Las Vegas Knights vs. ASC Hammers: January 16, 2010, Arizona Sports Complex
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23 January 2010
The Las Vegas Knights traveled to Arizona fresh off a 2 game winning streak on the road and four game run in their division, to face a strong and determined ASC Hammers team. As in the last two previous matches, the Knights started sluggish in the first quarter. Knights’ goalkeeper, Philip Webb, who has been in exceptional form so far this season, was tested several times in the opening minutes producing several saves to preserve the 0-0 score line.
The home team opened the scoring seven minutes into the first quarter, when the Knights Defense was exposed on the left flank and a through ball was placed towards the back post.
With the Knights Goalkeeper and defender Travis Norberg already committed at the near post, Knights defender Mitch Jenkins tried to shield the ball played to the back post and was pushed into the ball by a Hammers forward, which deflected off his right foot into the Knights goal, for an own goal. Despite being unlucky with the no-call, the Knights responded quickly to even the score off of their first corner kick of the night. With a clever ball played in from Knights defender, Josh Copeland, Manny Kouhaiz produced a solid finish to the upper left corner to draw level. Both teams battled end to end producing shots on goal, but it was ASC who scored next when Knights goalkeeper was forced into another point blank save. The deflection took a funny bounce off the board falling to the feet of an unmarked Hammers forward in front of an open net.
With the exception of the two unfortunate plays in the back, exceptional defensive performances from Mitch Jenkins, Travis Norberg, Josh Copeland, and rookie Brad Stoops; playing in his only his second PASL match, continued to frustrate the Hammers front line holding them at bay. With the defense holding firm, the Knights midfield and forwards were free to make the necessary runs forward to press the Hammers back line. In the dying minutes of the second half the Hammers got into foul trouble, which put the Knights on an offensive power play for the first time of the night. With several shots from Berto Garcia, Travis Norberg, and Josh Copeland peppering balls in from the outside, only brilliant saves from the Hammers goalkeeper kept the Knights from pulling level. The Knights pulled level in the last 20 seconds of the period when Berto Garcia, played the ball across from the right side to Knights forward, Manny Kouhaiz, who slotted ball off the board to Itzik Rapaport and was cleverly finished to the top right corner. Half time score; 2-2.
The Knights came out in the third quarter on fire. Exceptional end-to-end runs from Midfielders Derik van Gessel, Luis "Lucho" Suarez, and Rene Abrego, created the necessary opportunities up top for the Knights to penetrate the Hammers defense. Half way through the third quarter, the Knights took their first lead of the Knight. Derik van Gessel linked up with Itzik Rapaport feeding a clever though-pass setting up a strong finish. Both teams battled end to end for the remainder of the period, but the Knights held firm to their lead with a strong team performance.
The Hammers began the fourth quarter on a mission to disrupt the Knights strong hold by pressing aggressively forward. Placing several shots on net from the outside, the Hammers could not find an answer to penetrating the Knights defensive fortress. ASC Hammers managed to pull level 10 minutes into the fourth quarter in controversial fashion when Hammers goalkeeper played a long ball forward into the box. The Knight's goalkeeper, Philip Webb secured the ball in mid-air with both hands but was taken out and elbowed in the jaw by a Hammers forward on the way down, which forced the ball into the back of the net. The referee blew the play dead, and then awarded the goal. Despite another no-call, the Knights battled back. With only 4 minutes left in the game, Lucho Suarez was taken out by the Hammers defense setting up a last man shoot-out penalty. Knight’s defender and shoot out specialist, Travis Norberg, stepped up and skillfully slotted the ball to the lower right hand corner for the Knights to reestablish the lead, 4-3.
With a 1:45 on the clock and deep into the fourth quarter, the Hammers threw everything they had at the Knights, committing every one forward and going with a 6th attacker option. The Knights held firm and sealed the victory when the Hammers coughed up the ball to Berto Garcia, who placed a brilliant long ball forward into an open net; ending any hopes of a come-back from ASC.
This was a phenomenal team win on the road for the Knights. Knights Goalkeeper, Philip Webb, produced several fine saves and did not allow any direct goals on net, despite being peppered several times through-out the match. The Knights Defenders Mitch Jenkins, Josh Copeland, Brad Stoops, and Travis Norberg were rock solid in the back, throwing themselves in front of every ball coming their way and standing up the Hammers front line. Midfielders Derik van Gessel, Lucho Suarez, Berto Garcia, Rene Abrego, and Rudy Rodriguez, scrapped for every ball, maintained possession, and made brilliant runs forward to expose the Hammers back line. Knights forwards Manny Kouhaiz, and Itzik Rapaport completed the fine performance by producing solid runs, creating space, and delivering first class finishing.
With this extraordinary team win, the Knights move into first position in the southwest division for the first time in team history with a record of 5-0. The Knights final road match will be on January 30, 2010 when they travel to Arizona again to face the Heat at the Arizona Sports Complex.
