Colonels' boys can't get past Kettle Run

June 1, 2011

By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star       

WINCHESTER- All game long, the Kettle Run boys' soccer team had responded whenever James Wood threatened.

So when Cougars goalkeeper Ryan Schmidt denied the Colonels on their best opportunity of them all, it was no wonder that Kettle Run answered with its best stretch of the match.

In a wild affair, Kettle Run defeated James Wood 6-4 in the Region II quarterfinals Tuesday at Kelican Stadium, though it took everything the Cougars had to hold on after extending a 3-1 halftime lead to 6-1 with 15 minutes left. Kettle Run (14-5) went on its second-half run after goalkeeper Ryan Schmidt denied Josh Marts' penalty kick and rebound shot in the 47th minute.

But the fact that the Colonels (9-6-2) made Kettle Run sweat from more than the weather at the end couldn't have made James Wood players and coaches much more proud. The Colonels, who pulled within two with six minutes left, kept firing shots to get closer until the final whistle and finished tied with Kettle Run in shots (18 apiece).

"From five goals down, we made a game out of it," James Wood senior goalkeeper Elliot Shiben said. "We showed a lot of heart tonight."

Kettle Run certainly did everything it could to break James Wood's collective hearts.

In both the second and 32nd minutes, Kettle Run scored goals moments after James Wood nearly scored.

Then, when James Wood junior midfielder Chandler DeHaven (two goals) finished a Logan Yost assist in the 34th minute, the Cougars came back with another goal two minutes later when Andy Bourdeau (two goals, one assist) flicked in a throw-in from Billy Smith with his head to make it 3-1.

"That was really tough with how fast they came back," said DeHaven, a junior defender. "It made it even harder for us to get goals.

"They just possessed it so well. They'd take it right to their midfield, go down the sideline, and give themselves opportunities."

But the Colonels continued to show the same spirit that helped them win their first Northwestern District regular season and tournament titles. The Colonels' aggressiveness earned them a penalty kick when John Henriques was taken down after taking a back-heel pass from Matt Henriques in the 47th minute.

With a chance to cut the deficit to 3-2, Marts shot left and actually got Schimdt going in the wrong direction on his penalty kick.

But Schmidt made a kick save, and the rebound bounced back up the middle. Marts settled the rebound and fired again, but the shot went straight at Schmidt, who cleared it away after scrambling back to the middle and getting on his feet.

Kettle Run coach Philip Roper said he felt the saves from Schmidt - who will play at Virginia Tech next year - changed the course of the game. But considering that the Cougars' potent offense had repeatedly brushed off James Wood's pressure, they might have answered again. Kettle Run was particularly efficient on set pieces, heading in two Smith throw-ins and volleying in one Cameron Rijke corner kick.

"I think they played well the whole game, honestly," James Wood coach Chris Hild said. "They're an offensive powerhouse."

But Hild did think the Cougars were shaky on defense, and that helped set the stage for the comeback.

All four of James Wood's defenders actually grew up playing offense for much of their careers, and starting with the sweeper Marts, Hild began pushing those players into the attack in the 30th minute.

Marts finished off a Mel Savarese throw-in that bounced around the box in the 67th minute. In the 71st minute, Garrett Hodgson grounded a shot past backup goalkeeper Neil Fanning, who replaced Schmidt in a pre-determined decision after Marts' goal. DeHaven knocked in a penalty kick in the 74th minute.

In the ensuing time, Henriques followed with a couple of impressive shots, but ultimately the Colonels just ran out of time.

"We never give up," DeHaven said. "That was the best thing about tonight."

James Wood's players walked away disappointed. But they left Kelican Stadium knowing that they might still be playing had a few things broken differently.

And they left knowing they changed the culture of James Wood soccer.

"It's been a magical season," said Shiben, who made six saves. "We showed a lot of heart, and I think it shows a lot of promise for next year's team coming back."

"I'm not disappointed [about tonight]," Hild said. "To come as far as we have this year, it's been a great run. This season sets the bar for years to come."

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