MNJYSA: (A) WHRHS turf field
The Freedom came into this game with an axe to grind, since the Wildcats had knocked them out of state cup two weeks ago on their home field. Although the Wildcats were in first place in the flight, they might have been a little tired after working hard in their tough loss the day before to Wall in the state cup.
In the last meeting, Watchung played a very possession oriented style of short passing from the defense through to the front, so we expected to see much of the same. The Wildcats were reminded that we beat them before, by neutralizing their finesse with athleticism and determination.
In another surprisingly hot fall day, on another fast & huge artificial grass field (70'x120'), the Freedom and Wildcats started a little tentatively. No-one really dominated in the early going, but Watchung were noticably more direct in their play than they had been in the state cup game.
The game was mainly fought in the midfield from 18 to 18 with few opportunities being allowed by either defense in front of their own goals. We tried to take advantage of the size of the field with diagonal wing passes, but that more served to tire our outside middies than create better scoring chances.
With about seven minutes left in the game the Wildcats had their best scoring chance but a close range shot was trapped by their keeper. Following that, the Freedom came up field and finished with a flurry, but again there was no real threat to the Wildcat goal.
The game ended the way it started, in a 0-0 tie. The result leaves the Wildcats atop the flight, tied in points with both Watchung Hills and Franklin, but the Wildcats have a game in hand. With a victory over East Brunswick in Saturday's make-up game, the Wildcats would be outright flight leaders by two points.