In sports there is a thin line between ecstasy and agony – a state usually measured by the latest statement of the scoreboard. In a match that seemed to move between those two extremes, the Martyrs fell to the Istituto Polacco in its most recent contest. Settling a 3-3 tie in regulation, the commanding 4-2 shootout win by the Poles offered a teachable moment to the aspiring Martyrs in the young season.

It was a tale of two halves. The Martyrs entered the suffocatingly small Field B of the Oratorio di San Pietro with a measure of calm. The squad employed its 4-3-3 alignment, flanking recently recovered striker Deacon Daniel O’Mullane ‘10 (Patterson) with veteran Deacon James Morrison ‘10 (Mobile) and newcomer Chris Seiler ‘13 (St. Louis). The lineup also included the insertion of New Man Eli Gieske ‘13 (Duluth), a move that seemingly gave witness to the Martyrs’ unprecedented depth of personnel.

The roster adjustments did little to disorient the team in the early going, as the Martyrs controlled the action, expanding the tight pitch with good spacing and passing. After a number of unrewarded advances, the squad accepted a gift from Rafal Mosior, the Polish keeper. Continuing his strong play from the left midfield, Jeff Eirvin ‘12 (Portland in Oregon) sent a well-struck ball across the box. Diving forward Mosior grasped the ball momentarily, only to see it squirt free onto the awaiting foot of Morrison. The 20^th minute tap-in put the Martyrs in front 1-0, a lead it would take into halftime.

Buoyed by its largest cheering section to date – one that included Most Rev. Thomas Rodi, archbishop of Mobile – the Martyrs seemed poised to pull away from a Polish team that had allowed ten goals in its first two matches. As the second half began, however, two new teams emerged on the pitch. Credit Polish forward Giovanni Filoni for the first breath of new life on the opposing side. Intercepting a pass from Gieske in the opening moments of the restart, Filoni knifed to the left past Martyrs’ Captain Victor Ingalls ‘12 (Mobile) and found a slight opening in the back line. The left-footed, fifteen-meter shot could not be considered well-struck, but what it lacked in velocity it exceeded in placement, tucking itself into the goal’s far corner, past a sprawling Daniel Gallagher ‘13 (Pittsburgh). And before the halftime tailgaters returned to the stands, the scoreboard read 1-1.

What was surprise soon turned into shock. Moments after their equalizer, the Poles again took possession deep in Martyrs’ territory. While it could be said the Martyrs had entered sleep-walking mode, the same could not be said for the referee. After an outwardly clean challenge from player-coach David Santos ‘12 (Newark), play stopped to award the dispossessed Pole a free kick from just outside the goalie box. Krzysztof Cisek made sure his team benefited from the referee’s decision, sending a beautifully kicked ball floating into the high, left corner of the goal. Gallagher could merely wave at the free kick masterpiece. Five minutes into the second half the Martyrs suddenly trailed 2-1, their first deficit of the season.

As the Martyrs righted themselves and the Poles clawed for their first points of the season, the match increased in intensity, if not skill. In the 20^th minute of the second half, a moment of redemption finally came from a familiar hero. Attacking a ball powerfully thrown in by O’Mullane, first-year midfielder John Gibson ‘13 (Milwaukee) again made his presence felt. His header caromed off keeper Moisor’s hands, only to be swiped out just before clearing the goal line. As the Polish defenders looked on, another New Man pounced. Nick Nelson ‘13 (Duluth) sent the ball in on the rebound, leveling the score at 2-2.

As before, however, the tie would not last long. Five minutes later the Polish squad sent a midfield free kick into the box. As the ball landed over the head of Deacon Fernando Saenz ‘10 (Santa Fe), a free offensive player darted in to collect it. Martyrs’ keeper Gallagher moved in too late to field the ball cleanly, but in time to challenge for possession. As the two players collided the ball rolled out of bounds, untouched. On a good day, this would have been a goal kick for the Martyrs. This was not a good day. The Polish pleading was again rewarded, positioning themselves a penalty kick away from another lead. Filoni converted the chance as Gallagher guessed the other way. With five minutes to play, the Martyrs found themselves looking up at a 3-2 Polish lead.

Refusing to go quietly, the Martyrs again took to the offensive. After a few hopeful chances were turned back, the opportunity to salvage the match seemed unlikely. That is, until Morrison decided the team had another goal left. Sending a header into the back line of the Polish defense, Morrison forced a desperation kick from a defender that went straight into the veteran forward’s chest. With one touch, Morrison floated the ball over both the disoriented defender and the misplaced goalie. A shootout awaited to decide the 3-3 tie.

After the initial Polish attempt went wide and O’Mullane converted his, it appeared the Martyrs would incredibly find themselves victorious. This 1-0 advantage, however, was the only lead the team would own, as the Poles struck solidly on their remaining four attempts, while only Morrison could continue his heroics for the Martyrs. The 4-2 defeat in penalty kicks was the Martyrs’ first regular season defeat in two seasons, offering the team important perspective shift.

The story of the Martyrs’ season continues Saturday at 9:00 a.m. against Anglo-Celtic Colleges United.

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Istituto Polacco

Archbishop Rodi reminded the acolytes of the contemporary challenges to faith, as well as the central role of personal witness and authenticity in the exercise of priestly ministry.  He encouraged them to take up the challenge “to bring Christ to others and others to Christ.”   The ritual for the installation of acolytes includes the prayer: “Take this vessel of bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your lives worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”

Photos from the installation

On a day that saw Rome emerge from the chill and rain of winter, the North American College Martyrs began warming up, defeating Pontificio Collegio San Paolo 2-0. Under the clear blue skies of the Eternal City, the Martyrs offered a preview of its capabilities, controlling the action from start to finish. While beautiful glimpses abounded, a full picture was hidden until the Martyrs broke a scoreless tie midway through the second half.

