Steve's "To do" list:

Fit for Second

Sunday October 14, 2012
Waltham, MA - It was a cold dreary fall morning at the Gann Academy fields.  As was expected it was a heated and well played match between the top two teams in the conference.  The tensions were high throughout the match, the man in the middle did a good job of keeping everyones' emotions in check and flashed 4 yellow cards in total.  Mid-way through the first frame saw a gruesome play occur at Alliance's 40yd line, BFC's Steve Kaye closed in on ASC's #8 to deny him turning up field for a fast break - unfortunately both players collided heads and immediately went down.  #8 fell to the ground and stayed down for a few minutes while he tried to regain his surroundings.  Meanwhile our very own Steve Kaye had severely split open a 3-4" gash on his right eybrow/forehead, with a fair amount of blood flowing from the region.  Play was suspened approximately 10 minutes as both players were helped from the field, an ambulance was called for Steve and he was taken to the local ER to have a doctor administer 23 stitches (Ed Note: The doctor called it "Epic").  Good news for Steve is that there were no fractures, signs of concussion and most importantly he was out of the hospital and back home in time for his daughter's first birthday party.  All of us at BFC Blogspot wish Steve a speedy recovery and hope that #8 on Alliance is also doing well after that nasty collision.

The game eventually continued, all in all Alliance held a slight advantage with possession.  Brookline's backline did well repel the attacks and start quick counters, but as it has been all season the boys in Yellow were unable to get much going once down in the final 3rd of the pitch.  With less than 10 minutes in the game Alliance had a quick counter of their own - their left defender served a great long ball to their streaking striker who was able to get behind the D and slot the only goal of the game.  A frantic final few minutes saw BFC put additional pressure on the Alliance D but BFC was unable to find the equalizer.  Alliance played a solid game and deserved the 3 points.  The outcome all but clinches the division for Alliance SC, with them sitting atop the standings with least a 7 point lead with 3 games left in the season.  Meanwhile the second loss of the season for BFC leaves them either tied for 2nd place or 3 points behind PAAC depending on the final results from yesterday's PAAC v Norfolk game.  Brookline will need to regroup and take maximum points in the last three games of the season to ensure a 2nd consecutive campaign with a post season appearance.  They no longer control their promotion destiny (too many factors to try to analyze and layout) but BFC can still control their playoff destiny.  The last game of the season has even more implications than just the normal grudge match that is played out between PAAC and Brookline FC - if the season plays out the way it's expected the winner of that match will secure the 2nd and final playoff spot.

Next week is the Brookline Derby to be played in Braintree (don't ask me how/why I don't have an answer).   

Two for the price of one

Sunday September 30, 2012New Bedford, MA - 12 brave souls from Brookline FC traveled to New Bedford to take on PAAC (formerly Dartmouth FC). Unfortunately for the boys in yellow two quick goals in the second half saw PAAC take a 3-1 lead in the match.  BFC applied pressure on their hosts, eventually pulling one goal back but left scratching their head on how they could miss pulling level or ahead on a baker's half dozen of chances in the final 10 minutes.  As per usual this contest turned very scrappy and heated with lots of hard tackles and less than pleasant words being exchanged between the two clubs.  Needless to say the last fixture of the season up in Chestnut Hill is circled on both teams' calendars.

Goals:  Eric, Jon Tobin
Assists: Charles, Andres

Sunday October 30, 2012Norfolk, MA - Brookline FC opened the game with a solid 8 players taking the Dewy cold pitch in Norfolk this past SundAy.  Despite the numeRical disadvantage BFC was able to maintain good ball possession and press forwaRd on the offensive.  About 5-10 minutes into the first stAnza 2.5 more BFC-ers showed up - the .5 beinG a not very sober / very Hungover player whose identity will stay hidden within this text.

BFC only led 1-nil at the half curteousy of an Alan Silver strike.  Second half Brookline broke the back and the spirit of Norfolk, netting 3 second half goals, not to mention a cool dozen clear opportunities that could/should have put this game well out of reach and secured another double digit win vs. Norfolk.  Man of the match was clearly Steve Kaye who was all over the pitch both offensively (3 assists) and defensively.

