Video analysis, week layoff helps Warriors in soccer

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 23, 2012 1:48 PM

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The video study and a week of preparation paid off for Eastern Wayne's soccer team Wednesday evening.

Junior captain Joe Herlihy punched in two goals and added a second-half assist in the Warriors' 5-1, non-conference conquest of county rival Goldsboro at Little Big Horn.

Eastern Wayne (2-0-0 overall) swept the regular-season series and spoiled the homecoming of alum Rocky McAlduff, who serves as an assistant coach for the Cougars. McAlduff's father, Dave, directed the Warriors' program when they participated in the old Mideastern 4-A Conference.

Unlike their drama-filled meeting one week ago, the rematch held little theatrics. The Warriors consistently created from the back and found open real estate against the Cougars, who struggled to mark defensively in the final offensive third of the field.

"We did a lot of video analysis from the first match," EW head coach Jorg Wagner said. "We looked at how we spaced our attacks, how poorly conceived they really were ... relying on one-versus-one attacks."

Eastern Wayne, this time, spread the field and stretched the Goldsboro defense. The additional space proved beneficial for the Warriors, who worked upfield and flicked balls into the 18-yard box that led to scoring opportunities.

Connecting passes and keeping the Cougars on the run finally returned a dividend for the Warriors in the 21st minute. Junior Willie Smith corralled a loose ball, knocked it into the 18 box and sophomore Ethan Zadrozny tucked it away for a 1-0 lead.

It was Zadrozny's third goal of the season.

Roughly nine minutes later, the Warriors struck again in almost the same fashion. Senior Preston Daly, swarmed by a few Goldsboro defenders just outside the box, threaded a pass to senior Mitchell Kaspar, who ripped a goal-scoring shot between keeper Chris Wiggins and the near post.

EW led 2-0.

"We're a very inexperienced team and the (young) players we had (out there) did not always show their immaturity," Wagner said. "There were phases in there where we knocked three, four, five balls together right nice. If we can do that against competition in the conference, then we should be all right."

Herlihy provided his first goal just before halftime -- a 20-plus yard shot that deflected off the post and past the outstretched arms of a diving Williams into the net.

Williams (three saves) gave way to Luke McAlduff, who logged 11 saves in 45-plus minutes between the pipes. Herlihy struck again in the 46th minute off Brandon Fossett's assist. Daly capped the scoring off Herlihy's assist four minutes later.

Goldsboro (0-3-0) avoided the shutout on Damon Pate's penalty kick in the 52nd minute. The Cougars, who did have their dangerous moments on the pitch, fired 10 shots on frame. Eastern Wayne keeper Brad Makdad registered six saves.

"We're still working on who can play where and getting a little bit more in shape," GHS head coach Terry Walls said. "We're in better shape, but the effort wasn't quite like the last time we played them. If we can figure out how to get our offense working ...

"In soccer, offense is your defense and in basketball, it's the other way around."