Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Saturday, August 2, 2014 - WEST CARROLLTON, OH - The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-14-2) hosted the Harrisburg City Islanders (6-8-6) for their final game in the 2014 season series. With Dayton’s Head Coach Sid van Druenen having just stepped down a few days ago to focus his energy on the Lions Youth Academy, the team was led tonight by Assistant Coaches Jack Hermans and Catherine Gordon. The Dayton Dutch Lions FC come into the game sitting in last place, hungry for points and hoping for their first win at home in front of their fans.
Dayton went right to work combining passes and pushing the ball forward, demonstrating their creativity and their skill. Playing with pace and intensity the Lions had the City Islanders on the defensive immediately. Despite having possession at the start of the game, in the eighth minute Harrisburg’s Garret Pettis would get behind the Dutch Lions FC defense on a long ball and beat Dayton’s keeper Matt Williams, who came out of his goal at the penalty box, to chip it over the Lion’s keeper to put his team on the board. Shortly after, Williams would come up with some big one on one saves to keep the Lions in the game. Dayton would have their chances as well in the half putting more pressure on the opponent than recent games and some of that pressure resulted in some good chances, as both Eric Kissinger as well as Cruijff went one on one with Harrisburg's goalkeeper Nick Noble. With Cruijff Noble saved the shot from close range and Kissinger forgot to shoot at goal and instead turned back. The first half would end with Harrisburg over Dayton by one.
Dayton would come out strong in the second half looking for the equalizer. The Lions’ Joe Broekhuizen found himself one on one with Noble but he saved again. Harrisburg would counter, but the Lions defense would step up and not allow any real chances. In the sixty first minute, building from the back, Dayton would put on a passing display that would excite their fans. Shots would be taken, but the Harrisburg defense would make the needed saves. In the sixty second minute the City Islanders would answer and create some excitement of their own. Lion’s keeper Williams would be in the right place and the ball would go wide. Play would continue from end to end with both teams playing tough and both teams creating opportunities, Matt Walker had two chances from close range to tie the game but he missed. The ball just would not find the back of the net for a hard working Dutch Lions team. Substitutions would come in giving each team fresh legs and added energy, but the score would remain Dayton Dutch Lions FC 0 and the Harrisburg City Islanders 1.
Dayton’s Jack Hermans had these comments about the game: “I thought that we took care of the ball pretty decently. I want to give a compliment to the guys for their work ethic. It was an attractive game but we just forgot to put the ball away. Hopefully we keep it going until the end of the season.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC (5-15-2) will be on the road for two games as they travel to face the Charleston Battery (6-8-7) on Friday August 8th at 7:30pm. They continue their road trip on Saturday August 9th at 7:30pm when they play the Wilmington Hammerheads FC (6-4-8). For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.
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Chris Burke, Media Relations: c.burke@ddlfc.com
Photo Credit: Curt Cosenza
Dayton Dutch Lions FC-Harrisburg City Islanders 0-1
8’ Pettis 0-1
Dayton Dutch Lions FC: Williams, friedman, Granger, Wiet, Clemens (Vickers), DeLass, Thuriere (Harada), Walker (Khutsidze), Kissinger, Broekhuizen (Felix), Cruyff
Harrisburg City Islanders: Noble, Shaffer, Andrews, Marquez, Bahner, Ekra, Baril (Pelletier), Hardware (DiPrima), Derschang, Langley (Zizzi), Pettis (Cox)