A Big Soccer Update

Spring soccer!!! I cannot believe I haven't posted anything on this until now. Team Golden Eagles has been rocking it this season!!

We lost two of our really strong girls (sisters) from last season and we miss them terribly. But we gained two new girls, and the GE have been rocking it still! (I hope the sisters come back in the fall. I can't even imagine how strong GE would be then.)

Because we placed second in regular play last season and since the rec league is bigger this season (I think it is always bigger in the spring), the U10 girl teams were split into two brackets. We are in the tougher bracket. One of the teams in our bracket is the team we lost to twice last season. They were the ones who came in first place in regular play. Another team that is in our bracket now tried to play up in U12 last season but it was a bit too tough for them. So, they are back in U10 with U12 experience. All the teams are good this season, but those two teams are extra tough.

Our first game of the season was against the team that beat us last season - the Ravens. One of their players was on an academy team but decided to come back to rec. And she is really good. All the other players kick the ball to her and she has some really good footwork. Unfortunately the first game, Golden Eagles were down three girls. No subs. Our girls had to play the entire game with just a half time break. They held the other team off for a long time, but toward the end they started getting tired - the Ravens started scoring. Score 0-5. 

Kind of a bummer...

But they took the loss very well. Since then, the girls have been practicing. Practicing, practicing, practicing...

They even tried to practice in the rain one evening until the field closed...

The second game was against the team that tried playing in U12. We were all a bit nervous when we saw them and their size difference. Yikes...

The other team was really good, but the GE ended up being better! Score 3-2.

 Then next couple games were great too. Bri made two goals during the third game and GE won (score 4-1)...

Then she made another goal the 4th game (GE win - score 6-0)...

 Then the league took time off for spring break. You always kind of worry about momentum a bit when you take off for a week.

We returned back after spring break and the next game was at an away field. That field had artificial turf - and that makes the ball go much faster. That's something our girls weren't used to. The team we played was also a team that hadn't lost a game except to those darn Ravens. Ack!

Whoever won that game would be in second place for regular play.

Coach Javier was giving a pep talk...

The girls looked amazing - even after a long break. They did get a penalty called against them once and had to build a "wall"...

Bri didn't get a goal that game, but she had a beautiful assist. And she also got all the way down the field once - weaving in and out of girls - it was amazing. She came just short of making a goal, when she slipped. It was a beautiful play - just wish she could have scored on it! Her footwork was amazing that day. GE won that one 3-0 (putting us in 2nd place)!!!

Then last Saturday, we were against the Ravens again. This was the game our girls really, really, really wanted to win. I looked at the scores the day before and saw that the Ravens had actually lost the weekend before to that former U12 team. It was their first loss. I was a bit nervous because I figured since the Ravens were not used to losing, they were going to play extra hard to make up for it.

Well, they did play hard...

But so did Team Golden Eagles...

And guess who won????

GOLDEN EAGLES WON!!!! Score 4-1. Vindication!!! (Ok - I know they are all only 9 and 10 years old, but I'm excited here - lol!) And Bri actually made a goal against them! Talk about confidence boosting.

Our girls were so stinking excited they won. Ella (our main goal scorer) was on fire that day. Josie, our goalie, was just amazing. She made a number of saves that day. Our defenders were amazing. Heck, everyone on the team that day was amazing. They weren't intimidated in the least by the Ravens. So, so, so proud of the girls.

 We started realizing that some of these teams rely on just one or two girls to rack up points. We are blessed that all the girls on our team are talented. It is the skill and teamwork that help us win games. 

And I can't forget our coaches because they rock too!

So this week, the girls have been practicing shielding the ball and also blocking high kicks with their chests...

 They've also practiced running backwards...

 After practice pep talk... 

 Guess who is number 1 in the bracket right now? Yep - the Golden Eagles with just one loss. Good stuff!

This weekend though, the GE face that former U12 team again. The really tall girls. The ones that beat the Ravens the weekend before we did. We've beaten them once, but it was a close one. I am hoping our girls can do it again. We will just have to see.

Even if they don't win, I will be so proud. I am so dang impressed by these girls. I truly am.

And on a side note (nothing to do with soccer), after the away soccer game a few weeks ago, we hit a BBQ restaurant that we had been really wanting to try.  If you have ever watched "BBQ Pit Wars", you will know who Michael Character is. We went to "Character's Famous BBQ"...

Michael Character was there. We saw him cooking at the pit and in the kitchen. He seemed so busy - we didn't want to bother him for an autograph or picture. That would have been really cool though.

It is some of the best BBQ I have ever had. So glad we finally made it there!