently, sending in a long, arcing ball just outside the penalty spot, which met the golden, unmarked dome of Erob and rocketed home. GOAL, GOAL, GOOOAAAAAAALLLL!

"Que Honda Hue?"

 

It was a vital goal on the road for the Bears, as the momentum on the field shifted and the Bears created several more opportunities from the flanks. However, as the game opened up, the Bears found themselves with a familiar problem, namely how to complete a final pass in the offensive third of the field. Over-hit balls slipped out across the end line and hospital passes were intercepted, as Dartmouth began to realize their best attacking option: the counter.

Sure enough, as the half wound to a close, the Big Green did just this, picking up a “hit-it-with-your-purse” pass, the ball was threaded easily through a sparse, recovering Brown defense, once, twice, and finally onto the foot of a Big Green forward who – given far too much space – turned, and simply slotted the ball into the back corner of the Bears’ net in the final minutes of the half to level the score,

1-1.

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As the Bears jogged back out across the Big Green’s big, green, they seemed ready; alert and energetic as they sprinted on the sideline, frothing at the bit for another half to prove their mettle. However, as the 2^nd half began, and Dartmouth pressed forward, forcing two corners and a heart-stopping goal-line clearance from the Brown defense, it was clear that the Bears had their work cut out for them. Dartmouth continued to pressure, flinging themselves into crunching tackles, frightening the Bears out of confident possession, and showing that their final game of the season would be a fight to the death as cautionary yellows flew.

After a considerable amount of mediocre marking and passing from the Bears, thankfully the tides shifted, as we surged up the wings once more, with hard work from Gavey, Dyl and Big Ben, to earn us a series of corners, and some brilliantly dangerous balls in from Tmac as Dartmouth barricaded themselves Chelsea-style into their box to wait out the onslaught.

Perhaps the ref felt bad for the Big Green (especially after one Dartmouth player blasted his own teammate in the nether-regions and Bizzle almost scored!), or perhaps he had confused his duties on the field with his part time babysitting job, but whatever the reason, remarkably soft fouls continued to be called against the Bears, well Dartmouth seemed to get away with, well, murder. Nonetheless we defended well against this succession of unjust free kicks, and continued to push forward, with strong strikes for D.T. and Dyl pushed wide, as once again, the game was headed to overtime…

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“No D, O.T.” seemed a fitting title for extra time, as both teams sacrificed numbers in the back for some exciting offensive opportunities. After a near P.K. occurred for the Bears with Dyl getting hauled down in the box, the Big Green countered, striking the ball just wide of the net. This was followed shortly by a wonderful leading ball from Tmac to Gavey, whose speculative cross was blocked, and countered by the Big Green as they blasted the ball just wide of the Bears’ goal.

This pattern continued as shots came for Big Ben, Tmac and Gavey, only to be denied by some strong play from the Dartmouth keeper. Meanwhile, Schloss had his own work cut out for him as he made a couple of vital saves from the hard-hitting Dartmouth forwards. But then, disaster struck.

It was the final seconds of the game, and the ball was pin-balling its way through the Bears’ box. Bodies flew, legs were kicked, shots were blocked, and somehow the ball remained, confined in this rectangle, forcing the fans to their feet. The lackadaisical announcer began his countdown a good second behind the scoreboard’s

5…. The ball ricocheted of another Brown body back to a Dartmouth cleat.

4…. Another shot, another save.

3…. A clearance is muffed by someone clad in Black.

2…. The ball appears is nicked up in the air,

1….  It’s brought down by a Dartmouth player

0…. And rocketed into the net, a good half second after the game’s end.

The Drunken masses cheered, the Big Green roared, the Bears begged, and the ref – too frightened by all the loud noise – tried to sneak quietly away, unwilling to challenge the home side’s victory. It was a questionable, unfair, and devastating loss for the Bears, as they walked off the field to make their way home. I for one would love to find the footage from FSC of those final seconds and send a gentle letter of constructive criticism to the officials.

And so the regular season came to an abrupt and ugly halt. Though the Bears hung their heads, they still left that pitch knowing that more games lay in store, as they awaited the NCAA tourney draw… Shoutout to Dyl, Tmac, McDuff, Erob, Big Ben, and Schloss for their Ivy League Honors.

Up next… the first round of the NCAA tourny against.... Drexel!

The Bulldog's Fight on Senior Night

      
            LOS BANDITOS
   To The Seven Seniors I Have Had The Privilege of Working
   With For The Past Four Years.
      Your Commitment, Your
   Dedication, and Your Love Of The Game Has Produced Some
   Of The Best Soccer Brown        
      University Has Ever Seen.
      Best Of Luck With Life,
  Love, And The Beautiful Game

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After a stunning rendition of our National Anthem by the younger and more musically gifted of the McDuff brothers, the game kicked off, and almost immediately Gavey muscled his way past a defender to produce the Bears first corner of the game. Dyl drove in a brilliant ball, that was flicked over by Markes and volleyed beneath the Bulldog keeper by the versatile Big Ben! 

