F.C. Revolution

I recently had the chance to see two local high school soccer games.  Last Friday, I endured the pain and watched 35 minutes of the Wyomissing vs. Oley matchup - enough said about that one.

On Wednesday night, the Governor Mifflin vs. Wilson match was a good one.  FC Revs forward Marco Lentini scored first for the Bulldogs, but most of the half belonged to Brent Fenstermacher's talented and incredibly athletic Mustang squad.  Halftime score:  1-0 Wilson.

Coach Tim Fick's defensive tactical adjustments during the second half stymied the Mifflin attack.  However, despite moving Berks Player of the Year candidate - Josh Shutter to the stopper position, Governor Mifflin managed to score late in the second half. Both teams had good chances, and the second half was a very entertaining one.

Here's where the PIAA headline enters the picture.  With exactly TWO SECONDS to play in regulation, the referee called Shutter for a foul about 30 yards out.  Not only was the foul called, but the "master referee" issued Shutter a questionable yellow card.  In all the years since the Flinestone's,  the player who was cautioned could simply re-enter the game at the next stoppage of play.  But...NOT THIS YEAR!  NO...PIAA has decided to "experiment" with soccer's Laws of the Game.  In their infinite wisdom, the rule in Pennsylvania now states that the cautioned player "MUST SERVE A 5 MINUTE COOLING OFF PERIOD."  WOW... get ready ground's crew workers...soon you'll be constructing penalty boxes in every stadium!

So...Josh had to stand in the Wilson bench area for the first 4 minutes and 58 seconds ... of the first ten minute mandatory OT period. Luckily for Wilson, the score didn't change during that time.  In fact, the final score was 1-1.

I hope the PIAA "old boy's club" leaves soon.  I guess there are too many empty hours to fill.

With that ...much, much, more to come - LIKE IT ... OR NOT!