Mustangs lose close game to NMH
This is our fourth encounter with Class A team NMH, and we have a checkered history: 2006 2-2 OT tie; 2007: 2-0 win; 2008: 1-3 loss and 2009, a tough 0-1 loss. The one consistent factor in all of these games: we never seem to bring our best game. The Mustangs did not play badly; in fact our defensive unit -- Small, Fracchia, Lavitt, Chapman and Nelson in goal, played a solid, gutsy game, holding off onslaught after onslaught as NMH had two PG forwards who pressed hard and often, but our midfield and forwards could not find the spark, the inspired, hustling play, that was necessary to overcome this respectable opponent.
The opening half was bland for both teams, as the play got bottled up on the left side of the field, interrupted by long hits through that found no one. Neither team had much offense. NMH finally found their groove with 10 minutes left in the half, launching several hard shots, forcing Nelson to make two great saves, then in response, Millbrook earned two corners. Both Burdis and Chapman hit excellent corner shots that went wide, just outside the right post. The half ended 0-0.
NMH came out fiesty in the second half, earning a PC right away and Nelson, again, made a beautiful save. Our offense was still silent, unable to break through the dense defensive web NMH spread across the mid field. The Mustangs errors started to mount up, costing us possessions and PC's. NMH had five penalty corners in the second half; Millbrook none. Again, huge credit goes to our defense for holding off these PC's. NMH had a good corner unit and shot some zingers. At 10:30 left in the game, NMH scored off a free hit into the circle, a tidy deflection by the right wing on post, a great shot our goalie had no chance to save. Our offense, lead by Burdis in the midfield, finally found their voice. Steele-Norton, Fitzgerald, and Fallon had some flurries in front of goal, but no real shots developed. Whalen, Chapman, Merrill and Duhoski played solid midfield, working hard in those demanding running positions.
