Nike Classic Cup Finals

I was very excited to have both teams make it to the finals of the tournament and felt that it was a testament to the talent and hard work of the entire age group to be able to accomplish this feat.  The Whites were going to have a rematch against Carole Stream and the Blues would be playing a Grove Utd (#35 RII) team that was comprised of girls coming together from different teams in Illinois and Missouri. 

The only issue with having both teams make it to the finals was that both of the finals were at the same time.  I had talked with the tournament directors last night and after both teams advanced to see if there was any way that we could switch one of the times but there was nothing they could do.  Luckily Phil was going to be able to help out and coach the White team and the games were going to be played on fields that were side by side.

The fields were set up in a way that the team benches were on opposite sides of the field from each other.  I had talked with the tournament director and he said that there would be no issue for us to have the teams on the same side of the field so I could work with both groups during the final as long as the other coach agreed to it.

I didn’t think this would be an issue as I approached the Carole Stream coach and told him our predicament of having two teams in the finals at the same time.  Their coach took a second, looked up to the sky and said 

CS Coach: Umm yeah, I don’t think we are going to be able to switch sides.
Me: Really?  Why?  What is the difference between this side and that side?  You can have the benches on the other side of the field.
CS Coach: Umm I forgot my sunglasses and I don’t want to look into the sun all game.
Me:  You wont be facing the sun.  The sun is behind the goal.
CS Coach: Nah, I don’t want to look into the sun.
Me:  You can have my sunglasses.
CS Coach:  My assistant forgot his and would need a pair as well.
Me:  That is your excuse?  
CS Coach:  Yep

I left the conversation dumbfounded and angry thinking what a jerk this guy was.

I hadn’t liked this guy the first time we had played them and now I was really mad at him.  I was super upset that I wouldn’t be able to coach both teams during the game because of this.

I went over and talked with the girls on the White team.  Phil had been on our bench during the last game and I explained a bunch of the things that I was looking for to him during that game and I had already given him the line up and possible substitutions.

The Whites started the game at a disadvantage with only having an hour and fifteen minutes between their final group game and this game.  While, on the other hand, Carole Stream was fresh after not having played yet today, finishing their round robin games on Friday and Saturday.  

While the Blues waited for their referees the Whites game started started about 10 minutes before we got going.  Carole Stream got off to an early start scoring in the 4th minute and controlled the early portion of the game with their energy.  

Darn.  That was not the start that I was hoping.  I hoped the girls would be able to shake it off.

Thanks to solid goal keeping from Erika, the girls were able to shake off the slow start.  Ten minutes in, the girls found their legs and began to carry the play.  Sarah scored off of an LP corner to tie the game and all the girls on the Blues bench cheered wildly for them.  

While not ideal it was going to be fun having both games going on at the same time and both teams cheering for each other.

Just before half time Mack put the us ahead on a PK and more cheers erupted from the Blues bench.

The first half of the Blues game was exciting as well.  Two minutes into the game Gaffer flicked on a long ball to Kari that went into the Grove Utd box.  I thought that she had no chance to get to the ball, but she sprinted after it.  Their goalie hesitated coming out as Kari closed in, but at the last second, their goalie went all out for the ball and dove to collect the ball right before Kari got a touch.  The girls crashed very hard into each other and Kari was shaken up and had to be helped off the field.  Despite bruised ribs she would go back into the game and play very well.  

While we were playing well, our midfielders were struggling to hold onto the ball in the first half because every time they received a pass they would try to turn up field with it. Just like in the game against LF Utd, we needed to learn that if we were not already turned up field to lay the ball off to someone who was.  Both teams had a couple of chances in the first half but there were no goals.

At half time I talked to the girls about not turning into pressure.  I knew that if our mids could do a better job of keeping the ball, that eventually we would break through.

At half time our ref also told us that if the game remained tied after regulation we would go straight to a shoot out.  This information was nice to hear because in the second half of the White team’s game, Carole Stream tied up the game.

As soon as I heard this happen I wrote down the order that I wanted the shooters on the White team to go in and had it sent over to Phil.

As my messenger was on his way over, with 10 minutes left in their game, Hannah scored the game winner off of a through ball from Mack.  Huge cheers erupted from our bench as we watched the girls celebrate.  Sprout was able to add an insurance goal with 5 minutes left after she stole the ball, nut megged a defender and beat the keeper.

When the final whistle blew the Whites ran out and celebrated their 4-2 triumph.  They then shook hands and rushed over to our sideline.  We still had about 15 minutes left and the score was tied 0-0.  Our mids were doing a much better job in the second half of keeping the ball and we were really starting to tire Grove Utd out.

Before the game Bella had asked me if she would get to move up and play somewhere else besides center defense in this game.  I had told her I would get her up for some of the game but I couldn’t promise how much time I would be able to give her since her and Lydia were working so well together in the center of our defense.  

At the 10 minute mark of the second half I switched Jazzy into center defense and moved Bella up to attacking mid.  Bella did a great job in the midfield winning balls, making passes, and beating players 1v1.  I always tell the girls that if they ask to play a certain position they better have some ideas of what they are going to do when they are put where they want and Bella was doing this.

At the 47 minute mark Bella played a great through ball to Sizzle.  Grove Utd’s goalie came out to close down the angle.  Sizzle remained calm and took a touch by the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net to give us the lead.  We had a loud cheer from all the girls from the White team who had joined us on our side line.

A couple of minutes later we were awarded a free kick by the left side line about 35 yards out from the goal.  With the distance that the ball was from goal, everyone was expecting Lydia to cross the ball in far post.  But instead of crossing the ball, she laced a shot to the upper corner.  It was an incredible strike.  Both powerful and accurate.  

We were able to continue to press the play for the rest of the game and we did not give up any chances as the game wound down.  It was a nice improvement from the Sockers game.  I was really happy that both groups had continued to attack after they gained the lead with under ten minutes left.  It is the attitude that I want all our teams to have.  

When the final whistle blew all the girls cheered from both teams and we went up to the pavilion for the awards ceremony.

As with everything else with this tournament, the awards ceremony is well done.  They have music and announce the teams over the loud speakers so everyone in the complex can hear.  The announcer asked if he had deja vu after the Blue team’s presentation when he read that another MTA team had also won in the same age group.

It was a great way to wrap up an memorable fall season with the girls.