McLean Ice show real character recovering to clinch a 1-1 draw against Chantilly Chaos

With daylight fading fast at the MYS field, McLean Ice showed true grit against a well-matched team, Chantilly Chaos. Both teams displayed superb defense in a thrilling encounter and certainly McLean Ice’s toughest test yet – and they passed with flying colors.

Both teams settled in early with good attacking play on both sides. After the first five minutes of play McLean Ice increased the pressure enjoying most of the possession in Chaos’ half of the field. A great defensive play by Albert Doumar led directly to a break by Alex AbiNajm down the left wing. A period of sustained pressure followed but Ice just could not break through the Chaos defense.

Mid way through the first half Chaos launch an attack down the left wing. Robby Maffei has no option but to come out from the goal to shut down the attack, clears the ball but Chaos gain possession with an open goal. In a brilliant move Robby runs back in time to deflect the shot and Ben Kodres-O’Brien finishes the job with a great clearance.

Chaos continues a period of sustained attack but cannot break through the excellent Ice defence and hard work by Stephen Seliskar, Matt McDonald and Matthew Callahan. Two heart-stopping moments followed. In the first Robby Maffei is once again forced out of the goal. Chaos’ subsequent shot on goal is intercepted and cleared by Stephen Seliskar. Soon afterwards Chaos look certain to score with their attacking player one-on-one with Robby Maffei. However Justin Strahan runs across from the blind-side and clears the ball from the attacking player.

Just before half-time Michael Knight makes a break, finds Robby Hoepfl who shoots on goal. The goalkeeper deflects the shot and the whistle goes for half time, so far a goalless draw.

The second half starts at a blistering pace with Ice really piling on the pressure. Back on the attack Dylan Goodale passes to Alex AbiNajm on the left wing. With a sharp angle on goal Alex takes the shot but it just runs wide of the goal. In another close moment Philippe Nunnenkamp fights hard for the ball, sends it up to Alex AbiNajm who makes the cross but it is just a little too fast for Dylan Goodale to get to it.

Then in the thirteenth minute Chaos get a lucky break and score an opportunistic goal. But McLean Ice keep the pressure on, with encouragement from the sidelines from Coaches Callahan and Hatham. Another great assist from Michael Knight finds Alex AbiNajm but the shot goes wide.

A period of attrition follows with a stand-off in mid-field. Sustained hard work by Sam McKay, Ben Kodres-O’Brien and Michael Sniezek prevents Chaos from getting the upper hand. Then McLean Ice secure a corner kick and apply pressure in the Chaos penalty area. Chaos’ clearance finds Michael Knight in center-field at fifteen yards out. He hoists a lob that is too high for the goalkeeper to reach and it finds the back of the net. The sideline erupts with excitement – McLean Ice have equalized with just minutes of play remaining.

Chaos goes back on the attack and in the nail-biting final seconds secures a corner kick. In a wonderful display of tenacity Ice clear and go on the attack. Michael Sniezek finds Dylan Goodale who makes a final shot that just goes wide. The final whistle goes – a one-all draw.

After the game Coach Hatham comments "this team has shown great character to come back from one goal down and to continue the attack to the end of the game".

With each game this team is displaying increasing skill and determination, which is a credit to every player in the squad and to the coaches. We look forward to another thrilling encounter next week.