March 10, 4-1 win over first Place RSC

Both things had to happen sooner or later. I just didn't think both would happen at the same time.

First, Coach Cookie's patient teaching of possession soccer -- combined with excellent passing -- netted the girls a big 4-1 win against a first place opponent in 11 v. 11 soccer. We are now some distance from our rough fall season.

Second, Coach Cookie's brand of possession soccer outpaced this blogger's ability to note and describe play with any accuracy.

I always wondered why pro soccer writers were so bad. I couldn't find a satisfying model.

Now I know: when the soccer gets good it gets really hard to put on paper.

In other words, writing about the Force U12 girls used to be pretty simple. Pick two or three of the following and weave a paragraph:

 Sawyer made a great strike, "MSH" had a great run, Lauren dominated the air, Zoe controlled the field, Jill continued to defy logic, Emmi stepped up big, Sophie made some great defensive dashes, Sophia made clutch plays in the box, Kyra outhustled everyone, Grace made picture perfect touches, Rhea dazzled with field vision and passing, stop on a dime Stasia found the back of the net, Annabelle just made us a gasp, Kate caught everything, and, most recently, Jazzy created space for herself to score.

But today, against division leading RSC, that trick won't do the trick. Team soccer is indeed a beautiful game. From the opening touch the girls found the open player and applied pressure. Within minutes, Jazzy jammed a ball into the corner to put the Force up 1-0.

RSC came right back with pressure of their own. And only Sophia's willingness to go hard for the ball in the box and take a bone-jarring hit kept the game 1-1. Seconds later, though, a speedy and powerful RSC striker accelerated through the middle of the Force defense to go in -- seemingly alone -- on Kate. The Force had a counter, however, in the figure of Annabelle whose brilliant athleticism and intensity somehow not only caught the breakaway forward but allowed her to get position in front of fast moving opponent, shielding the ball some 10 feet into the box. In frustration the RSC forward extended both arms and shoved Annabelle to the ground and the resulting lose ball ended up behind Kate. 1-1.

The Force sideline, both parent side and coach sideline, erupted (well, Cookie doesn't really erupt -- but you know what I mean) while the RSC parents barely cheered this obviously botched call and dangerous play. A few minutes later  Jazzy took a call after an RSC defender ran into her -- and then fell down herself. The ref was clearly trying to manage the emotions and physical play emerging -- but started making up the "Annabelle" call in the wrong direction. A parent -- it might have been Jill's Dad -- had to be warned by the official to pipe down. To his credit the ref did regain control of the game.

The bad call seemed to energize rather than demoralize the Force. Lauren nearly missed with a bomb strike from 15 feet outside the 18. This would have been the strike of the season. Soon after, Kyra, realizing she didn't have a shot, patiently took two attempts to get the ball to Jazzy -- who had herself well positioned all night -- for a second and game winning goal. This was  bit like watching the Euro-Red Wings in front of the net ("Shoot the ***** puck!! -- oh, Great play!!!!) Minutes later, Kyra, who has been on an offensive tear, got the ball to Grace -- who is usually quietly distributing the ball from midfield -- for a very pretty loft over the keeper's left shoulder.

How did all this offense get generated? Lauren and Zoe won ball after ball -- and found feet -- at midfield. RSC really no had answer for these two players.

3-1.

Still, this was a good team and the game didn't seem secure even twelve minutes into the second half. MSH, finally reaping the benefits of several hard sprints up the right side, put it in, though, to make it 4-1.

But, again, this hardly describes the entirety of the game. For example, at the start of the half RSC came out charging. But Grace tracked back hard from midfield to win the ball and get it up the field, suddenly cutting the momentum. Jazzy and Sawyer were perfectly in sync with crosses all day, as was Stasia and Kyra while in there. Emmi stepped up hard at critical moments and Kate made necessary saves, including a hard shot from the corner.  Sophie and Annabelle matched up against the RSC striker all day.

And the RSC couldn't muster any forward motion against Jill's side of the field.

At one point, Annabelle snagged a deep pass into our end and used her now patented hard, ankle breaking cut to the right to sidestep two pressuring forwards (learn one move Cookie says and do it well -- indeed). Head up, ball on feet, she moved by a third and dashed into the offensive end where she delivered a beautiful ball into the box. (Gasp)

One last note: Sawyer, who usually gets her ink by scoring goals, played a remarkable all around game. She trackbacked continuously to win balls. She moved consistently from the center of the field to her sideline to interrupt RSC transition. She sent three headers into the offensive end from midfield. And created offensive opportunities all day. You had to see it -- not read about it. Where was Sawyer's Dad to see this show?