Pirates experience learning opportunity

Gary Dudgeon
Greensburg Daily News

August 20, 2008 12:06 am

— Greensburg started its boys’ soccer season and its Eastern Indiana
Athletic Conference (EIAC) last night when they played East Central
on the Pirates’ Varsity Soccer Pitch. Their first opportunity to play
against someone other than themselves ended in a 9-0 loss.
The Pirates who have 10 freshmen interspersed in their 24-player
roster faced a big, fast and experienced Trojan squad that has
reloaded with 10 starting seniors. For nearly 20 minutes, the two
squads battled scorelessly with opportunities at both ends of the
pitch.
The major difference was the Pirates were being repulsed by the
Trojan defense; East Central was being repulsed by goal keeper
William Wettering.
“For the first 25 minutes we played them even. Then their depth
started to give us a problem,” reported Coach Rick Fayette. “Since
we didn’t have a scrimmage game, this was the first time in
competition. We learned a lot about what we have to do to get better.”
After being shut out for the first 15 minutes, the Trojans
earned their first goal when one of their midfielders split the defense
and drove on Wettering, successfully drilling the shot by him. As the
Pirates’ defense wore down, those opportunities became even more
frequent as East Central built a 4-0 lead at half-time.
Wettering, was able to repel 14-of-22 shots on goal while the Pirates
were only able to get two shots on goal for the game. Justin Martin
finished up in goals and repelled two-of-three shots taken against
them.
“We moved the ball. We attacked. Although we didn’t get shots on
goal, we forced East Central to play defense,” Fayette said. “I’ll take
any little victory I can.”
One big thing that the Pirates learned tonight was where they have
to improve.
“Playing against a quality team makes it easier for our coaches,”
Fayette reported. “When they were coming out of the game, they
were going to the coaches and telling them ‘We need to do this or we
need to do that.'"
Another thing that became obvious was the need to get stronger.
“We need to know how to play strong not for 25 minutes but for 60
minutes. We need to play with stamina. We need to add strength to
our kicks and to our defense,” Fayette concluded.
The Pirates get one day of practice before facing another quality
EIAC foe when they travel to South Dearborn on Thursday.

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