Team F'92 Green at the 2009 Regional Tournament - Coach Rich's Blog
Thursday 6/18:
Well a day of rest..... ahhhhhh so nice. But still cant stop thinking about the game, soooooo excited for the competition. So a late wake up then a lazy morning and out to lunch. After lunch it was of to Mountasia - a fun park.... Great day watching the girls speed around in the Go Carts, followed by a water fight in the water jets... poor devon seemed to get ganged up on. Ended up with a lot of wet girls, esp when a demon child seemed to declare war on the girls. Much to my amusment hahahahahaha. After that it was movie time and thegirls were still laughing at the team meeting so it seems the movie was good.
Dinner followed and boy those girls eat fast it is sit eat leave.... bomb bang gone.
So a little team meeting about the game tomorrow and I have to say it looks like the girls are very excited and look ready to play. Well wish us luck and I will update you on how the game went.
Wednesday 6/17:
We had a nice pre-game meal and then travelled out to the game. It was a good game and a good team to play. They were fighting for qualification and as you know we had already won the group. The girls played well and again got a little better than the day before, still yet to hit all cylinders. In a very even game it was always going to be a tight game and as we tried to come make sure we pushed for a win we did rest up some players and try playing a slightly different formation for a part of the game. All in all it went well and we are in decent shape for the Qtr Final game, a few bumps and bruises but overall we are good to go. And I believe we will go go go at De Anza.
So after the game is was a low key night and Pizza to eat and then a early night after some screaming ice baths ;)
Tuesday 6/16:
Well today is game 2 and the girls are very excited to keep moving forward. We started the day with a light breakfast and then a team walk. After a couple of hours chilling out we went to IHOP for our pre-game meal, much fun as the girls are very entertaining.
So on to the game, the weather is nice and toasty. Just like Seattle I hear, very nice. Well we play Magic FC from Montana, they tied there 1st game with NV 0-0 so we knew it would be a tight game. And sure enough it was. We had an even first 20 minutes then we opened the scoring with Tori Lee following in from Beka's header across the GK after some great work and a cross from Kiana Kraft. After that the 1st half kinda just played it self out. Coach had a little bit of a bark at HT and the team came out flying, we really took the game to them and played the rest of the game in their half. We missed two 1 v 1's and then had a shot hit the post and roll back to the GK.... So close.
We end up winning 1-0 and clinch the top spot in group C so we are guaranteed to be in the Qtr Finals on Friday. I am very happy with the girls and told them so after dinner in the hotel - courtesy of Olive Garden, very nice. A quick team meeting then it is bed time for the girls....
So job well done so far, looking forward to a great game tomorrow.
Monday 6/15:
We have a early light breakfast and then a team walk. From there it is a little R & R and then our pre-game meal. A little later we leave for the field following the only car who has Sat Nav.... What a mistake, 30 yards from the hotel is the freeway.... She missed it???? so we drive trough the town of San Clarita and we then get onto the freeway, OK all is looking good again. So all we have to do is turn right..... no we turn left and then another left then a ..... you get the general idea!!! So 2 gas station direction stops later and a lot of panicked phone calls she finds it... thank heavens. She will not be leading again, it was like following a blind pigeon with one wing!
SO on to the important stuff. We play La Roca from Utah, this is a team who has won State 5 times and been to the final 4 of Regionals twice so we know we are in for a tough game. Sure enough it is a tight game, we have the majority of the play but we cant quite find the goal, we have 2 cleared of the line and 2 misses from corners which I thought we sure goals... but they went and then of a nothing shot La Roca hit the crossbar, Oh my I think I nearly choked on my heart!!! But as the game goes on the La Roca team decide to give it a last push, this is not a good move as they commit numbers forward but we keep the ball and start to see a lot of the ball in the final 3rd. We then force corner after corner and get nothing until the ball goes out for a throw-in so instead of just going for a normal play we bring up Mary Malloy to use her big throw, she winds it up and cuts her throw-in back to the edge of the 18 where Brooke is standing and she launches her self up onto her side and hits a incredible side volley into the upper 90....GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the girls are going crazy....... What a goal. With only a few minutes left we hold the ball and tick the clock down.... Final 1-0 ECFC. Job done for Day 1.
After a Pool Regeneration session it is off to dinner, we have a good meal and enjoy a game of telephone. The girls are in great spirits and have a god time together. Back to the hotel for a quick team meeting, over view of tomorrows plan and the opponent, who was scouted by our AC Brooke.
Well that is all I have for today so I will blog again tomorrow and hopefully I will be bringing more good news.
Sunday 6/14:
We have a lie in this morning and wake for a late breakfast, then it is of to training. We find a park in the local neighborhood, as we pull up a group of South American guys are just starting a pick-up game... I tell the girls that is our scrimmage opponent.... hahaha the look on there faces is great. esp as they were playing shirts and skins, for some reason the girls were not to keen. So instead we found a playing area and work out on some technical work and then had a energetic game of hand ball, the session was capped of with a speed walk contest. Cricket and Beka made use of having crazy speed with there long legged strides but it was Cricket who was the victorious one... Good Job Crik.
After a couple of hours siesta we went out for dinner and found a nice town center and a restaurant. So with the girls fed and watered it was time to head back to the Hotel for Emerald City 92's "Talent Idol" we had 4 groups competing to see who could impress the guest judges, we were blessed to have Randy "Misha" Dog Pound Shefts, Paula "Brooke" I'll have another Reece and of course the charming intelligent Richard "Cowell" Reece in the house.
And wow did they entertain, we had a trio from Japan who showed us the graces of Sumo Wrestling, we had the pleasure of the small folk who danced and sang before being eaten by Lion King, also on show was the band representing M & M, also sporting low riding pants and hoodies. But the winner of the event was a wonderful hypnotist who captivated her 3 daredevils to show us how to dance and wish the night away. What a great night and the parents and guests who stopped by could not quite believe what they were seeing but for sure they will never forget it. As always the 92 girls are representing.
Saturday 6/13:
OK well it is a early morning flight and all goes well the girls looking very sharp in there new all black travel outfits. We land in LA and have a while waiting for our vans but the girls amuse them selves by telling stories of the past and laughing about previous road-trips.
That night is pretty low key we have a pretty tough pool work out then go for dinner at Panda Express much to Devon's delight, she loves her home lands food;) After that it is a team meeting then off to bed.
Coach Rich
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