Kings Goal Club

The Loveland Tigers were too much for the Kings Knights, winning the Knights’ opening match in FAVC East conference play 4-0. The Tigers placed early pressure on the Kings’ defensive back line and never let up for the entirety of the match. The Tigers place 11 seniors on their varsity roster and played every bit like a seasoned and experienced squad.

Kings found it difficult to sustain any significant offensive attack throughout the evening. The Knights were hampered by injuries that complicated Coach Erik Poggi’s ability to field a team that was accustomed to playing together. Starting midfielder Max Burkert (sickness) did not dress for the game, Garrett Householder (head) missed much of the game after a collision and center back Brandon Coughlin (ankle) was injured late in the game and did not return.

The Knights’ record evens out at 1-1-1. They will need to be at full strength for their first home game of the season when they entertain the Sycamore Aviators on Saturday, September 4. Sycamore is currently ranked #1 in the city. Game time is set for 5/7 pm.

Starters:
Forwards: Roat, Barnes
Midfielders: Gitau, Meyer, Mesones, Abraao
Defenders: Householder, Coughlin, Kettler, Fadayel
GK: Michalak

Eric Barnes-Player of the Game

The Kings Knights varsity squad gained their first win of the 2010 season with a convincing win over FAVC West foe Northwest. 

Since I (Mark Householder) was out of town for the game, Neil Nelson provided the following text messages for me as he watched the varsity game:

Varsity has done everything but score, it is just a matter of time

Barnes just scored….assist goes to Abraao

Mikey Roat scored on a 23 yard laser

Half time: Kings 2 - Northwest 0

Mikey Roat scored again, Kings up 3-0

Garrett missed a header off a corner, so close

Lucas scored again…assist to Byrd

Kyle Hoover scored on a PK

Kings gives up a goal on a direct kick

Game over…Kings wins 5-1

Kings upped their record to 1-0-1 on the season and are preparing to face backyard rival Loveland on Thursday night, September 2 at the Tigers’ home field.  This will be the first FAVC East game and the journey toward a league title starts here.

The Kings JV team got on the winning side of things Monday night at Northwest High School with a score of 1-0. The Knights went ahead with 8 minutes left in the match, thanks to a diving header from forward Mathis Terrier, with the assist coming from striking partner Drake Poling.

The Knights came right out of the gate looking to score, after being shut out at LaSalle late last week. Chance after chance was created though the first twenty minutes, but the Knights were unable to take the lead despite hitting the goalpost on two occasions. Their break came, or so it seemed, in the 22nd minute when forward Matt Nelson looped a free kick over the goalkeeper’s head from 30 yards out. However, the referee disallowed the goal, claiming it was an indirect free kick and was untouched by another player. The Knights continued to threaten with good chances, but went into the half tied 0-0.

The Knights came out in the second half just as they did in the first, aggressive and determined to score. First year midfielders Nick and Robby Guiliano each tried their best to beat the Northwest goalkeeper early in the half, but each had chances sail just past the posts. The Knights’ moment finally came in the 64th minute, as Poling dribbled around a defender and crossed to Terrier who headed in the squad’s first goal of the season. Freshman Nick Kratz tried to double the lead shortly thereafter, striking from 12 yards out, but the goalkeeper deflected the shot onto the crossbar and away from danger.

The defense was strong with Alec Paulson, Kris Hacker, Alex Brammer and captain Devon Zinn solidifying the shutout for goalkeeper Robby Frye. Defenders Austin Smith and Chris Minotti also contributed in their respective stints at the back. Midfielder Zack Guerriero was the TOOT’S Player of the Game.

The Knights’ (1-1) next game will be Thursday at Loveland.

Starters:

FWD: Poling, Guerriero
MID: Kratz, D’Enbeau, Terrier, N. Guiliano
DEF: Zinn, Paulson, Hacker, Brammer
GK: Frye

2010 JV Squad

The Kings Knights JV squad opened up their season with a 1-0 defeat on Thursday against LaSalle. Although the Knights held their opponents scoreless through the first 68 minutes, the Lancers broke the deadlock with only four minutes remaining in the match.

