WORKS ON DIGITAL PAPER

Two Pair (Four) Calves for Big Dan

Last night I scored a goal in a league soccer game, only the fourth goal I have ever scored in five years of New York league soccer games and the only goal I have scored with my right foot. The first goal, on the rooftop of Pier 40 three or four years ago, was a long ball played just ahead of me by Jamaican Neil Parchment, lofting the ball from our back line over the heads of the defense, dropping to my left foot about 12 yards out of the goal mouth. I slotted it past the oncoming keeper, holding off the defender with my right arm. The second goal was down in Chinatown, between Christie and Grand, off a corner (from someone, maybe Rotondi) that ricocheted off my knee. The third goal, back at Pier 40, this time in the main space, Big Dan's friend Berti played me an excellent through ball that I somehow touched around the last defender to my left foot, putting the the ball low out of the keeper's reach into the bottom near corner. Then last night. I happened to run into that little space in front of the goal mouth just as Mark took a volley that fell wrongly to my hip. Desperately trying to settle the ball to shoot, it bounced off the grasping keeper's knee, or hand or something, and bobbled just so my right foot could smash it into a mostly open net. It is funny that I remember each and every league goal like that. It says something about how I play in league games. Mostly not well. In pickup games I score at a much better clip as I perform far more fluidly since play is of much higher quality. In league games it's a bit of a helter skelter free for all, everyone unhinged. More of a psychological battle for me than anything else.