1-0 Good Guys in the first two minutes!

Unfortunately, this stunning effort was soon followed by a bit of lazy defending as a collection of awkward tackles produced several free kicks for the Bulldogs and the ball pinballed its way through the Bears’ box. After a series of good battles from our midfielders Gavey, Tmac and Tariq, one of these challenges led to a counter and a rip from Tariq just high over the bar. However, this aggressive and physical battle of the middies would persist throughout the rest of the game.

While there was one scary giveaway in the back by Captain Duff, it was thankfully blasted harmlessly over by the Bulldog's overeager striker. Meanwhile, the Bears' offense found itself with several quick breakaways including a Remick layoff to Belair who scuffed it wide, and a brilliant streaking run from Gavey that produced a cross and header from Bizzle that was brushed just wide.

Then came the goal of retribution. Off yet another Bulldog corner scrum, the Bears failed to make first contact and a Yale midfielder punched the ball against the crossbar. As the Bears looked helplessly on, another Yale player pounced upon the rebound and smashed in into the back of the net to draw the Bulldogs level. 1-1.

This unfortunate turn of events was followed by a dominating response from the Bears who surged forward offensively producing chances with Gavey and Ben both having speculative efforts that were saved. Then after a free kick from Tmac that was turned over by Dyl, Yale countered and found themselves on a breakaway only to be denied by the strength of Schloss.

Besides this one attempt, the remainder of the half belonged to the Bears who pushed forward with chance after chance only to be met with questionable challenges, a lack of sympathy from the ref (including a clear PK after Gavey was crushed in the box on a “double leg tackle”), and some convincing acting from the “Yale School of Drama” as the half came to a close.

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After Yale took off in the opening minutes of the game, the Bears once again established their dominance with Tmac’s interpretive movement section “Dancing with Bulldogs” and a succession of shots and crosses that continued to be pushed just wide by the stingy Yale keeper. As the Yale cameraman put it “Where was this team in the first half?” Our offense continued to press forward and create chance after chance, led by a bandaged Belair, the tornado Tmac and some brilliant work on the flanks.

Although the vast majority of the game was played in the Bulldogs half, for some reason, we still found ourselves struggling defensively as Yale was able to counter off our intensive offensive pressure. Flurries of corners and crosses came in from Dylan and Gavey on the flanks, Tmac danced through dumbstruck defenders, headers glanced wide for Big Ben and Belair, shots flew over for Tariq and Voltaire, but the ball remained net-repellent, as the hungry Bears continued to knock on the Bulldog’s door

After a bizarre yellow was awarded to the young Akeel (apparently for getting fouled?) and one last breathtaking effort from the ole noggin of Big Ben, regulation puttered to a halt, as the Bears faced another nerve-wracking overtime.

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During O.T. the Bears intensified their command over the Bulldogs with quality possession and good off the ball movement even after 90+ minutes of play. Though the first period ended without much fanfare, as the second and final period began, the Bears produced their best chances of the game. First it came with a 20 second scrum in the Bulldog box, reminiscent of the youth league “beehive” tactic where players kicked wildly and frantically at the ball as it bumbled its way through the 18'.

Next it was Tmac’s chance to turn up the heat as he sent a laser just wide of the net, and followed this effort up a minute later with a brilliant cross to Bizzle, who knocked it just over the goal. And finally came the glory run of Pepeciño, as he duked one defender, than another, pushing the ball effortlessly forward, across the box, and striking a low hard drive that ricocheted off the back post and trickled across the face of the Bulldog net untouched. It was this dazzling effort that seemed to epitomize the Bear’s misfortune as the final whistle sounded, revealing truth behind the old adage “sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way”.

It was a solemn ending to a game well played by the Bears. With this stalemate and the discovery of Cornell’s victory over Dartmouth came the painful realization that our shot at the Ivy League Title was no longer in our hands, dependent upon Cornell dropping points to Columbia, and on a victory against Dartmouth.

On a happier note, shoutout to First Team Capital One Academic All-District Honor recipients Dylan Remick and Sam Kernan-Schloss

Up next, the final game of the regular season for the Bears will be played at Dartmouth, and broadcast nationally via the Fox Soccer Channel at 7 p.m. Stay tuned!

