Sept. 23 Game

Force U12 parents are easier to please than one would think.

A beautiful September day, complete with crisp temperatures and bright sunshine, put everyone in a good mood. People were downright giddy, too, when the ball crossed into the Novi Jags White team's side of the field several times in the first few minutes. And by the time Sawyer artfully snagged a goal some ten minutes into the game I would say Force fans could be called simply charming on the sidelines.

The first half went well from then on. The only thing the girls seem to struggle with was handing over jerseys during substitutions (no 440 relay team here!). Annabelle provided much excitement from an unusual (for her) forward position on the field, making several dashes down the left side. A well positioned Grace deftly vollied away the Jags most dangerous ball into the box. At one point Jill stole the ball from 3 Jags players in a row before jabbing the ball upfield. And Emmi continued her consistently tough play on the backline, hustling back and making smart plays to keep the ball out of harm's way.

But, given the way things have been going, everyone sensed the need for a "cushion"goal. And after Emmi got bowled over, Sophie mauled, and Lauren bumped, the ref called a foul on a Jags player for pushing near the top of the box. Watching Annabelle take a free kick is always exciting -- and this time the ball ended up in the back of the net to give the Force a 2-0 lead.

Good enough perhaps, except the Force gave up another penalty kick inside the box (2 in 2 games v. a Jags team! for "trips"! but who is counting? I am sure the Force U12 will be awarded a pk sometime before the team is done playing together). Kate made a spectacular dive to her right and almost grabbed a hard strike. Alas -- 2-1.

The Force played tough the rest of the way though.Sawyer got control of many balls at midfield, while Sophie and Annabelle pinned the Jags in their own end by pushing up. To their credit, the Jags never quit and got some opportunities on corner kicks late in the game.


Christina hustled hard, though, and forced the Jags defenders to turn the ball over just across midfield. She had the presence of mind in the scrum -- with Jags players kicking from the ground -- to get the ball to a streaking Sawyer. Sawyer pushed hard up the right side and seemed to take the ball to a difficult angle, too deep. But goalscorers know what they are doing. From the tough angle she drove the ball over the keeper's hands to put the game away.

3-1 Force.