This one is dedicated to Amanda Lee Meyer, Team Coordinator, who heads off to Portland this week for four years of further studies. All the very best, Amanda. It’s been great having you in the program and I look forward to having you with us in the future.

This year’s Camarillo campaign will very likely go down in the annals of SGV Pistons history as an experience never to be equaled. By this time in the timeline of nurturing the concept represented by the program, it was unreal going in to the first day of this tournament with a team of 12 players.

We opened play with only one sub at 9:05 on Day 1 against Yo Mamas. Our fans probably remember them as our nemesis last year. They beat us twice – 1:0 in the prelims and 2-0 in the finals. We had a good thing going for us as SGV Pistons never lost an opening game.

One of our two new ladies on the block, Kristen Lundy, got our opener in the 12^th minute after a nice feed from Sarah Thalmann. 9^th minute of the 2^nd half, Kristen Ridgway opted for a solo run for our 2^nd goal. The opposition was as physical as they were last year but SGV Pistons played an organized game. 2-0 SGV Pistons and we felt we avenged last year’s defeat.

Sierra, our next opponents, lost their first game 0-3. We approached the game with appropriate respect for the opposition and beat them 2-0 with our 2^nd goal coming on the stroke of full time when Betty Gutierrez, our other new girl on the block, crashed a shot into the post and Sarah T was there to hammer in the rebound.

Unfortunately, just before the ref blew for full time, Betty misstepped and went down. She was sure she “heard something pop” in the back of her left knee. She received on the spot first-aid attention. We lost her for the rest of the tournament and headed into the final game with NO sub. Betty and Daniel refused to go home and cheered the team all the way. Get well soon, Betty.

Our final game of Day 1 was against Cool Coronas. They had superior goals against one of the teams we played and we felt sure they would constitute major challenge, especially as we had no subs.

SGV Pistons played possibly the most comprehensively entertaining soccer of the program’s history. Laura Vaccaro had requested to play offense considering she’d been “cooped up” in the back as our sweeper. We brought Kristen Ridgway back to stopper role, and Kristin Moon became sweeper.

This new arrangement was like giving the keys of a choice new car to a car buff. Firing on all cylinders like healthy pistons, the ladies thrilled the fans. The defense remained air tight with Evva manning the goal for us for the first time since our 2005 debut here as SGV United.

In the 7^th minute, Ridgway cracked a long range shot that the goalie could only punch into the roof of the net. Five minutes later, Laura made a beautiful run down the right side and Lundy was in position to meet her cutback. 2-0 us but we weren’t done yet. We nearly went up 3-0 when Laura missed a sitter.

At the resumption of the 2^nd half, Renee’s amazing speed forced the goalie out to challenge. Renee got a piece of the clearance and it fell for Lundy. With cool composure she patted the ball with the goalie way off her line. The ball sailed agonizingly over the crossbar. We were playing well. Then it was Sarah T serving her favorite cross. Laura was perfectly positioned to meet it wth a gorgeous header which ricocheted off the crossbar. We truly were playing well. I couldn’t resist calling out to the ladies “you’re looking beautiful out there”, and they loved it.

We got two more goals, both from Laura, on Ridgway and Renee’s assists. 4-0 SGV Pistons to top the bracket on Day 1. We played 8^th place, Tsunami, at 8am on Day 2.

Dinner at El Torito specially marked Valerie's birthday and players got to know one another a bit better. Valerie's husband, Isaac, was also in attendance.

Day 2

My last e-mail to players stressed what I assessed as the all-important nature of Day 2. While I pointed out that Day 2 is a clean slate and that any team can win the championship no matter their performance on Day 1, I believe that SGV Pistons benefited big time from the valiant efforts of our Saturday players.

We had 10 players on the field when we took on bottom rung team, Tsunami, who scored only a goal with a differential of 11 on Day 1. We couldn’t get a goal past them until the 2^nd half. Margarita and Thalia joined us midway into the game to allow us the luxury of one sub. In the 5^th minute, Sarah T found Thalia with precision on the other side of the field for Thalia to blast a long range shot over the goalie. Sarah T got hers with another long range shot in the 13^th minute for our 2^nd goal. It was Sarah T again making a run down the left flank to cut the ball back into Margarita’s path for the 3^rd goal. We were in the semi.

Semi-final was against Cool Coronas. We’d beaten them 4-0 with no sub on Day 1. It was a much better organized team we met on Day 2. Their No. 11, a diminutive young lady with mesmerizing ball handling skills was the major threat identified on Saturday. In no time at all, another young lady, No. 18, proved she could punish us especially if they were allowed to operate in tandem.

Our extremely well-organized defense contained Cool Corona’s aggression and they contained ours to end the first half 0-0. 13^th minute into resumption, Thalia, who has proven to be among the most responsive to SGV Pistons offensive style, made another one of her trademark moves. She ran the ball from the wing toward the near post and cut it back at the perfectly opportuned time for Lundy to finish. We won 1-0. I congratulated the opposition. One of their players joked, “Your players thought it would be another whitewash, uh?”

And we were back in the finals of Camarillo Seaside Soccer Tournament!

Sierra had beaten For Kicks, the big performer in the other bracket, 3-1 in the other semi. We’d beaten Sierra 2-0 on Day 1 but it was a different looking team that showed up for the final match. Featuring a new goalie who looked like a body double for Ridgway, their compact game testified to how they could’ve dismissed For Kicks. The goalie had steady hands and her slim tall frame had no qualms about diving.

The game was tied until the 18^th minute with both goalies reading the plays well and intercepting chances with cruel efficiency. Then Valerie got the ball at the top of the 18 and blasted a left footer over the diving goalie into the far top of the net.

10 minutes into the 2^nd half, the tide nearly turned when they broke free on the right side. Evva had to make a full length dive to clutch on to the ferocious shot without giving up a rebound. Our anxiety at the lone goal buffer didn’t let up until the very last minute of play. In the 25^th minute, Laura’s dogged hard work chasing down a defender on the left wing earned her the ball and she flashed a perfect cross out of the reach of the diving goalie. The ball was met at the far post by Lundy. 2-0 for the championship! We had a perfect shutout campaign – 2-0, 2-0, 4-0 (Day 1), 3-0, 1-0, 2-0 (Day 2). Impressive!

Congratulations, ladies. Here’s to you SGV Pistons, 2007 Champions Ventura Soccer by the Sea. I applaud your efforts, guys. The character that each and every one of you showed this weekend is what I’ve always desired to build the future of this program upon. Your performance should remain fresh in my memory as we head on to return to Temecula in December.

I also thank team spouses/boyfriends Dan (Betty's) and Dave (Sarah T's) for their help with camera work; Isaac (Valerie's) for his full support, and John (Evva's) for his constant presence. Steve and Tommy (Sherisse's family) were in attendance to keep their "Win for SGV Pistons While Present" record intact.

I have to restate that my challenge to the team in November 2006, when we were yet to win a championship, was to win at least 50% of tournaments that we play in 2007. We've played three of our usual annual four this year; we've won ALL three - Bakersfield, Torrance, and now, Camarillo. You are special people.

Enjoy more pictures.

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