A preseason game set at Meyer field on the campus of the University. A great evening for a game of soccer. The 70-degree temperature for the game was just right.
The Hawks fielded a team with a starting 11 with only 3 players from last season. No program was given for the game and the Hawks website is not listing squad numbers with the players. Supporters were left wondering who was who on the pitch.
The attendance was light with the supporters numbering at about 150. The game was a defensive battle. The Hawks were on the defense most of the 1st half. Shots on goal were at a minimum. The only shots in the 1st half were by UC. At the end of the 1st half the shot total was 2-0. The Hawks did not seem sure of themselves with the ball making passes that were floaters in the air that should have been sharp passes leading the receiver. The crispness was missing in much of the passing. As for individual play, Nick Glaser showed a desire to do well. The center back, Number 22 did well but showed some lack of discipline by letting the referees calls get to his emotions. My feeling is that a player needs to concentrate on the game and his play. If a player believes a bad call was made, go on and play. They aren't going to change the decision. The GK played quite well except for looking unsure on one cross off of a corner kick.
The 2nd half started with UC getting a few runs at goal. In the 65th minute, off of a Cincinnati goal kick UC's Josh Gardner playing at left midfield made a through pass to center forward Jarrett Devereaux that arrived right into his steps. Devereaux slotted home a shot past the keeper giving UC what would be the only score of the contest. UC was still holding the Hawks to just one shot. This was shot by number 13. He was showing some quality play in the back. UC started to then try to play the referee when I saw what I thought to be some dives. Example, with UC working the ball up the pitch, Marcel Matis went down holding his face in a heap sounding like he had been wounded mortally. After the UC player received a 2nd caution for the offense Matis rose to his feet as though nothing had happened and continued play. With the free kick, number 13 placed the Hawks 2nd shot right at the keeper who went down to save the ball. Good shot by number 13, he seems like he has a future ahead of him. With Cincinnati up a man on UC the game still appeared to be equal in the play on the field. UC held off a couple of corner kicks at the end of the match to take the victory. Total official shots at the end of the contest were 6-2 in favor of UC.
Owner/Sole coach, Nick Ranieri said the lineup for this game would be the lineup used and the play would be as that of an A-League contest. Based on this performance there may not be many goals scored for the Hawks with the lack of decision making and the execution of passes from the midfield. We can only hope these issues will be corrected as the season moves on. Another issue is that of when the better players currently playing for Cincinnati are offered a better contract by a different A-League team, will they choose to leave? I'll let the readers of this answer that question for themselves.
Well, now it is off to Virginia Beach for the season opener. It will be an interesting season that is for sure.
Mike Senger,
A-League.com Match Reporter.
