Sports ~ the other press The Art of War in Soccer Neill Jeffrey OP Assistant Sports Editor Spartan Deportment With three games left before the BCCAA provincials, and their postseason ticket in pocket, the Douglas College men’s soccer team fielded a depleted line-up against their rivals from Capilano College, on Sunday, October 13, at Hampton Field on Westwood Plateau, in Cgquitlam. The narrowness of the high-school field was a concern for the Royals, given their wide-ranging style of attack, but the hilltop location offered a free view of Mount Baker, looming like an iceberg beyond the neighbourhood roofs of ?- million-dollar houses. Royals Coach Joe Ormerod was obliged to rest some of his players, including Stedman Espinoza, suspended in the previous day’s game against the Malaspina Mariners, and Walter Oyuela, who ended his season by leaving the players’ bench, to go to the aid of a teammate battling a Mariner. The Royals did not play with the intensity needed to beat Capilano. Defender Kristopher Peterson conceded after the game that they held back, and missed the reg- ulars who did not play. From the start, the Royals struggled defensively and quickly found themselves down a goal by penalty kick, as though trapped in a replay of their game against Capilano a month earlier. The Royals recovered to create numerous scor- ing chances through the first half: John Mackie made a slick turn in traffic but his shot hit the post. Matthew Ormerod poked the ball between the feet of a Cap defender and picked it up on the other side, drawing laughs of appreciation from DC supporters, as he charged downfield and sent a low shot bouncing inches wide of what was nearly a spectacular goal. Towards the end of the half, Royals goalkeeper Stephen Way injured his knee and had to be carried off the field. His replacement was victimized almost immediately, as a Blues free kick cleared the wall of Royal defenders, bounced oddly in front of their keeper and through his reaching gloves. Down by two goals at halftime, the Royals fought back in the second half. A stand- out in his red boots, Kristopher Peterson deftly took balls away from Cap players and launched counter-attacks. Miguel Pascual was undaunted, charging at Cap players and taking consecutive blasts in his face as he pursued the ball. In his dashes down the side- lines, first year player Ryan Fries showed blazing ball control, drawing praise from teammates and other supporters. Matthew Ormerod displayed a knack for one-touch- October 23, 2002 Photo by Jordon Cripps es, moving the ball to a teammate as soon as it came to him. Ormerod was injured late in the game, and will miss the final regular season games, but he intends to be ready for the provincials. Near the end of the game, Sean Jimenez showed a surprising left foot shot that warped through the Blues keeper's waving hands into the net, to count the Royals’ only goal. It was Jimenez’s first goal as a Royal, in his first year on the team. He celebrated the thrill with an impromptu breakdance. Part of the enjoyment of watching this team is in the cultural experience they offer. There is a depth and richness in their soccer culture, their camaraderie, the sideline banter and high level recognition of what is happening on the field reflected in their wisecracks. Even the coach gets into it. When the referee got his backside in the way of a Royals’ clearing attempt, his interference was rewarded with a “well played, Henry!” from the Coach Ormerod. Royals soccer players, man-for-man, have a higher skill level than most teams they face, which enables Coach Ormerod to deploy his strategy. This game was used to test the Blues for tendencies and reactions. Call it the art of war in soccer, as practiced the inscrutable tactician, Coach Ormerod (In the classic of Chinese military strategy, Art of War, Sun-tzu said: warfare is the way of deception). By applying tactics such as reshaping his team’s configuration, Coach Ormerod meant to expose where and how the Blues tended to stretch, fold and break. (Sun-tzu said: one who excels in moving the enemy deploys in a configuration to which the enemy must respond.) In soccer as in war, advantage can be gained by deception and manipulation. Strategically, the Royals can exploit what the Blues showed them; Capilano’s game holds no surprises. The Royals know their strategic habits. As Coach Ormerod reassured his team after the game, the Blues “got the bounces today,” but the score had never mattered (3—1); what counted on this day was the mind game. In the long run, the Royals gained “a lot of mileage” that can carry them past the Blues at the provincials in Kelowna, October 26-27. On the weekend of October 19-20, the Royals face the top team in the league, the Langara Falcons, in a double-header to end the regular season. Royals Fall to Falcons in Volleyball Exhibition Jordan Cripps Sports Editor The Royals, playing their first exhibition match in preparation for the 2002-2003 BCCAA volleyball season, were in all three games at Pinetree Community Centre, but couldn't seem to put the Falcons from Langara away in any of the games, falling 3-0. The first game of the match was a seesaw back and forth game which saw the two teams exchange the lead numerous times as neither side was able to control the serve for any extended length of time. The Royals battled hard in the set, building a 20- 17 lead before Langara called a time-out. After the time-out, it seemed as though the momentum turned on the Royals as the Falcons rattled off 3 quick scores to even the game. Then it was the Royals turn to call a time-out. This seemed to focus the Royals as they fought to prolong the game. Every time the Falcons put another point on the board, the Royals answered with a point of their own, but it wasn’t to be in this game for the Royals as the Falcons finally widened the margin to 27-25, taking the first game. Between the games, the Royals must have dis- covered a new source of inspiration as they came out of the gate quickly, grabbing a 14-7 lead. Again, though, Langara rebounded, closing the gap to 17-15, before they began to pull away, taking the 2nd game by a three-point margin, 25-22. The third game was the same, as the Royals built up early leads, only to see Langara come back each time. They began by leading 4-2, and maintained a fairly comfortable lead through the early part of the game until the score was 13-9. Again, Langara wouldn't be denied. They came back from this deficit, tying the game at 16. From there, the score went back and forth and Douglas and Langara traded points. In the end, though, Langara held on, taking the final game 26-24. It was clearly the first game for both teams. A number of times throughout the match, it was evi- dent that both teams were still trying to figure out exactly how they were supposed to react in certain situations as players collided with one another as they pursued the ball across the court. From that perspective, the game provided both teams with an opportunity to iron out these problems before the regular season begins at the end of October. This season, the Royals hope to improve on their 5-13 record and secure a spot in the provincial championships to be held at Malaspina February 27-March 1. & wv "EApy Free apple streudal with any coffee of the day until 11am only. Teriyaki/satay chicken or beer rice bowl $3.50. Sandwich & Soup $4.50. Mondays are 2 for 1 specialty coffee's, including white chocolate mocha's. Homemade Beer Chili, 100z streudal & small coffee $3.99. 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