Quake n' Steak

After a long five-hour journey to the home of the cheesesteak, some well-deserved rest, and a sumptuous breakfast, we loaded back onto the bus and wove our way through the intricate jungle gym of the UPenn Athletic Complex. Crossing railroads, bridges, and uncharted territory, the boys got a quick morning practice in with Sam “Bam” Groves and Tim “the Ranga” Whalen making the highlight reel with a full field banger and some deftly accurate post-strikes respectively.


After a pregame meal at Allegre Pizza on Penn campus – where we watched some Penn students really get after the “homecoming spirit” at around 4 p.m.  – we boarded the bus once more. All that could be heard over the soft guitar noodlings of the Bus speakers were Pepe and Edu engaging in what sounded like a ferocious reenactment of their favorite Telenovela (Spanish for Soap Opera), as we hummed our way to the Quakers’ field.

The whistle blew, and before the tempo or feel of the game had even been established, the Bears found themselves up 1-0. The goal came after some clever play from Gavey on the wing as he whipped in a ball to Belair, who then deftly laid it back to Big Ben Maurey. And, with the fiery passion that dwells deep inside the heart of the volatile striker, Big Ben sent an absolute rifle into the top left “cheddar” of the goal after just 4 minutes of play. This was the start the Bears had been hoping for.

However, this excitement quickly dissolved as the momentum shifted in favor of the Quakers. All of a sudden the Quaker forwards began running dangerously at our backline, causing chaos and revealing some sloppy defending at times as Schloss was forced to come up with a succession of vital saves for the Bears. In the center of the park we seemed stagnant at times, finding ourselves watching the clever Quaker footwork as they one-twoed around our cone-like tracking.

Finally we were able to possess as we took advantage of the space their 4-3-3 midfielders granted us with Tmac, Dyl and Gavey pushing strongly up on the wings, creating chances and corners. Ben used his “big boned” frame once more to body a defender off the ball and create a breakaway for himself, though his shot flew wide of the net. Moments later, Tmac produced one of the cheekiest attempts I have seen in awhile as he juggled two defenders and rifled a shot toward the top right corner of the goal (much like this Maicon display)


Though the first half saw our defense straying from their usual stalwart authority at times including a near nutmeg breakaway against McDuff, the central midfield strengthened with the support of Jameson and Jack “G” Gorab who breathed energy into the game, playing with confidence and composure at a vital time for the Bears. Connecting passes and setting up chances from our refortified midfield, Tmac and Belair both had several more attempts on frame, but the half closed with the Bears clinging to their early lead, needing another for security.

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But the coveted second goal was not to be found for either side. Though the Bears continued to dominate throughout the second half, creating chance after chance and returning to their wall-like defense...

...a goal would simply not come. Unlike the explosive offense and dubious defending of the first half, the second half brought with it a return to “chippy” tackles, fouls, and a refusal from both sides to grant the opposition any clean shots.

Though both keepers remained busy with the Quaker goalie coming up with several big blocks and Schloss remaining alert for his brief encounters with the ball – including a frighteningly close call in the 85th minute – the game ended as the first half had, with the Bears in front 1-0. A huge sigh of relief was breathed in unison by the Bear’s many supporters as the final whistle sounded. Once again Brown had not only come up with a hard-fought victory, but they had done it on the road, with yet another game winner from Big Ben, and had shutout a high-scoring Penn offense in the process.

The Bears now move to 4-0-1 atop the Ivy League and are ranked as one of the top ten teams in the country. Though their poise and consistency has been proven, the Bears will face a tough end of the season run, first against a hungry Yale squad, and then against their 2011 Ivy League Co-Champions, Dartmouth. The weeks ahead promise excitement as both the Ivy League Title and a berth in the NCAA tournament depend upon these next two results. A huge thank you to Mr. Whalen for all of the quality photos, and don’t forget to vote for Ryan McDuff for the Senior Class Award 

Cheers!

The Big Red with The Big Head

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It was a crisp, sunny, Saturday afternoon at Brown. Hordes of parents meandered behind their sons and daughters on campus, sampling the local fare on Thayer and admiring the vibrant leaves that adorned the Streets and greens of campus. But inside the Brown Bears locker room, the boys were focused only on the game that lay before them as they strapped on tape, and drowned out nerves and lingering thoughts with headphones blasting dub step, entering a place of concentration for the battle against the Big Red. 

By the numbers, it was one of the more daunting challenges the Bears had faced in recent years. Not only was Cornell the only remaining team in the country to have won every single game they had played up until this point, but they also boasted the nation’s point leader in forward Daniel Haber, and an average of nearly 3 goals per game. Both the Bears and the Big Red had been ranked as one of the top 20 teams in the country, and stood at 2^nd and 1^st place in the Ivy League respectively, so quite a bit more than usual was on the line.

