Martyrs – Sedes Sapientiae
In a thoroughly dominant sixty minutes of soccer, the North American College Martyrs defeated Sedes Sapientiae 3-0 in the opening round of the Clericus Cup playoffs. The dismantling of the Opus Dei-run diocesan seminary was quick and sustained, evidenced by bookend goals in the 6th and 60th minutes. More than skill or fitness or momentum, however, the Martyrs emerged victorious due to trademark energy and effort – qualities that will decide where the team’s season will end.
On a slick Field B, both teams tried to adjust to the conditions and each other in the early going. No attack proved potent until the 6th minute. Having collected the ball in the box, Martyrs goalie Daniel Gallagher ’13 (Pittsburgh) shrunk the tiny Field B with a punt that landed near the opposition’s box. Misplayed by a Sedes defender, the ball was allowed to bounce. Once. Twice. Three times. At this point, with the ball well within the goalie box, Martyrs forward Deacon Daniel O’Mullane ’10 (Patterson) had all the chance he needed. As the Sedes keeper Alphonse Bertrand Omgba Embolo closed, O’Mullane flicked the ball up with the outside of his right foot, sending it expectantly in the air. Deflecting off the left post, the shot fell in, giving the Americans an early 1-0 lead.
Sedes did not merely stop playing, though. Led by its striker Anthony Naah of Ghana, the Opus Dei seminarians worked to remain in the match. Supported by his ten goals in seven matches, Naah was billed as one of the supreme talents in the tournament. The athletic, 6 foot 5 inch Gahnaian did not disappoint, flashing moments of brilliance. In the 21st minute, after a rare defensive misplay by Martyrs player-coach David Santos ’12 (Newark), Naah fired, spinning and off-balanced. The strike from eighteen meters crashed off the top crossbar, giving obvious witness to Naah’s talent and threat. As it had to other offensive stars, however, the Martyrs stout defensive line greatly neutralized Naah’s presence, limiting his opportunities and keeping him off the scoreboard.
Spurred on by the momentum and the lead, superior play and effort, the Martyrs controlled much of the action in the first half. The American side had another scoring opportunity near the end of the first period, with O’Mullane again as the instigator. On the tight Field B of Oratorio di San Pietro, a throw-in near the goal is nearly equivalent to a corner kick, as throws can fall in the middle of the goalie box. Taking a throw in the 28th minute, O’Mullane offered just such a throw. As Sedes goalie Omgba collided with a defender, the ball bounced to John Gibson ’13 (Milwaukee). Recognizing the opportunity despite the crowd of players in front of him, Gibson lofted a kick over the scrambling keeper and toward the goal. A perceptive Sedes defender, however, was waiting for the shot and headed it away at the goal line. The ball, still in the attack zone, was quickly returned to the middle of the box. Omgba would not allow the chaos to continue, though, clobbering Martyrs midfielder Nick Nelson ’13 (Duluth) to secure the ball and end the threat.
Looking for his fifth shutout in eight games, Martyrs keeper Gallagher was forced to earn it just after intermission. In its one sustained threat of the match, Sedes sent a low strike across the box. With Naah and his compatriots nearing the ball, Gallagher stopped any chance of an equalizer by quickly diving to turn away the attempt.
While the match was distinctly in the Martyrs’ favor, the lead was still only 1-0 through the 37th minute. Creating the play of the season, Jeff Eirvin ’12 (Portland in Oregon) changed all that. With the ball just outside of the Sedes box, a defender quickly tried to clear it up field. Turning as he fired, he did not expect an American to be standing in his way. Eirvin, however, did more than merely keep the ball in play. After the ball deflected hard off of his face, the American left winger immediately pounced, connecting on a shot after the ball had touched the turf once. Rocketing the ball as two defenders closed, Eirvin sent Sedes keeper Omgba flailing. The shot perfectly bent into the high right corner of the goal. Omgba could only laugh, and the Martyrs and its supporters were only too happy to join him. The rout was on.
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The remaining minutes had Gallagher collecting balls before they could cause any harm and the American squad continuing to sustain the offensive pressure. Twice the Martyrs created near-goal opportunities. In the 47th minute, Deacon James Morrison ’10 (Mobile) received a brilliant header from O’Mullane, his attacking counterpart. Finding himself with only one defender to beat, Morrison turned inside to gain separation, only to have a creeping Omgba dive to deflect his shot at the inside of the box. Ten minutes later O’Mullane gathered a quick-strike pass from veteran Fr. James Adams ’09 (Kalamazoo) and found himself in the same situation on the other side of the box. Creating space for his shot, O’Mullane sent a low attempt that ricocheted hard off of Omgba’s arms and away from a rapidly approaching Morrison and a rebound opportunity.
The final offensive attempt proved more successful. In the concluding moments of the match, O’Mullane once again found himself with a throw-in near the goal. As three Martyrs shed their defenders, the ball found its way to Santos who buried the header at close range. The appearance of the skilled sweeper in the offensive attack has become a more regular sight, and with results like that, there is little wonder why. Before the kick-off could take place, the referee whistled the match over, ending the 3-0 assault.
The Martyrs will continue their journey towards a first Clericus Cup title with a semifinal appearance on Saturday, May 22nd at 10:30 against Guanelliani. The Roman house for priests of the Congregation of the Sevants of Charity is no stranger to the Martyrs, having been a first round opponent a year ago. In a match marked by skilled and hard play, the Americans defeated the international team with an overtime goal from now-Deacon Charles Gallagher ’10 (Washington D.C.). As victors of Group B, Guanelliani again poses a serious challenge – one only another sustained performance will match.
