Beautiful day for Fall '10 League Game #1 @ DSGP!

Written by: Tanner (Brian Tanner) - Pictures provided by: Samantha Ridgeway

FC Denver Masters personified “resilience” on Sunday. After spotting the defending O-30 D1 champs a silly penalty kick in the first 5 minutes of the game, FC Denver came from behind twice to knock off Rover 30 by a 4-2 score.

The 1st game of fall league play wasn’t pretty by either side. With Rover 30 up 1-0 after the PK, John Wallace tied the game at 1-1 on a shot that deflected off a defender into the Rover’s goal. A defensive breakdown by FC Denver allowed Rovers to take a 2-1 lead shortly thereafter.

FC Denver Masters eventually settled into their game with quality midfield play and tougher defense. Taking advantage of the fact that the Rovers had only 1 sub in a game where the temps were near or above 90 degrees, FC Denver began to wear out Rover 30 with outside runs and moved the game into the Rovers half of the field.

Before half, FC Denver was gifted an equalizer as Ian’s cross from the outside right found its way into the net. It was 2-2 after 45 minutes.

Coach/Co-Captain Eric Fulton organizing the defense

FC Denver continued to take it to Rovers 30 during the second half and stretched the field from side-to-side further tiring out a shorthanded Rover squad. FC Denver controlled more of the game and finally another gift goal presented itself as Eric Fulton let loose a cross from the far right side that also managed to find its way into the back corner of the net. With FC Denver up for the first time at 3-2, momentum was definitely with the Masters.

After a questionable foul just inside of midfield, Jeremiah unleashed a quick 40-yard bomb that caught the keeper off guard and wound up in the net. Rover 30 which was still arguing the initial foul, exploded in protest. No matter, FC Denver led 4-2 with 20 minutes to go.

Play again got sloppy in the final 20 minutes with the Rovers attacking and FC Denver playing a little too safe. Despite ample opportunities for Rover 30 to close the gap, FC Denver held on for a 4-2 victory to open fall league play.

Tanner’s MAN OF THE MATCH:
Lots of players in the running for MOTM with 4 different goal scorers including Eric Fulton with his first goal in 4 or 5 years. But the MOTM was Jeremiah whose 40-yard bomb was a spectacular goal and iced the game. Jeremiah ran the Rovers midfield and defense ragged with constant runs down the side. He hustled nonstop and was all over the field making plays and pressuring Rovers.

A great start to the O-30 D1 fall season for FC Denver with a big game against the British Bulldog looming next Sunday at 1:00pm on Field 23 at DSGP.

FC Denver is looking for a few talented and committed soccer players as they continue preparations for the fall 2010 season. FC Denver is an organized and competitive adult amateur football club. Besides success on the field, the club believes that football is about building a community of people who love the game.  If you are passionate about soccer and want to play with on one of the best teams in the state, please come out to our tryouts in the coming week.

Tryout Schedule:

Tryout Day #1 - Thursday (08/12) @ 6:20pm-8:15pm
Tryout Day #2 Sunday (08/15) @ 9:30am-11:30am. Both at Harvard Gulch fields north of Iliff. (MAP)
All Players will be informed of Roster positions on Sunday/Monday Night

Here is a message about the club and tryouts from club President Eric Fulton:

FC Denver is one of the most successful adult amateur soccer clubs in Colorado. Our club is focused on creating the best amateur teams in the state. We strive to reach our team, club, and player potential, while providing a fun and enthusiastic environment to meet people and share the passion of the game. We are looking for talented players that want to be a part of a club that is organized and exciting to play for. We value top class football and people with enjoyable and agreeable personalities. We are gearing up for our Fall ‘10 tryouts and are looking for new players to add to the terrific team(s) we currently have.

For the Fall 2010 season, we will have 3 men’s teams. Our Premier team, which is one of the best amateur teams in the state; our United team, which won the 2nd division and is moving up to join our Premier team in the 1st division, and our Men’s Over-30 team which also won its 2nd division and is moving up to the 1st division of the Over-30 league. If you are an interested player, please do your research on teams to play for; our teams consistently play at the top level of amateur soccer in the state (and have a great time in the process).

