Soccer 2014

Rodrigo’s a 99.98-percenter, but team still misses playoffs

Updated through May 12, 2014

One assist, coming right up: Rodrigo launches free kick from the 44-yard-line deep into the penalty area; a teammate finished the play with a goal in Mar. 4 victory over region rival Kell. It was Rodrigo's fourth assist of the season, two of them well beyond 50 yards from the goal.
One assist, coming right up: Rodrigo launches free kick from the 44-yard-line deep into the penalty area; a teammate finished the play with a goal in Mar. 4 victory over region rival Kell. It was Rodrigo’s fourth assist of the season, two of them well beyond 50 yards from the goal.

Rodrigo’s junior season as the dominant midfrield force for Sprayberry ended with no playoff berth for the team, even though Rodrigo’s last two games were near-perfect, with 100 percent passing efficiency and 100 percent touch efficiency.

Restricted to mainly defensive duties despite a potent repertoire of offensive skills, Rodrigo contributed only 2 goals and 6 assists; the offense’s tailspin was reflected in Rodrigo’s low output, accounting for only 13 goals in the team’s last 10 games, a pace that eliminated the team from playoff contention.

For the season, Rodrigo completed 95.5 percent of his passes and had a touch efficiency rating of 99.98 percent, with only 8 mistouches in 15 games as he averaged more than 90 touches per game, including more than 65 1-touch plays per game, far and away the most prolific contributor on the team. He completed 156 of his last 160 passes, a percentage of 97.5.

The team finished a middling 8-6-1, 6-4 in region play. Rodrigo had a pair of goals in regulation plus 3-for-3 in shootout penalty kicks and his 6 assists, including three from 50 yards or more from goal.

Game summaries listed below

Game one: Sprayberry 6, Cass 0

Shots: 4. Goals: 0. Assists: 1.

Touches: 87 — 1: +86

Passing: 20/21, 95 percent

1-touch plays: 44.

 

Minutes: 79. Season totals: 0-1-1, +6

Rodrigo blasts a goal kick well beyond the midfield line; his longest free kick of the season is 70 yards.
Rodrigo blasts a goal kick well beyond the midfield line; his longest free kick of the season is 70 yards.

Game two: Sprayberry 1, Pebblebrook 1

Shots: 5. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 81 — 1: +80

Passing: 20/23, 86 percent.

1-touch plays: 52.

Minutes: 80.

Season totals: 0-1-1, +6. Touches: 168 — 2, +166, 98 percent. Passing: 40/44, 91 percent. 1-touch plays: 96. Minutes: 159, 79.5 average.

Game three: Sprayberry 3, Northview 2, PKs

Shots: 0. Goals: 0. Assists: 1.

Touches: 106 – 0: +106

1-touch plays: 75

Passes: 34/37, 93 percent

PK: 1-for-1

Playing time: 90 min.

Season totals: 0-2-2, +7. Touches: 274 – 2: +272, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 171. Passes: 74/81, 91 percent. Playing time: 249 min., 83.0 average.

Rodrigo reads a high ball into the penalty area, ready to make a header clearance.
Rodrigo reads a high ball into the penalty area, ready to make a header clearance.

Game four: Sprayberry 3, E. Paulding 0

Shots: 3. Goals: 0. Assists: 1

Touches: 111 – 0: +111

1-touch plays: 78.

Passes: 43/44, 98 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 0-3-3, +10. Touches: 385 – 2: +383, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 249.Passes: 117/125, 93.6 percent. Playing time: 329 min., 82.25 average.

Game five: Sprayberry 3, Kell 0

Shots: 3. Goals: 0. Assists: 1.

Touches: 82 – 0: +82

1-touch plays: 53.

Passes: 35/38, 93 percent.

Playing time: 78 min.

Season totals: 0-4-4, +13. Touches: 467 – 2: +465, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 302. Passes: 152/163, 93.2 percent. Playing time: 407 min., 81.4 average.

