6-1

Today's game was actually a scrimmage against a split-school (2 schools combining) team in our basketball conference that was too late to get into our soccer conference this season. Their home field was normal width but very short, so we played 9 v. 9 (I was hoping to play 8 v. 8).

Small fields like this always make me nervous, since the size of the field neutralizes our speed and always helps the less talented team. (Especially when every goal kick and punt by the goalie has the chance to get to the other goalie box!)

The game started out slow and congested, nothing really to worry about nor was there anything to get excited about. Our opponent actually struck first scoring in the 6th minute on our third string goalie. (Our main goalie missed practice this week due to homework issues and did not come to the game, our back-up goalie also missed practices for homework, did show up at the game but did not want to play goalie. Our third string keeper actually asked me to give him a shot in goal, so this game made sense to give him a chance.)

Giving up the goal must have upset our kids as we scored three straight goals over the next 10 minutes to take a 3-1 half time lead. We added another score on a Penalty Kick early in the second half and then- with all new line-ups in- we finally got a goal from one of our girls, who has been missing by inches for a couple weeks now on all of her shots. The final score was 5-1.

This week we play on Tuesday and a win secures our spot in the conference championship game. Hope Monday's practice is well attended and focused, at this point of the season we cannot afford to have small, lazy practices.