Ducks Fall in Season Opener

Goalkeeper Dave Cobb mentally prepares as the season commences

The Mighty Ducks season began last Sunday with the first of four double headers. The Co-ed Ducks started off with a 3-0 forfeit win... "We'll take it. 1-0 is 1-0 to us. It's the first time we've been 1-0," said Captain/Manager/Keeper (yeah big title) Dave Cobb, "But I think we have a good chance at actually winning, not just getting forfeit wins." Mighty Ducks Co-ed play again this Sunday at 6:40, so come on out and support the Ducks.

The Mighty Duck Men's opponents did not fear the Ducks and showed up to the game. It was the first time for a handful of the Ducks playing under the lights, including the inexperienced keep. Things got messy to begin with when Cobb came out to get a ball and it took an interesting bounce to the side, right to the foot of the opposing strike. Dave desperately dove at the ball and made a leg save, but the shooter got the rebound... but his chip shot hit the far post and stayed out. "I just kinda flung myself at the ball and hoped for the best," commented Cobb, "seeing that ball hit the post was the biggest sense of relief I have ever felt, I knew it was going to be a good day after that sequence."

And the Ducks used this moment to rally and score, right? No... A deep ball was played toward the box. It was a foot race between Cobb and their striker, and Cobb lost. The striker popped it over Cobb's head then buried it into the empty net. 1-0 lead for Real Hubbard FC. Down 1-0 is a position that most of these Duck players were used to. They trailed 1-0 in almost every indoor soccer game a year ago. But how would they reply? Would they crumble and fall apart? Or would they fight back? We would get that answer later that half...

Ducks have a corner. Duncan McGuire lines up and readies his approach. The Ducks bring men forward, looking for the equalizer. McGuire sends the corner into the box, it takes a hop and finds the feet of Daniel Buhlinger. He lets his shot fly, and it takes a Duck deflection into the back of the net. Buhlinger nets the first goal for the Mighty Ducks, and it was a great feeling for every Duck on the pitch. Many had doubts on whether the Ducks could compete in this league, but getting that equalizer silenced the doubts. " (I've) never been so proud in my life," said Dan about putting in the first goal for the Mighty Ducks.

The score would stay the same going to the half, a big part of that was the play of Duck Keeper Dave Cobb. He made two saves off two free kicks, (one of those free kicks was given up when he changed his mind mid goal kick and hit it off the side of his foot, didn't leave the box.) One of those free kick saves was a nice diving effort to parry the ball to the side. "Thanks to the countless hours of shoot around in the summer, I was very confident when he lined up his free kick. I knew where I wanted to be positioned and I was positioned perfectly," said the young keep, "I knew he was going to have to strike it perfect to get it past me."

Second half gets underway and it's just as competitive as the first. Real Hubbard seems to control the ball a little more but fail to get any real opportunities. But then came the break that Real Hubbard had been waiting for. A long ball was played out and Midfield Josh Andaloro was there fighting for the ball. Cobb came out to get the ball but misjudged it, only got a piece of the player and the ball. The striker buried into the empty net for the 2-1 Real lead.

"I ****ed up that ball, that goal was on me," said Cobb after the game, "I was just hoping it didn't cost us the game."

It didn't. It only took about 5 minutes for the Ducks to answer back. A long ball was played down the wing to McGuire who took it all the way, making defenders look silly on his way to burying the equalizer. It was 2-2 and the Ducks showed tremendous heart fighting back to equalize.

Time was winding down, the final whistle was only minutes away. The score was still even at 2 a piece. Then a ball was played deep into Duck territory and deep into the box. Cobb thought about charging, but realized he had no chance at it, sat back and awaited the cross. The cross came in, out of the reach of Cobb and found the head of a real forward and into the back of the net. There was no time left for the Ducks to mount another equalizer. 3-2 final.

"It was a hard fought game with everyone giving it their all," said Andaloro after the heart-breaking defeat, "We played well as unit and we will improve as the season goes on."

The Mighty Ducks next play at 4:00 at IM East. They look to rebound after the disappointing 3-2 loss. But no Duck left that game unsatisfied. Every player was impressed with the way they played as a unit. As Half-Canadian Matt Smith put it, "Ducks fly together." And yes that is a movie quote...

This was the Bearded Fellow reporting in on The Mighty Ducks, your only source for extensive Mighty Duck coverage.