PHOENIX, AZ (December 6, 2009) - The second day at US Soccer's Winter Showcase pitted FC DELCO against 2009 National Champions Derby County Wolves. The game was very well attended by college staff with over 60 colleges in attendance for each game. It would prove to be a stern test as both the under-15/16s and under-17/18s look to put their season back on track. The day started early on a cold desert morning with the under-15/16s up first. An interesting subplot to this test was the DELCO starting and national team keeper, Max Kurtzman, being unable to play because of a national team call-up later in the day. Stepping into the breach for DELCO was the 14 year old keeper, Eric Hanson, who has never seen Academy action until today.

The Wolves started with the tap and immediately pressed the FC DELCO defense. Young Hanson would immediately be tested and proved to be up to the task. The Wolves quickly switched the field and found themselves in the box and 1v1 with Hanson. Without hesitation, Hanson charged the attacker making himself as big as possible, stuffing the attempt. From that moment on, DELCO tipped the field in their favor. Their first goal was a beautiful combination play down the left side starting with Zach Pfeffer's receiving a Wolves goal kick in the 10th minute. Pfeffer played wall pass through Brett Campbell and played Michael Gonzalez in behind the Wolve's defense. Gonzales buried a left-footed shot beating the keeper to the near post. In the 17th minute, FC DELCO's Ryan Dodds intercepted a ball in the midfield and immediately play Colin O'Neill through in the channel down the right side. O'Neill cut the ball back on the Wolves defender and let loose a left-footed ball that curled just inside the far post past the Wolves keeper.

The shot of the match, however, belongs FC DELCO captain Jimmy McLaughlin who, in the 31st minute, received a Wolves goal kick in the midfield and drove to about 35yards out and unleashed a furious ball that bulged the back of the net giving the Wolves keeper no chance. The Wolves came out in the s econd half with something to prove. Working very hard, they put significant pressure on DELCO again calling on the duties of their young keeper Hanson. For the most part, FC DELCO's composure absorbed this early pressure before evening the play. The game ended 3-nil in favor of FC DELCO.

Boxscore
Wolves DELCO
Score 0 3
Shots (on goal) 11(5) 17(10)
Fouls 13 9
Corners 1 5
Saves 7 5
Yellow 1 0
Red 0 0

The second game of the day proved to be one of the best matches of the event so far with FC DELCO facing the reigning national champions Wolves. From the beginning the difference was obvious. Wolves had a significant size advantage over DELCO. With US Soccer instructing their officials to "let the boys play," this size advantage would prove difficult indeed for the boys in black. From the opening tap Wolves controlled the action with physical and technical play. DELCO was clearly on the back foot and defending deep. The newly retooled DELCO back line were extremely well organized and held the Wolves to zero shots on goal in the first half; though they clearly got some good looks. On one occasion, Wolves #23, Jordan Tyler, slipped through the midfield and released a rocket that deflected off the inside of the near post and across the mouth of the DELCO goal. At about the 25 minute mark, DELCO began to advance forward out of the back and put some pressure on the Wolves defense. On two occasions, FC DELCO was able play in behind the Wolves defense and put the keeper to the test. The half ended with play about even though Wolves clearly had the early advantage.

In what has become almost routine, the DELCO Academy staff went to work making necessary key adjustments to give their boys the best opportunity to win. The second half started with FC DELCO enjoying some of their best spell of possession of the weekend. Their was an obvious smell of a goal in the air, and, with FC DELCO pressing, they seemed the logical beneficiary. In the 66th minute, DELCO's Bobby Sutcliffe beat the Wolves defender to the end line. Sutcliffe cut the ball back against the grain to a waiting Joe Schmid at the top of the box. Schmid's shot was quickly closed down by the brave Wolves defender and blocked. Schmid reacted first, collecting the rebound and slotting the ball past the Wolves keeper and putting FC DELCO up 1-nil.

The old saying, "Goals change games" was clearly in force. Sensing that this wouldn't be a high-scoring affair, coach Alan Mezger made some tactical adjustments in an attempt to close the contest out. As the half wore on Wolves got more and more aggressive and desperate throwing bodies forward and leaving the back line exposed. For DELCO it seemed like a herculean task to keep the Wolves out of the net. While the DELCO defense was very well organized, at times it seemed like desperate defending with captain Andrew O'Malley, Momudu Sluwar and Conor Osborne all throwing themselves in front of some ridiculously powerful shots. In the end, FC DELCO was up to the task and closed the game out 1-nil. Everyone in attendance was treated to a great contest by two very good teams.

Boxscore
Wolves DELCO
Score 0 1
Shots (on goal) 15(2) 6(4)
Fouls 3 11
Corners 4 5
Saves 3 2
Yellow 0 0
Red 0 0