Shocker Nation

Shocker Families:

Our 2009 Spring campaign is drawing to a close with our final matches of the regular season this coming weekend.

Saturday we play a surging Fusion Fury, and then Sunday we play, what may be our most pivotal match of the season, against NSA Magic at Pickneyville Field. Count on that being a tough match, and we need all-hands-on-deck, and very much ready to play Shocker Ball.

Next Tuesday around 7:30pm (this time is “negotiable” at the moment), we have a “friendly” match with Dawsonville. During this match we will be trying some new things in preparation for our May tournament schedule.

We still need to reschedule our rained-out match against Storm. But, they do not appear eager to face us again. So, that match is uncertain.

Tournaments

I had a parent that was apparently surprised to learn that we had a tournament over Memorial Day weekend (May 23rd and 24th). Veteran Shocker families know this is a tradition. We actually have three tournament options that weekend, but obviously will only choose one. We will likely go with the Celtic Cup in Savannah because we think it’s the most competitive, and the girls have specifically requested an overnight tournament as a reward for a terrific season.  In any event, all of this has been on the Shockers Blogsite (www.shockers.wordpress.com) since the first week of the season. Our stated objective for this season has been to qualify for State Cup. We made the District Cup, but need to keep winning to earn a good seed. If we can finish well at District Cup, we achieve that primary goal (other than being good citizens and team players) of State Cup.

Nevertheless, no family should feel compelled to sacrifice family or other interests for a soccer tournament. I know we can field a team, and the girls will have a wonderful experience to cap-off a fantastic first season together. But, if the Memorial Day weekend is a burden, please let me know so we can adjust the roster.

If I have not made it clear, I am deeply grateful to you for trusting me with your daughters. I am so very proud of all of them, and pray that this has been a terrific experience for each and everyone of them (and the families).

Coach Brian

Match #7: A Return to Form

After Saturday’s match against Fusion Storm it was greatly evident that our Shockers were keen on returning to form and ready to play NSA Revolution.

The majority of the team was at the pitch early and eager to warm up. I reminded them that we still control our destiny and need to keep points to be seeded well for the looming District Cup Tournament.

The first fifteen minutes of the match were slow as the Shockers worked their way into a rhythm. We were keeping the ball on our opponents side of the pitch. We had asked them to focus on not bunching up and communicating more.

They did just that.

They also charged the goal.

And, fought for the ball at the midline.

And, I might add – were relentless.

Mallory Charlton began the scoring with a deft move past two Defenders and a sweet shot from the right side that caught the goalie out of position. Minutes later Christy Tovar added another pair of goals (one off a beautiful corner kick from Mars Twitchell).

The Shockers then put on a veritable clinic, passing the ball along neat lines and being stubborn at Defense. Hannah Erger had her finest match of the season subbing in at right-side Midfield, standing her ground against larger and older players. She may have had an assist, we were not sure. But, in a scrummage, the ball was bouncing crazily in front of the Revolution goal, and Hannah was in the thick of it. she has now ably demonstrated she can hold her own at either Midfield side and advance the ball. She clearly inspired her teammates.

Then Grace Guthrie, who has been a terrific Defensive Midfielder all season, advanced the ball up the pipe with a pass from her sister Claire Guthrie. Grace had passed the ball right to Mallory, who pushed the ball back left. It spun in front of Grace at the top of the box, and with one purposeful stride, and a solid boot, popped high and just under the cross bar for a ‘purty-as-you-please’ goal – and, I believe her first goal ever (I am confident Mary will otherwise correct me). It should be noted that Claire is getting quite good at moving the ball deftly around opposing players and creating space for solid and timely passing.

NOTE: What happened around Grace and Hannah is precisely why we stress charging and massing up to the goal.

Michelle Higgins reminded me why I want her on my team by racing for the ball, and making some tight crossing passes subbing in the right Stryker position.

I do need to add, that all things considered, I may have been most impressed by the gritty play of KC Lowenthal. Her footwork was dazzling as she denied opponents the ball and moved the ball upfield with determination and sacrifice as she passed the ball brilliantly to open teammates. She had several solid shots on goal and can always be counted upon to be a crucial contributor. This is why she is our Midfield Captain.

