Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of Sports

by
Lance J. Lilla

Novi Boys Soccer battles injuries,
and referees too

October 2, 2011

Injuries can be a devastating factor to athletic teams. It is inevitable that they will pop up here and there. Throughout the course of the Novi Wildcats current Boys Varsity Soccer season, injuries have been prevalent:

Senior, Phillip Soong - Torn ACL and MCL. Most likely out for the season.

Junior, Matt Kyura - Torn ligaments in hand, surgery needed. Must sit for around two weeks.

Senior, Chris Park - Just coming off a minor injury to the knee and calve. Seems to be healing well

Last week the 'Cats took on the Salem Rocks. As the night progressed, the 'Cats appeared to be getting unfair treatment by the referees, which caused multiple individuals to voice their most honest opinions. This not only included supporters from the stands, but the 'Cats very own head coach, as well.

The loss of a coach and unruly calls being made throughout the game impacted the team greatly. The end result was a loss to the Salem Rocks, 3-2.

Some think the injuries of key players were the root cause of the loss, which is an understandable assumption. Sure, the loss of key players has effected the team, but the 'Cats have a lot of depth when it comes to athletic ability. In fact, players who formally did not get a lot of attention have been stepping up and making a name for themselves.

This was made apparent in the game following the loss to Salem. The 'Cats took on Livonia Stevenson, who are respectably ranked 7th in the state.

The 'Cats felt they had something to prove. They wanted to show their fans that they are still able to triumph over opponents, even after the recent loss.

By the end of the night the 'Cats achieved their goal and destroyed their opponent, winning 5-0.

The 'Cats overall record is now 10-2, and 7-1 within their conference. Their next game will be home this Monday against Troy. Both teams are ranked within the top five in the state, so you won't want to miss this one.

Lance J. Lilla is a Senior at Novi High School and is a member of the school's varsity football and track teams. Lance brings you in-depth coverage you won't find elsewhere.