In preparation for the start of the MWPL season on May 9th, AFC Columbia have implemented the first spring season in club history.
It functions essentially as a preseason, allowing for players to get more reps and training leading up to the summer.
One of the biggest changes for this Spring is the addition of scrimmages. Practicing real game scenarios against new opponents during these scrimmages has allowed the team to get more prepared for the start of the season.
“A match is the best way to get fit, practice can only do so much,” said midfielder Mohamed Lehmidi, a three-year veteran of the team. “The season starts fast and it ends fast given that it’s only about 6-8 weeks long, so you gotta be on top of it from day one.”
Along with giving the players more time to adapt, the coaches also benefit from the increase in content to evaluate players.
“I think the biggest thing was just being able to establish some norms for us, the things that we are trying to do as a club,” explained Head Coach Chris Miller. “We want to get as much eyes on players as we can so that we can do a fair job of evaluating them.”
Three of these scrimmages have been scheduled, with the first two already completed.
AFCC fell 3-1 against Fountain City in the first preseason game of the year on March 22.
The team’s second match was against 314 Soccer Club, a fellow MWPL club competing in the East Division, on Sunday, April 12.
Scrimmage Recap:
The first half of the wet and windy affair was rather sloppy, featuring balanced attacks by both teams. Despite making some runs at the goal there were very few shots on goal for each team at halftime.
AFCC opened up the second half looking like a much different team offensively, taking more shots on goal in the first ten minutes of the second half then they did the entire first half.
In the 49th minute, a good offensive push produced an open shot inside the box that went just wide right.
The continued pressure from the AFCC offense soon led to the team’s first goal of the game.
An AFC attacker stole the ball from a 314 defender inside the goalie box, passed it to forward Matthew Lewis for an easy goal, finally breaking through after controlling most of the second half.
As the game continued, AFCC kept their foot on the gas creating offensive opportunities, until a slip up created a big opportunity for 314.
The AFCC goalkeeper overran a ball, leaving the 314 forward with a quality chance to tie the game in the 68th minute.
However, a phenomenal goal line clearance by AFCC defender Excellent Ikorukwishaka preserved the lead.
Then, a steal at midfield in the 82nd minute opened up a breakaway right down the middle for Lewis, who buried his second goal of the game, making it 2-0.
A third goal was scored in the 88th minute, but taken away after an offsides call.
The opportunity to play in these scrimmages has helped some of the players get used to the intensity and physicality that the season brings.
“I haven’t played a lot of football since college so I’ve been a couple years out. I know a lot of the boys are in the same boat on the Spring team,” said Guy Baskerville, a Center back on the team. “It’s good to get some minutes and some running under our legs and I think we’ll be in good shape heading into the summer season.”
“It was good to get some touches,” said Travis Smith, veteran Centerback. “I think I could work on some things but you know, it’s not going to be perfect.”
Tryouts and the remaining Spring schedule:
Along with scrimmages, AFCC has been staying busy by hosting rounds of tryouts. April 4th was the opening round, and was a big success with approximately 55 players in attendance.
Along with this, the team which included about 35 players met twice a week throughout March and the start of April for practices.
However, the decisions involved with curating a roster are very difficult.
“We have 100 something guys that we’re sifting through right now, and so there are a lot of bodies,” said AFC Executive Director Dakota Acock. “We want to make sure we give everyone a good evaluation.”
Other events scheduled for this spring will include:
AFC Tryout Scrimmage at Rock Bridge High School on Sunday, April 19. Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m.
AFC/Reign Tryouts at Rock Bridge High School on Sunday, April 26th. AFCC will go first at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Reign at 2:30 p.m. AFCC will then have a friendly with Westminster College at 4.