Soccer tough

What a great soccer season we had this year! The kids remained tough through it all.

We start the review with this years "Most Improved"- Miss J.

For a kid who started the year complaining because she wanted pink soccer shoes, specific shorts, and who worried more about how her hair and outfit looked on the field- this kid has come the furthest.

She plays best when on the field with all boys.

She is a unstoppable as goalie
and never lets one through...unless she is your best friend.

Jaleigh had the best season this year because she thinks she won all her games. Hurray Jaleigh!

Next up- Award for "Hard Core Player of the Year"- Saroya.

She broke her arm the day of her second practice- just two days before her first game. She soldiered on and had a great season.

She played mostly defensive sweeper(?) and gave the goalie lots of pep talks while waiting for the action.

She hustled scored and blocked the ball thru the whole season.

They ended their season with only losing one game, but her opponents were fast friends as soon as the game was over. Way to go Saroya!!

And Ethan... Ethan gets the Award for Most Intense Season.

This year, Ethan played on a travel team for the first time. I was apprehensive about it because I didn't know how we could make 3 games at different times and places, but thanks to friends and grandparents, it all worked out.

Ethan took on the position of goalie most of the season- like, 95% of the season. He still managed to score a couple of goals when he was playing forward so that was fun for him.

Ethan in the orange goalie shirt

His team was so cohesive it was awesome to watch. They were a really tight team and played great soccer.

I loved that when a goalie from the High School team was watching Ethan- he said, "Man that kid has a PUNT!"

They were undefeated the whole season, and even went into the playoffs having earned The Sportsmanship Award from the league. To me- that says a lot. Some of the teams they played would get frustrated when they were losing and start "playing the body"- which meant they would throw elbows, trip and push. Our boys held on trong though. In the playoffs- every game was a shut-out. NO goals were scored on them. "Yeah-that's my son playing goalie..." :)
This is exactly the moment that Ethan told me to leave- I was distracting him...

Going into the playoffs we were pretty confident- 1st place and undefeated. Then the game started...

It ended up being a no- score game. AHHH!! That meant that we went into 2- 5 minute overtime games, sudden death. Whoever makes the first goal wins it all. No score again. Next up... Shoot out.

Each team chooses 5 kickers that will try to make a goal on the other goalie- one at a time. best of 5 wins it. Wait... 5 of their top shooters blasting the ball into MY SON??? I was sweating, shaking, about to throw up- wanting to take his spot.

It was WAY more intense than it seems here!!!

And we ended it... 3-2 OUR TEAM!!!!I had my hair colored after that one.... MAN it was stressful!! Congratulations to Ethan on a spectacular season!

I always say- my favorite athletes are my kids, and my favorite sport is whatever they are playing. Great job kids!!