Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Week 4 Preview - The "Quest" for More Points

Can Olympic Frustrations Lead Quest to Win ?

"It's definitely tricky, facing a club with players fresh of a stunning set of results. Shea and Bunbury are in one of two states of mind right now. They're either devastated to the point they'll be ineffective ... OR, they'll tear us a new one. That's the danger this week."

Of course, the Battle management is referring to the shock exit of the United States squad from the Olympic Qualifying tournament. Teal Bunbury and Brek Shea are the returning members of that squad that potentially create a bad situation for Alamo City. It's a tough spot as the American members of the Battle squad certainly feel for the fellow countrymen, but business is business. Right now, it's good for the Battle and they have every intention on keeping the pressure on Gateway United.

Week 4 Lineup:

Henry
Perez
Hassli
Boyd
Mirosevic
Castrillon
Rowe
Sarvas

Gspurning

Johnson
Martinez
Hartman

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Opening Round of Founder's Cup a Success for Alamo City

Dominance of Union Continues

First match of the Founder's Cup, first match at home this season, and the Battle delivered in a big way. The pressure that the fans and the management have put on the team to perform weighs heavy, but the pressure is welcome because that's how superstar's perform. In week 3 of the BSL season, the biggest superstar of them all did just that.

"Oh he was brilliant. He was a hair away from taking Clint Mathis out of the record books. He was unlucky to only walk away with 2. He easily could have had 5 or more. Oh, and he still managed to set up another for someone else. He was simply phenomenal. This is why he's here, this is why he's the talisman, and this is why he's Theirry Henry and everyone else isn't."

Simply put, his performance on Sunday afternoon secured Alamo City yet another win over Union SC. The Battle have had their number historically. For some reason, the club out in California brings out the best in Alamo City. It isn't ever easy though. Michael Gspurning got things going with his first ever clean sheet in the league. That lead was short lived though as Wondolowski provided Union with a brace to snatch the lead. Putting his first goal onto the score sheet this season, Milovan Mirosevic evened things up only to see Marco Pappa take it right back for Union. That's when Henry took over. His two goals and assist put a choke hold on the match before Castrillon tacked on the insurance. As has been the case so far this season, the Battle are getting scoring from all over the lineup. That's the key, and that's what is going to make or break Alamo City this season.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Week 3 - Founder's Cup Match Up

Home Opener Features Old Foe

The hits keep on coming in the Bigtime Soccer League. Fresh off a heart pounding draw against the expansion Spartans side last week, Alamo City has to turn around and open up the Founder's Cup competition against old foe Union SC. While the Battle have control of the historical score line, Alamo City is well aware of what Union SC has been able to do in the past.

"The loss they handed us and the draws they've taken away have been very important to our seasons in the past. The points they've taken have cost us dearly in the playoff race before. We're not about to fall into the trap of thinking we can get by these boys. They've played extremely well in the first two weeks and are just unlucky to not have won either of those match ups. This isn't lip service either, they come to play. If we're flat, they'll shoot our momentum dead in its tracks. We need to take the win and keep this thing rolling early on."

It should help the club that they'll be opening their home schedule with this match up. The first time that a club plays before its own fans this season should provide the boost Alamo City needs to keep the early season push going. The players, management, and fans all know that Gateway won their first two match ups and are expected to show well in week three. Keeping the pressure on the rest of the league early will only help Alamo City in the long run.

Week 3 Lineup:

Thierry Henry
Kris Boyd
Eric Hassli
Blas Perez
Jaime Castrillon
Milovan Mirosevic
Kelyn Rowe
Josue Martinez

Michael Gspurning

Eddie Johnson
Kevin Hartman
Marcelo Sarvas

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Depth Saves Point for Battle

Marcelo Sarvas Saves the Day

During First Kick it was the "name" brand that took center stage for the Alamo City Battle Soccer Club. "The big guns took care of business for us," stated Alamo city management in regards to the first match of the year. "But this week, we showed what a club has to do in order to win in this league. You've got to play to the final whistle, and you've got to have players capable of producing slotted in every position in your lineup. Marcelo came in very late into the game and stole a point for us. That's how you separate yourself in this league."