If you are interested, please review our website at fcdenver.org to get more information and either fill out our information form online and/or send me an email at efulton@fcdenver.org and we’ll get you involved. We have a few more weeks of weeknight drop-in scrimmages before our tryouts in mid-August. Thanks for your interest in our growing club. We look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!

Our club thrives because of the skill and commitment on-the-field, and the camaraderie and communication off the field, of each of our players. We work to prove that every week.

Masters Game Recap by: Kurt FitzRoy

To quote the late great UCLA coach John Wooden

“I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”

And with temperature’s hovering around the 90 degree mark on Championship Sunday, the Masters Club showed off that talent with a 3-1 victory over an overmatched Corrosion Team. An example of this talented team came in the score-line with two of the three goals coming from off the bench. This just reinforces FC Denver’s depth and talent, the score line reads Chris Lujun, Patrick Okeefe and Kurt FitzRoy all with 1 goal. But this was only part of the equation in this title match, the strength of the Masters Club all season and in this game particular was the “I am the bully on the playground who is going to take you lunch money and you can’t do anything in your power to stop me”………….DE-FENCE.

Allowing only one goal in the waning moments of the match just solidify the mind blowing 26-3 goal differential. These numbers smack you square in the face that championships are indeed won with de-fence. And with that stat line and a Championship Title in the club house The Masters Club will take there unabashed talent and bombastic de-fence to The over 30 Division 1 league next season.

John Wooden once said “Make each day your masterpiece.” well The Masters Club on this day created their Mona Lisa…………

Man of the Match: Chris Lujan

Chris Lujan is a proud member of the FC Denver Masters team and worked hard all season to do his part, sometimes in limited minutes, and kept a positive team attitude. In the final, he proved his value on the field with a great individual first goal coming in strong off the bench. The goal set the tone for the match. He continued to work hard all match long and was able to get to the end of a cross late in the 2nd half and almost score what would have been the team goal of the season. Congratulations to Chris on this big team day.

Tanner brings it down

9:00 am. Sunday game time… Check. Dicks Sporting Complex Field # 3…. Check. Opponent Allied Brewers…. Check. Pre - game 5 hour energy…. Check.

At stake a birth in The Championship…. Priceless.

This is a Allied Brewers Club that owned The Masters with a 4-0 record against dating back to last Spring, including a crushing defeat on PK’S in the finals. Would the outcome be status quo or would The Masters show their resolve and find a way to win. It did not take long for some of those questions to be answered. With a goal coming in the first 15 minutes by FC Denver’s leading scorer Trent Lind on a brilliant cross from Kevin Stear. This goal gave a Masters Club a much needed confident building 1-0 lead.

FC Denver Masters

With The Masters up 1-0 throughout the first half and the play getting somewhat contentious a crucial Red Card was given to a Brewers Club that was already visibly shaken going into half. The Second half played out with Allied Brewers finding themselves down a man and a Masters Club growing in confidence, it seemed the outcome would favor a FC Denver victory. And with little over 10 minutes to play in the match that outcome would hold true. With Trent Lind once again finding the back of the net on a break away.

And when the final whistle giving The Masters a 2-0 victory, FC Denver Masters find themselves playing in The Championship Match on Sunday June 6th @ Dicks Complex…. Check!!

Masters Game Review by: Kurt FitzRoy - Pictures by: Ethan Ward

PANTERA…. the kick-ass, hard charging, metal band represents the way the FC Masters squad played on Sunday. With a well-balanced offense led by our 2 goal scorers, Trent Lind and Dennis Swanson and a bombastic “in your face” defense, the Masters showed an overwhelmed opposition what it is was like to be in the middle of an FCD “MOSH PIT.”

Bruised and bloodied…. Team Corrosion frustrations were apparent as the Corrosion players running their mouths throughout the game. In the end THE GREEN ARMY just responded with the following…

“Respect, walk, what do you say??

Respect, walk, are you talking to me???

Walk on home boy”

After the half-way mark of the season, The Masters find themselves 3-0-1 with a combined goal differential of 15-0. The upcoming weeks’ will truly set the barometer for a possible championship title match. Pantera’s Walk Lyrics In quotes.

