Join me, Steven Ramirez, every week as I take a look at matches from around the country. While I do have a Southern California bias, I will cover all aspects of amateur soccer, from women's to men's and amateur to professional leagues. Come and celebrate the vibrant world of lower league American soccer with me every Wednesday on YouTube @PitchPerspective. Together, let's delve into the exciting action and captivating stories of the beautiful game at its grassroots level.

Steven Ramirez takes us through a detailed analysis of several games from various leagues, including: WPSL - NY Shockers vs Rhode Island Rogues, USL L2 - Des Moines Menace vs FC Wichita, NISA Nation - PAOK Tijuana vs Temecula FC, and USL L2 - Academica SC vs SF Glens FC.

Matchday photo from NY Shockers Facebook Page

WPSL: New York Shockers vs. RI Rogues FC

While the league kicked off last week, the ball really got rolling on May 12th, 2023 with the WPSL running a slate of seven matches, one of which was postponed. The North Eastern Conference started with the New York Shockers hosting RI Rogues FC. Last season the Shockers finished in second, just above the Rogues in the standings. Not only did the Shockers out perform the Rogues in the standings, but they also beat them 3-0 at home and drew 3-3 away to Rhode Island.

New season means new beginnings for clubs. For Rhode Island that meant delivering a punch to a conference foe the Shockers. In this match the Rogues would go on to beat New York 2-1, with goals by: Allyson Patterson (RI), Camryn Thompson (RI), and Gabriella Slystra (NY).

The first 15 minutes of this match was fast paced and aggressive. It was a battle of individual skill and the Rogues really shined in that moment. That changed after the 15th minute. The tempo of the match slowed down. Rhode Island’s attacking chances were less frequent and often forced, leading to multiple counter attacks from the Shockers.

The visiting Rogues started having trouble maintaining their own speed of play. They favored their right winger, only to have the winger be alone in the attack, because the remaining attackers were unable to anticipate or keep up with the attack. This led to many of Rhode Island’s chances snuffed out by the defending home side. The Rogue Island players were tall and stood out for their individual skill on the ball, but were unable to find a pattern of attack that wasn't forced.

The Shockers look well drilled on their pressing queues and how to move as a squad. The Shockers also had a few individual players that stood out, but it was really the team work that set them apart. Their press was initiated by two specific queues: goalkeepers passing to a defender and after dispossession in their attack half. While they were unable to effectively press in the opening 15, when the play was quick and erratic, once it slowed down, they became the aggressor both defensively and offensively.

The second half played out just like the last portion of the first half. Both clubs would maintain their style of play. The Shockers continued to press, force mistakes and kept the possession simple, while trying to build up quickly. The Shockers would score first, breaking on an overexposed Rogue backline.That goal forced both clubs to create meaningful chances on goal. The Rogues ambitious passing attempts began to find the feet of an attacker creating multiple chances on goal, which led to the tying goal off a corner that the goalkeeper was unable to handle. The error left an exposed goal, which the Rogues capitalized on.

The tying goal gave the Rogues energy. While the Shockers were finding opportunities to break on Rhode Island, it was Rhode Island who then took over the match, creating more good attacking chances. The go ahead goal seemed inevitable as final minutes ticked away. The constant attacking pressure kept the Shockers scrambling to get any momentum, The Rogues would take advantage of the hectic final moments, finding a goal off a cross from the left wing. New York were unable to maintain the unbeaten streak against the Rogues, but Rhode Island would pull out a 2-1 victory over the host club.

Matchday photo from Des Moines Menace Twitter Page

USL L2: Des Moine Menace vs. FC Wichita

Long-time USL club Des Moines Menace played their second match of the season, following a convincing 4-0 victory over St. Charles. Eager to secure another three points, Lagos Kunga and the Menace faced off against FC Wichita, ultimately triumphing with a 3-0 win on home turf. Lagos Kunga showcased his exceptional skills and played a pivotal role in the Menace's attacking prowess.

