Soccer Tournaments

This season's round of Soccer Tournaments ended up to be like NOTHING we expected.
Ethan's futsal team had two losses to the girls Black 2003 excel team.  So they ended up playing each other in the finals.  The game was so INTENSE.  One goal for their team, then one for ours, etc, throughout the whole game.  Ethan made a goal at the last minute to tie up the game, which meant it went to a shoot out.   Ethan's team got 3 goals out of the 5, and the girls only got 1.   They ended up as Champions.  Those girls were so good.  It was an amazing victory.
  Aubrie only had one loss at the last game, to her school team (BASIS) who had the awesome girl from the team that beat them the season before.   Her team geared up to beat them in the finals, thinking that is how the tournament would end up.   They ended up losing the game before the finals.   They lost in a shoot out.  The first each had 5 shots, and neither of the teams scored.  Aubrie was SO CLOSE, and had the best shot of both teams combined.  Then it went to sudden death.   The other team shot before the whistle and scored.  Our team didn't realize they went before the whistle had blown, and they were so upset thinking they had lost.  After getting every one's attention the ref explained they had to do it again.  The goalie was so unsettled that she didn't stand a chance against the same kicker.  They got the shot and Aubire's team lost.    Ironically Basis lost too, so the number one and 2 team ended up contenders for 3rd.  The Cheetah Bears were soooo sad.  The team that won it all last season ended up winning, and they KILLED them when they played that team.  Funny how anything is possible in the tournament.
          Boston's team went into the tournament undefeated.   Boston's team was matched up with a good team in the finals.     They both played a good game, but the other team was always ahead.  I had to leave early, and Ben called to tell me they were having a shoot out.  Seriously?   They made up two goals, and another shoot out?!!!  This one didn't go well either.  Boston got the only goal, and the other team got two.  Their loss was a little easier for Boston, since the kids on the opposing team were on his indoor team that started that night.   I was a little sad though, that there was great opportunity this season for all the kids to come out champions.  Probably good they didn't though, because it would have just gone to their heads!:)
Sophia's league didn't have champions, just a final game.   They got killed, but had a fun time.  Sophia got two awesome goals.  One she dribbled down the side, and kicked it across with her left into the goal.  They had a party at Streets of New York afterward, where she got the award for most aggressive.   She had a fun time playing, and the parents got a kick out of her little aggressive, pumped up attitude!
   Though it is a bit crazy at times having all the kids in soccer, I really do enjoy watching them play. It is worth every Saturday we have to give up , and all the heat we had to endure.

Spring Soccer 2012

Another Season of Soccer, and Sophia's FIRST time playing!   She has been so excited, and couldn't wait for her first game.  All the kids missed their first game, being it was over spring break.  Luckily their teams pulled wins.   Aubrie's team beat the team that beat them for the Championship (2-1) in the fall.  So that was a great win for the Cheetah-Bears.  Boston's team played his old team (which I'm glad were weren't there for) and beat them!  That got the kids really excited to get out there and play.  Aubrie's game was first.   It was a Friday night game.  We picked her up from her gymnastics work out, and you could tell that tired her out on the soccer fields.  She still played well, but not as hard.  Ethan had a soccer tournament in Prescott the following day, so Ben could only make it to the first game.  Boston's was first, and his team KILLED the  team they played...17-1.  My heart was aching for the other team.  I was starting to cheer them on.  They  even pulled Boston out a bit, and put him on defense and started to tell our boys to not play so hard.   I really HATE games like that.  I hate when kids experience so much disspaointment.   The much anticipated game of the new season was Sophia's first game.  She was so nervous that day, worried that she wasn't going to get a goal.   She played super hard, even though half of her time on the field, was on the ground.  She fell so much!   I'm not sure what contributed to it, but all the parents were so entertained by her strong will and desire to do well, and watching her fall over and over, and contivue to pick herself up and continue on with such engery and enthusiasm.  She didn't get a goal, but she had an "assist", so when I told her that, that was good enough for her.  She thought she made a goal!  Ben was sad to miss her first game, but I took a lot of video.  Ethan finished his soccer season at the tournament, but continues to play at CCV in the Futsal league.  It's a good experience for him.  I'm hoping he will continue with his soccer team.  They are finally stoping starting to gel and understand the game!  So far the kids are all having  a great soccer season.     I LOVE watching them play!   Only 3 games left until the Tournament.  I'm hoping to have a few team champions this season!