The whistle sounded, and both teams took off. As expected, it was a physical battle right from the get go, as both teams pushed on with heavy pressure, defending well and disallowing any real offensive creativity. After a questionable foul call against the Bears just outside the Bear’s box, the Big Red got their first opportunity, as the infamous Haber stepped up and rifled the ball just wide of the far post. But then it was our turn, as Dylan gained possession on the left side of the pitch and sent a brilliant ball in to Belair at the corner of the 6’. Belair, with a difficult shot, struck the ball firmly, only to see his shot rebound off the keeper’s chest… to the monstrous foot of BIG BEN who hammered it home in the first five minutes of the game!

(The many celebratory stages of Ben)

The Hammer

The Velociraptor meets MJ?

Number One Bro!

Is There No One Else?!

The crowd went wild.

Cornell was stupefied, and tried to regroup, huddling with heads bowed in shame. But whatever they said or sang (a Kumbaya perhaps?), the Big Red managed to fight back, stringing together a series of passes and almost finding the back of the net a few minutes later after a header fell just wide of Schloss’ domain. Minutes later Big Ben almost chalked up his second of the night, sending a header just over the bar.

The game itself remained on an even keel, with both teams seeming content to hoof balls up top for an aerial battle instead of opting for a more eloquent competition of tactical possession. At the root of this lay a dilemma that seemed to plague both sides, namely how to hold on to the ball. Though Tmac and Dyl were occasionally able spin by defenders on the left, and Gavey had a few ‘almosts’ in combination with Bizzle, the ball was continually and infuriatingly turned over, as I myself got an arm workout from lurching the camera back and forth so many %$@!!* times.

But this didn’t deter the rambunctious Brown supporters who shrieked and chanted over and over, led on by their fearless, sign-baring conductor Dave “the Flash” Flaschen (“Let’s go Bruno…duh, duh, duduh duh duh). On defense – per usual - Brown remained resolute, with strong tackles from Markes, and Erob, and some hard work from the young Tariq in the center of the pitch. Towards the end of the half, Tmac “the Tornado” almost had a superb break for the Bears after spinning by his defender and pushing the ball up the left side of the field, ripping it just wide. 

Moments later Big Ben held the ball up for us inside the box, his hulking form shielding off the defender, and laid it off to Tariq, who ripped one again, just wide. And though Cornell didn’t have any real efforts - forced to resort to long shots ripped well over the goal – it was clear that Brown would need to pick it up if they hoped to go out and crush the dream of the Big Red.

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The boys returned from halftime with Coach’s question still ringing in their ears “Are we going to win this game or what?!” Needing to silence a relentless Big Red offense, needing to find the vital second goal. But things did not look promising for the Bears as the whistle for the start of the second period blew. Almost immediately, the Big Red began triangulating around the sleepy Bears, putting in a rocket of a shot on Schloss, that rebounded dangerously in the box, only to be cleared at the last moment by Erob.

Another shot comes just a minute after for Cornell, as the Big Red continued to knock on the Bear’s door while the Bears hit the snooze button on the their halftime wake up call. As on of the fans put it “We just need to possess the ball!” Finally the Bears awoke with some good combination play by Big Ben and Tmac, and a flick from Bobby off a dylan cross that skidded just wide of the post. Cornell, sensing the shift in momentum, took the opportunity to foul-the-crap out of the Bears, honing in on Tmac like Reál does on Messi 

Unfortunately this tactic, coupled with a sadistic referee (who accused Tmac of diving at every turn), seemed to work, as Brown returned to their first-half problems, pissing the ball away, and retaliating with silly fouls. Once again the long ball hoofing ensued accompanied by some chippy tackles – including an Erob off-the-ball challenge at the top of the box that was thankfully put wide.

 

Then, what appeared to be an act of divine intervention occurred. After Markes sent in an outside-of-the-foot cross towards the 6 yard box, the keeper, largely uncontested,  proceeded to punch the ball at the face of a Big Red defender, and it ricocheted into the back of the net, a crushing own goal for Cornell, but a sigh of relief for the nervous Bruno fans, who burst into raucous celebration! 2-0 to DA BEARS!  

Though the Big Red kept knocking, the game remained at 2-0, as Schloss and the back line secured yet another imperative shutout. As the two sides booted the ball back and forth in the final minute of the game, and the stands rumbled with the stomping and whistles of elated and relieved fans, the Bears emerged victorious with an important win under their belt. It wasn’t a pretty game, and the boys knew that, but with a 2-0 result against the number 10 team in the nation, it was hard not to smile.

Congrats to Big Ben Maurey for a phenomenal week including two game winning goals, and for his awards as both Ivy League Player of the Week and being placed on College Soccer News’ National Team of the Week!

