Oct 9 -- TNT

Well, the score and result was the same as last week -- a 2-1 loss to TNT -- but the games were very different. Force U12 girls played well enough to win on this unusually warm Sunday October morning.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP4apO4dbhw


Offensively, Sawyer and Christina were outstanding. Both had great energy and kept ball control with sharp passing. And both routinely won balls at midfield showing increasing physicality with bigger, aggressive opponents. Anastasia helped out quite a bit in front playing perhaps her best game of the fall season. Lauren's lengthening passes from midfield made a big difference between last week and this week. In fact, the Force could have been up 2-0 in the first half but the TNT keeper -- untested last week -- showed Kate like ability in the sticks. Who knew?

Defensively, the Force was quite solid. Indeed, while TNT scored twice they really only had three or four opportunities and, simply put, their smaller, skilled players made the best of what was given to them. One great individual effort and one decent corner kick made the difference.

Zoe consistently cut off offensive opportunities at midfield. And, in the second half in particular, Annabelle and Emmi made tough, tough tackles while Sophia offered good, disciplined position play  (on three consecutive plays she marked top TNT forwards at the top of the box).

Christina's determined persistence gave her a late game goal that at least helped the Force "goal differential" mark in league play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wgnTU31z7s

One more week -- then playoffs. Then Halloween. Then "we don't play indoor soccer we play soccer indoors." ( Parents eagerly await a schedule and hope that said schedule does not include a rush hour drive to Canton on Thursday ).