Camarillo Tourney Game Report - Aug. 20-21, 2005
It was a nice and cool
Southern California morning on Saturday when SGV United took the field at
8:00AM against Heat – a team of commendable experience playing together.
They are reputed to have won some previous tournaments.
We came to Camarillo with plans per my recommendation to play a 3-4-3 format. At the end of a 0-2 loss to Heat, I subscribed to the defenders' recommendation that we adjust to 4-4-2 to shut down wing attacks sooner. We had a shutout in the next game against Sierra, winning 1-0 off Hannah’s long range 2nd half shot from a timely setup by Renee.
Our last game on Saturday cost us a player. We got word on For Kicks' physically intense style and a “shredder” in #8 jersey, who could shred most any defence with her impeccable ball-handling capabilities and speed. Our fast defenders contained her quite impressively. She eventually got one. And we came right back on a sacrificial goal by Jenn. A fast offensive run down the left wing was crossed in to the middle just inside the box. Jenn, as usual, fought for and won it with even more tackles coming her way. In the space of micro seconds, she blasted right through the ball, tackles and all to shake the net and tie it all up.
Unfortunately, in that sequence, Jenn suffered a serious injury to her toe. She had to leave the field and go to the Emergency Room accompanied by Josh, Sarah’s husband and team supporter.
It was tough to hold on after Jenn’s injury and we dropped the game 1-4.
We saw Jenn later in the
day and, thank God, the injury
wasn’t as severe as we’d feared. Veronica and Chelsea, a physician
teammate, who were with her when I arrived with Hannah and Natalie,
explained that it was a dislocation and not a fracture. However, she’d have
to be kept for the night. It was good to see Jenn’s spirits up.
Sunday Morning
Our very first game was against For Kicks again – the team that broke Jenn’s toe. We now knew where their strengths lay for sure and Sherisse was on #8 like (put in whatever you like). The first half ended 0-0. Unfortunately in the 2nd half, with our goalie off her line and way off center, #8 launched a rocket from outside the 18 to the unprotected half of the goal.
#8 remained a thorn in our defensive flesh switching sides at will when she couldn’t get past Sherisse until she earned a penalty from a late tackle in the box. The kick was well-taken...too well-taken...struck the upright on the left side and alert Iria blasted the rebound out of bounds.
They got a 2nd goal later when a harmless cross clipped the near post, rolled across the goal into the path of For Kicks. 0-2.
The loss qualified us to play in the Consolation Bracket.
Word got to us that the team we were up against sifted goals like water through a basket; they actually lost 0-5 to the team we beat on Saturday 1-0. I was hopeful this would be our opportunity to get some compensation for the hard work of our attackers.
We
continued to play as well as we’d done all tournament, controlling the
midfield with fluid ball movement and smart decisions. Against the run of
play, the other team scored! It was like the stirring of the hornets’ nest
as our midfield pushed even further up creating opportunities, and I got one
of my opportunities to yell “football!” when Meg was at the end of a series of well-coordinated passes to blast in the equalizer.
The game went into extra time with no more goals. As time was winding down, I subbed seasoned Evva in as goalie in anticipation of penalty kicks, and got Keji in as a potential pk kicker.
Full time. Penalty kicks.
I called Hannah to the sideline for the list of kickers. I’d been in goal against Hannah’s penalty kick before in the co-ed league and I had confidence in her. I had her kicking first, followed by Iria whose ability to place the ball strongly and with precision had been pretty evident since the first time I saw her play in the league. She was to be followed by Paige, Kelly, and Keji. Evva would step up if there was need for extra kick.
We kicked first. Hannah took her time on approach. The goalie was calm. Hannah placed the ball well beyond the reach of the diving goalie on the left side.
Their turn; Evva rocked - side to side. They kicked – beyond Evva’s diving reach to her right.
Iria stepped up, placed the ball, and took a couple of steps back. The ref blew. Her attempt to tuck the ball out of reach to the top left of the goalie went over the bar.
They kicked – also high.
Paige set the ball on the spot for our third kick. Like she couldn’t wait to get it over with, she cracked her kick to the goalie’s left. The ref called her back to wait for the whistle. She repositioned the ball, waited for the whistle and went the other way. Goal. Talk about composure.
They kicked. Evva got her right foot to it – out of bounds. We’re up 2-1 with a kick in hand.
Kelly stepped up. I’d picked Kelly for the power of her kicks; good thing. The goalie got her right hand to it...into the net.
They kicked – over the bar. We won!
The Final Game
The final game was against a team in red. They contrasted well with SGV United’s Blue as their long balls showed off our crisp, grounder passes. We continued to wear them down with thrilling ball movement until they gave up a foul close to the edge of their box. In one of the games on Saturday, Iria had a free kick that careened off the crossbar. The location of this kick was tailor-made for her. The ball was bound to dip in time to get under the bar. I saw it.
Iria took the kick. Goal. Celebration as we held on for the 1-0 victory in the Consolation Bracket.
The
prize of socks for every player on the team and a $100 gift certificate
toward future tournament was significantly more than the financial worth.
It was a great compensation for the dedication of players who had made the
decision to buy into a style of performance that I champion. The socks
represented
something concrete beyond memories to mark the experience.
The tournament had its challenges as word got to me of an unhappy player who felt she wasn’t getting adequate playing time. I called a private conference with her and appreciated her perspective that her time could have been better spent not being at the tournament.
Great job, everyone. It was a joy working with you all.
Bolaji