Next up, a long trip to Pennsylvania, where the Bears will look to extend their league atop the Ivy table. Stay tuned…

The Battle of B.C. or How to Steal an Egg from an Eagle by Jack Kuntz

Have you ever been to the Ratty at 12:30 on a Tuesday? Well if you haven’t, it is packed, and 12:30 was the time of our pre-game meal before a big matchup against Boston College. So naturally, we had our own dining room in the back corner of the cafeteria, equipped with a piano, which Coach Biggs played Mozart on for the entirety of the meal. We then rushed to the locker room and headed onto the bus to get on our way towards Boston. Sam “Mac Miller” Groves provided the entertainment for the ride in the form of a “Remember the Titans” DVD that he received for his 12^th birthday. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s an inspirational one starring Denzel Washington in which he coaches an integrated high school football team to a glory-undefeated season. This effectively pumped the team up and we all walked off the bus ready to go….

            …Into a locker room that also doubled as a moving pod for some Boston College students (I think). Although it was tight quarters, we managed to all change into our game gear and Sam “Mac Miller” Groves was able to find a good spot on the wall for the outlines of our set pieces because EROB kept insisting that every other spot could be seen by the BC coaches. After all those shenanigans and some porta-potty trips, the warm ups began. At this point I could sense it was going to be a successful day for BMS. The warm up was focused and sharp, especially considering it being 3pm on a Tuesday (right in my usual nap slot). 

            When the game began, it was mostly back and forth. We got in behind their back line a few times, they got in behind ours, but nothing too dangerous on either side. We were getting good play through our midfield and especially through Tommy Mac on the left and Michel “Harry Potter” Comitis on the right. Sam “Bammers” Kernan-Schloss came up with a huge save towards the end of the half that really kept us believing we could go ahead and win the game. 

            Into the second half we go, with about 20 or so BMS players seeing the field (I think that may be a record) and Tommy Mac playing two identical diagonal balls onto the chest of “Big??” Ben Maurey. He put the first a bit too wide and about 20 minutes later buried the second identical chance. This time however, he did not take his shirt off. Eduardo “Consuela” Martin thought the entire game in the United States was golden goal and began to rush the field, only to be scolded by “Big Bad” Sam Groves. There was about 5 minutes left in the game at this point and we hung on for a big victory against a good ACC opponent. 

            After the game and showers, we traveled to alumni David Flaschen’s house for a post-game meal. With parents, players, and coaches all in attendance, it was a great meal and experience for everyone. The food was great, Mr. Flaschen’s art lessons were better, and we all boarded the bus back to Providence full and sleepy from a long trip to Boston. Hopefully this successful trip can help us move into the upcoming days with confidence and get a big win in front of the home fans at Stevenson against Cornell on Saturday. That’s it for now and hope to see many of you this weekend.

Jack “JJ the Pirate” Kuntz

Princeton and Harvard: Crimson and Tigers and Bears Oh My

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Testing the Tigers

The game began with the Tigers charging forward, keeping possession well, and forcing the Bears onto the back foot with a bit more of the energy underneath the lights of their own field, and the shrieks of their own fans. But the Bears responded well with Tmac leading Gavey and Dylan beautifully to the corners and into the box as Gavey blasted one searching ball just over the bar. Though the Bears backline was tested time and time again by Princeton's classic Ivy League long throw (haven taken a page from Rory Delap's book), no real chances came for either side until around the 18^th minute, when a Tiger forward poked the ball around Dylan and struck a shot just wide of the Bear’s net.

Stout and scrappy defense dominated the game as both sides made it clear that this would be as much of a physical testing ground as a tactical or technical one. In the 32^nd minute, after a Tiger winger fired a shot into Tmac’s leg, their striker pounced upon the rebound and rifled a low effort towards only to be denied brilliantly by the diving Schloss. It was a vital save, and one that seemed to shift the momentum for the rest of the half.

After Tmac pinned a Princeton defender in the corner, Big Ben galumphed his way over and with a clever heel flick, earned the Bears a corner. Though the first corner was cleared back over the line by the Princeton back line, the second corner – after being punched out by the Tiger keeper – was volleyed into the top cheddar of the net with authority from the young Timmy “the wailer” Whalen.  1-0 Brown!

The half wound to a close without much fanfare, as the Bears jogged off the pitch to the whistles and cheers of a small, but rowdy fan base.

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The second half kicked off with the Tigers finding their feet once more, keeping the ball well and forcing the Bears into a defensive stance. Several chances arose for the Tigers including a dangerous volley that was scooped up by Schloss in the 53^rd minute. Though the Bears continued to battle courageously on defense, it was clear that the tides had turned, as Princeton continued to test the Bears’ back line, and Brown’s offense seemed to dwindle.

