Good effort, results in defeat. The recurring theme that seems to be played over and over again in this space. Since this is a recreational league and since everyone involved does not have professional aspirations, and since we all need the exercise, I cannot be upset with what happens on the field. So, with that being said, here is what transpired:
Today we played the red team, which just so happened to be the light gray team that we tied 2-2 last season in a game marred by cheap shots and overly physical play. While they still have certain personalities on that team that take away some enjoyment from the game, today's game was much better than last season's game.
Prior to the start of the game, Bill and I had a Rochambeau to determine who would start in goal. I lost, I started, we defended the grosser of the two goal areas (lots of mud and standing water). In the first half, Red controlled most of the action. Damian, Kerry and Gail made some great defensive plays to keep the scoring to a minimum. They scored on what I considered to be two unsavable shots to the far post. We scored on a long free kick from Peter that fooled the opposing keeper. There were lots of good passing plays from Bill, Jon, Greg, Brian Sklar, and Lisa. Halftime score: Red 2- Mocha 1.
The second half saw a change in fortune as far a game possession. Mocha had the better run of play to start the half. We even drew a penalty kick when I was taken down in the box on a breakaway. Unfortunately, we could not convert. Helen, Ken and the rest of the defense kept the score close until the end and Marie had some dangerous opportunities up front. Bill had a superb half in goal and only surrendered a very late goal that he had no chance of stopping. It was a beautiful day with a great temperature for playing. Final Score: Red 3 - Mocha 1.
I think we only have one more game left in the regular season, so hopefully, we can finish on a high note!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Fall Soccer Game 10/23
"Rout" does not adequately describe the beating administered on this day. We lost 6-0 to a very talented team. They had Multiple players who could dribble the ball through multiple defenders and basically walk the ball right into the net. It certainly didn't help that I gave them the first goal by letting it slip through my hands and into the net.
Losing 6-0 sucks in any league. Everyone kept a good attitude and tried hard, which is the important thing at the end of the day. It was a beautiful day and a great day to run around and play a game.
Losing 6-0 sucks in any league. Everyone kept a good attitude and tried hard, which is the important thing at the end of the day. It was a beautiful day and a great day to run around and play a game.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Painful loss to White, 3-0
Hi folks out in the cyber-ether!
Since our last soccer update two game weeks have passed. We lost a game 3-0 in week one and were rained out the following week.
Our team had a rather painful 3-0 loss to a team wearing white jerseys yesterday. I guess all losses are painful and this one is definitely not top ten in terms of excruciation, but it did suck none-the-less. Quick recap below:
Due to difficulties with the pregnant-with-twins wife, I arrived 20 minutes late to the game so I cannot comment on what happened early in the game. Upon my arrival, I immediately substituted for keeper and let our much better field player, Greg give it a go out of the net. For me, the rest of the first half was uneventful. There was stalwart D in front of me and I think I touched the ball about 5 times.
The turning point of the game happened in the last 3 minutes of the half. Our sweeper, Brian S. pulled a muscle in his leg and limped off the field. He would not return to the game. This left an already shorthanded team even more shorthanded and without a very good player. Hopefully, he will be back soon. Halftime score, 0-0.
I played the field in the second half and Bill took his turn in goal. I must say that Bill plays keeper most excellently. He makes some incredible saves and only the unsavable shots seem to get past him. Unfortunately for Bill, he faced many opportunities where one or more strikers came through the defense unimpeded and he was left as the last line of defense. He stopped a few and 3 got past him. That is about as good as one can do.
We had a couple of opportunities to score in the second half. Trailing 2-0, Neil sent a pretty cross in front of the goal that I tapped in. The blind-as-shit ref called me offside even though I was behind the ball the whole time and then gave me a yellow card to boot. I won't be missing these maddening calls next season. Final score, White 3 - Skids 0.
There was a lot of good trapping and ball distribution by our team in this game. Everyone seems to be making a concerted effort to gain control of the ball and then look for a good place to distribute it. Such effort will surely be rewarded eventually. Great play by all who were there and let's keep a good thought for the next game!
Since our last soccer update two game weeks have passed. We lost a game 3-0 in week one and were rained out the following week.
Our team had a rather painful 3-0 loss to a team wearing white jerseys yesterday. I guess all losses are painful and this one is definitely not top ten in terms of excruciation, but it did suck none-the-less. Quick recap below:
Due to difficulties with the pregnant-with-twins wife, I arrived 20 minutes late to the game so I cannot comment on what happened early in the game. Upon my arrival, I immediately substituted for keeper and let our much better field player, Greg give it a go out of the net. For me, the rest of the first half was uneventful. There was stalwart D in front of me and I think I touched the ball about 5 times.
The turning point of the game happened in the last 3 minutes of the half. Our sweeper, Brian S. pulled a muscle in his leg and limped off the field. He would not return to the game. This left an already shorthanded team even more shorthanded and without a very good player. Hopefully, he will be back soon. Halftime score, 0-0.
I played the field in the second half and Bill took his turn in goal. I must say that Bill plays keeper most excellently. He makes some incredible saves and only the unsavable shots seem to get past him. Unfortunately for Bill, he faced many opportunities where one or more strikers came through the defense unimpeded and he was left as the last line of defense. He stopped a few and 3 got past him. That is about as good as one can do.
We had a couple of opportunities to score in the second half. Trailing 2-0, Neil sent a pretty cross in front of the goal that I tapped in. The blind-as-shit ref called me offside even though I was behind the ball the whole time and then gave me a yellow card to boot. I won't be missing these maddening calls next season. Final score, White 3 - Skids 0.
