Worn out.

With weekends like this one, who needs the work week?

So it started with Friday night.  By now, most of you know: we won the district championship game.  We left WHS at 4 on Friday night and traveled to Panama City to play Rutherford.  We played well.  We definitely tried to play our style of ball, which is fast, complete with nice passing.  The game was scoreless  through regulation (which was odd to us, because we were expecting to score some goals).  One thing that may have hurt us (compared to Rutherford) is that we 22 players on the squad (I pulled up some from JV for Districts).  They only had about 13 players- so our plan was to run their legs off.  The only problem with that, is that its hard to find a rhythm tha tway.  Oh well.  So we get through 2 10 minute golden goal periods (yeah, I know... who does golden goal anymore?)  And got to the PK shootout. 

A note:  we have been involved in three PK shootouts while Dave and I have been coaching.  We lost to Crestview and Taylor our first year of going to the Chiles tournament (where PKs are used to determine a winner after a tied game).  We also lost to Rutherford last year at the Chiles tournament.  We generally dont do well with PKs (we lost a game against 2-1 Taylor earlier this season when we failed to convert a PK in the last few minutes.)

For those of you who have never seen one, here is a video from Uruguay and Australia.


While I expected PKs to be a moot point against Rutherford (given our propensity to score goals on them), we'd been practicing PKs a lot lately.  Dave and I also understand strategy now.  I used to think that you put your best shooter at #5- to make it when the pressure is on.  That is false- you put your best shooter at #3, because shots 3 and 4 often determine the winner.  Most shootouts are over by the fourth kicker.  So we put Kristine at #1.  On paper, she isnt the best shooter, but mostly because she consistently puts the ball in the same place, every kick.  Our GK knows where she is going to go, so she often makes the save.... the #1 spot should be someone who is consistent and who you're pretty sure is going to make it- takes the pressure of #2 kicker. 

Kristine makes it (despite the fact that she hit it weird and it didnt go where it usually does).  Rutherford shoots and Froddo almost gets a piece of it.  But it went in. 

CB steps up.  Her presence as a shooter was probably a little surprising to her.  She's a senior that doesn't play ALOT.  But she can strike the ball well- and it's usually one of those difficult strikes that isn't in trouble of going over, but isn't on the ground.  She made it.   RHS steps up and Froddo makes the save. 

Julia steps up.  In the #3 spot, she is by far the most consistent shooter.  A senior, she often she makes every one in practice.  She didn't play particularly well during the game... she had some good moments, but seemed to be a little out of sorts.  Was a really frustrated at her self and maybe nervous that we were going to lose.  In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have put her up to take a PK.  Because she missed.  Her little shoulders sunk and I could hear her heart break from 40 yards away.  RHS steps up and makes theirs.  Tied: 2-2. 

BT our senior forward steps up.  She had one of the best games of her life on Friday night.  She is finally the player that I always thought she could be. She is one of our softball players- and when she steps up to do something- she has swagger.  Like, "I know this is going in.  You know its going in.  Let's get on with it."  And it goes in.  Awesome.  Here is where it gets surreal:  Froddo makes another save.  She made two saves during the shootout.  Which is pretty amazing, because they are just so tough to do.  I figured it up once, and a goalkeeper that is about 6 feet takes up approx. 6% of the goal with their own body.  Which means that 94% of the goal is open (this doesn't account for diving ability of the gk).  The thing with shootouts is that the GKs arent supposed to make saves.  Basically, you wait until someone screws up and doesnt make theirs.  Froddo made two saves on Friday night.  So, we go up 3-2. 

Alina, (who missed the PK against Taylor earlier this season) steps up and cool as the other side of the pillow puts hers away.  There was this weird moment after she did it where everyone was like, "Did we just win?  They can't tie us, right?  Oh.  Okay!  We just won!  Whooo hooooo!!"  It was pretty much amazing.  Here is a link to the wmbb.com story about the game (complete with video). 

So after doing all the pictures and the whatnot, and getting dinner and getting home, Dave and I didnt get home till 330-4 in the morning.  But guess who was awake after his 8 hour nap?  Nico.  Guess who didnt want to go back to sleep?  Yeah, Mr. Cranky Pants.  So after grabbing a couple of hours of sleep we got up on Saturday and got to it.  Sunday, Nico was in rare form, tearing everything up.  Drake threw up a bunch.  I went to take Gordon for a run (because I felt bad because with Drake home, I feel like he isnt getting as much attention).  On the run, Gor-Gor bolted in front of me, causing me to step on his foot, roll my ankle and fall pretty much face first on the asphalt.  Yes, that makes three times in the last week that I have hit the deck (in case you are counting, LRM).  Plus, Nico has a cold, so he kept waking up last night. 

We have practice this week-MTW, then our Regional Quarterfinal game against Gulf Breez on Thursday.  Gulf Breeze is the team that has the girl that put us out of the tournament last year (she went on to play at UF).  I think its a bit ironic that we are playing them- it means that they lost their district game :)

In any case, just trying ot make it through the season.  Always just trying to make it through the season.