Edmonds scores 'clutch-time' tying goal
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The Glendale HS Gemini boys soccer team probably deserved more than a tie, but Wednesday’s 2-2 come-from-behind draw against Woodstock Collegiate Institute was a better option than losing 2-1.
“That was clutch,” said Tillsonburg Gemini coach Dana Kobayashi after Wednesday’s TVRA Southeast season opener at the Tillsonburg Soccer Club.
Tillsonburg’s Mark Edmonds scored from a sharp, low-percentage angle late in the second half, shooting from the edge of the 18-yard-box, not far off the end line.
“That was supposed to be a cross,” admitted Edmonds. “I was just trying to get it out there. It went in right off the goalie’s (Aaron Fitzgerald) leg – caught everyone by surprise there.”
Edmonds’ last-minute tying goal came after what seemed like a dozen good Gemini opportunities inside the 18-box, or from just outside, in several wild, bodies-flying-and-colliding scrambles. WCI defence was both quick and tenacious, and they dodged the proverbial bullet until Edmonds’ unlikely goal.
“The panic level goes up for them,” said Glendale’s Eddie Richter, “because they’re up a goal and they want to keep it. I find it’s better when they panic because they don’t play as good.”
“It seemed like nobody could get the right touch on it,” Edmonds laughed. “It gets frustrating. But a chance is a chance and you take the ones you can.”
“We outchanced them by a lot,” nodded Kobayashi. “Twenty to one maybe?”
Not that many shots, but maybe in shots and opportunities to shoot.
“It got frustrating after a while,” agreed Richter. “We were hitting the net, it just wasn’t going in. There were a lot of bodies in front of the net.”
Gemini’s Ryan Fitch had knotted the score at 1-1 in the second half. Glendale immediately made a full line change, sending out 10 new players. WCI capitalized on a quick turnover to score seconds later taking a 2-1 lead.
“A little breakdown there and he had a nice shot,” said Kobayashi, recalling WCI’s go-ahead goal.
The depth on the Gemini team, allowing them to make mass substitutions, kept them fresh.
“Full-line changes are nice,” said Edmonds. “I get tired, myself – I haven’t played soccer in three years.”
Richter came close on at least two occasions in the second half. A low free kick in the 60th minute avoided WCI’s five-man wall to hit the far right post.
“I sort of tried to get a ‘knuckle’ on the ball,” said Richter. “It moves a lot because of the (no-spin) knuckle, then it just dips at the box.”
Then in the final 5-10 minutes, Richter lobbed a shot off the crossbar.
“I just meant to hit it into the vicinity of the goalkeeper, and it sort of brushed the crossbar.”