game 4: 2-0 over the Great White Sharks

Antonio boots one--it looks like right into the behind of our "loaner" player! (ouch)

Adrian gets one past a Great White Shark...

Antonio takes the throw as Adrian moves to get open.

Tyler moves to the ball (while everyone else stands and watches!).

Adrian and Tyler in action...

Tyler and our "borrowed player" (Jordan, I think) get ready to win a high ball.

The Jedi Knights did it again! It was a bit of an odd week--Ceser, Daniel and Sean were all out of town, so we had only 6 players (the games are 7 v. 7). Our opponents, the Great White Sharks had 11 players, and so rather than "play down" at 6 v. 6, they offered to supply us with a different player each quarter--that way more boys got to play, and it seemed to work out well for everyone. The Sharks on our team all tried their best...and did a great job playing against their own team(!). And all of the Knights played the whole game, on a very hot day---they hung in there, drank a lot of water(!), and really worked hard. In fact, many of their best plays came late in the game. I couldn't even count how many times we hit the post in the 4th quarter! That says a lot for the great effort they put forward--once again, we were very proud of the way they played.

Poor Alex has cut his knee badly, and so wasn't able to play anywhere but goal. He played in the nets all 4 quarters, and did a spectacular job, making a couple of excellent saves!! Jack and Sami were our defenders today, along with the "loaner Shark." They alternated playing sweeper each quarter, and both did a good job of staying back and playing tough "D." Sami really started pushing forward toward the end of the game and had a couple shots that nearly went in. And Jack did a great job keeping up with(and occasionally chasing down) a couple of their quick forwards, preventing them from taking many shots. And those they did, Alex was there to grab!

Tyler, Adrian and Antonio had a lot of fun on the attack. Tyler and Antonio were our goal scorers today--it was Antonio's first goal of the season, he was hustling so hard all game that he really deserved it. Tyler took a ton of shots, many that hit the post---he was a real force at forward today, and with a little luck the score could have been a lot more lopsided. And Adrian worked hard as always, getting a couple of shots off himself. He tended to drift into defense a bit--I'm wondering if perhaps he is more of a "natural" in the back?

All in all, it was a great game and the Knights are really starting to improve. They are staying more spread out, and starting to be more aware of each other. I think I saw at least one series of 3 consecutive passes--that brought a smile to my face!

Thanks again to Sylvia for her terrific photos--they really make the blog fun.

Next practice: Thursday, September 29. 6pm with SPECIAL GUEST COACH. Corey Woolfolk, former Stanford star who is just back from a season in Puerto Rico with an MLS "A-League" team will be working with the boys. (He's a good friend on John and Cindy's.)

Next game: Sat. Oct. 1, 8:00 a.m. (UGH!), Field B vs. Team 7. Please be there BY 7:45am.