There was a lot of good trapping and ball distribution by our team in this game. Everyone seems to be making a concerted effort to gain control of the ball and then look for a good place to distribute it. Such effort will surely be rewarded eventually. Great play by all who were there and let's keep a good thought for the next game!
Friday, October 14, 2005
Yom Kippur
It is known as the Day of Atonement. One is supposed to afflict one's soul and search your conscience for t'shuvah, repentance.
This past Yom Kippur seemed more meaningful for me and I am not sure why. Maybe it was the fact that so much is going on in my life that is good, but I was not dreading the 25-hour fast like I normally do. The one thought I had this year was of joy. In biblical times, Yom Kippur was considered to be one of the happiest days of the year. The entire nation was excited that Yom Kippur would come and their sins would be forgiven (provided appropriate repentance had been completed). So what was the difference this year as compared to recent years?
I think we all can have a tendency to focus on what is not right in our lives at the expense of that is right. If I were to make a list of the good and bad in my life it would look like this:
Good - family life, great daughter, excitement at upcoming twins, good and supportive friends, excellent house, great yard, incredible neighbors and neighborhood,overall good weather in this part of the country.
Bad - Job sucks ass, driving in region is fraught with peril.
Out of the two bad things on my list only the first is something I can even try to change and I am working on it. Hopefully, perserverence will pay off and that situation will improve. Until then, I will make an effort to keep better perspective and not let the few bad things cloud my outlook. Every day is a gift and it is truly great to be alive in the USA. Opportunity is out there and one day, I look forward to posting what my next opportunity will be.
Peace.
This past Yom Kippur seemed more meaningful for me and I am not sure why. Maybe it was the fact that so much is going on in my life that is good, but I was not dreading the 25-hour fast like I normally do. The one thought I had this year was of joy. In biblical times, Yom Kippur was considered to be one of the happiest days of the year. The entire nation was excited that Yom Kippur would come and their sins would be forgiven (provided appropriate repentance had been completed). So what was the difference this year as compared to recent years?
I think we all can have a tendency to focus on what is not right in our lives at the expense of that is right. If I were to make a list of the good and bad in my life it would look like this:
Good - family life, great daughter, excitement at upcoming twins, good and supportive friends, excellent house, great yard, incredible neighbors and neighborhood,overall good weather in this part of the country.
Bad - Job sucks ass, driving in region is fraught with peril.
Out of the two bad things on my list only the first is something I can even try to change and I am working on it. Hopefully, perserverence will pay off and that situation will improve. Until then, I will make an effort to keep better perspective and not let the few bad things cloud my outlook. Every day is a gift and it is truly great to be alive in the USA. Opportunity is out there and one day, I look forward to posting what my next opportunity will be.
Peace.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Man, what a Defeat
The Gators got pummelled by the Crimson Tide today. Perhaps one of the more thorough beatings administered to them over the last 15 years. The margin of victory wasn't worse than the 45-3 beating they took against Tennessee in 1990, but in that particular game, the halftime score was 7-3 and we had just missed getting a touchdown on the last play of the half. The floodgates opened (both literally and figuratively) in the second half of that one.
Perhaps a better comparison was the 1995 Fiesta Bowl where Nebraska beat us 62-24 and dominated from start to finish. It was fairly clear from the outset that this was going to be a long day. The gators failed to take advantage of an early muffed punt and quickly found themselves down 14-0.
Not that it affected the outcome of the game, I have to question UF's decision to go for it on 4th down at the Tide 1 yard line. At the time, UF trailed 17-0 and we were early in the second quarter. No matter how you assume points are needed to catch up, the gators trailed by at least 3 scores. Basic strategy tells you that it doesn't matter what order you get points in as long as you continue to get points. Furthermore, since our running game was non-existent prior to that play, one cannot assume that the one yard is an easy conversion. Missing the 4th down attempt will result in leaving your team 3 scores down and having less time on the clock. Making a field goal is a necessary first step toward tying the game.
Since a football game is an endurance test more than anything, you have to make decisions thinking that you will get more chances later in the game. I think that many coaches see that one last yard and get fooled into thinking that they should take the opportunity while they are so close. In reality, the true opportunity was to be close enough for an easy three points and start some momentum going in your own direction.
Either way, the game ended up being a blowout 31-3 loss that the team will have to recover from. The nice thing about a season is there are plenty of opportunities to erase the bad memories of a single game.
Peace.
Perhaps a better comparison was the 1995 Fiesta Bowl where Nebraska beat us 62-24 and dominated from start to finish. It was fairly clear from the outset that this was going to be a long day. The gators failed to take advantage of an early muffed punt and quickly found themselves down 14-0.
Not that it affected the outcome of the game, I have to question UF's decision to go for it on 4th down at the Tide 1 yard line. At the time, UF trailed 17-0 and we were early in the second quarter. No matter how you assume points are needed to catch up, the gators trailed by at least 3 scores. Basic strategy tells you that it doesn't matter what order you get points in as long as you continue to get points. Furthermore, since our running game was non-existent prior to that play, one cannot assume that the one yard is an easy conversion. Missing the 4th down attempt will result in leaving your team 3 scores down and having less time on the clock. Making a field goal is a necessary first step toward tying the game.
Since a football game is an endurance test more than anything, you have to make decisions thinking that you will get more chances later in the game. I think that many coaches see that one last yard and get fooled into thinking that they should take the opportunity while they are so close. In reality, the true opportunity was to be close enough for an easy three points and start some momentum going in your own direction.
Either way, the game ended up being a blowout 31-3 loss that the team will have to recover from. The nice thing about a season is there are plenty of opportunities to erase the bad memories of a single game.
Peace.
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