Next weekend Brookline travels to Alliance in a battle for first place and automatic promotion spot.  Since their last meeting 5 weeks ago BFC has gone a paltry 1-1-2, while Alliance has kept their foot firmly on the gas (and not to mention the neck of BFC and the rest of the conference) and holds a 7 point advantage over Brookline and a +31 goal differential to Brookline's +17.  Can BFC find their rhythm and take all three points on the road and get back into the title hunt?

Goals:  Kent (2), Alan, Tom
Assists: Steve (3), Alan

Panic! At the disco (no wait not the disco, just Skyline Park)

Sunday September 23, 2012
Chestnut Hill, MA - Very brief report on the game.  Brookline FC was looking to bounce back from the previous weekend's tie and "f#ck up some smaht kids" from Harvard and get back to their winning ways.  Unfortunately the boys in yellow were only able to manage a draw, with Jon Tobin notching the crucial goal to salvage a point against the visitors.

Good news / bad news from the weekend is that BFC was able to leapfrog PAAC for second place in the conference, the bad news is that the result leaves the boys from Brookline (and the surrounding Boston Metro region) four points adrift of Alliance and the top spot for automatic promotion to D5.  

Due to three straight draws every game is now a must win if Brookline want to control their own destiny for the playoffs and more importantly the automatic promotion spot to D5.  The lads are back in action this coming Sunday to take on rivals PAAC at 10:30am down in New Bedford at Roosevelt Middle School. 

First to Third

Sunday September 16, 2012
Chestnut Hill, MA - Let me be the first to apologize for this writer's delay in getting the game recapped properly and posted on the site (I know I'm apologizing to all 4 of you that actually follow and read this blog).  Due to this beat writer's reliance on Red Wine to stave off lower back pains this week coupled with a hellish work week (oh what's that you say, you thought this was a fulltime paid gig?  Unfortunately http://brooklinefc.blogspot.com/ does not have the funds to cover an actual web domain, let alone a salary and benefits for this amateur sports writer).  SO with that being said this will be short and not so sweet recap of what little memory I have from last Sunday.

I'm not sure if it was the ides of September, the cool fall weather or the fact that Brookline FC just didn't have it going this past Sunday but the lads in yellow struggled to salvage a point against a strong Irish Village squad.  Once again BFC had a very strong and deep bench for the match but they were unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage and wear down Village's squad with high tempo soccer.  From the first whistle BFC was slow to act and react.  Irish Village struck quickly and efficiently and slotted home an early lead.  The boys spent the better part of the first frame trying to find their rhythm and pull even with Irish Village.  With the opening 45 minutes all but in the books, BFC was able to get on the scoreboard with some good ball movement inside the box - Steve Kaye deftly controlled a loose ball cut to open space found a wide open KG who cleanly slotted the ball lower left for 8 yards out.  1-1 heading into the break.

The second half saw both squads pushing for the equalizer, the boys in yellow had the lion’s share of the possession but that's not to say that Irish Village were not dangerous.  The lads from Irish Village were on the wrong side of lady luck during this match, having had multiple opportunities to take all three points in the match.  While on the other side of the coin, BFC when in possession could not find their mojo in the last 20yds of the pitch to notch a game winner.  Their inability to play balls through the defense and on goal squandered multiple odd man rushes deep into Village’s final third.  After the allotted 90 minutes the man in the middle decided to gently put both teams out of their misery and blow the whistle to end the match.  It could be said that Irish Village were unlucky to come out of the game with only a single point, conversely BFC were fortunate to come away with at least a little something for their efforts this cool late summer morning.

As noted the prior week, BFC cannot afford to drop points if they want to contend for the D5 promotion spot.  This lack luster result allowed PAAC & Alliance Soccer club to leapfrog BFCl, leaving our boys in 3rd place, two points adrift of the table leaders Alliance and one point adrift of PAAC for the second and final playoff spot.

