Hollywood United Hitmen News Release - www.hollywoodutd.com

Saturday, May 30, 2009

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA -- Four first half goals – three in the first 20 minutes – gave the Hollywood United Hitmen their sixth win in seven games, 4-0 over BYU, at Pacific Palisades High School Saturday night, extending their lead at the top of the PDL Southwest Division standings to four points.

The visiting team, the BYU Cougars, had handed the Hitmen their first defeat of the campaign seven days previously, and head coach Mike Erush was eager to exact some revenge on the team which ended his team’s previously unblemished record. He named an aggressive lineup that featured top scorer Jaime Chavez as a target man ahead of attacking midfielders Nick Kohlschreiber, Earl Alexander and Armando Ochoa; he also gave newcomers Erik Robert and Jose Munoz their home debuts; and welcomed the latest Los Angeles Galaxy loanee, defender Leonard Griffin, into the fray.

Unexpectedly, it was Griffin who set the wheels in motion for the Hollywood victory when he headed Nick Kohlschreiber’s deep corner past BYU keeper Quin Shepherd, giving the Hitmen a 1-0 lead after just 8 minutes. The Hitmen doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later when some neat interplay between Armando Ochoa and Nick Kohlschreiber down the right wing resulted in Kohlschreiber driving a shot through the BYU defense and past Shepherd from the corner of the 18 yard box.

BYU, who played a tough 2-2 tie with Orange County Blue Star yesterday, looked sluggish, and seemed unable to cope with Hollywood’s speed down the wings. Federico Bianchi and the very impressive Jose Munoz controlled the midfield, spreading pinpoint passes left and right, and continually threatened to break through BYU’s increasingly shaky-looking back line.

Hollywood were 3-0 up in 20 minutes when Jaime Chavez pounced on a weak back pass by BYU’s KC Whitworth, rounded a flailing Shepherd, and calmly passed the ball into the open goal. Ironically, the mistake seemed to spur BYU into action, who picked up the pace thereafter, and looked threatening on the break. Brent Jensen came closest to pulling a goal back when his looping shot from the edge of the area left Hollywood keeper Jose Miranda standing, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar and back into Miranda’s waiting arms.

The game was effectively ended as a competition in first half stoppage time when Griffin’s long ball found Chavez sprinting down the right wing; as he reached the byeline he cut back inside BYU defender Drew Van Wagenen and laid a perfect pass into the path of Armando Ochoa, who finished strongly from twelve yards.

BYU head coach Chris Watkins made wholesale changes to his team at halftime, bringing on Brian Hale to replace Shepherd between the pipes, and introducing Dan McKinley and Rich Harrison in place of the ineffective Tyler Christiansen and Zachary De Francis. The Hitmen also made two changes at the break, bringing on Ricardo Mendoza and on-loan Galaxy striker Israel Sesay in place of Bianchi and Kohlschreiber.

The second half was generally much tighter than the first, with few clear cut chances. BYU, clearly frustrated with their first half performance, became much stronger in their challenges, which in turn caused Hollywood to return the favor. Referee Ryan Van Duyne was kept busy throughout the half, calling 18 fouls and issuing several yellow cards for forceful tackling, and had to intervene several times to keep order when tempers flared.

Coach Erush brought on Diego Barrera, Fergie Agwu and Albert Racca as the half progressed, changing tired legs for fresh energy, and gave a full debut to Croatian striker Peter Hazdovac, who replaced Jaime Chavez for the last 10 minutes. Hollywood were cool in possession, encouraging the 150-strong crowd to break out into a chorus of “ole’s” during an extended period of confident passing.

Hollywood did have a couple of chances to extend their lead; Ochoa broke free of the BYU back four and looked odds-on to score, only for sub keeper Hale to smother his shot at the edge of the area. Then, with just six minutes left to play, Albert Racca was pushed down in the box by KC Whitworth, and got up to take the penalty kick himself, but saw his shot saved low to the left by the impressive Hale.

In the end, it didn’t matter, as Hollywood coasted to a 4-0 victory. The win sees Hollywood extend their record to 6-1-0 on the season, top of the PDL Southwest Division table ahead of Orange County Blue Star, and having not conceded a goal in their four home games to date.

The Hitmen take on second placed Orange County Blue Star in Irvine tomorrow in a game which could prove decisive in the race for the PDL Southwest Division title, and return home to Pacific Palisades on Thursday, 4 June, when they take on Ventura County Fusion. Kickoff for that game is 7:00pm.