The Menace displayed excellent organization throughout the first half, patiently awaiting opportune moments to launch their attacks, even if it meant switching wings on multiple occasions. Lagos Kunga thrived within this structured formation, exhibiting his ability to maneuver and find space to either dribble through, set up goal-scoring opportunities, or dictate the tempo of play. When FC Wichita ventured wide in their attacks, the Menace swiftly condensed their defense, creating limited space for the opposition and often dispossessing their attackers.

Until the first goal, Wichita seemed comfortable with the pace and style of play. They allowed the Menace to dominate possession in their own half, opting for a five-man backline (5-3-2), with two forwards positioned upfront to facilitate counter-attacks. However, as time passed, Wichita's three-man backline began to show vulnerabilities, especially when distributing the ball wide. FCW struggled to mount effective attacks and frequently lost possession in their own half. The first goal motivated the team to rally, but after the Menace scored their second goal, FC Wichita started committing almost all their players forward, leaving only two defenders to cope with countering or switching the point of attack.

The second half commenced with the Menace exuding confidence, as each player gained more time on the ball. The defensive-minded Wichita side resorted to maintaining a nine-man wall within their half, challenging Des Moines to break them down. Fatigue started to set in for the visiting Wichita players, impacting their ability to keep up with the pace of the game. The Menace goalkeeper adopted a sweeper-keeper role, allowing the team to push higher up the field, generating additional attacking opportunities and interceptions in dangerous areas. With the match seemingly sealed at 3-0, a contentious incident occurred in the 83rd minute when the FC Wichita keeper left his box, jumped, and chested the ball. The referee controversially issued a red card, suspecting a handball outside the box, although subsequent evidence proved otherwise.

FC Wichita faced a significant setback with the expulsion of their goalkeeper, as they lacked a backup option. A field player had to step in for approximately 10 minutes, yet despite the already defeated team in front of him, he managed to make several saves, resulting in the final score of 3-0. Des Moines Menace now boasts two wins from two matches, with clean sheets and seven goals to their name. Keep an eye on the Menace as they could be a formidable contender in the race for the national title.

Matchday photo from Temecula FC Facebook Page

NISA Nation: PAOK Tijuana vs. Temecula FC

NISA Nation Southwest represents the most robust region in the league, spanning from Los Angeles to Tijuana and featuring ten clubs competing in the 2023 season. In this match, second-placed Temecula embarked on a 75-mile trip to Tijuana for their first visit to Mexico this season, facing off against seventh-placed PAOK.

The match kicked off with an aggressive and physical tone. The first half witnessed three yellow cards and a multitude of fouls, many of which were committed by PAOK in dangerous areas, resulting in over ten set pieces, including long throw-ins, for Temecula. Alongside the yellow cards, each side was awarded a penalty, leaving the score level at one-all going into halftime.

PAOK, the home team, adopted an attack-minded approach, centered around their number 9, who operated as a traditional target striker, excelling when playing with his back to the goal. With his specialized skill set, the attacker capitalized on tight spaces using his size, strength, and vision to find the right teammate among the many joining the attack. While the wing-backs contributed to the offensive surge, which characterized PAOK's fast-paced and aggressive style of play, it often left the remaining three defenders split wide, creating ample space between them, which played into Temecula's strengths.

Temecula FC displayed excellent positional organization and utilized their size advantage to create space for each other. Leveraging this advantage and their specific game plan, Temecula dominated the first half. The most pronounced disparity in size was evident in Temecula's striker and outside wingers. The team initiated attacks from midfield by moving wide, seeking options inside the pitch and at the top of the box. With gaps in PAOK's defense, once the winger or striker held up the ball and drew in an additional defender, it created opportunities for open attackers. This pattern repeated throughout the half, signaling their establishment of a rhythm.

In the second half, PAOK maintained the same intensity and aggression displayed in the first half. They overloaded the wings during their attacks, aiming to draw in defenders and exploit multiple options to find open spaces. Tijuana adhered to their consistent principles throughout the match: committing to the attack, playing through tight spaces, and having defenders swarm the counter-attacking attempts from TFC. Towards the end of the first half, the PAOK striker began to tire, leaving the team's attacks without their main catalyst.

