The girls came up against St Croix 09s last night in Stillwater, a team that (to be honest) we had beaten twice fairly easily last fall (4-0 and 3-0).
After a weird dream on Tuesday night, I sent this email to the parent group yesterday morning.
“I’d like the girls ready to start by 6:15PM tonight out in Stillwater (Field #2). We’ll wear carolina blue tops, white shorts, and white socks.
Just a quick note about this game, and the future 3 or maybe 4 games we might play against these guys this summer.
Having beaten them twice already in the fall, in my experience at this age group, it can become more and more difficult to beat them, no matter what the skill difference might be between the teams. It’s easy for the team who has won previous match-ups to become complacent, and it’s even easier for the team that has been beaten to play with more intensity in future games.
Not making any excuses for potential future losses. This type of loss will be more on me as a coach than it would be on the girls. If it happens, it happens. I’ll continue to do my best to prep the girls both physically and mentally for repetitive battles like this, and if the loss occurs we’ll find ways to benefit from it.
What I want to make sure of is that we as a parent group continue to demonstrate class on the sidelines. I’m saying this because should St Croix get the upper hand in a game, their parents are going to be cheering and screaming like their team is about to win the Women’s World Cup Final. Just trust me on this one. We will likely see the same intensity from them if the game is tied or close late on.
We cannot let this affect how we act, difficult as it may be. We need to remain calm, positive and supportive towards the girls and the ref, and take a loss with dignity if it happens. Keep the stress away from our girls, let them relish in the challenge of fighting back if they get down (like we all know they can do), and demonstrate to them that long-term, these results don’t really matter.
They might find a way to be the better team on the day, but they won’t be a better team.”
Clearly invoking all the jinx powers in the universe, I should have signed this email, “Your All-Knowing Coach, Nostra-dumb-ass”.
In a hard-fought battle, with 12 minutes left Kenny scored this goal to give us the lead.
Undoubtedly the best solo-effort goal I’ve seen in my 25 years at this age group. Just as exciting for me as the coach was to see the work rate of 6 of her teammates as they raced up the field in support, ending up in the attacking third of the field before the shot was taken. This is impressive in the late stages of the game, and a clear testament to the girls’ overall fitness level and to the strength of the 18-player team (which allows for a constant subbing rotation throughout the match).
Likely could have sealed St Croix’s fate by switching into a defensive formation and killing the game, but made the mistake of thinking the game was in hand and we could score more goals, and underestimated the St Croix girls' determination.
With 7 minutes left, in what I believe was St Croix’s first shot on goal, they scored from distance, then took the lead 3 minutes after that on a corner kick.
A bit shell-shocked + down 2-1 + 4 minutes left + momentum heavily in our opponent’s favor + opposing parents going crazy…like their team was about to win the Women’s World Cup Final, you’d think would = game over.
But this team has shown resiliency time and time again, and got their deserved equalizer with 2 minutes left to leave with a draw. Probably a bit unfair of a result based on possession, corner kicks, and shots on goal, but that’s soccer…at all levels of play.
Hats off to my buddy Phil Walczak and to the St Croix girls. They showed a lot of heart, and their athletic ability and intensity made things difficult for us. It’s very welcome competition in a local league in which we don’t find much at all.
Worst mistake of the night? Not stopping at a gas station to use my All-Knowingness super powers to pick 6 random Powerball numbers on my way home...