The Knights’ defense was under pressure for much of the evening, especially early on in the first half. Despite a number of decent chances, the Lancers were unable to beat freshman goalkeeper Robby Frye, who made multiple saves to keep his team level through the first 36 minutes. On the other end of the field, the Knights best scoring chance came off the foot of freshman Zack Guerriero, whose attempt zipped over the crossbar in the 20th minute.

The second half was more positive from the Knights, who enjoyed more time in their attacking half than in they did in the first. But despite more possession, they were still unable to create many scoring chances. After the Lancers finally found the net on a counterattack goal, the Knights’ best chance of the match came in the dying minutes on a corner kick by Nick Kratz. The ball found its way through the LaSalle defense, however the Knights were unable to put it away for the equalizer.

The Knights will be on the road again on Monday, August 30, at Northwest High School to try an even their record to 1-1. The TOOT’S Player of the Game was goalkeeper Robby Frye.

Lineup:
FWD: Guerriero, Poling
MID:  N. Guiliano, Hovis, Terrier, Kratz
DEF: Brammer, Hacker, Paulson, Zinn
GK: Frye

Senior goalie Steve Michalak

The Kings Knights put it all together in the second half to come from behind and tie the LaSalle Lancers 1-1 in the opening match for Kings.  At the 12 minute mark in the first half, the Lancers jumped out to a 1-0 lead after they capitalized on a loose ball in the Kings backfield.  They converted the breakaway for the early lead.  That was the way the first half ended.  Both Brandon Byrd and Eric Barnes delivered quality shots on goal in the first half, but it was Kings goal keeper Steve Michalak, making his first start as a senior, who kept the Knights in the game with some outstanding goalie play.

Head coach Erik Poggi should remember what he told the team at halftime. They came out a different team. The Knights found a way to turn on the offensive pressure in the second half and came out of the break with a greater sense of urgency.  The Knights started winning more 50-50 balls to generate some legitimate scoring threats and began to look like a new team.  The second half pattern involved Kings developing their offensive build up only to see the Lancers counter.  But time after time it was team tri-captain Michalak who would turn away the Lancers threat with one save after another.

But midway through the second half, the Lancers’ keeper was warned by the referee for holding the ball too long.  Then, with four minutes left in the game, the Lancers’ keeper was called again.  This time the referee awarded the Knights with an indirect kick just outside the 18 yard box.  Lucas Abraao took the kick and delivered the assist to Leo Mesones who buried the ball in the back of the net to tie the score at 1-1.  The last four minutes saw two yellow cards and plenty of physical play but Kings held their composure and a giant comeback to tie the score was complete..

Overall, the Knights back line of Brandon Coughlin, Michael Kettler, Sam Fadayel, Garrett Householder, Alex Kowal and Garrett Irwin gave Michalak all the support he needed.  The Knights played without the services of senior tri-captain Mikey Roat who was sidelined with the flu.

Kings next match is at Northwest on Monday, August 30.

Starters

Forwards: Byrd, Abraao

Midfielders: Barnes, McLelland, Mesones, Burkert

Defenders: Fadayel, Householder, Coughlin, Kettler

Keeper: Michalak

Three year starter Mikey Roat

The Kings Knights will open their 2010 soccer season two days later than expected.  The opener was set for Tuesday, August 24, but due to some miscommunication between the schools, the match is set for Thursday, August 26 at Kolping Fields. Match times are set for 5:30 and 7:15 PM.  The Knights are coming off a 5-6-5 season in 2009 and are faced with replacing nine seniors, but there are still plenty of familiar and experienced players who will line up for the Knights. 

Mikey Roat returns as a senior and three year varsity starter.  Other experienced returning players include Brandon Byrd and Eric Barnes playing the striker positions, Max Burkert, Leo Mesones and Garrett Householder holding down the midfield spots and Micahel Kettler and Sam Fadayel playing on the back line.

Contributions will be needed early and often throughout the season from a handful of young players, including freshman Garrett Irwin, sophomores Alex Kowal, Kyle Hoover, Patrick Finn, Luke McLelland and Brandon Coughlin.  Also, juniors Nathan Meyer and Malik Gitau will be counted on for playing time.  Senior Lucas Abraao is back after a one year break and will be needed as a goal scorer from the stiker position.

Steve Michalak and Sean Burke are slated for duty at the goal keeper spot.  Neither has varsity experience and their collective success would seem to be one of the keys for Coach Poggi’s team to compete for an FAVC championship.

