League Play-Off

Fairfield Glade
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Eliseo McMullen kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the game, Eliseo McMullen cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Richie Ryder was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Lorenzo Quinones kicked well hit freekick during the 8th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Vadnais Heights's zone, Rudolph Parker stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wesley Schneider came out of the goal and Rudolph Parker tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 13th minute Rudolph Parker shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Wesley Schneider saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Rapids booed when Vadnais Heights was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. John Burnham didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 16th minute, John Burnham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 17 minutes into the match, Vadnais Heights's goal looked a bit too open when Rudolph Parker came free, but Wesley Schneider reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rapids's Richie Ryder played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joesph Slater in the 21st minute of play. Rudolph Parker fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wesley Schneider having to interfere. After 34 played minutes Rapids's Orlando Dukes stole the ball from his opponents and shot the ball towards the upper left corner, but Wesley Schneider stretched himself as far as he could, and stopped the ball from passing the line. robbing Vadnais Heights of the goal. In the 37th minute Joesph Slater shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Richie Ryder saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rudolph Parker recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 41st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Rapids's Ethan Herget got a free kick in the 44th minute. In the 45th minute of the match Zane Milligan sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Richie Ryder skillfully saved the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Rudolph Parker to strike the kick off in the second half. Richie Ryder showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eliseo McMullen in the 59th minute of the match. Joesph Slater sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Wesley Schneider showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Orlando Dukes, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. A hard shot by Kirby Walter from long distance, 65 minutes into the match, got Richie Ryder's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Luciano Eldridge hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. In the 70th minute, Joesph Slater got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. When Rudolph Parker came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Rapids fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Rudolph Parker couldn't finish the play. Wesley Schneider stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Orlando Dukes's shot from short distance in the 77th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 78th minute, Joesph Slater managed to get in a good position for a shot. Vadnais Heights's supporters rose to their feet, but Joesph Slater was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Richie Ryder breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Orlando Dukes in the 87th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Wesley Schneider saved Vadnais Heights from getting behind. When the match clock showed 87 minutes, the score became 2-1 when Orlando Dukes sped through Vadnais Heights's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Wesley Schneider. If Rudolph Parker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Orlando Dukes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 94th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal.