Boys Soccer 9-17-11, BFA St. Albans: 2 Milton: 1 OT

Milton freshman Nick Goodrich  and BFA's John Pion battle for a ball in Saturday's 2-1 OT win for the Bobwhites (all game photos soon available at www.fcsportsonline.com)

     To say I received a bit of backlash after my first blog involving BFA's boys soccer team would be an understatement. Both BFA and MVU read that piece angrily and were certain I had an agenda against them. I would just like to make clear that I wouldn't do what I do if I had something against any local athletes or programs. On the contrary; I want to see the teams I cover succeed. So when I see athletes playing or acting in a way I feel hurts is chances of success I'll speak up. But I'll also praise and point out the positive (note* look or an eerily similar paragraph next time I write about the Enosburg girls). So I was glad when BFA left me with a good feeling Saturday.
     After BFA's loss to MVU, coach Luke Laroche's biggest gripe was that his team wasn't playing at all like a team. The Bobwhites looked well on the right way Saturday and scored two incredibly unselfish goals late to win the overtime dogfight.
     Some quick thoughts on BFA/Milton:
  
*Each team looked better than the other at different points Saturday: Milton for the first 20 minutes, BFA for the next 20 and a pretty even split for most of the second half before BFA took over down the stretch.

*The first half was a pretty dull one for both sides. Neither squad did a great job of counterattacking and thus neither goalie had to make a tough save in the first half.

*I made a note at halftime that BFA's Camilo Cuadra and Owen Dean were doing an excellent job possessing but either weren't making excellent passes forward or BFA's strikers weren't making great runs. Whatever the issue was, the Bobwhites resolved it by halftime.

*Milton's lone goal came while BFA's starting keeper was off the field for 20 seconds because its coach came on to the field to check on an injury. Yellowjacket captain Chayce Phillips made a gritty run to goal and was able to get a shot past the reserve keeper as he was being pulled down. There was little that could be done from the net, but it should be noted that starting keeper Cameron White did not surrender a goal Saturday.

*The Yellowjacket defense would have stolen the show had it not been for BFA's great finish. Everett Gander headed a certain goal away while standing on the goal line with the game still scoreless. Taylor Gingras made an equally brilliant save, sliding across the line to keep a ball out of goal with just six minutes to go.
**It almost looked like Milton sat back a little too much with its lead. BFA fired shot after shot in the final 15 minutes and were bound to score an equalizer eventually. Scott Larose and Dominic Castine joined Gander and Gingras in holding down the fort well in the second half.

*For a team which had been playing pretty selfish soccer over the last two seasons, it was great fun to see what the Bobwhites could do when egos were checked at the door. Its tying goal with 1:46 left in regulation came when Collin Cain passed up a shot on a 25 yard free kick to send a short pass to Kyle Bouchard. Bouchard, too, passed up a contested shot to set up a better chance for Cuadra. Cuadra's shot was blocked but Dean was in perfect position to knock the rebound in and send the match to overtime.

*BFA's momentum carried right through to overtime. Cain nearly ended the match when his 40 yard, cross field service set up a close shot for Matt Thayer. Thayer's try missed but five minutes later, Cain's perfect thru ball to Bouchard set up a simple touch for the winning goal.

*This game wasn't as physical as BFA/MVU, but still involved plenty of penalties and pushing. The difference I saw Saturday was that BFA used its physicality to enhance its skill, making sure Milton didn't attempt to cheat in its defense of the Bobwhite's passing game. The shots against MVU were hitting for the sake of hitting. Penalties Saturday were cleaner and with purpose.

*Milton has had an unlucky start to its season, opening with four overtime games. The Yellowjackets lack an identity it seems, but do play fairly well as a team and will be stronger for this tough start. It's unfortunate these two don't face off again, but it will be interesting to see which BFA team shows up under the lights of Collins Perley to battle MVU Thursday night.

--Full game article and photos in 9-19 edition of The St. Albans Messenger