Brookline FC is back at it this weekend 10am, at Skyline Park in Chestnut Hill versus Harvard (2-0-1).  This is a must win week for the boys in yellow and maroon, anything but a win and they can all but kiss that promotion good bye for the second season in a row.

And so it begins...

Sunday September 9, 2012Chestnut Hill, MA - After a glorious start to the 2012 Fall Campaign, Brookline FC had a week off to rest due to the International Break so players could go join their national squads for World Cup qualification.  *Ed. note: Although BFC notched 14 (yeah you read that right) goals in their first match, none of their players were selected for international duty.  BFC's manager, Charles Wilson, was both excited by this fact and also felt for the players that were passed over.  "There are a few lads in the squad that have been really playing well right now.  It was a bit of a shock to me and my staff, not to mention the players themselves, that some of the boys were not called into camp.  Some guys bought plane tickets home well in advance expecting that they'd be fighting for a place with their national team."  Wilson is no doubt referring to "the season that never happened" top scorer, Darragh Mc Namara, who is currently in Ireland for the break.  Expressing his frustrations (he wouldn't be the first to voice his displeasure with Ireland's Manager Trappatoni) Wilson said of the situation "Instead of practicing back at our training ground here in the US or training with the Irish National Team over there, McNamara is no doubt drinking his face off at the local pub where he's a hero and doesn't pay for a drink or crashing weddings that have open bars.  His wage packet isn't huge so he'll likely skip the ones with a cash bar."  BFC was back in action this past weekend without Mc Namara, hosting new boys Alliance Soccer Club to the OTHSL at Skyline Park.  It was a brisk but with a sunny morning, a reminder that the hot days of summer should be behind us and the cooler fall conditions that of soccer in New England are in our near future.

Both teams hoped to use this early season tilt to put themselves in pole position for the sole promotion spot for the conference.  The first half provided a few tense moments, most notably the sheer number of crunching tackles doled out by both squads.  Interestingly enough the man in the middle kept his cards in his pocket, only issuing verbal warnings to the offending players (only one card was issued in the match, a 2nd half yellow to an Alliance defender).  Some calls were justified, others got complaints from both sides.  By half time "The Man in Black" (no not the atagonist from Lost Man in Black ) was very consistent with his calls.  On the offensive side of things Alliance came close to putting themselves ahead in the first frame when their speedy striker sprinted in 1v1 on Brookline's netminder Brandon Nelson.  Nelson came up HUGE with a breakaway save, stripping the ball off the foot of the attacker as he tried to round the keeper to the right.  Meanwhile at the other end of the pitch Brookline looked like they were about to stake themselves to a 1-0 first half lead when the Alliance backline misplayed a long, high bouncing clearance from BFC which winger KG tried to lob the keeper on.  Unfortunately for the boys in Yellow, their #9 was not at his best as he was recovering from a stomach virus which doctor's dubbed "West Coast Ebola" and he feebly struck the ball at the Alliance keeper instead of properly popping it over the oncoming keeper; he'll be crying himself to sleep on his big pillow all week over that miss.  Nil-nil heading into the break.

