Lightning Coach Nichols Hoping to Continue Momentum Against Kings

Published on January 17, 2011 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Louisville Lightning News Release


Louisville Lightning coach Ted Nichols is ready to start a new winning streak in league play. The team went to Detroit last weekend and won a tough 10-4 game over the Waza, and now they host the first-place Cincinnati Kings Saturday night at Mockingbird Valley Sports Complex. Nichols said the team knew what was against them at Detroit, and they're hoping to start a winning streak with another win Saturday against the Kings.

"I think we realized our backs were against the wall and we played with a bit of desperation," Nichols said of Saturday's win against the Detroit Waza. "We had our legs and I think we think caught Detroit tired after they played Cincinnati the night before. They came out a bit flat and tired, understandably. We had the right guys out there who played with a lot of energy. We were ready to play because we know we need to win every game from here out. We were prepared and I think Detroit was a bit sluggish after playing their second game in two days. Still, Detroit is a great team and we weathered the storm and pulled out a great win," he stated.

Nichols said his team is still learning how to be confident and finish games, and he hopes the win over Detroit will change that. "We have a tendency to let our heads go down very easily but I tried to make sure we kept our confidence up, especially after Detroit equalized at 2-2. We had the right personnel to make it happen and we went out there and finished. In the past, we've had a tendency to take a lead, then we give it up and you can see our guys get down about it. This time after Detroit scored to even things up, our guys got fired up about getting out there and getting that lead back," he said.

"We had a lot of people come up to us after the game and compliment us and tell us how tough we play. We're a very impatient team and we possess the ball well, but we have to just play our game and let things come to us," Nichols said. "Saturday's game was a tough one and we really hung in there and pulled it out. We know we're a good team, but we don't always know how to put games away. We just need to be more patient and let our game come to us."

The Lightning got major contributions from Chad Hagerty, John Michael Hayden, Lindsay Smith, and a number of other players. Nichols said several players played a role in the big win. "In indoor soccer, everyone should be able to contribute. Everyone had a great game. Lindsay was great, Chad was great, and I could keep going. Kolby Lacrone sprained his ankle and could not contribute. We were looking for some other options, and we had a lot of guys step up. Trey Kramer is 2-0 now as a keeper after Frank went down with a high ankle sprain, and our defenders were phenomenal," Nichols said.

Despite hosting division-leaders Cincinnati this weekend, the Lightning boss said his team could be a bit short-handed. "Ryan McDonald is out with a strained back, and Lee Weyland is out with a strained calf. Ross Hopkins is out and we've got some guys likely out because of the USL Combine coming up. It's definitely not the best time for all of this to happen, but we have to go out there and play. We've done it before, and we had some key players out against Detroit too, and we won that game. It's not something we can control," he stated.

Nichols said his team played well and put their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter against a talented Waza team. "We are a very strong possessive team and Detroit came out in the fourth quarter ready to go. They were definitely ready to get back into the game and pull out a win. I told the guys 'stay the course' and they did. The more chances [Detroit] took and failed to capitalize on, the more frustrated they got. I think in the fourth quarter, they were really playing with a lot of motivation, but nothing was working for them. They got to a point where they just realized it wasn't going to happen and I think they were ready to move on," he said.

Nichols said the team will begin preparing for Cincinnati early this week, but he's more concerned with his own squad. "The only team that can beat us is the Lightning and we're more concerned with us than anyone else. I'm concerned that we're gonna have a lot of guys out but we can't worry about that. We've played Cincinnati close, and we're getting better every game. We will get in practice this week and see how our injured guys are doing and see what we have. We just have to get ready to play and get ready for Cincinnati," Nichols said.

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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from January 17, 2011


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