Coaches MOTM: Jim Dearlove. Jim was a major force in the back, especially in the 2nd half as the game opened up. Jim is a big reason for our 0 goals against statistic through the midway point of the season.

GOALS!!!!

SAVES!!!

Another weekend filled with exciting soccer.  All our teams played on Sunday and represented the club well.

White team won 2-1 against Denver Revolution, full report to follow.

Green team won 3-1 against Reietto, and has moved up to third in the table. Full report to follow.

Premier team won 3-0 against 3 Lions.  It was a game of firsts.  Our first win in the 1st division, our first shutout, and David’s first goal.  Chris turned his defender twice and beat the keeper with a floater over the top and a dipping blast into the corner.  Everyone played well and came together in a must win game.

Masters lost their last game of the season 4-1, and ends with a 4-3-1 record, placing 4th in the league.  The team pulled together and played a good game but just couldn’t find the net, but once.

Women’s team won, full report to follow.

Upcoming Games:

White at Dicks #3 @ 9am
Premier at Broomfield @ 1pm
Green at Dicks#3 @ 3pm

The Premier team suffered its second loss of the season against a very good America side. The final score was 5-2, but they were definitely not 3 goals better than us. Langston scored a booming 45 yard strike over the goalie’s head to put us on the board. Langston also slipped in Raph for his 3rd goal of the season. The premier team was guilty of making mistakes on both sides of the ball. The offense missed several chances to get us back in the game, and their attackers were able to capitalize on a few defensive lapses. Nonetheless we kept our spirits up and played valiantly for the full 90. I’ve always believed that it isn’t about whether or not you make a mistake, but how you react to it that really matters. Our team reacted in the best manner possible, we never put our head down and pushed forward.

The Green team tied CO Sporting Select 4-4 in hard fought and dramatic game. Full match report with pictures will be posted later.

The FC Denver White team lost 6-0 this Sunday. It was a strongly contested midfield battle. They played a quick Chivas team that got the drop on them early and raced out to a 4-0 lead at halftime. The White squad fought really hard in the second half, but couldn’t find the back of the net. There was some fantastic play from midfield by Drew, Roy and Todd. Our forwards fought valiantly as well, and Max and Kemar came close on numerious occassions. The FC Denver White squad has a had to deal with some tough growing pains, but are really starting to come together as a squad and show a lot of promise! We look forward to good things from them and for them to finish the season strong!

The Masters team, beat one of the top teams in their league this Sunday.

The Women did not have a chance to play this weekend, but be sure to get out and support them at their next match. They are very talented and fun players to watch play.

THIS WEEKS GAME SCHEDULE:

PREMIER = Dicks #19 @ 3pm

MASTERS = Dicks #7 @ 1pm

WHITE = Broomfield Commons @ 9am.

GREEN = Dicks #19 @ 11am.

Women = TBD

Sorry for the late updates, but here is how the weekend went for FC Denver.

Green Team suffered their first lose of the season, falling 5-3 to Sefton FC.  Full game report to follow.

The White Team led by the Ninja Assasin, fell to a very good Rush team.

The premier team tied 3-3 against a solid Ex-Jesuits team.  In every game so far, the Premier team has improved but has yet to find their first win of the season.  The premier team out hustled and, for portions, out played their opponents who are a CASL powerhouse.  Dustin came up big with 2 assists.  Slipping the ball through for Chris early in the game to put us up 1-0.  We were down 2-1 in the last minute of the first half, when a well placed corner kick met the head (or shoulder) of stopper Matt Kasck to tie it up 2-2.  Dustin again showed his vision, when he played in JC to put us up 3-2.  We gave up a goal a few minutes later, but JC, active all day on the flank, saw our best chance in the dying minutes get deflected over the cross bar.  Newcomers Eddie and Marinko(SP??) made their debut for the Premier team.  Both made a great impact on the team.

Masters Team????? Word on the street is that the old fogies lost, but were short handed.

In the big news for the weekend our Two Women’s teams facing off head to head in the first ever Women’s Green v. White game. The game was a blast by all accounts. Our Green team had a dominant first half and the White team came back strong in the 2nd half to fall just short of the victorious Green team. They’ll play eachother again before the season ends, so we’ll all look forward to that.