Gemini boys’ soccer team looking to close out regular season on a high note

Gemini defender Johnny Hall (left) battles to clear the ball against a Woodstock CI opponent. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Tillsonburg Gemini boys’ soccer gameplan took a bit of a kick with an early penalty against them.

“That changed that,” said coach Lee Janzen of the resultant 1-0 Woodstock CI Red Devils’ lead, seven minutes into their Thames Valley Regional Athletics Tier I contest Thursday, May 8 at the Tillsonburg Soccer Club.

His theory had been to get everyone behind the ball, keep everything in front of the team and look to counter in a close game. Although that strategy fell by the wayside comparatively early, Janzen was pleased with the Gemini response during one of their better first halves of the TVRA season.

“They were making some nice passes and moving the ball well,” he credited.

However, the Red Devils capitalized on a late mistake, taking a 2-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening half.

“After that, we just put some guys in and had some fun,” said Janzen of what went onto the TVRA website as a 4-0 final decision.

The Gemini boys are still looking for their first win through six games of their regular season, which opened Tuesday, April 15 with a 2-0 loss to the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers. Tier I is a challenge says Janzen, for a Gemini roster featuring less high-level experience than many of its competitors.

“There’s athletes, they just haven’t played a lot of soccer in the past few years. They’ve been competitive at times which is good, just not consistent.”

Losing not only the team’s starting goalie, but also its backup has proven a challenge for Tillsonburg, forced to shift players around as a result. Thursday, Janzen inserted his son Nolan into the Gemini net where his experience as a U17 keeper last summer helped control the score.

“He’s a solid midfielder though,” said Janzen, Nolan’s presence missed there. “It just backs everybody down one step.”

The Gemini continue to try hard, showing skill along with their athleticism while at times, struggling with decision-making at game speed, along with ‘touch on the ball.’

“They’re having fun at least,” said Janzen, looking forward to a scheduled Tuesday, May 13 date with St. Thomas Parkside which closes out the regular season.

“We’ve played this team tough twice,” he concluded optimistically, alluding to earlier 2-0 and 3-2 losses. “I think with our full group, we could make something of it.”