Even before the start of the opening match, McLean appeared to be one of the most formidable threats we would face this Spring. This was the same team which embarrassed the Scorps in the first round of last fall's Virginia State Cup play with a 3-1 win. They went on to win their next two State Cup matches to reach the round of 8. And in NCSL Fall Div 4 play, they had demolished their competition, compiling an impressive record of 8-0-1 tie, and earning the right to move up to Div 3 for the Spring.

The first half of play was everything it stacked up to be --incredibly fast-paced, hustle demonstrated by both teams, excellent passing skills, and strong defensive play at both ends. While the Scorps kept the ball down near the McLean end for longer periods, and had more shots on goal, very late in the first half they were burned by a questionable penalty call --one of many, but this time costly. On a breakaway, a McLean player went down in the box, some 15 feet out from the Scorpion net. McLean scored on the ensuing penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead into the half.

Coming out of the break, with Coaches Doug Homer and Deron Hurst adjusting tactics, the Scorps appeared even more hungry for a win. But within minutes, their chances were dealt a huge blow when Mikey Perez was ejected after receiving his second yellow card (=red card), and the Scorpions were left with just 10 players for the remainder of play. Moreover, several other Scorps already had incurred yellow cards from a referee who clearly was upset more over players talking back to him than by the traditional Scorp style of aggressive play.

Not to be denied, however, the Scorps turned adversity to their advantage. They tuned the engines up a notch and, even with a player down, began to dominate. Five minutes later, after the team had earlier missed out on several corner-kick opportunities, Mike Chaves launched a perfect lob from the left corner to the far side of the McLean goal. Making a run, newest team member Luis Zavala (formerly of Vienna United) raced in from his defender position and headed the ball past an outstretched keeper to knot the score at 1-1.

A fired-up Scorp squad took over from there. Over the next 3-4 minutes of play, they could do no wrong, and the barrage of calls against them seemed to subside. Then the crusher. Midfielder Shedrick Osei, whose footwork was brilliant throughout the match, got taken down in the center of the pitch -- and the ref actually called it -- some 20 yards out from the McLean net. On his ensuing bullet of a kick, the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball, but its momentum caused it to spin away over his shoulder and into the net for a 2-1 Scorpion edge. The final 15 minutes of play were marked by both sides playing superior soccer, with breathtaking plays at both ends of the pitch. But the undermanned yet determined Scorpions managed to hold on for a well-earned victory. The Scorp defense, midfield, and keeper play was awesome throughout, but for me to attempt to single out any one or several players would be unfair to the group.

On Sunday, at home at Gunston's terrific new turf, the Scorps at first seemed lackluster against a much-lesser SWYA United foe, which was now competing in Div 3 after a dismal record in Div 2 play last fall. For the first 15 minutes of the match, the opponent's trap defense snared several Scorps in offsides infractions. But it was clearly just a matter of time. Carlos Bermudez, from the right side, managed three breakaway runs, culminating in shots on goal which were all, just-barely, near-misses. But with time running out in the half, on his fourth run, Carlos rifled a cross to the far side of the net to the awaiting foot of Scott Downie, who punched it in for a score and a 1-0 margin going into the break.

Once again, coming out of the half, the Scorps seemed to bring renewed enthusiasm and confidence to their play. Within the first three minutes, after several assaults by the Scorp offense, Daniel Bronstein outflanked an SWYA defender on the left side and sent a perfect cross in front of the opposing goal to an awaiting Scott Downie who nailed it into the net for his second goal and a 2-0 edge. Over the next 20 minutes, with the relentless Scorp defense keeping the ball down at their opponent's end for most of the time, the offense just missed on several scoring opportunities. The clincher came in the 72nd minute when Shedrick, at center mid, maneuvered around several SWYA defenders hovering around him and led an onrushing Connor Cain. Connor outran the sole remaining defender and netted a score for a 3-0 lead, and the shut-out victory.

With an opening weekend 2-0 record, the Scorpions currently sit at the top of the Division, followed by Fauquier United (win and a tie) and the SSA Beavers and TSC Thunder/Red, each with one win. Next week's foe is the FESC Devils (from Frederick, MD) at our home pitch at Gunston , Sunday April 13 at 3 pm.