Eclipse Challenge Cup - Day #3b

Saturday, Aug 16

Later that afternoon we came up against the Novi Jaguars from Michigan.  The title of Group A winner was still up in the air as CIS and us were 1-1-0, Novi was 1-0-1, Sting was 0-1-1.  If Novi beat us they would win the group.  CIS would win the group if they beat Sting and we beat or tied Novi.  We would win the group with a win against Novi and a Sting victory over CIS.  All to play for!

We came out of the gates fast.  Within 5 minutes of the kickoff, a one-touch ball over the top from Payt (CD) to Babes (Point) sprung Babes up the right flank.  Maddog (LF) made a great run into the penalty box, trailed closely by Bargsy (LM), Wiki (Att Mid), and Cal (RM).  Great to see the girls work hard to get into danger areas.  Babes dribbled by her marking defender, neared the endline, and pulled a great ball back away from goal to 8 yards out.  The closer you are to the endline, the more the cross has to come backwards away from goal.  Maddog pounced on the end of the cross, took a good first touch into space, and slid home the volley to give us the early goal.

Novi Goal For #1 from Mark Abboud on Vimeo. 

Three minutes later, another good one-touch, this time from Kait (LF), split two Novi defenders and found Babes in on goal.  The Novi GK came out and made a challenge about 10 yards from goal that took Babes out at the ankles.  Space time continum visual warp?  Nope.  Whistle and PK.  Good call.  Babes stepped up and hammered the spot kick home to double our lead. 

Novi Goal For #2 from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

The Novi coach was livid at his players.  He benched a couple of them for the entire remainder of the half.

Five minutes later and we almost put the game out of reach.  Mal (CD) provided a fantastic service into the box off a set piece about 35 yards from goal.  Payt (CM) got a flick on it that popped the ball up into the air, and Maddog, with terrific reaction speed and athletisicm, almost full volleyed home what would have been one of the best finishes sicne I've been with the team.  But the Novi GK handled the hard low stike well to keep her team within 2 goals. 

Novi Freekick from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

We had control of most of the rest of the game.  The girls were fatigued for sure but managed to continue to battle on.

With about 5 minutes left in the second half, we got the third goal.  Babes (Point) dispossed a Novi defender at the top of the Novi box and found B-Money (RF) with a great diagonal ball over the top.  B-Money's first time cross from the edge of the penalty box floated over the Novi GK at the near post and settled in the back of the net.  

Novi Goal For #3 from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Solid, gutsy performance by the girls. 

After the game we found out Sting had beaten CIS 3-0, giving us the #1 seed in Group A.  We were on course for a match up in the semifinals against the Group B (group of death) terror Carmel (IN) who had waltzed by PDA (NJ), Michigan Hawks (MI), and Eclipse (IL) 2-0, 4-1, and 2-0 respectively.