By Paul Neumann
(with additions by Jeffrey Pomranka)
On a pleasant spring day in front of 25 parents and grandparents, about 20 students and spouses and children (there ought to be a bonus point for the alumni team for every kid they bring to the game) 23 alumni took the field on Saturday. The group included this year's seniors minus Craig & Pierre, the latter who was away running in a track meet where he placed first in the 100 meters and second in the 200. Ethan, Onyi , Elie, Matt and the always charming, Brian San Francisco came from last year's class and a wide variety of other year's including two players from the 80s also played. Three players from the 60s were also in attendance but did not take the field. They combined to provide an enjoyable test for the WUSTL FC players nearing the end of spring practice sessions.
A number of the WUSTL players ate at Mangini's to do carbo loading on Friday night in front of Saturday's game. Many of the alumni team gathered on Friday evening with Joe at Blueberry Hill to do carbo loading made possible by their immunity from the 48 hour rule.
The game was played in three 30 minute segments with unlimited substitutions. Kevin Brege said before the game that the alumni were going to the hockey system with line shifts every couple of minutes on the fly. Although they did not start the game in this way by the second period they were subbing on the fly and by the third period many of the substitutions came after a few minutes on the field.
I apologize in advance for any details I mucked up in the report that follows as the green jerseys with different numbers and a lot of new faces off of team Rock were confusing.
The WUSTL student team opened up in a 4-4-2 with Smelcer in the goal, DK, Harry, Nat and Randy across the back, Alex at defensive mid, Cody (a mid year transfer from Bucknell) at offensive mid, Zach and Kevin Privalle on the wings and Hengel and John Duncan up top.
Goalie coach Jeff Pomranka (class of 91 i.e. last played almost 20 years ago) started between the pipes for the alumni, with Hemphill and Silver at defense, Elie and Cliff in the middle and Onyi and Eric Hill up top. Not sure of all the other players. Jeff preserved a shutout for the first 10 minutes and then (due to injury by a viscous sniper attack) was replaced with Ryan Kruse. The alumni subbed liberally through out the period.
The first period was fairly level with most of the action between the 18s. Duncan and Hengel made some runs but were stymied by Matt Hemphill who may have lost some of his endurance but none of his defensive chops. At about 15 minutes in, the students scored as Pat McLean got loose in the box and chipped Ryan to the far post as he came out to challenge. That gives Pat a two game scoring streak carrying over from the Chicago game winner in the fall. The student team subbed en masse after about the first 20 minutes with Joey Glass coming in at a wing, Peter Jebson in midfield, Chris Weinstein at one of the backs, Pat McLean up top, Owen Craig at another back.
Both teams looked good and it was fun to watch. (Bruce Brege commented that there were a couple thousand collegiate games of experience represented on the alumni team so it was no wonder they held shape and passed well). Elie and Marshall won a lot of balls in the middle and the alumni maintained possession for stretches but could not find much offensively. Andrew Serio opened up in goal for the second period The alumni cam close to equalizing with a rocket form 20 yards but Andrew tipped over and the subsequent corner was cleared out of the box. The students had a couple of good chances but Nat Zenner went over from about 25 yards off a ball dropped out to him off a corner and Peter Jebson missed with a lovely chip from the 18 off a nice feed from Cody.
Ryan Kruse was forced into a number of saves off of shots from Hengel, Duncan and McLean but the defense held. Offensively, the alumni struggled in the final third with a couple of long crosses from Eric Hill finding no takers and two long runs by Onyi out of the back falling apart about 25 yards from goal.
The alumni then mixed up their team with Eric and Cliff moving back to defense and the defenders going up top. This almost paid off right before time as Kevin Brege broke down the wing and fed a great ball thru on the ground to a sliding Matt Hemphill who touched it six inches wide of the right post presumably demonstrating there is a reason Joe played him at defense all those years.
The third period kicked off at 1-0 and the alumni beginning to look a bit winded. Michael Rao, a freshman, took over in goal and Smelcer came in up top with Pat McLean. this duo connected after about 10 minutes with Pat breaking the ball onto the back line and crossing to Smelcer who calmly slotted home from 10 yards out. This was sufficient to secure his bet with Jeff as to which team would emerge triumphant. (I now owe the keepers a rib dinner.) the students had three other good chances late with one threat called off on a very close offsides call as Harry broke free on a thru pass, a second off a ball across the goal mouth from John Duncan that just missed being headed in, and the third with Smelcer being denied from six yards out.
The game ended 2-0 in a light rain and then adjourned to a post game meal of barbecue, salad, chips and dessert for 85 in the alumni room at the AC. A great end to a great day.
If yo are interested in reliving the match, we have the recorded stream of the 2nd & 3rd Periods. We hope to have all home games streamed in the future.