Sunday, June 3, 2012
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Fredericksburg Hotspur jumped on the visiting Nashville Metros from the opening whistle and came away with a well-deserved 2-0 Premier Development League victory at the University of Mary Washington on Sunday afternoon. It was a top-of-the-division clash that Fredericksburg (4-0-1) had prepared hard for all week and was even more amped for after having Friday’s scheduled game against the Palmetto FC Bantams postponed due to thunderstorms that rolled through the area.
“I think it was a good effort today. It was first versus second so it was a big game,” captain Karel Manrau said. “It was important to us also to win in front of our home crowd because we tied Virginia Beach in the last [home] game. Everyone was really concentrated and we worked really hard at practice this week. We were disappointed not to play on Friday because of the rain, but we got to concentrate on this big game.”
Manrau led a strong team-defensive effort that used high pressure all over the field to throw the Metros (4-3-0) off their game and create chances for the Hotspur offense. Fredericksburg assistant coach Keith Marine said that aspect of the team’s play is something that has been growing from game to game and will continue to do so as the season progresses.
“We high-pressured up high for a longer period of time,” Marine said. “They gave us the ball in their defensive third more often today than we have gotten in the past games. We won the ball higher up in their end, so we didn’t have to play out of the back as much. As our fitness level increases, we are going to keep pressuring higher and higher up the field.”
As for Manrau’s play on the day, Marine said it’s nothing that the team hasn’t grown to expect of the native of Neuchatel, Switzerland.
“Karel always brings 100 percent to every game,” Marine said. “He’s a hard worker. He communicates well on the field. He makes runs when he’s suppose to. He’s just an all around quality player. We know what we’re going to get with Korel each and every game.”
Both teams created chances in the opening minutes of the game, but each goalkeeper came up big to keep it scoreless until the 11th minute. The Hotspur took advantage of a quick throw-in by Nick Rich deep in the Nashville end of the field. Tishan Hanley settled the ball and lofted a cross to the back right post where Don Smart headed it past Metros’ goalie Jess Clark to give the home side a 1-0 lead. It was Smart’s sixth goal in five games to open the season.
Fredericksburg continued to control play for the remainder of the half and was unlucky not to extend its lead, being denied twice by the right post. Mario Herrera — seeing his first action of the season — pinged a 30-yard blast high off the post in the 39th minute and Rich headed a cross from Manrau off the outside of the post in the 45th.
For the half, Fredericksburg outshot Nashville 15-1 (26-5 for the game) and used the continuity that is starting to show in its defensive third to prevent the Metros’ counter-attacking style from creating many real threats as the game went on. Manrau said that’s something he and his defensive teammates have been working hard at since allowing two goals in each of the first two games.
“We’ve been practicing a lot with each other. I know I’ve gotten better with Dale [Robins-Bailey] and [Nick] Rich,” he said. “Everyone just goes together well. We have good team chemistry and that helps us to be better in the field.”
The Hotspur continued their strong play after the intermission, putting together nice combination passing plays to create chances, but just weren’t able to convert and put Nashville away. However, the hosts were finally able to break through in the 65th minute as they worked the ball down the right wing to Ryan Sappington. The midfielder found second-half substitute Grover Gibson in the middle of the field. Gibson then touched a pass to Herrera who ripped a 20-yard shot into the right side of the goal, giving the Hotspur a 2-0 advantage.
Fredericksburg held on from there to remain unbeaten and set up a key rematch with the Carolina Dynamo on Saturday at UMW.
“Carolina, so far, is the best team that we’ve played. We beat them at their place, so they’re going to be angry against us and try to beat us at our place,” Manrau said. “But I’m confident that we’re going to work well during the week to try to face them and really try to win this division.
“We need to keep going and don’t think that we’re good enough just because we won [a few] games in a row.”
Saturday’s action will kick off at 2 p.m. when the Fredericksburg Impact (3-0-0) — the club’s W-League side — host the Atlantic Division leading D.C. United Women (4-0-0). The Hotspur’s contest with Carolina will follow at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the doubleheader is free.