One week after facing formidable striker (and former teammate) John Kalevski, the Martyrs drew an even more potent opponent in San Paolo forward Edouard Sinayobye. The Rwandan priest led the league in goals last year and paced his squad to an easy 4-0 victory to open this season, scoring twice in the contest. It became quickly apparent, though, that San Paolo had not played a defense like the Martyrs’. Physical and fast, the back-line led by David Santos ‘12 (Newark) held strong, rendering Sinayobye ineffective, if not invisible. The quality of the defense left goalie Daniel Gallagher ‘13 (Pittsburgh) – the star of the Martyrs’ opener – with little more than the most basic of house-keeping. Aside from a few early challenges that were snuffed out by Santos or right-backer Deacon Fernando Saenz ‘10 (Santa Fe), the defense produced the cleanest of sheets.

As the defense was eliminating even the thoughts of attacks, the offense possessed the ball with a measure of skill. Competing without forward Deacon Daniel O’Mullane ‘10 (Patterson), such an offensive display was not easily predictable. Credit roomier Field A of the Oratorio di San Pietro and the midfield additions of Chris Seiler ‘13 (St. Louis) and John Gibson ‘13 (Milwaukee). Seiler and Gibson – the duo that combined for the Martyrs’ loan goal last week – steadied the action, skillfully possessing the ball and surgically sending passes forward.

For all their chances, however, the Martyrs again found itself in a scoreless tie at halftime. Rather than wilting under the pressure or freezing with frustration, the team remained on course, continuing to produce opportunities for scores while yielding none. Finally, with thirteen minutes remaining, Gibson reproduced his week-one heroics. Not waiting for another methodical attack, Gibson struck from outside the goalie box, bending a ball below the keeper to give the Martyrs its long-sought lead. The team’s festive supporters – which counted a costumed Superman and Spiderman new to its ranks – joyfully offered a chorus of cheers.

Remembering the mishap that occurred with a 1-0 lead the previous week, neither the team nor the fans accepted the result as a foregone conclusion. Rather than taking a defensive stance, the Martyrs maintained pressure on San Paolo’s beleaguered defense. Its aggressive stance paid off when forward Deacon James Morrison ‘10 (Mobile) capitalized on a loose ball in the box, giving his team a comfortable 2-0 margin of victory.

With the win, the Martyrs move into second place in the early stages of play in Group A. It hopes to improve upon its positioning against the Instituto Polacco on Saturday, 6 March at 10:30.

Photos

San Paolo

Building on its recent soccer success, the North American Martyrs opened its fourth season in Clericus Cup play with a shootout victory over Collegio Brasiliano. The match – held on the Oratorio San Pietro’s homey Field B – was played in spurts, starting and stopping as players sought vainly for precious space.

What was lacking in ease and flow, however, was made up for in drama. Returning to the Clericus Cup after finishing second in last year’s edition, the Martyrs were pitted against striker John Kalevski, a Brazilian Basilian who found a soccer home last year on the Martyrs side, rewarding the NAC’s collaboration with 11 goals in 10 games. With the match knotted in a 0-0 tie for most of the competition, each touch of the ball by Kalevski held tangible weight. In the end, though, the Martyrs defense anchored by Sweeper David Santos ‘12 (Newark) and New Man Goalkeeper Daniel Gallagher ‘13 (Pittsburgh) proved too stout, stifling Kalevski and his Brazilian band throughout.

After a scoreless first half that provided more fouls than scoring chances, the Martyrs returned to the pitch, trusting that an opportunity would come. And come it would in the form of second half substitute Chris Seiler ‘13 (St. Louis). Smoothing some of the rough edges of the the Martyrs’ attack, Seiler’s presence was quickly felt. With two minutes remaining in regulation, Seiler served up a corner kick that fellow New Man John Gibson ‘13 (Milwaukee) buried into the goal with a header. The vocal Martyrs’ cheering section – which included Captain America, Batman, and Uncle Sam – erupted with cries of victory.

The shouts, however, were short-lived. Aided by two free kicks, the Brazilians quickly moved the ball into the attacking zone. The second free kick – struck from just outside of the goalie box – weaved its way through the Martyrs’ defense. Deflecting off of Goalkeeper Gallagher’s hands, the ball found its way to the awaiting foot of Brazilian Markos Zubyk, who leveled the score at 1-1. With the final whistle sounding just moments later, a shootout loomed.

Shootouts are not uncommon for the Martyrs, with its berth in last year’s finals even secured through the dramatic one-on-one contest. Success is measured primarily by the skill and daring of a team’s goalie, and while Gallagher certainly had shown both qualities, he still was untested by Clericus Cup standards. After Jeff Eirvin ‘12 (Portland, OR) netted the Martyrs’ first shot, Gallagher had his coming-of-age moment, staring down Kalevski from 10 meters. Athletically and accurately, Gallagher anticipated the Brazilian’s right corner shot, gathering it as it approached the goal line. Later with the Martyrs clinging to a 4-3 shoot-out lead, Gallagher again stood comfortably in the spotlight. Unblinking, he deflected wide the attempt from Brazilian Captain Lima Edson De Oliveira, securing the victory and sending the already raucous cheering section into celebration-mode.

The Martyrs will attempt to continue its winning ways Saturday, 27 February at 9 a.m. against Pontificio Collegio San Paolo.

Photos

Collegio Brasiliano

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