Two Wins, Six Points, Fusion Loss, Combine to Put the Seals in First Place

This weekend the Seals made a statement.  They want it.

The LA Legends came into town Saturday night needing a win badly, as did the Seals.  For the Seals, they could basically knock out the Legends with a win.  LA had been riding a strong tide all summer.  Among the top 10 goal scoring teams in the PDL, they had also been very stingy on defense for much of the year. 

The Seals have stayed in the top 10 defensively all season, with only 11 goals allowed.

This match Saturday night had all the makings of a classic match up.

The Seals had the first opportunity in just the first minute of play, as striker Peter Lovell got a head on a long throw from the left side.  Anthony Grillo stepped up and re-directed the ball into the net.  Hold on a minute . . . the goal was disallowed on an offside call.

In the fourth minute the Legends made a strike, but the shot from the Legends leading goal scorer Ross Schunk (5 goals, 2 assists) hit the post.

The game was well played on both sides of the ball.  The Seals defense stayed well organized, and both the midfield and forwards played well and created opportunities.  Neither goalie was stressed making saves in this match (two each), but the 8 shots by the Legends, and the 10 by the Seals kept it tense. 

As the second half got underway it appeared that the Legends were having better opportunities, and looking more consistent.  The Seals brought in substitutions in the 53rd and 59th minutes as Kellan Wilson came in for Anthony Grillo and later Dimitry Omphroy was brought on for Mike Balogun.  Both substitutions seemed to bring a bit more energy into the match at that point.

Wilson’s shot in the 70th minute rang off the post, but neither team seemed to take a clear ownership of the match, as each team continued to play well.  As regulation time turned into the 89th minute, players and fans began wondering how many minutes would be added.  Perhaps it would be good enough to take a point from the match.

Omphroy, attacking up the right side, received a nice ball in the box in the 89th minute, but the Legend defense closed quickly and knocked the ball to the sideline.  As he went to the sideline the Legend defender knocked him over and setup a free kick.  Efrain Burgos (Junior), setup to take the kick.  Legend keeper Brent Douglass stood far back at the far post, and seemed mildly distracted by the defense.  Seeing this Junior took the shot, sending to the near post, and dropping it on the ground just in front of the net.  Douglass dove to deflect the ball, but having started too deep, he merely deflected into the net, and the Seals took the lead.

Just one minute later, Peter Lovell, who has scored or assisted in every match since joining the Seals on June 20th, got another chance, and put the game away with his 4th goal of the season.  Kellan Wilson had recovered the ball in the midfield, and set it up to midfielder Corey Woolfolk.  Corey nicely deflected the ball through the Legend defense where Lovell picked it up on the run, and coolly powered the ball past Douglass for the insurance goal.

Sunday’s game against the Lancaster Rattlers took on a new importance.  A win would put the Seals ahead of the Fresno Fuego, and into sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division, depending upon the outcome of the Fusion/Blue Star match Sunday night.

It didn’t take long to establish their intent to win.  Woolfolk and Lovell once again connected, as striker Peter Lovell put the first goal away in the 11th minute on a fine assist from Woolfolk.

The Seals seemed to dominate the attack throughout the first half.  The Rattlers had their chances, with seven shots forcing two saves.  But the Seals appeared to be the more dangerous team.  On the attack.  Wilson and Lovell consistently were a threat, and Junior kept setting up good balls to the forwards for them to work with. 

In the 34th minute Wilson got a ball started from Junior,  took the ball through the Rattler defense, and fired the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.  “I was really happy to get that first goal since getting back from Europe,” Wilson said after the game.  “I really wanted that one.”

Two minutes later it seemed the flood gates were open, and a rout was underway, when Wilson again got in behind the defense to take a pass 10 yards out to the left side of the six.  Rattler keeper Zach Brunner charged out for the block, but Wilson deftly knocked the ball back inside with his right hip, laying the ball off to Peter Lovell making a supporting run.  Lovell placed the ball into the net for what turned out to be the wining goal, and 3-0 lead. 

The Seals started out the second half with what seemed like a continuation of their play from the first half, as Wilson launched a header that went just wide of the goal. 

But the Rattlers did not seem to think they were out of the match.  Seals keeper Eric Conner was forced to make a save in the 53rd minute off the foot of Miguel Ibarra. In the 59th minute Lancaster midfielder Carlos Aguilar struck for the Rattlers first goal after the Seals seemed to have had a good defensive play, but didn’t get the ball cleared quick enough.

The Seals continued to pressure the Rattlers defense, and generated numerous chances.  Eric Lafon drove down the left side and just outside the Ratter box at the 10 yard line he sent in a beautiful ball to Corey Woolfolk alone at the 12 yard line.  His shot went high, and Lancaster breathed a sigh of relief.

The win gave the Seals a very much needed six points on the weekend, and sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division, as the Ventura County Fusion fell to the Orange County Blue Start Sunday night  1-0.

So, the Seals are in complete control of their destiny at this point.  You cannot ask for a better scenario.  Win the next two games, and you win your Conference. 

The Seals next match is Friday night (July 18th), at USF Negoesco stadium against the Bakersfield Brigade.  Game time has just recently been changed to 7:00pm. 

The Seals will finish their season against the San Jose Frogs on Sunday (July 20th) also at USF, and that game too has been changed to a 7:00 pm start.