Rodrigo uses his 6-1, 186-pound frame to successfully body-shield Forsyth Central opponent away from the ball during Sprayberry's 2-1 victory that included goal-saving tackle and game-winning penalty kick by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo uses his 6-1, 186-pound frame to successfully body-shield Forsyth Central opponent away from the ball during Sprayberry’s 2-1 victory that included goal-saving tackle and game-winning penalty kick by Rodrigo.

Game six: Sequoyah 3, Sprayberry 1

Shots: 3. Goals: 0. Assists: 1.

Touches: 98 – 1: +97.

1-touch plays: 72.

Passes: 37/38, 97 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 0-5-5, +11. Touches: 565 – 3: +562, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 374. Passes: 189/201, 94 percent. Playing time: 487 min., 81.2 average.

Game seven: Sprayberry 2, Forsyth Central 1

Shots: 2. Goals: 1. Assists: 0.

Touches: 111 – 2: +109

1-touch plays: 73.

Passes: 46/49, 93 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 1-5-6, +12. Touches: 676 – 5: +671, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 447. Passes: 235/250, 94.0 percent. Playing time: 567 min., 81.0 average.

Game eight: Sprayberry 1, Creekview 0, PKs

Rodrigo prepares to clear dangerous cross into penalty area during first half against Forsyth Central.
Rodrigo prepares to clear dangerous cross into penalty area during first half against Forsyth Central.

Shots: 3. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 106 — 1: +105.

1-touch plays: 78.

Passes: 43/46, 93 percent.

Playing time: 90 min.

Season totals: 1-5-6, +13. 782 — 6: +776, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 525. Passes: 278/296, 94 percent. Playing time: 657 min., 82.1 average.

Game nine: Pope 2, Sprayberry 1

Shots: 1. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 96 – 1: +95

1-touch plays: 84.

Passes: 29/29, 100 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 1-5-6, +12. Touches: 878 – 7: +871, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 609. Passes: 307/325, 95 percent. Playing time: 737 min., 81.9 average.

Game ten: North Springs 2, Sprayberry 1, PKs

Shots: 3. Goals: 1. Assists: 0.

Touches: 119 – 0: +119.

1-touch plays: 89.

PKs: 1/1.

Passes: 42/43, 97 percent.

Playing time: 90 min.

Season totals: 2-5-7, +11. Touches: 997 – 7: +990, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 698. Passes: 349/368, 95 percent. Playing time: 827 min., 82.7 average.

Game Eleven: Riverwood 4, Sprayberry 0

Shots: 2. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 77 – 0: +77.

1-touch plays: 58.

Passes: 28/29, 96 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Game Twelve: Sprayberry 4, Osborne 2

Shots: 1. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 76 – 0: +76.

1-touch plays: 61.

Passes: 25/26, 96 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Game Thirteen: Rome 2, Sprayberry 1

Shots: 0. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 48 – 1: +47.

1-touch plays: 46.

Passes: 23/24, 95 percent.

Playing time: 54 min.

Game Fourteen: Sprayberry 2, Cambridge 1

Shots: 1. Goals: 0. Assists: 1.

Touches: 87 – 0: +87.

1-touch plays: 68.

Passes: 22/22, 100 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 2-6-8, +9. Touches: 1285 – 8: +1277, 99 percent. 1-touch plays: 931. Passes: 447/469, 95.3 percent. Playing time: 1121 min., 80.1 average.

Game fifteen: Campbell 3, Sprayberry 1

Shots: 1. Goals: 0. Assists: 0.

Touches: 70 – 0: +70.

1-touch plays: 56.

Passes: 16/16, 100 percent.

Playing time: 80 min.

Season totals: 2-6-8, +7. Touches: 1355 – 8: 1347, 99.8 percent. 1-touch plays: 987. Passes: 463/485, 95.5 percent. Playing time: 1201 min., 80.1 average.