On to the Finals, 6-1!!!

The next to the last game of the season turned in to a route as the Force rolled past Canton Celtic White 6-1 to win the semi-final of Divsion 2 U13Y and the right to take on the Novi Jags White tomorrow AM.

The game was never really in doubt. Canton had to play early in the day (a 4-2 win over Waza) and in 90 degree heat the effort showed. Canton came out flat footed and the Force -- well shaded by Rocsteady's Dad's tents -- looked strong. Stasia had several runs down the left side and some nice combinations with Grace. Emmi, who has just been playing incredibly well, stepped in and up and made plays early on to give some backline push to the offense.

Still, it seemed to take a while for the first goal. Lauren sent a wonderful cross from the right side that flew by the keeper. Sawyer hustled it down near the far side line and returned the favor. Jazzy, always well positioned in front, was the beneficiary. 1-0.

Minutes later  Stasia and Lauren applied terrific pressure, keeping the ball in front of the keeper and Jazzy, again, finished with a nice crossover step. 2-0

There were some intervening minutes while Zoe danced beautifully with the ball, in and out of the box, looking for opening. Her skill in close quarters is really getting striking -- but no goals.

Emmi's Herculean throw-in led to goal 3. Kyra took it artfully off her leg and found superstiker Sawyer. 3-0.

Then we had what is known in soccer parlance as an oopsie. Rockstar, in a rare moment of human frailty, lost a 1-1 battle with a quietly skilled and quick Canton forward. 3-1.

In the second half, however, things were all Force, even though Canton came out with some surprising energy (the Force turned from their ball possession game to rely on skill alone and this created some problems).

Kyra brilliantly snagged one out of the air and sent a pretty pass to Jazzy for Kyra's second assist and Jazzy's hat trick. This goal was sharp, just inside the far post. 4-1.

Superstriker took advantage of the golden five minutes to get a break, gracefully settle the ball, and score. 5-1.

Rockstar wasn't satisfied, however. Getting a rare chance at forward she held the midfield line well and sprinted past the Canton defenders when the ball popped lose. Running at full tilt, ponytail flying and eyes blazing, this blogger got ready for a full on blast. But she saw the keeper come way out to try to force a mistake and provided one of the prettiest dekes this side of Pavel Datsyuk.

6-1.

The rest of the evening was spent watching the Novi Jaguars Green 01  lose in a shoot-out to the Novi Jaguars White 00. This was some show.