Still Champions

Our last and final game of the regular season came and went faster than Zenyatta’s last 100 yards in the Breeders’ Cup! The game was important since we wanted to hold our opponent to a scoreless game and keep our D sharp in preparation for the D2 Cup. We were warmed up, the field was recently mowed and the weather was perfect for soccer.

The first half was tough to watch since we did not come out strong or focused. The field was very narrow and short so we had some serious adjustments to make but we simply did not make it on the field as the clock ran. The Jaguars did not look strong but Top Gun still could not put together any reasonable attacks. We definitely looked like the second to last place team in the division as we played this unlucky last place team…


After the half time whistle blew, we regrouped, absorbed a couple of stern comments and discussed our new game plan. Very simply, we had to pass the ball around for about 5 minutes and not attack the goal until we could figure out our stride and tempo. Sure enough the girls began to talk and support each other on the field and showed much more control of the ball and the game compared to the first half. Needless to say, Top Gun finished the game very strong and proved that they were indeed that same team that posted the unbelievable stats. After passing the ball around as discussed, they finally started to break the defense open and their defense started to make mistakes trying to follow the ball. Just like clockwork, Jordan hit one in right on the fifth minute mark of the second half to end the passing practice session. Once the first goal went in, we had many more nice attacks as everyone tried to keep the momentum going. Nice long range shot from Paola to bend it in from about 24 yards out followed by yet another great finish by Jordan to chalk up her second of the game to make it a decisive 3-0 win.


Top Gun D does it again by handing out another shutout with an amazing display of defensive wizardry. Our D was absolutely stellar and gave up no true shots on goal and no real threat to our keeper. We learned a few things about playing on an ultra small field that we can hopefully take with us and apply in the future. We also learned that we cannot afford to ratchet down our game when we are not facing a team that could “take it to us”. It was an embarrassing first half and our girls felt it as we coaches did on the sidelines. The girls showed they learned a great lesson about pushing each other as teammates to get the entire machine to start clicking on all cylinders the second half. By the end of the game, they were truly hitting their stride and rolling and probably could have played another half at full speed.

The first season is over for this new bunch! We have had a very successful, undefeated inaugural season and won our bracket decisively with a record of 9-1-0. Our crazy, fun loving girls scored 32 goals and gave up only 1. Those stats are very impressive any way you slice the pumpkin pie! Congratulations to the girls for winning the bracket and bringing SASC another league title. Thanks for all the parents that helped out with all the volunteer activities to make our first season run smoothly and successfully. And finally, thanks for all you folks that come out week after week to cheer on the mighty, mighty Top Gun girls as they made history!

http://www.gotsport.com/events/results.aspx?EventID=9931&GroupID=121595&Sex=Girls&Age=13

MEDINA CHAMPIONS

Game 1: Palo Alto Blue Zoom, 0-0 tie

The day started early for us as we opened things up for Sunnyvale with an 8AM game. The girls were trying to shake off the Friday night events from their minds and get into the soccer groove but I could tell they were tired and lacked some focus. The game was quite even throughout most of the game with a slight edge to Top Gun. We both had some opportunities but neither team could convert. The game ended in a disappointing draw but we knew we were still in the hunt.



Game 2: YSL Hot Shots, 4-1 win

We knew that this team would be fairly tough since they were the higher ranked West Valley team compared to Olympic America so we were mentally prepared for a tough battle. We also knew that we needed to score at least 10 or 11 points to have a chance to win our bracket and move on in the tournament. The girls definitely stepped up in this game to make up for the draw against the Blue Zoom earlier in the day. We came out strong and scored early but I think we could have scored even more in the first 10 minutes if the Hot Shots didn’t have 13 players on the field! Nothing seemed to distract the girls as they went on with business as usual. Nice couple of goals by Lulu and one PK goal by Paola as well as one by Shayda to help us rack up some much needed points to secure the number 1 seed going into Sunday’s play.



