Crazy Eyes Comes Back

After MyGirl played so well in the tournament and took a beat down and some pretty hard hits, we traveled to a far-away, thick-cut, extra-long, extra-wide field with small goals so the girls could play in their first State League match.

They started out pretty strong, getting a goal in the first 5-6 minutes. Beautiful cross on a penalty kick from one my favorite left-footed defenders - LeftyLucy. AllStar Girl one touches to the back of the net.

Two minutes later, MyGirl plays to space, AllStarGirl crosses in, StrikerGirl takes a touch and UNSELFISHLY passes to SisterMarySoccer for goal #2.

With two minutes to go in the half, I saw MyGirl play to space, then I saw her give a girl “the hard shoulder” as she ran past her. (Never, ever a good sign.) But that was it. She played the rest of the two minutes – no problems.

After half time – one of their girls gets a breakaway and KeeperGirl made a phenomenal stop. Unfortunately, it happened again and they score one.

In the mean time, MyGirl got nailed a few times from that one particular girl from the other team. MyGirl did nothing -- for most of the half. With two minutes to go, in the second half the same girl takes MyGirl down. Apparently, she pulled her down by her hair. Apparently, that’s a huge “no-no” from MyGirl’s perspective – something that MyBoy doesn’t even get away with. MyGirl hit the ground and like a cat that didn't land on all four popped back up, flipped that girl over by her hair and punched her three times – three good times. Speed-O-LightGirl claims that she saw a clump on hair on the field.

She took her red card and jogged off the field. They had returned – the dreaded “crazy eyes.” Crazy eyes is a term that MPIC and I coined several years ago for our girls... but I'll be honest, I've seen a glint of crazy eyes in a few other faces. It's a look that takes over the girls' faces when they simply have had enough - when they have reached their breaking point. In all fairness to everyone who has born the brunt of what happens after someone gets crazy eyes - breaking points vary. There is no telling when it is going to happen. Usually, it's a close game. Usually, it's out of desperation. Usually, they have been pushed around plenty. Although sometimes, it could be one comment from an opponent. You just never know when you will get to see "crazy eyes." But, nine times out of ten...it's not a fun thing to watch from the sidelines.

This time was a little different. She didn’t take it out on that girl because she felt desperate. MyGirl had been pushed around plenty, but they were winning. She did it because she was P*$$ED. In the car on the drive home, she was still mad. A little sad, because she let her team down and she had to sit out a in the next state league match - but mostly - she was really, REALLY mad.

BTW - Coach #3 talked to her for a long while after the game and she was really upset about that too. (And boy, Coach #3 can put a guilt trip on someone better than any Catholic mother I have ever met - I like it!)

And now, she’s a little embarrassed by the whole thing. And she should be. It was completely uncalled for.

As for the rest of the game – well, we had to play a man down for two minutes. For all you hockey fans out there….Their team was On. The. Power. Play. But to no avail, KeeperGirl made SEVERAL unbelievable saves. And we won – 2-1.

MyGirl sat out at the next state league game. The girls beat a team they have NEVER, EVER beat before. A team that used to dominate the league. MyGirl was a little tense on the sidelines. But, it was a good day!


SIDEBAR: UTDad’s dad happened to be at the "crazy eyes" game. His take on it was that the girl had it coming to her. He’s a preacher, so I know it’s the truth!