Second half saw both teams trying to break the stalemate, BFC holding a slight edge on both possession and quality of chances.  The thought on the sideline was not "if" but "when" they'd draw first blood.  The visitors were the ones to strike first.  On a quick counter, Alliance was able to get float a cross into the penalty area that a striker was able to rise up and power a header home, for a 1-0 lead.  BFC not wasted little time getting back on the offensive (a testament to their grit and determination) and started pushing for the equalizer.  With about 20 minutes left in the match KG found himself 1v1 with a defender just inside the box but well to the right of the goal.  He pushed the ball past the defender and looked to round him but the big burly defender decided to pancake block him, the ref immediately pointed to the spot.  Caley Iandorio took the ensuing PK and blasted it home to bring the home side level - game on.  Both teams pushed for the go ahead, Brookline again having a slight edge in quality chances, but Alliance once again struck on a quick counter.  Another cross into the Brookline box found the foot of a hustling Alliance attacker and he pounced on the low ball pounding it into the back of the net for what looked like the game winner.  Brookline looked defeated, Alliance was riding high and sitting pretty.  With under 3 minutes remaining the home side pushed everyone forward, lashing crosses into the box.  BFC was unable to put any real threat on net, a real credit to the hard work of Alliance's backline who were throwing their bodies in front of any loose ball.  With under 30 seconds to go Brookline hold one last chance to knot the score, a loose ball went out of bounds for a throw in deep in the final third of the pitch.  Everyone pushed forward for the last ditch effort - everyone but Nelson who was way too lazy to sprint the 80 yards up field.  The ensuing throw in arced towards Right Back Andres Rosello who was unable to get his dark, model like locks on the ball because he was promptly drilled from behind by a defender.  The ref blew the whistle for what surely was the signal for the end of the game....but no he pointed to the penalty spot, Rosello had been flagrantly fouled inside the box.  Iandorio once again got the nod to take the kick, he sent the keeper the wrong way once again and nearly tore a hole in the netting with his blistering shot, 2-2.  Not 5 seconds later the ref blew his whistle to signal the final.  Emotions erupted, BFC realizing they snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, while Alliance felt like they were robbed of all 3 points by the referee.  It was a hard fought match, but the right outcome as neither team outplayed the other and deserved the full 3 points. 

It's hard to narrow down a man of the match for BFC.  Iandorio deservedly gets a nod for his two PKs, Nelson for his breakaway and point blank saves throughout the match, Steve Kaye for his solid performance all over the pitch, as well as super sub Dave Peterson (nursing a sprained ankle) who time and again won pretty much any ball played his way or at least put a bone crunching tackle on the attacker.  However in the end it's unfair to give the MoM to just one (or even four) individuals, this was definitely a team effort.  Last season I'm not so sure BFC would have been able rise up from the ashes and pull even not once but twice in a hotly contested game such as this.  That's why Ed. has decided to award the MoM to the BFC squad for their efforts.  There were countless other examples of the boys doing what the can to win the match, but Ed would like to make it known that he's now nursing a back ailment so he's been hitting the bottle hard since Sunday afternoon, my apologies if I've neglected to mention individually your outstanding performance.

And so it begins, the rivalry between BFC and Alliance Soccer Club.  Things definitely got chippy and mouthy by the end of the game.  It's safe to say that the next contest between these two teams will be a hotly contested one and full of emotions left over from this match.  Mark your calendars for the 14th of October when these two titans face off for what could be the deciding match in the conference.  Neither team can afford a dip in performance between now and return match at Gann Academy.  Any dropped points over their next 4 matches could eliminate either team from promotion contention.  Next Sunday will see Brookline FC host former D5S team Irish Village while Alliance host Brookline FC's crosstown rival Brookline M.T. in Waltham.

I'm off to pick up a case of Zinfandel to ease the back pain, you stay classy BFC supporters.

Boom goes the dynamite....

Sunday August 26, 2012
Chestnut Hill, MA - Brookline FC notched their first win of the 2012 fall campaign by dropping a hammer (and two touchdowns) on Norfolk FC.  Some might say a 6-0 lead at half was more than enough to secure the victory, and there was little need of 8 more second half points*.  Others might say the boys in Yellow and Maroon were expressing pent up feelings about the offseason promotion / demotion / alignment / realignment and trying to send a message.  Well it is safe to say "message sent and received."

Season outlook:
Management was very active during the summer break to add depth to an already potent (albeit sometimes inconsistent) squad.  Will this be the season BFC gets promoted?  The team is ready for the challenge and will have to battle with the likes of PAAC (the team formerly known as Dartmouth FC), newcomers Alliance Soccer Club, as well as a few tough crossover games with the other D6 section.

Analysts agree that on paper this team is strong top to bottom and a title contender.  The only thing holding these boys back is their consistency week in, week out.  Will this be the season for promotion?  Or will we see BFC drop crucial points when least expected.  The season is a ten game grind and with one in the books, the feeling around the BFC locker room is the time is right for them to claim the promotion spot.

* Resident tipper and winger Alan Silver asked for a 5-0 halftime lead to cover his spread with his local bookmaker.  Spread covered Alan; share the wealth of you winnings please.