Napa upsets COM
Jessie Pimetel
Issue date: 11/28/05 Section: Sports
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On a perfect day for a soccer game, a not-so-perfect College of Marin team showed up to play against an even-less-perfect Napa Junior College Team. A close game in the first half, the Mariners seemed they would be able to put this one in the bag.
"We had beaten them last week 3-1, we also beat them twice last year," Kelley Coffey, the team manager, said. "We certainly didn't play up to our potential and we got beat for it. We're a very strong team. We need to motivate ourselves with the idea of winning."
Coffey is in his third year as head coach and has noticed vast improvements in the team. "We look like a great team on paper," Coffey said. "We have had five players lost because of eligibility issues and have lost half our losses by one goal. But we've also tied or beaten every team in our division."
Eligibility seemed to play a big role in the defeat by Napa, no goals were scored in the first half. In the second half, the shortage of players caused the team to wear down and they weren't able to finish as strong.
Kevin Clark of Napa scored three goals. "We had prepared for him from what we knew by the last game, but he has incredible talent and played his heart out," Said Coffey. He implied that that maybe the issue with the Mariners is that, "we really could use a solid go-to-guy, all of our players are good, but to have someone that can make something out of nothing and score a goal. That is irreplaceable."
Yasanori Fujii scored the only goal for COM in the second half. "Yasa has done a great job for us this year," Coffey said. "He practices with a lot of intensity and it shows during the games."
Like most sports at College of Marin the soccer team has had a rough time getting fans to show up. A lethargic crowd and a heavy forecast made the game seem very relaxed, the teams were both seated on the same side almost right next to each other. A few fans stood and watched from behind the teams sidelines. The opposing teams fans outnumbered COM's 2-to-1. They sat on the opposite end and side of the field. The occasional mother cheering her son on and encouragement from the coaches seemed to be the only thing anyone could hear for miles.
"We had beaten them last week 3-1, we also beat them twice last year," Kelley Coffey, the team manager, said. "We certainly didn't play up to our potential and we got beat for it. We're a very strong team. We need to motivate ourselves with the idea of winning."
Coffey is in his third year as head coach and has noticed vast improvements in the team. "We look like a great team on paper," Coffey said. "We have had five players lost because of eligibility issues and have lost half our losses by one goal. But we've also tied or beaten every team in our division."
Eligibility seemed to play a big role in the defeat by Napa, no goals were scored in the first half. In the second half, the shortage of players caused the team to wear down and they weren't able to finish as strong.
Kevin Clark of Napa scored three goals. "We had prepared for him from what we knew by the last game, but he has incredible talent and played his heart out," Said Coffey. He implied that that maybe the issue with the Mariners is that, "we really could use a solid go-to-guy, all of our players are good, but to have someone that can make something out of nothing and score a goal. That is irreplaceable."
Yasanori Fujii scored the only goal for COM in the second half. "Yasa has done a great job for us this year," Coffey said. "He practices with a lot of intensity and it shows during the games."
Like most sports at College of Marin the soccer team has had a rough time getting fans to show up. A lethargic crowd and a heavy forecast made the game seem very relaxed, the teams were both seated on the same side almost right next to each other. A few fans stood and watched from behind the teams sidelines. The opposing teams fans outnumbered COM's 2-to-1. They sat on the opposite end and side of the field. The occasional mother cheering her son on and encouragement from the coaches seemed to be the only thing anyone could hear for miles.