JackalTalk — JackalWorks Blog

The Jacksonville, Florida weather gods greeted the Citadel Bulldogs with a mix of dark clouds and steamy heat. Friday night the match started an hour late because angry angry storm clouds ringed the University of North Florida campus. Just before the start–though distant–Old Glory waved against the backdrop of a rainbow, signaling a treaty with the foreboding clouds. Fortunately, for safety’s sake, the treaty held throughout the match and the only lightening bolts that struck were quick goals wrought by Osprey feet.

The Bulldogs seemed to be feeling their way through their defensive scheme and the Goal Keeper had plenty of opportunities to be brilliant, and she was, fighting back an onslaught of shots on goal. Four eventually found net but it was not because of a lack of effort or skill. The attack was too sustained and persistent given the tentativeness of the defense. On the other end of the field a Penalty Kick and a chaotic scrum netted two for the Bulldogs at final tally.

One of the best Bulldog highlights was the precision short passing ball control strategy that the team put on at he beginning of the 2nd half. It seemed to throw the Ospreys into confusion and opened up lanes to push the ball forward for two tremendously powerful long range shots on goal that struck the cross bar, just barely missing their intent. The match ended and the Bulldogs filed into the visiting team’s locker room, displaying bags of ice taped to their sore limbs as badges of honor.

On Sunday, steam and bright sunshine greeted the start of play against Jacksonville University. The Bulldogs were in high spirits and their pre-match routine showed it. Unfortunately those spirits did not translate well to actual play. The Dolphins were quicker to the ball on most counts and scored five times. Steam and sunshine gave way to clouds and rain intermittently, and suddenly, as if the gods tired of watching, the clouds really opened up and an official mercifully ended the match.