'deja vu all over again'

KUA headed off to Proctor on a spectacular fall afternoon feeling under the gun. Proctor was undefeated, and KUA’s key midfielder, Bridger Close, was injured and would spend the day on the bench. There was a strong breeze in Proctor’s favor during the first half, but the play seemed even. KUA had a great chance when the ball rolled around in front of the Proctor net, but the Hornets were able to clear it. Then, mid-way through the first half, KUA was pressuring the Proctor keeper who kicked the ball off a defender, and it ricocheted into his own net. Max van Dijk stopped a Proctor breakaway just minutes later, but the Hornets evened the score on a long blast that floated just under the crossbar, and the score was tied at half-time. KUA dominated the second half, in part because the wind had increased and was now at the Wildcats’ back. Cam Plume had a perfect head off a corner kick that the keeper grabbed; KUA had a great opportunity after a scramble in front where the ball literally rolled along the Proctor goal line before going over the end line; Cody Nguyen put a blast just over the crossbar; John Erwin took the ball 1 on 3 against the Hornet defenders and ended up with a solid shot; and Trong Pham had a great head off a perfect corner kick that the keeper grabbed. Then, with about ten minutes left, Proctor launched the ball up the field to a forward who went in and scored.

This was when things got strange. That player was clearly offsides, and KUA challenged the goal. The referees conferred and reversed the call. They took the goal off the board, and called for a drop ball. From KUA’s perspective, this was the right decision, but it seldom happens. Several minutes later, Jon Li chipped a shot over the defender and just over the keeper’s fingertips to put KUA up 2 - 1. Both sides pushed hard, and then, in the final seconds, KUA was called for a hand ball in the box, and Proctor was awarded a penalty kick. This seemed suspiciously, in fact painfully, like the previous game against Eaglebrook, except that this time there was no question that the foul was legitimate. Proctor took the PK, firing it right at Max van Dijk who scooped it up to cement the win. Oh, no. The referee ruled that Max had moved before the kick and gave Proctor a second chance. They scored, and just like the previous Saturday, the ref ruled that time had now expired and that the game was over.

This was a frustrating end, but KUA played probably their best game of the season against a strong opponent and has every reason to feel proud of the way they competed. Next up a rematch against Cardigan Mountain.