It was a beautiful day on Saturday, Sept. 28 here at Hudson Sports Complex and the Foxes were looking to add another W to their resume which would make it three in a row! The club that stood in the way with the chance to spoil it all: Krajisnik FC who hailed from Utica, NY. Coach Holzer prepped the squad all week to keep a positive and aggressive mindset entering the match. In the interview below, Coach Holzer knows improvements can continuously be made, but he is very pleased with his team's current form and their fight this past weekend against Krajisnik FC. They will be preparing for the second road match in their young history as they head to Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 6.
What were some of the key moments in this weekend's victory against Krajisnik FC?
The true turning point in the match was when we were awarded the penalty in the second half. We didn't play particularly great in the first half, despite us having the lead at halftime and we were able to come out stronger to start the second half. I believe the penalty was the correct call as it hit the opponent's hand after so odd bounces. "Papa" Mane finished the ball with confidence that allowed us to go up 2-0 with about 20 minutes or so left. After the goal, we controlled and managed the game much more effectively.
Overall, we played much better in the second half...we were a bit rusty with a lot of passing mistakes in the first half which we were able to clean up. Another key moment was the great save Etan Mabourakh made for us in the last 10 minutes. His performance along with our defense helped us earn our 3rd clean sheet in a row!
Who would you say was the man of the match against Krajisnik FC?
Etan Mabourakh, our goalkeeper, was and has been extremely consistent for us and Saturday was no different. He had a couple nice saves in crucial moments. He has a great presence in the goal and his save at the end helped us keep the momentum on our side and ultimately kept our clean sheet and winning streak alive.
What do you think has contributed to the Foxes three game winning streak?
Our back line and goalkeepers in the past 3 games have been consistently strong. Three clean sheets in a row speak for itself. I am very proud of our guys on both ends of the ball. We continue to grow as a unit and I truly believe we are finding our strengths. Also, scoring 14 goals in the past 3 games is quite impressive. We have been moving the ball around with better purpose and I am very pleased with our ability to finish the ball. The Foxes are certainly in good form at the moment and we just want to take it a game at a time.
What positives can you take away from this match as you head to Philadelphia for Sunday's away match?
We wanted to get another win and clean sheet at home which we achieved. We certainly want to keep this mentality and confidence as we travel down to Philadelphia this weekend. We must continue to be aggressive in the final third and remain a strong defensive unit.
We’re on the top of the conference and we want to stay there. We’re playing against a very talented Philadelphia Junior Lone Star team who I’ve played against myself as a player multiple times. It will be a tough match and great challenge to get another win on the road.
How did it feel to be back at HSC in front of the home crowd and get yet another W?
It was simply amazing. The fans are outstanding and all the players can feel their support on the pitch. We’re happy to have a great fan base in Warwick. I am so proud of the entire coaching staff and organization at HSC as well as they have helped the Foxes play in a professional and energized environment. The Fox Den truly gives a home field advantage and we continue to appreciate all the support we are receiving.
Our next home game is on Oct. 26, 2019 at Hudson Sports Complex. Your Foxes face off against Lincoln FC from Rhode Island. Kickoff is at 6PM. You can order TICKETS here.
