Glory, Glory Rahr United!
Roster
| Rahr United |
| Name | Pos |
| Aaron Knight | D |
| Andrew Birkenheuer | D |
| Brad Liddle | M |
| Cesar Escobar | F |
| Cody Yarborough | D |
| Edgar Salas | M |
| James Bailey | F |
| Jared Turner | F |
| Johnny Ferraro | M |
| Kyle Wilbur | M |
| Matthew Winn | D |
| Max Martinez | D |
| Mike Aguilar | M |
| Nick Hauss | D |
| Philip Gomez | D |
| Stevan Cruz | GK |
| Travis Cooper | M |
| Troy Marquez | M |
| Tyler Raben | F |
Current Posts by Stevan Cruz
February 28
Mutiny Make United Walk the Plank
Rolling Hills - Round 3 of the season saw Rahr United take on Mutiny. The hostility of the match has
wanned considerably from the Novus vs. Makeshift days, but it was an important game
nonetheless.
Player/Manager Jake Bailey sent United out in a more attacking 3-4-3 formation, knowing
the team were in desperate need of a win. And while the strategy of pressing high, clogging
the midfield, and creating chances worked, the final ball was missing.
Mutiny were limited with their time on the ball, but they made the most of their chances.
Thomas Eatherly, a member of the United team that won Div. 2, got Mutiny off the mark,
after a slight tug on defender Cody Yarborough earned Eatherly a one-on-one on goal.
Eatherly deftly dribbled around goalkeeper Estevan Cruz and slotted the ball home.
United perservered however, as their style of play was still creating plenty of chances in their
attacking third. In the second half, Mutiny benefitted from lack of communication in the United
defense. After a failed clearance from a long throw, a Mutiny player found enough time in the
box to send in a slow, floating cross that eluded the center backs and Cruz. (Seriously,
it looked like a balloon floating into space.)
The 2-0 scoreline clearly frustrated United, as their play became more physical
until the final whistle. At the end of the day a hard lesson was learned: Make your chances
count.
United look to turn the corner with their next game, this Sunday, against FC Chaos.
February 21
Blitzkrieg Bop United to the Tune of 4-0
Rolling Hills- Record amounts of snow saw the roof cave in at the Rahr & Sons Brewery this past week. No
one really saw a correlation until Rahr United faced Blitzkrieg.
Even without their goal-scoring sensation, Cesar Escobar, Rahr United had a promising start, controlling the tempo of the game
with slick passes along the ground. Not getting to see a lot of the ball, Blitzkrieg seemed content with a long-ball
game plan.
Led by sweeper Cody Yarborough, the United defense used the offsides trap to great affect, stifling the attack
of the former Premier League players.
While the Brews did enjoy lengthy spells of possession in the middle of the park and the outside flanks, they were
lacking an attacking threat on goal. Blitzkrieg showed their Premier League pedigree by notching the first goal after nearly
20 minutes without the ball. A mishit clearance fell perfectly to Blitzkrieg's left-winger who eagerly finished his chance at
goalkeeper Estevan Cruz's near post.
Blitzkrieg then lived up to their name as their steadfast belief in their "hoof-it" system started to pay
dividends. Two more errant clearances and the goal they actually earned had Blitzkrieg on top 4-0 at the half.
Player/Manager Jake Bailey took some pressure of the Brews during the team talk. Instead of getting frustrated and trying
to rally for a comeback from a 4-goal deficit, the plan was to continue to play the same and just concentrate on winning the half.
With the pressure off, the whites went back out and battled valiantly but
without an out-and-out attacking threat, the score remained 4-0.
Rahr United look forward to rebounding next week, with a six-pointer against familiar foes, Mutiny.
February 7
Fat Tire leaves United with Bad Taste in their Mouth. *Report*
Rolling Hills - The "Battle of the Beers" marked the beginning of Rahr United's Spring 2010 campaign, and after a complete squad overhaul, big things were expected.
The sloppy pitch and cold weather did little to keep the heat off of Fat Tire however, as United pressured
them into making mistakes. Once Fat Tire realised they could not establish any possession, they resorted
to long-balls. Sweeper Cody Yarborough marshalled the United defense well, catching the opposition
offsides time and time again.
A sign of things to come, Fat Tire would catch a break to open the scoring. A wayward cross from the right
flank found defender Matthew Winn's arm as he tried to collect possession. The referee did not hesitate
to point to the spot, and Fat Tire did not hesitate to accept their gift, taking a 1-0 lead.
United were quick to reply when midfielder Brad Liddle picked up the ball in the center of the
park and let rip from 30 yards out to find upper 90.
Most of the first half continued to take place in United's attacking-third with slick passing between
Edgar Salas, Jared Turner, and Cesar Escobar. The Brews would gain the lead when Salas found
Kyle Wilbur before the end of the half.
In the second half, United looked to pick up where they left off. Playing almost exclusively on the ground,
United had Fat Tire's defense at 6's and 7's. The only thing keeping Fat Tire in the game was United's
lack of lethal finishing.
While United were busy establishing their class, Escobar put on a dribbling clinic. Finding the ball at the
top of the area, the no. 9 slalomed through Fat Tire's defense and netted United's third.
The Brews didn't have long to celebrate though, as the momentum swiftly turned in favor of Fat Tire.
A deflection from Johnathan Ferraro at the halfway line was curiously ruled as a back-pass to the keeper.
Though Fat Tire failed to capitalise from the resulting free kick they kept the pressure on.
With roughly 20 minutes to play, Fat Tire found another gift to be accepted on the left flank. Fat Tire's pacy
right winger pounced on a mistake and did not hesitate to burst into the box and claim Fat Tire's second.
Fat Tire would again get the rub of the green after one of their forwards found himself played in one-on-one
with keeper Estevan Cruz after a mis-kicked clearance. Cruz's hesitation to challenge the forward allowed
the ball to beat him. Fortunately sweeper Cody Yarborough was there to clear the ball off the line. Yarborough
left little question as to who the man of the match was, when seconds later he jumped in front of a shot,
kicking into touch.
Unfortunately, the resulting corner worked to Fat Tire's advantage. Fat Tire packed the box and, after some roughing-up
shook Cruz, found the easiest of equalizers.
Though the game was not lost, Rahr United knew they had lost two points in the final minutes.
After the game Manager/Right back James Bailey said,"That was (expletive) miserable! We need a right
back. I am not ever playing right back again!"
United look to rebound with their next match against TCU on Valentine's Day (weather permitting.)