Demize 7 - 13 Piasa FC
The Springfield Demize opened up their 2009-2010 Premier Arena Soccer League campaign against Piasa FC from Collinsville, Illinois. The game kicked off at 7:05 P.M. to a full crowd at the Lake Country Soccer Dome.
The action started slow, with only one goal scored in the first quarter. Starting goalkeeper Chris Hanlon had a majority of the shots blocked from the visitors, and it took a lucky chance to put Piasa ahead. After an off target original shot, Miles Abbel deflected the wayward attempt with a backheel that hit the post before deflecting in off the post past the keeper. At the buzzer for quarter, new staff coach Logan Hoffman took the players aside and the Demize came out revitalized for the second quarter. Taylor Stacy marked the come back with a tight angled shot, with Michael Gow putting the team firmly in the lead with a top of the box rocket. Demize won the half with the score at the buzzer being 5-4, with Dave Emnett, Adam Peterson, and Jeremy Roper all hitting for one.
Both teams had keeper changes at the half, with Swanner United product Chris Miller relieving Hanlon after his 17 save performance in the first half. Piasa sent in Jerry Lakin for Ben Orris. The third quarter was just as action packed, with the Demize being limited to only two goals in the quarter. The goal of the game came from Stacy, utilizing the attacking tactics of the Demize. Gow and Stacy both started on the defending third of the field, with Stacy making a 30 yard run downfield to stretch the play. Gow picked out the Drury product with a full field pass, and the midfielder turned striker did the rest. With his first touch Stacy brought down the cross, and from nearly zero angle from the corner, unleashed a rocket shot that beat Lakin to the far corner. Bradley Stillwagon, captain of Bolivar High School who finished Runner-up at State, also got on the scoresheet, with a stunning 20 yard shot that beat Lakin for pure speed and power to the near post. Piasa kept pressure on the Demize goal, with Chris Miller sustaining a slight concussion from blocking a shot with his head. The visitors ended up netting four times through the run of play, capitalizing on their set pieces. Miller had to be substituted due to the head injury, putting Chris Hanlon back in goal. The fourth quarter was all Piasa’s way as the Demize struggled to find their legs. With tiredness setting in due to multiple power play situations, Piasa netted five times in the fourth quarter, killing off the game 13-7.
The Demize suffered the most from disciplinary actions, picking up six blue cards and one yellow card, with two blue cards due to the Six Foul rule, and once for having too many men on the field. Piasa capatalized on their man up situations, scoring six of their 13 goals during the man up situations. The Demize will look to learn from their opening game, as they turn to play the Professional Arena Soccer Leagues Texas Outlaws in their first PASL Pro match of the season on Satruday, December 19th, at 7:00 P.M in Texas at the TCG Arena.