And then the inevitable happened. In the 73rd minute a long throw was hucked into the Bears box, skimming off the head of a Princeton forward and falling to the paw of a Tiger who blasted the ball into the back of the net to draw the score level. The game was tied, and Princeton showed no signs of stopping, as just a minute later, they forced a strong save from Schloss after a speculative volley from just inside the corner of the 18’.

 

Throughout the remainder of the half the ball continued to find its way into the Bears box. Corners and crosses came for the Tigers as they peppered the net with 9 shots to the Bears 2. But even after the Bears seemed to rally in the dying seconds of the game, putting corner after corner into the chaos of the Tiger’s box, a goal was not to be found, and once again the Bears were forced into overtime.

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The physical battle carried on into O.T., with both teams – no doubt frustrated by the lack of offensive opportunities – throwing their tired legs into challenges creating chances only by hoofing the ball into the box from corners. Perhaps the only truly legitimate chance came for the Bears in the 2^nd period of OT, when Big Ben, muscling a defender off the ball, pounded in a shot that was punched away by the Tiger keeper. But the ball was not to find the back of the net, and the Bears left this Ivy battle with their first tie in the league, knowing that they would have to produce the following Saturday against their Boston rivals, Harvard.

Damming the Crimson Tide

Coming off an inspiring victory from my hand-selected, one-touch squad, the Blue – berries, the Bears returned to the Saturday night lights of Stevenson with high hopes at conquering a fickle Harvard side. Although the Crimson have slipped from their position as an Ivy League powerhouse over the past few years (ending the 2011 season without an Ivy league win) the eternal rivalry that lives within these two teams’ history always promises an intense match.

Right from the get go the Bears looked sharp and up for the challenge. There was a feeling of determination that seemed to permeate even the pregame warm up, as the boys took to the field with energy, cheered on by an exuberant crowd of BMS die-hards. In just the opening minutes of the game, the Bears surged forward, pinging the ball in possession, and creating two good chances from Akeel and Mcnamara that sailed over the bar.

One of the most interesting aspects of the game was the battle between the twin towers of both sides. Though the Crimson boasted a roster of two 6’6” players (one center back, one center mid), it was the Bears slightly less towering duo of Belair and Maurey who proved the time old saying “It’s not the size that counts, it’s how you use it.” While Ben outmuscled his center back rival, Belair out-jumped and simply out-worked his opponent, winning 90% of the aerial battles throughout the game.

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The Bears continued to create chance after chance, forcing the Crimson to defend a series of corners around the 20^th minute including a vital clearance of the line by a Harvard defender.  Indeed, almost the entire first half seemed to be played on Harvard’s side of the field (save for one or two harmless Harvard efforts), and still the Bears could not find the back of the net. A chance came in the 34^th minute for Brown after Bizzle was yanked down just outside the top of the box, but Dylan’s bending effort curled just high of the bar.

But Brown refused to be dissuaded and continued to knock at the Crimson’s door, until in the 39^th minute, after some swift-footed cuts from Dylan, V battled his way into space on the left side of the box and rifled a cross to the swan-diving figure of Belair who headed it home to make it 1-0 Good Guys. It was one of the most glamorous goals of the season, and fitting that it should come from the domineering head of Bobby “stanky-leg” Belair.

Minutes later Belair almost doubled his goal tally, when a poorly-cleared corner fell to him 12 yards out, but his left-footed strike was wrapped up by the Crimson keeper. This was immediately followed by an exciting counterattack from the Bears in the waning seconds of the half. After D.T. and Belair combined, B found V, who flicked a brilliant ball into the streaking path of D.T., and D.T. – appearing to be roughed up from behind – mishit the ball just wide of the Crimson goalmouth.

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As is often the case, this game revealed itself to be a tale of two halves, as the Crimson returned to the field revitalized and hungry. After a backward pass got stuck under the foot of McDuff, a Harvard striker punished him for this momentary lapse, poking the ball by the back line and slotting it into the back of the net after just a minute of play. It was a crushing blow for the Bears who had thoroughly dominated the first half, but an equally important reminder that Harvard would not go down without a fight.

Just seconds later, Harvard nearly pulled ahead two times, but fortunately for the Bears SKS dealt with the first effort sent across the mouth of the goal, and the second – an uncontested header from maybe 7 yards out – fell just wide of the post. Cries of “Wake up!” and “C’mon Brown!” rose up from the crowd of nervous Bear supporters only to fall upon deaf ears. It seemed only after the quintessential  “Let’s go Bruno” chant took the place of these pleas that the Bears truly fired into action.

