Jack Brown ‘23
Staff Editor
Under a blistering Sunday sky, Barristers United suited up against Lampo’s Wild Boar Hunt for a titanic clash that ended 4-3, with the Law School coming out on top in a thrilling second game of what is shaping up to be a very exciting season!
Thanks to the success of last week, the team started off prioritizing possession in order to tire the short-staffed opponents out and to give its rapid front line the opportunity to receive the ball into space. Moving the ball quickly also minimized the chances for this very energetic team to make hard tackles that most refs would call fouls.The Barristers persevered to end up taking the game with no long-term injuries.
Several debutants made their mark this week as it became apparent that the team’s strength is in its numbers. Erin Hwang was able to fill in at the last minute for Tyler Demetriou, who is battling knee soreness, while Jack French, not to be confused with the author, excelled in putting pressure on the opposing defenders throughout the game. Ian Murdoch’s addition to the center back rotation was necessary in the blistering Virgina fall heat, along with Nadia Doherty’s introduction at right wing; she was responsible for numerous chances late in the game.
The other stars of the show were the ref and a member of the opposing team who expressed his strong displeasure with the fact that some players on the team were wearing watches. After loudly stating that the team was breaking the rules by having Fitbits on, he stormed off to an unknown location for 10 minutes before coming back into the game. He had already earned the attention of the ref for complaining about the Law School subbing at incorrect times, to which the ref responded by amending the game rules to allow for rapid subs owing to the hot weather. It was a classic Sunday league interaction.
The opening goal was courtesy of Sam Gerstemeier, who made his hotly anticipated return to the Sunday league side. After an unfortunate goal, despite the heroic efforts of keeper Aziz Rashidzada, tied the game 1-1, central midfielder Mustapha Yoosuf-Akinlaja continued his hot start to the season with an incredible assist near the half. Receiving the ball at the edge of the 18 yard box, he dribbled cleanly past three dumbfounded defenders before unselfishly passing the ball to the waiting foot of Drew Flanagan, who opened his scoring account with Barristers to give the squad the advantage at the break.
At halftime, the team gathered itself and adjusted their tactics to move the ball more quickly out of the midfield and to take turns giving Daniel Choi’s dog, Berkeley, treats whenever they could. The second half was a very physical one as the ref took a very hands off approach to challenges. Yet throughout this adversity, the team remained cool, calm, and collegial as late hits continued to be ignored.
Finally the hard fouls caught up to Lampo’s Wild Boar Hunt, who took out the legs of Drew Flanagan who was through on goal. Stepping up to take the PK was Sam Mirzai, who looked unphased by his upcoming moot court semi-final and easily slotted the ball past the keeper.
Soon after that, chaos ensued in the box when target man Nathan Sheeley was knocked over by a zealous off-ball tackle, which gave space for captain Day Robins to ice the game with a clinical strike into the bottom right corner. With a super sub in the form of alumnus Zach Turk helping steady the team to close the game out, the result was never in doubt, despite the 4-3 scoreline.
Next week, the team is at Charlottesville High School again to face UNU.[1] Only time will tell if this unprecedented run of perfection will continue. Please tune back in every week to catch all the drama as the team continues its journey!
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jwb4bb@virginia.edu
[1] The Author does not know what this acronym stands for.