Game 3: Peninsula Phoenix , 3-0 win

It was very nice to not only win our bracket but to be the home/host team since we only had a minimal commute to get to the fields. Our opponent had to be on the road by 7AM for their 8:30AM shootout to break the tie in their bracket, and then they had to wait around the field for the game with us. Not a good way to spend time prior to the elimination game. Nevertheless, we mentally and physically were ready for the game and our girls came out blazing like I have not seen before. Our defense completely controlled the tempo of the game and did not let any threats materialize whatsoever. We set up many opportunities during the first few minutes but finally, quick thinking Jordan took a through ball all the way home for our first goal. A few minutes later, Shayda found a perfect baby-bouncy ball coming straight to her from about 25 yards out so she had nothing else to concentrate on but to keep it low and hard. Good thing we used to practice this last year playing kick-ball! J Finally as the minutes dwindled down in the first half, Halley took one coast to coast and finished beautifully with a 30 yard rocket from the left side to put the exclamation point on an amazing first half. Second half was much the same as we dominated ball possession and set our offense up time and time again for scoring opportunities. Luckily for the Phoenix , the soccer gods moved on to visit the Fresno vs. Olympic America game and kept our game scoreless the entire second half. Nice three to nil result to highlight that it didn’t matter which bracket the Mighty Top Gun girls were placed in, the outcome would be the same… TG in the finals!



Game 4: Fresno Metro Magic, 3-2 win

The hype and fanfare followed the Fresno team to the final game especially after they shellacked (that word has been used a few times since election nightJ) our rival from West Valley , the Olympic America 5-0! Those that watched the game knew we would have to bring our A game in order to keep up with this unknown team from Fresno . Our girls were not intimidated and proved that they were serious during warm-ups and all the pre-game pep talks. Our game plan was simple, to take them out of their game plan. We knew we had to score first to force them to play catch up as well as play hard-nosed, physical soccer and not allow them to see any weaknesses in our size and strength.



As soon as the whistle blew we showed we were PUMPED and ready to give the Magic the fight of their lives. The first few minutes started fast and furious and we quickly adjusted after a near goal by the Magic as their right wing crossed it perfectly to a wide open center striker. Luckily her shot hit that extra wide home-field crossbar! After regaining composure we had a couple of great attacks which got the Magic confused and flustered especially around the box. Top Gun continued to pressure the keeper and the back line until finally a strong cross from the left side made it through several layers of desperate Magic defenders to find a wide open Jessie next to the far post. With the easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy tap-in, Jessie was able to get our first goal and check off the box for critical things to do that Sunday. Magic equalized the game with a powerful shot from outside the 18 which made it in past our keeper’s outreached hands. Momentum was still with the Magic as they continued to pressure and attack us. Finally, just before the half, the soccer gods sent down a gift by allowing a soft rolling ball to skip past our keeper for the 2 to 1 lead.



Half time didn’t come soon enough since we needed something to stop the barrage of attacks before they scored again. We regrouped during half time and talked about what we needed to adjust on D and what we needed to do to break down their back line. Our girls were really pumped up and ready to go as they started to bounce in synch prior to the whistle of the second half. They knew this was their half and that they would not allow a visiting team to man-handle them in their tournament without a fight.



The physical play started immediately but during this half, we were the team initiating the bumps. Yo started things off in the backfield by leveling their left wing as she attempted to dribble through her. No whistle after this first battle so we continued to play rough, Fresno style soccer. Kalie followed it up with some intimidating bumps of her own but against a much larger opponent. She obviously did some homework prior to the game because the understanding that force was equal to mass times acceleration was evident. Kalie’s mass was less than, therefore her acceleration needed to be more than to create the force needed to derail the larger opponent… J



After the physical start of the second half, the Magic knew they could not be effective by simply muscling through us. They changed their backfield to give their “bigs” a much needed break and we quickly took advantage. Jordan got the opportunity first with a 1v4 situation which she somehow won by weaving through all three defenders to create the 1v1 with the keeper and the wide open net. Jordan of course finished with an accurate tap-in past the befuddled keeper for the equalizer goal. Now the momentum definitely started to shift as we were attacking about 70% of the time. With Top Gun constantly pressuring the desperate Magic we knew it was a matter of time before we would create the opportunity we needed. As regulation time began to wind down, we knew that we would have the advantage if the game went to OT and PKs since we were much better conditioned and have been working on our accuracy but nobody wanted to extend the game since there were Halloween parties that needed our presence! Eva was one that wanted to get this job done and move on so she created a lane by blasting past their left defender and sent a perfect cross to Lulu who received it with control and quickly punched it in for a game winner. Clutch goal, just in the nick of time to extinguish the flicker of fire the Magic still had with about 3 minutes left.



After the final whistle, the Magic were shocked that they were defeated but were very gracious after they realized it was a well played game and they had nothing to be ashamed of. We coaches knew that it would be a tight game with a skilled team but knew there was nothing our girls couldn’t accomplish if they focus their minds to it and work together. Thanks for all that came out to support the Mighty, mighty Top Gun girls by volunteering for SASC as well as rooting for this incredible group as they captured their second victory with style and class.