First, Belair sent in a scintillating ball from the left flank that D.T. was unable to connect with from the corner of the 6’. Then, after a cross pin-balled its way through the box, V pounced upon it, ripping a strong shot from just around the penalty spot that was denied brilliantly by the leaping Crimson keeper. As the half went on chances emerged for both sides, with Erob clearing a ball of the goal line, and SKS coming up with what can only be described as some “ballsy” saves.

Inevitably the closer we got to full time, the chippier the match got. But Brown seemed to emerge as the offensive force for the end of the half. Gavey – after being denied a goal due to a questionable offside call – had perhaps the best effort of the second half, as Tmac fired in a brilliant cross to Gavey, who volleyed the ball fiercely at the hands of the Crimson keeper from just 8 yards out. But, in the same fashion as the previous two matches for the Bears, this game was going to overtime.

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Before the game Coach Laughlin articulated the importance of the 3^rd game in the Ivy League, saying, “It is a game in which every team is still fighting for something.” For Harvard this game might have been a chance at salvaging a gloomy looking 1-6-3 season. But for Brown, this game was about staking their claim as contenders for the Ivy League Trophy. So when Tim Whalen crossed the ball to Dylan, and when Dylan volleyed that ball into the low corner of the net, it was about much more than a win for the Bears, it was about proving the mettle of this team, about showing that when the time comes, we can rise to the challenge.

Shoutouts to Tim Whalen for earning his second Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors, and to Dylan for his selection to the College Soccer News’ National Team of the Week. Next up, another familiar Boston rival as the Bears travel to Boston College to avenge last year's defeat on Stevenson. Stay tuned.

The Return of the Stag

When the name “Fairfield” comes up in the athletic community at Brown University, most will remember the dying minutes of a playoff match from 2011, where, in front thousands of uneasy fans, the Bears produced an astounding 3 goals in 6 minutes for one of the greatest comebacks in BMS history.

But when the Stags arrived at Stevenson on a rainy Tuesday night to face the Bears once more, the mood was just a bit different. For one, the rain had driven away all but the die hards (shout out to the fearless, and umbrella-less Mcnamara clan). For another, both teams had just begun league play, and were still licking the wounds from their Saturday battles.

But despite the weather and the small fan-base, despite the faulty speaker system that couldn’t produce a National anthem, the game must go on.

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The ball was kicked off beneath sheets of rain as V wasted no time, putting both a ripper and a header on frame in the opening eight minutes of play as the two sides adjusted their play to fit the slick turf of Stevenson. The Stags – taking a note from Colombia’s book – contented themselves with shots from 25-40 yards out, all of which sailed harmlessly over the bar or were blocked decisively by Erob and Duff.

Meanwhile, the Bears began to string together some quality combos with D.T., Dylan and Tmac creating space. Two of these ended in extremely questionable non-PK-calls as Ben was crushed on a challenge in the box, and Tmac’s juggle over a defender at the corner of the 18’ appeared to brush the Stag’s fingers. But the ref – his vision no doubt clouded by the rain – gave neither.

As the half came to a close, the Bears took control in possession, with dynamic through the midfield, and several dangerous balls in from Gavey and Dylan on the flanks. Gavey himself took a pair of shots, forcing a fine save from the Stag keeper from a cross/shot and putting one just over the bar in the final minutes of the half.

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Perhaps it was the dry socks the boys strapped on at halftime, or perhaps the Stags decided to take a siesta, but whatever it was, the Bears came out firing on all cylinders. Dylan “best five wingers of all time” Remick started the fire with a free kick from outside the box that skid just past the foot of Markes. Then Gavey fired in a slew of crosses from the right, which was followed by Tmac putting in a stunning ball to a leaping Belair who flicked it just over. But the Bears couldn’t find the back of the net, due in part to the diving efforts of the New Zealand Olympic national team keeper, Michael O’Keeffe.

The tide turned briefly as Fairfield put Brown on the back foot, including a nerve-wracking effort from the Stags inside the 12’ that was cleared off the line in spectacular fashion by Robertson. The game “chippified”, with fouls coming from both sides, and cards being brandished by the overwhelmed referee, but what also became clear little by little, was that the Stags seemed content – if not aiming – for a draw.

The keeper alone must have spent 40+ seconds on every single goal kick, while Stevenson appeared to a be both a hunting ground (given the amount of falling Stag bodies) and a space of resurrection as players sprang miraculously back to life just moments later 

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Though chances came for both sides, all of them were met with important blocks from the back line, as the ball pin-balled across the rainy pitch. Even after a series of three corners for the Bears which included four shots on goal, four rebounds, and a smashing on-frame effort from Lochead that ricocheted just wide, the Bears could not break the 0-0 deadlock.