During halftime, Temecula made adjustments to counter the hold-up play of the PAOK striker. The talented and physical winger, number 10, shifted into a central role to provide support in the middle, aid in launching counter-attacks, and remain the main target for set pieces, ultimately resulting in the go-ahead, game-winning goal. After scoring, the Quails maintained possession, moving the ball around the midfield, searching for openings in the fatigued Tijuana defense.

This international matchup featured two penalties out of three goals, five yellow cards, and numerous fouls. While PAOK sought to build on their momentum from the end of the first half, it was Temecula's adjustments that proved successful, securing them the victory. The growth of Temecula has been thrilling to witness, complemented by their talented and well-coached players.

USL L2: Academica SC vs. San Francisco Glens

The second match of the season and the second consecutive encounter for these two Northern California sides. The battle in Turlock provided Academica with an opportunity to seek revenge against the Glens for their previous 1-0 loss. This match unfolded as a back-and-forth struggle of adjustments and goals, with Academica ultimately falling 5-3 after mounting two successful comebacks.

The SF Glens took control of the match from the start. Their pace and cohesive press created problems for the AC defenders. Whenever Academica attempted to play out from the back, they encountered multiple defenders, often forcing them to one wing and eventually resulting in dispossessions through mistakes or interceptions. The Glens' press led to the first penalty, which involved an intriguing referee decision. Initially, the Academica keeper was shown a red card for tripping up the sprinting SFG attacker while going for the ball. However, following a player petition and potential consultation with other referees, the red card was rescinded, and the keeper received a yellow instead. The penalty was then converted.

Subsequently, AC kicked off, faced immediate pressure, regained possession, and scored. Academica needed to make changes. The club's coaches implemented a low block strategy, allowing them to absorb pressure and focus on counterattacks. The low block proved effective as Academica gained control of the ball and advanced up the pitch. When an opportunity arose, it only took a few passes for Academica to create chances and find the back of the net. Emulating the Glens' approach, the home club scored back-to-back goals with the same tactic.

Now it was the Glens' turn to adapt, with the main question being how to break down AC's numerous and compact defense. San Francisco attempted to press but couldn't commit enough numbers, and those who did press couldn't sustain the same intensity. Consequently, SF attackers spent more time individually on the ball. Following a heat break, an SF attacker dribbled the ball, luring Academica out of position and creating the necessary space for a goal, putting the Glens ahead. Both clubs then traded periods of possession, and the first half concluded with a 3-2 scoreline in favor of SFG.

The second half began with a similar intensity. San Francisco utilized pressing to regain possession and quickly attack AC. In the 50th minute, a SF counter-attack led to a foul in a dangerous position. The resulting set piece was inadvertently deflected into the goal by an AC defender, resulting in an own goal. Academica responded with determination, mirroring their initial comeback attempt. AC regained possession, focused on their passing game to progress down the pitch, but were pressed, countered, and eventually gave up a penalty. San Francisco was fortunate with these two goals.

While being down 5-2 might have discouraged some clubs and players, Academica remained composed and continued to focus on their passing game, enabling them to create opportunities and dictate the tempo of the match. The intensity increased as both clubs played on until the second heat break.

Academica maintained composure and sought to utilize their passing game and pressing to generate attacking options, although they struggled to capitalize on them. AC displayed an admirable performance, fighting back from a three-goal deficit against a more dangerous San Francisco side. They attempted to dictate the speed of play while adopting a pressing approach that hadn't been evident earlier in the match. The Glens sustained their pressing as if their energy levels hadn't dropped. As the final minutes ticked on, challenges and intensity escalated. AC made a late surge and managed to score in stoppage time, resulting in a 5-3 final score, with the visiting Glens securing all three points.

These results will contribute to the ongoing growth of this NorCal rivalry. Academica still needs time to figure out how to handle certain gameplay styles, such as the press, but they have shown glimpses of potential to build upon. The Glens, being a young and energetic team, appear to be a club that can pose a threat on the national stage, even though it is still early in the season.

by Steven Ramirez
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