By Jean Pierre Guzhnay - STAFF WRITER
Joseph Holland`s 2nd half strike was enough to secure the win for the Pride and maintain the team`s fantastic stat to the season, winning 1-0 narrowly against Army West Point on Friday afternoon at Clifton Field.
After victories over Syracuse and Vermont respectfully, The Pride came into their first local away game conceding only one goal, which came from a penalty spot kick against the Orangemen last Friday. However, the Pride looked very shaky in the first half of the away game with the Black Knights producing six shots in the first 40 minutes. The Pride almost conceded an own goal when the ball deflected off a free kick set piece for Army West Point, for it only to be caught in Patric Pray`s hands.
The slow start for the Pride prompted criticism from head coach Richard Nuttall.
“Our defensive line and front line was too stretched, so that was giving them space in the midfield and they were exposing us with their fitness and pace”.
The Pride`s solid backline improved after the half and proved yet again to be on point with Pray making three saves for a second consecutive shutout.
“I think {the Defense} has been rock solid,” said Nuttall. “But as a group we defend. Its not just the back four and the goalkeeper that deserves the credit, it’s the way we approach the ball from the forwards; backwards. Credence to the whole team rather than the back four but the back four were tremendous today,” he added.
Following the departure of forward Maid Memic, the 2014 senior who scored 10 goals last season for the Pride, it has been Joseph Holland, the midfielder from England, who has taken the teams offensive charge this season, already tallying four goals in just three games.
It was not until late in the second half of the encounter that the Pride found them-selves ahead in the 71st minute after a play produced by Meshack Eshun Addy racing down the right wing crossing it to find Holland who calmly finished to give the Pride the 1-0 lead over Army West Point.
Nuttall gave credit to all his players for contributing to Holland’s exceptional form.
“Every time he gets the ball you think he’s going to make something happen, you need a complementary staff around him and I think we have with the players who covered over with the pace in the other teams respect it makes the defense drop off and gives Joe a bit more space to operate.”