Fresh of the warnings earlier in the week that facing an expansion club presented a very unique set of challenges, the ACSC brass was delighted to see their club pull something from an otherwise weak performance overall. Blas Perez netted his first goal of the season, as did Jaime Castrillon. No one else even sniffed the scoreboard until Sarvas put in a beautiful header from the center of the box. The point lands Alamo City in a four way tie for second place after the first two weeks of the season.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Week 2 Presents Unique Challenge

Expansion Spartans Won't Allow Let Down

"It's never easy going up against expansion squads. New management, new player development, and a fresh approach to the matches are never easy to deal with. Spartans showed during First Kick that they won't be rolled over."

And so it goes each week in the Bigtime Soccer League. Despite posting the league high point total for week one, Alamo City faces a fresh set of challenges in the second week of action. While the big names stepped up and showcased the ability that this club possesses, it will take an entire team effort week in and week out. Spartans worked a draw in their week one match and appear to be a very methodical attacking club. Alamo City will need to keep up the tempo of the match to get another win to start the season.

Week 2 Lineup:

Thierry Henry
Eric Hassli
Kris Boyd
Blas Perez
Jaime Castrillon
Josue Martinez
Kelyn Rowe
Eddie Johnson

Kevin Hartman

Marcelo Sarvas
Milovan Mirosevic
Michael Gspurning

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Battle Claim Opening Match

Stars Pave Way for Opening Win of 2012 Season

It was a display that was expected if you ask the Alamo City management and players. The squad has plenty of name value which has bred plenty of expectation from the players themselves, the management, and the fans. These expectations were met, if only for a day, during the 2012 BSL First Kick match up against Alliance FC. Headlining the day was Panamanian International Blas Perez. His effort didn't net him a goal but the hard work didn't go unfulfilled. He got on the sheet with two assists that were indicative of the work he put in. If not for a fantastic day from rookie netminder Ryan Meara, he'd have had a goal or two as well. In that same game, Thierry Henry displayed his new found role in the NYRB offense. Now more of a CF/CAM, the talisman distributed well but couldn't get things going with Agudelo. Once Kenny Cooper entered though, his service started bearing fruit. A fantastic overhead through-ball landed perfectly for Cooper who netted it home giving Henry the assist. Hassli did much of the same hard work as Perez and also was awarded an assist for his time. It was Boyd though, that found the back of the net on a class header that perfectly displayed his skill. Boyd was denied, at the very least, one other goal as MacMath had a great save on a close attempt in the box.

"Surely we're pleased, and we're even more pleased that there were several opportunities that were denied only by fantastic plays by the keepers this weekend. It was only the first match and our players looked as though this were mid-season form. While we're happy we understand this is merely the first match. Given our start the last two seasons though, I think a bigger than normal smile can be excused this once."

Saturday, March 10, 2012

First Kick 2012

Alliance FC First Up In The Line of Fire

The 2012 BSL season gets underway today and Alamo City is poised to take on Alliance FC. The brand new, loaded lineup down in San Antonio will make its debut in hopes of capturing hardware this season. There may not be a more potentially potent set of players in the league but the Alamo City management knows that the players have to produce on the pitch in order for this season to be a success.

"Of course it looks good on paper, for selling tickets, and for getting sponsors. If that were the whole point of all of this we'd call this season a wrap already. We'd take home the trophy and polish it up real nice. That isn't the point though and we all know it. That Inaugural 2009 BSL Cup is getting lonely in that trophy cabinet. It's time to get some more pieces of hardware. Great teams collect trophies. While the one we have has a luster to it that can't be matched by anyone else's, the significance of it will be lost if we can't add to it."

Adding to it is the one and only goal for Alamo City this season. With a chance to take in up to 7 different trophies the club has its sights on as many of them as possible. Each of these pieces of hardware carries its own significance with it. Whether it is being the best in the BSL (BSL Cup, Honors Trophy), getting the best of clubs from other leagues around the world (Major's Cup, Freedom Cup), getting the best of select clubs in the BSL (BSL Classic, Founder's Cup, or simply gaining state bragging rights (Brass Cannon) .... the goal is simple. Collect trophies. Be great. It starts today against Alliance FC.

2012 First Kick Lineup:

Thierry Henry
Eric Hassli
Kris Boyd
Jaime Castrillon
Milovan Mirosevic
Blas Perez
Kelyn Rowe
Josue Martinez

GK: Kevin Hartman

SUBS:
Marcelo Sarvas
Eddie Johnson
Michael Gspurning