Reserves Destroy Demize

The Swope Park Rangers, the Wizards reserves, completely destroyed Springfield's PDL team, the Demize, today at the Swope Park training complex 11-0. The Rangers today were made up of all the players that didn't play in LA Saturday, along with Graham Zusi and Abe Thompson, who appeared as subs on Saturday. Here's how the team lined up to start the game.

Pardo
Leathers - Josh White - McKenzie - Marquess
Morsink
Kraus - Hirsig - Zusi
Wolff - Thompson

Even with the way the score ended up, the Demize actually started the game strongly and looked dangerous early on. The Demize had some early free kicks just outside the box, that while looking threatening, didn't lead to anything. When the Wizards finally scored though, the flood gates opened. The Wizards first goal game courtesy of suspended forward Josh Wolff. After a ball was cleared out of the area, the ball was played back in, where guest player Josh White did a nifty little chest flick onto Wolff who took a touch and slotted the ball to the far post, and the rout was on. Soon afterwards, Graham Zusi and Matt Marquess played a nice give-and-go around the corner of the area. Marquess then played the ball into Abe Thompson who easily slotted the ball past the Demize keeper. Thompson scored his second goal soon after that. Thompson held the ball up well at the top of the box, then turned his defender and scored off the post to make it 3-0. About a minute after that goal, Michael Kraus made it 4-0. Kraus played a give-and-go with Wolff who returned the pass with a good cross across the front of goal where Kraus had a completely open net to put the ball into. Tempers started to get a little heated as the half wore on. There was a confrontation between Kurt Morsink and a Demize player, after Morsink felt he'd been stepped on by the Demize player.

Thompson completed his first half hattrick to make it 5-0 following another give-and-go with Wolff. Thompson played the ball to Wolff, who held off his defender and then laid the ball off to Thompson as he ran through. Thompson easily beat the keeper to get the 5th. The Rangers made it 6 before the half time break as they worked the ball across the top of the Demize's box. Wolff dribbled the ball in from the left, played the ball to Santiago Hirsig. Hirsig turned and picked out Zusi running in from the right. Zusi easily put the ball into the corner to make it 6-0 heading into the half.

Two changes were made at half time, as Wolff and Hirsig came out for two more guest players, Austin Williams, the former open tryout participant, and Justin Alford, a guest player who went to Missouri State. Williams and Alford played on the wings, while Kraus moved up top and Zusi went to the central midfield role.

Pardo
Leathers - McKenzie - White - Marquess
Morsink
Williams - Zusi - Alford
Kraus - Thompson

Zusi made it 7-0 went he caught the Demize keeper off his line, chipping him from about 30 yards out. The Rangers continued to push the game, and the Demize were barely able to get out of their defensive end for much of the second half. Jonathan Leathers got on the scorers sheet next, making it 8-0 after a hard charging run down the right. He received the ball from Thompson and beat the Demize keeper from a sharp angle. Thompson had multiple chances to add to his total, heading just wide on one occasion and just missing on another header. He got his 4th goal of the game after a cross from Alford. Thompson met the cross with his right foot, flicking it over the goalie and into the corner of the net to make it 9-0. Morsink made it 10-0 on a fantastic goal from about 25 yards out. a corner by the Rangers was partially cleared to Morsink. The Demize didn't close on him quick enough, and he was able to take a touch, look up and pick out the upper 90, leaving the keeper with no chance. Thompson finished out the scoring with his 5th of the game after Williams laid the ball off to him in the box.

Overall, you could really see the difference in class between the two teams today. The Rangers had multiple other chances that either went high, wide, or were saved. In fact, only 1 field player didn't get on the scorers sheet today with a goal or assist, and that was Rauwshan McKenzie. This was the type of result I think people expected after looking at the record of the Demize coming into the game.