Mad River in the Rogue Valley (U14 Boys)

by Midge Brown
Arcata, CA

On a gray Saturday in Oregon, the U14 Boys Mad River United Steelhead won their first game of the April 21/22 weekend 2-1 against the Roseburg Fuego. In the first two minutes of play, Elliott Patzkowsky drew the Fuego goalie out of the box on a breakaway run. The goalie inadvertently diverted the ball out to Steelhead Trevor Elsbree who lobbed the ball over the goalie’s head into the back of the net. The rest of the first half was fairly even play until Bryar Brandvold got fouled from behind on his run to the goal setting up Ruben Smith to put away a penalty kick to set the score at 2-0 at the end of the first half. As the rain pounded the field in the second half, there were plenty of shots on goal by both sides but nothing went home until Fuego booted the ball past the Steelhead goalie amidst a muddy mass of players in front of the goal box. The Steelhead continued to keep the Fuego at bay, and the sopping second half ended with the final score MRU Steelhead 2, Roseburg Fuego 1.

Sunday in Medford started out dryer, but no less intense as Steelhead winger Ian Hunter beautifully booted a corner ball into the middle of the goal where forward Elliott Patzkowsky ducked a bit to head the ball into the net putting the Steelhead up at the start 1-0. Bryar Brandvold drew another foul, this time in the box of the Rogue Valley Twisters, setting PK Master Ruben Smith up for another Mad River point. A footrace to the goal with the Twisters in control led to a foul that set up a free kick for Rogue Valley bringing the score to 2-1 at the end of the first half. The rain picked up in the second half where most of the shots on goal for both teams missed their mark. One wet Twister breakaway ended with the ball hitting the crossbar, being punched by Steelhead goalie Clint Nylander, and coming down, as the referees saw it, inside the Steelhead goal. The rain continued to pour down and the Steelhead players poured it on keeping the Twisters scoreless for the rest of half. The game ended in a soaked and muddy tie, 2-2.