Late Post - Muskego Defeats Arrowhead

Cheese Athletics Staff
October 2, 2008
By: Kim Deal


Muskego Scores 3 Unanswered in Warriors Win

As a precursor for a game that featured two state ranked teams and one nationally
ranked team in Arrowhead. Having seen both teams play more than a few times this
season and in previous seasons there was a general feel for what kind of game this
was going to be. This is a game that features teams with potent offenses and weak
defenses. They will both have tremendous midfield play, coupled with dangerous
runs being made by each team’s outside defenders.

Muskego is a team that very rarely looks ready to play; their warm-ups are terrible
and their overall desire is even worse. When the game first got under way Muskego
actually looked as though they found Arrowhead to be worthy of their presence.
Catching the Warhawks off guard, Muskego out possessed them up and down the
field, looking to be in total control of the game.

As the minutes passed Arrowhead slowly regained control of the ball and the match.
Stopper back, Kyle Peterson, was possibly the best player on the field. Any ball that
went down the middle seemed to end up at his feet. His ability in switching the
fields and sustaining long possessions is an invaluable asset to Arrowhead’s state
and national rankings. The one position that will always be an advantage to the
Warhawks is outside midfielder Sean Gilbert (#11). Throughout the match he had
Muskego chasing him all over the field. In the 36th minute Gilbert made a run from
the left sideline through the penalty area that put him in perfect position to deflect a
25 yard shot into the side netting, buckling the keeper’s knees. Matching up with
Gilbert is nearly impossible, he not only plays the sideline perfectly, he will also
makes crashing runs into the middle of the field that almost always leave him
unmarked.

After the opening ten minutes up until the 60th minute, Arrowhead was controlling
the game largely because of their quick passing. Every possession was a clinic of
how to move the ball. Muskego did all it could to keep up but when one school is a
team of midfielders and no defenders, it became too much for Muskego to handle.
13 minutes into the second half Muskego blatantly fouled forward Andy Fox (#18).
On the ensuing penalty kick Sean Gilbert drilled the ball into the lower right of the
goal to make the score 2-0.

Muskego quickly gathered the ball and set up for the kickoff. They played the ball to
the left side of the field and were promptly fouled by an Arrowhead defender.
Instead of having Riley Weiner take the kick they slid up defender Andy Ksobiech
(#13) to play the direct kick from about 35 yards out on the far left side of the field.
Generally a ball played from such a distance is needed to be driven. Ksobiech’s ball
was lofted but perfectly placed just past the center of the penalty area putting
keeper Max Jentsch at a decision. If he goes for the punch or the catch, he could
easily be clipped by his own defender or one of the forwards running towards him.
If he stays, he is at the mercy of the shooter. With Jentsch being a less than talented
keeper, he bided for the second option. He stayed. Flying in on a full sprint was
Andy Zirzow (#16) to take the one time volley past Jentsch in the 54th minute.
Less than one minute later Muskego stole the ball from Arrowhead advancing it
down field with relative ease. When Muskego drew a foul inside of the penalty the
crowd went ballistic. Matt Evanoff took the kick, burying it in the lower left of the
net.

Up until these two goals Muskego was convincing everyone that they did not belong
on the same field. Having lost in virtually every big game of the 2008 season this
game was setting up to be the icing on the cake. The only time a Muskego player
was ever caught running at full speed was when they were chasing an outside
midfielder like Gilbert. Despite Muskego not play with heart and always playing up
or down based on their competition. This team of “Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde” was
never more apparent than in this match. As time continued to tick away the match
seemed to be destined for overtime.

With five minutes left Arrowhead became a touch complacent, looking like a team
that wanted to regroup and try to win in the extra frame. After a massive defensive
let down on the left side of Arrowhead’s defense, Jacob Pope came flying in burying
a right footed shot to the far post just past Jentsch.
The first 10 minutes proved the Muskego could play with Arrowhead, the middle
portion of the game proved that Muskego was uninterested in playing Arrowhead
and the last 20 minutes proved that Muskego can beat anyone in this state. The
question is; will they be up for it?

It was an impressive match on both sides and easily Muskego’s most impressive win
of the season. In this writer’s opinion they are still vastly overrated but are
extremely dangerous if they happen to be on your team’s schedule. Look for
Muskego to carry a state ranking through the rest of the season and have one or two
more big wins. Once it becomes tournament time this squad will be eliminated far
too quickly to get a good grasp of what they could have been capable of.

Final Score: Muskego 3, Arrowhead 2

Nice article Kim. If I may suggest, be a little clearer of the goals scored and what the scores and times of the goals were.

Great read though.