Kings faced LaSalle twice last year, winning the regular season game and losing in the first round of the sectional playoffs.

Erik Poggi-Kings Head Coach

Kings’ men’s soccer needed a confidence booster to finish the preseason schedule. They got it against the Ross Rams in a game held at the Kings stadium on Wednesday, August 18. At the 35:10 minute mark in the first half, Max Burkert took a cross from Lucas Abraao, turned on a defender and buried a strike from 23 yards into the upper right hand corner of the net. It was only the Knights second goal in a total of four preseason games. The first half ended with the Knights up 1-0. But Kings was not finished. At the 35 minute mark in the second half, Mikey Roat, playing at the center midfielder position, found a streaking Brandon Byrd up the middle. As Byrd distanced himself from the Rams’ defensive unit, he chipped a perfect ball over the outstretched arm of the Ross goal keeper for the Knights’ second goal. Kings was beginning to find some offensive fire power. But they were not finished. With 22 minutes left in the second half, Leo Mesones delivered a perfect assist to Lucas Abraao as Lucas made his run up the middle of the field. The Knights held a comfortable 3-0 lead until the 8 minute mark when the Rams scored their lone goal.

Overall, Kings bounced back beautifully from a disappointing scrimmage at Dayton Carroll earlier in the week. The week continues with Thursday and Friday practices. On Saturday the men will join the Kings’ women’s soccer teams for the annual Meet the Teams morning.

Starters:
Forwards: Abraao, Byrd
Midfielders: Barnes, Roat, Burkert, Meyer
Defenders: Kettler, Householder, Coughlin, Finn
Keeper: Michalak

On Monday night, August 16, the Kings Knights travelled to Dayton Carroll for a preseason scrimmage. Carroll, a perennial Division II soccer power, showed up in full force to dominate the Knights in the second half for an impressive preseason win. But the first half was different. The Knights defended well for the first 40 minutes showing they can play with one of the best teams in the area. But in the end, the Knights’ inability to put any offensive pressure on the Patriots’ back line made the difference. For the third scrimmage in a row, the Knights found themselves struggling to find the right offensive combinations in their attacking third.

The final preseason scrimmage will be held at the Kings’ stadium when the the Knights host the Ross Rams on Wednesday night, August 18. Junior varsity action begins at 5 PM and the varsity match starts at 7 PM.

Held under perfect weather conditions, the annual Kings’ men’s alumni soccer game was played on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Kings’ stadium. Nearly 40 former Kings’ players came back for the match which was played in two regulation, 40 minute halves. “Tonight’s game turned out to be better than I would’ve ever expected. To see so many graduates come back and relive the “glory days” makes you realize how important Kings Soccer was to them. It’s even more special for me now as I get to once again play with guys I grew up with as well as those young gentlemen whom I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” said Kings’ head soccer coach Erik Poggi.

In the end, the white team, composed mostly of players graduating in the last few years, held off a late challenge by the red team, a team of older graduates, by the score of 3-2.

The red team, coached by Kings’ athletic Hall of Famer and former men’s head coach Scott Downer, said, “The alumni game is the annual renewal of all the tradition and fellowship that our former players have put into the program. I look forward to it to renewing past friendships and catching up with people that will forever have touched my life. It’s a wonderful event and one I look forward to each year. Go Knights in 2010!”

Match goals were scored by Mitchell Vernon, Drew Dreikosen(2) for the white team and Sam Stockwell and Randy Wolf for the read team.

In one of the hottest days of the year, the Knights travelled to Princeton Stadium on August 12 for a morning scrimmage against the Vikings. For the varsity, it was the tale of two halves. In the first two 20 minute quarters, the Knights seemed to lack urgency and consistency in precision passing and combinations. Their inability to effectively attack and breakdown the Vikings defense left them vulnerable to Princeton’s counter attacks. At the half it was Princeton 2 and the Knights 0. In the final two quarters Coach Poggi’s offense came alive to bring greater pressure on the Viking goal keeper. In the third period, Lucas Abraao went one on one with a Viking defender and then out-manuvered the keeper to score the Knights’ lone goal of the match.

The preseason continues next week when the Knights visit perennial power Dayton Carroll on Monday, August 16 and then host Ross on Wednesday, August 18.