As the game wound to a close, the Bears continued to produce chance after chance (for those interested, check out the second half stats for the Bears…shocking)

In the 81^st minute, Belair found himself on a near break away, but sent the ball just wide. Moments later, Big Ben got stuck in and found D.T. in space, who also sent the ball just wide of the seemingly impenetrable goal mouth. But after a slew of corners and shots, and perhaps the best chance of the game, when Maurey’s shot rebounded to Gavey just outside the 6’ only to slip off his soaked foot, the game went on to O.T.

But the trend of fruitless strikes refused to desist as after 2 halves and 2 periods of O.T. the final score remained at goose-eggs. The time-wasting Stags had gotten what they wanted at Stevenson, and a frustrated Bears-side trudged off the field in a state of disbelief, having fired an incredible 20 shots to the Stags 3 during the 2^nd half and O.T. periods alone.

Next up, the Bears travel to the Princeton Tiger’s lair for their first Ivy League road match of the 2012 season. Stay tuned.

Colombia: The Ghost of Ivy Past

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“Throw out the Bears’ #21 ranking, throw out their 7-1 record, and throw out Colombia’s 2-5-1… the Ivy League starts now” announced color-commentator Mike Mancuso, staring out across a dew-laden Stevenson field before the open whistle sounded on Saturday night. This sentiment has been repeated year after year by coaches and veteran players alike, all having learned the inevitably turbulent battle that accompanies every Ivy League matchup, a battle often determined by one, vital goal. 

Tonight would be no exception.

Not only were the Bears about to open the most vital chapter of their season, but the painful overtime loss of last year to the Lions still lingered freshly in the minds of many-a-Bear, a loss that had challenged the Bears’ chances at an Ivy League title (though, for those of you who missed it, they did eventually scrap their way to glory). 

The whistle blew and the Bears attacked the Lions with energy and excitement, pinging the ball quickly with solid combinations sprouting up across the field. Per usual, the established back line remained stalwart as Schloss rose to the Lion’s one early challenge with a decisive punch out. Meanwhile, the left side was quickly exploited by the dynamic duo of Dyl and Tmac, while the center backs and mids looked to find the hulking frames of the twin tower strikers Belair and Big Ben in the air. 

Well the Bears pressed forward and began to produce chances – including a brilliant cross from Dylan flicked on by Gavey and put just wide by the boot of Ben – the Lions didn’t manage to put much together in terms of opportunities, content to pound the ball, goal-kick style, over the net.
Dylan and Gavey continued to push strongly up the wings, sending in scintillating crosses that just missed their mark, and Tmac had a go himself, shaking and baking inside the box and finishing with a chipper that sailed just over the bar. The half winded to a scoreless close after one final effort from Belair, and the Bears jogged off Stevenson unlucky not to have connected, but confidant that a goal would indeed come.

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“Who wants it more for the next 45-65 minutes? That’s who’s going to win this game” ended Coach Laughlin as the Bears returned to the field. Almost immediately Big Ben and Gavey sent a clear message with some decisively crushing challenges against the Lion defenders, that yes, Brown was ready for the fight. 

And then the shots came. Tmac began the barrage, weaving his way into the left corner and down the end line, firing a dangerous ball across the mouth of the goal and just wide. Then Gavey struck a laser just wide of the post, and moments later Big Ben found the ball at his feet near the penalty spot but his attempt was deflected wide by a diving defender. 

A succession of corners flew by, battles followed, and then, finally the Bears pulled ahead. A long ball was flicked brilliantly on by the rearing dome of Maurey to a sprinting Bizzle who got absolutely jackhammered by a Lion defender. Without a moment of hesitation from the ref a deserved PK was awarded, and in similar fashion TMac stepped up and slotted it into the low right corner to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. 

Just minutes later the coveted second goal came for the Bears as Tmac sent Dylan up the wing, Dylan sent in a fantastic cross, and D.T. – using the unique capabilities of his flexi-feet – found a way to flick the ball in with the outside of his foot. 2-0 Good Guys! Unfortunately, the game wasn’t quite over as the Lions made good of perhaps their only chance of the game and rifled in a low drive from the top of the box, just underneath the previously untested Schloss to make it 2-1. But the Bears seemed destined for glory as they pushed on, unperturbed by the Lions’ goal, and with one last near slotter from Tmac, which the goalie was able to brush just outside the post, the game came to a close.

Revenge was had, another game was won, and the Ivy Season began with a solid display from the Bears who improved to 8-1 with the win, and proved their mettle on Stevenson once more. 

Next up, another jaunt down memory lane as the Bears will face Fairfield and seek to repeat (hopefully with a little less anxiety) their victory over the Stags.