One sure-fire way to clear up a summer drought is for our team to start a soccer season. (Actually, we can make it snow in the Spring as well – who needs a Farmer’s Almanac when you have a soccer schedule?)
When I woke up on Saturday morning, it was a beautiful day outside – sunny with big marshmallow clouds. Not too hot, which was good because it was has been scorching around here. We had to be at the fields at 8:30 am – which in our world is 8:15. So, we head to the fields and the skies are getting grayer the closer we get. As soon as my front tires crossed into drive of our soccer complex – SPLAT! The first rain drop hit my windshield.
I dropped MyGirl off and headed to get some coffee. By the time I returned, the girls were on the field and there was a nice, summer sprinkle in effect. The parents were setting up their chairs and pop-up tents.
It’s funny how things change. When MyGirl was eight years old, the parents would have been cautious about sending their girls out in the rain and asking, “Will we still play in the rain?” After five years, we know the answer.
About 10 minutes into the first half, it was pouring – POUR-ING. From my perspective, through the wall of rain, the girls looked good. Aside from a slippery ball every now and then, it really looked like it didn’t bother them at all.
Half time came and went and the score was 0-0, but about 2 minutes into the second half, AllStarGirl zips down the middle and makes a pass to StrikerGirl, AllStarGirl keeps running toward the goal, pointing in the direction she’s running. StrikerGirl touches it once and passes it right back to AllStarGirl. She takes one touch and then smack…. Back of the net.
I’m not going to say we dominated this game, but we definitely, kept it on their side of the field.
With about 7 minutes to go in the half, they foul one of our players. MyGirl takes the penalty shot. She looks at Coach #3, who tells her to go back post. She kicks the ball over the wall of people, to the near post. Their goalie tries to punch it over the goal, but instead she deflects it into the net. Coach #3 told MyGirl, he wanted back post, but he’ll take it – this time.
Secretly (as secret as this blog is), I think she meant to go back post, but since we play on a bigger field now, it was just hard for her to judge exactly where she was on the field.
Anyway, Game 1, Win 2-0.
It was still raining a bit and the girls had come over to the parents’ side of the field. When I walked to my car to get a bottle of water, the girls had been in small groups chatting, when I walked back five minutes later, they were all gathered under one tent and I just had to snap this picture. (Except one… which I didn’t realize until I posted on facebook – GracefulGirl – Where were you?)
That is one thing I love about this team. This is a really good group of girls. And we just added four more to the mix. And they are good girls too.
We went to a bigger field this year with more players on the field and more players on the team. Our team from last year stayed intact, we added two from another club and two from another team in our club. And from what I saw this weekend, they are going to help this team – PLENTY.
I won’t bore you with the details of Game #2… we lost 0-1. But, only by one point, in the last three minutes of the game, to a team that beat us 0-3 in the State Tournament in May.
I should also note, that after the rain stopped between the games, it got humid and terribly hot. And after the second game was over, the weather was perfect. Figures.
So here’s to a new beginning! Cheers!
When I woke up on Saturday morning, it was a beautiful day outside – sunny with big marshmallow clouds. Not too hot, which was good because it was has been scorching around here. We had to be at the fields at 8:30 am – which in our world is 8:15. So, we head to the fields and the skies are getting grayer the closer we get. As soon as my front tires crossed into drive of our soccer complex – SPLAT! The first rain drop hit my windshield.
I dropped MyGirl off and headed to get some coffee. By the time I returned, the girls were on the field and there was a nice, summer sprinkle in effect. The parents were setting up their chairs and pop-up tents.
It’s funny how things change. When MyGirl was eight years old, the parents would have been cautious about sending their girls out in the rain and asking, “Will we still play in the rain?” After five years, we know the answer.
About 10 minutes into the first half, it was pouring – POUR-ING. From my perspective, through the wall of rain, the girls looked good. Aside from a slippery ball every now and then, it really looked like it didn’t bother them at all.
Half time came and went and the score was 0-0, but about 2 minutes into the second half, AllStarGirl zips down the middle and makes a pass to StrikerGirl, AllStarGirl keeps running toward the goal, pointing in the direction she’s running. StrikerGirl touches it once and passes it right back to AllStarGirl. She takes one touch and then smack…. Back of the net.
I’m not going to say we dominated this game, but we definitely, kept it on their side of the field.
With about 7 minutes to go in the half, they foul one of our players. MyGirl takes the penalty shot. She looks at Coach #3, who tells her to go back post. She kicks the ball over the wall of people, to the near post. Their goalie tries to punch it over the goal, but instead she deflects it into the net. Coach #3 told MyGirl, he wanted back post, but he’ll take it – this time.
Secretly (as secret as this blog is), I think she meant to go back post, but since we play on a bigger field now, it was just hard for her to judge exactly where she was on the field.
Anyway, Game 1, Win 2-0.
It was still raining a bit and the girls had come over to the parents’ side of the field. When I walked to my car to get a bottle of water, the girls had been in small groups chatting, when I walked back five minutes later, they were all gathered under one tent and I just had to snap this picture. (Except one… which I didn’t realize until I posted on facebook – GracefulGirl – Where were you?)
That is one thing I love about this team. This is a really good group of girls. And we just added four more to the mix. And they are good girls too.
We went to a bigger field this year with more players on the field and more players on the team. Our team from last year stayed intact, we added two from another club and two from another team in our club. And from what I saw this weekend, they are going to help this team – PLENTY.
I won’t bore you with the details of Game #2… we lost 0-1. But, only by one point, in the last three minutes of the game, to a team that beat us 0-3 in the State Tournament in May.
I should also note, that after the rain stopped between the games, it got humid and terribly hot. And after the second game was over, the weather was perfect. Figures.
So here’s to a new beginning! Cheers!
