Game Reports

The Herndon Hurricanes, a premier U11 boys travel team, dropped a heartbreaker game to the Synergy Lightning. The teams, playing on the pathetically maintained Hutchinson Field, spent as much time trying to avoid injury as they played trying to beat the opposition. The only score of the game came with one minute left to play, as the Synergy striker lifted the ball from a mulch-covered pothole and placed a perfect shot to the top right corner of the Hurricane net.

April 13, 2002: Hurricanes vs Alexandria Thunders

The Herndon Hurricanes and Alexandria Thunders hailed Fort Ward Park in a game dominated by each teams defense. The Hurricanes initiated play with a pass from Nathan   to Sean only to be stopped by a spectacular save by the Thunder goalie. The return drive by the Thunder was foiled by secure defense of Mickey and Jeremy. A Thunder corner kick was stopped by the leaping goalie Daniel.

Daniel’s goal kick pass to Bryn was forwarded to Jon. Jon steered the pass to Nathan. Nathan advanced the ball to Shomari. Shomari punted the ball on goal.

Hurricanes continued applying pressure with a pass from Shomari to Joseph Delmontagne to Bryn Violette. Bryn’s boot was shut down by the Thunder defense. To reciprocate, the Hurricane defense of Mickey Ibiae, Tyler Meintel and Beau Brady extinguished the Thunder drives.

At the 20 minute mark of the first half, a foul was called against the Hurricanes. Thunder roared and blasted a shot on goal. The shot to the upper corner of the net was knocked into safety by the Hurricane goalie and the Thunder was silenced by the play.

The rejuvenated Hurricanes were again on the offense with a set up pass from Beau to Sean  followed by a header of Tyler. The header landed just to the right of the Thunder goal. The evenly played first half ended in a scoreless tie.

The second half began with Eric in goal. In an instant replay of the first 30 minutes of play, the Hurricanes armor defense of Mickey, Jeremy, Sean, Tyler, and Beau was impenetrable. A Thunder centering pass from the right corner combined with a blast on goal from the 18 yard box, was stopped by the perfectly positioned Eric. Minutes later Eric stopped a Thunder penalty kick which was bound for the upper corner of the net.

Thunder illuminated the game by the lightning speed of the left side striker. He broke past the right side of the Hurricane defense and placed a well positioned goal into the left side of the Hurricanes net.

The determined Hurricane wind blew back the Thunder with a pass from Daniel  to Bryn. The kick was blocked by the Thunder defense. Joseph fielded the rebound but punted the ball wide of the net.

With minutes left to the game, the Hurricanes placed Jeremy into goal. Jeremy held back the Thunder with two saves. In an attempt to tie the score, Jeremy passed to turf burner Eric who bolted through the Thunder defense. Eric set up the Hurricanes drive with a pass to Shomari and Bryn. The shot on goal was blocked by the Thunder goalie. Daniel fielded the rebound and blasted a high kick at the Thunder net. Again, Thunder goalie made a spectacular high jump save preserving the Thunder 1 – 0 victory.

April 6, 2002: Hurricanes vs. MCSA 91 Strykers

On a calm Sunday afternoon, the Hurricanes stormed the opposition with precision passing by Bryn, Sean and Uwem.  Hurricanes continued applying opening game pressure with drives by Joseph, Jon and Shomari. The strong offensive drives, combined by the resilient defensive play of Jeremy, Tyler, Mickey, and Beau, kept the MCSA Strykers in their territory.

At the ten-minute mark of the first half, the Strykers offense outpaced the Hurricanes defense. On a drive from the right side, the MCSA Stryker jolted a blast to the corner of the Hurricanes goal. The properly positioned goalie, Daniel, cleanly handled the ball and stopped the Stryker threat.

Minutes later, the rejuvenated Stryker offense continued the assault by executing a perfect cross pass to the left side of the goalie box. The well-positioned left side striker redirected the ball just inches past the outreached hands of the diving Hurricanes goalie for the first score of the game.

In the second half, the Hurricanes came out booming, with assertive performance of Eric, Tyler, and Sean. Relentless attacks by Uwem and Nathan were turned back by the MCSA Stryker defense and solid goal keeping. Head pass by Beau initiated a drive by Joseph and Eric. Tyler and Bryn set up Nathan and Uwem for another chance at a score. Fancy toes Uwem placed a pass on the foot of Jon but the Stryker defense continued to safeguard the goal from the approaching Hurricane.

Flawless defensive work by Hurricanes Micky, Jeremy, Sean and Bryn stopped further Stryker attacks. Untarnished goal tending by Daniel shielded the goal from further Stryker scores.

Regrettably, the clock ran faster than the determined team and ultimately silenced the Hurricane with a final score of 1-0.

The hustling Herndon Hurricanes, a U11 premier travel team, won top bracket in the White Division of the Prince William County Icebreaker Tournament. The Hurricane team, allowed only two goals by the competition, and stormed past teams from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In the final rounds of the championship game, the flu ridden short handed Hurricanes team was defeated by the Loudoun Lightning, taking the silver prize recognition in the Tournament.

Benne Carter, in his refereeing debut as sideline Flag Man, led the Hurricanes to a victory over the Chantilly Panthers. Benne took immediate control of the sideline, and single handily controlled the players, coaches and all the specifics of the game. His skillful control of the yellow flag and command the player zone dazzled all in attendance.

Following the game, the players chanted, "We want Benne, We Want Flag Man, We Want Flag Man!!" To the rhythm of the chant, the parents, Herndon Hurricane coaches and the league commissioner, ceremonially carried Benne off the field.

The prominent Flag Man posed for pictures, bowed, and thanked the cheering crowd. After realizing his worth, Benne unsuccessfully tried to renegotiate his contract as Flag Man for next Sunday’s game.