Keeper Hannah Derezinski earned another clean sheet with a couple of confident saves. She was protected by a stubborn defense led by AC Anderson who demonstrated the speed that recently gave her a County 200 meter championship and record. Haley Anne Cork was also in good form stumping all Revolution Strykers a good 30 meters in front of her goalie, and shelling the Revolution with booming kicks that set up a number of fast breaks. Jessica Curtis has become a “mad woman”, racing all over the pitch beating EVERYONE to the ball (some times her own teammates included). We ordered her to stay South of the midline. The result was a very frustrated Revolution team that could not muster but a few breaks. Emily Dwane has a knack for finding herself alone and facing hard-charging opponents with the ball. We don’t know if it’s luck, or stubborness (she is becoming like a daughter to me – I suspect I know it’s both) yet… But, when she goes after their feet, she buys her team time to rally. Keep watching that one.

Christy Tovar blasted our fifth goal of the match over the head of the frustrated keeper for  her third of the match, and a “hat-trick”. This brought her even with Mars Twitch for the season. They now share the lead in goals scored for the entire league. In fact, each has scored more than any other one team combined.

This was classic Shocker ball. We controlled the midline; charged the goal; and protected our goalie.

Shockers 5 vs. NSA Revolution 0.

There is a “Storm brewing” as we seethe for a rematch, and prepare for the final leg of our regular season campaign with key matches against Fusion Fury and NSA Magic next weekend.

Coach Brian

Match #6: Hard Lessons

This past weekend was tough for the Shockers, albeit fortuitous, because it presented a wake-up call.

We met the undefeated Fusion Storm on Saturday.

Storm scored early taking advantage of confusion amongst our vaunted defense. The whole match saw a decidedly flat Shockers playing against themselves, and getting beat to the ball.  We were constantly bunching up, and this cost us along the sidelines, having to endure fast-breaks.

Interestingly, the Shockers ended up with twelve shots on goal, but never got a break.

Captain Mars Twitchell demonstrated why she leads the entire league in goals by bouncing one strong shot off a bar, and then fighting through the stubborn Storm defense for a solid one-on-one goal against their outstanding keeper, bringing the match even.

However, with ten minutes to go, Defender Haley Anne Cork found herself swarmed by opponents (a grim reminder why “charging the goal” is a good idea) and dropped a blindly kicked ball into our own goal.

The only good news is we beat ourselves, but have another shot at Storm in a few weeks.

Shockers 1 vs. Storm 2.

Coach Brian

Match #5: Determination

Our fifth match of the season, played on a breezy Saturday evening, brought us back into the sites of  a Fusion Lightning squad that had naught to lose but an opportunity to take us out of the running to lead our flight.

Spoilers can be dangerous.

The entire first half represented a titanic defensive struggle with both sides getting some good shots on goal.  Fortunately Hannah Derezinski had one of her best matches defending the net with a heads-up display of dexterity and confidence. She had some solid booming punts as well.

I love yelling:

“That’s My KEEPER!”

Late in the second half our Shockers rallied themselves with some particularly ferocious fast-breaks. A brilliant cross from the right side by Sara Bowers put the ball cleanly at the boot of Mars Twitchell whom knocked the ball cleanly past the defending keeper, and the upper left corner.

In the final fifteen seconds, three Lightning had broken past all defenders with only Haley Anne Cork between them and her Keeper. As both a coach and a father, my gut told me were fine. And, sure enough, Haley Anne positioned herself perfectly forcing an early and poorly-timed pass that she was able to deftly knock out of bounds. Moments later we had our fourth victory of the season.

This was another team victory with all players digging in and fighting for every ball. I think the Lightning may have had a faster step on us. However, we some how managed to take the ball back, and mount one attack after another.

Determination, a mounting sense of destiny, and a belief in ourselves as a team, gave us this well earned victory.

Everybody is improving as players and citizens.

Shockers 1 vs Lightning 0.

Coach Brian

CRCT and Soccer Forge Character

I believe come mid-May we have scholastic CRCT testing afoot.

I have made some inquiries. It would take a herculean, and possibly unreasonable effort to coordinate RILS, other teams, refs and fields at this point to try and effect rescheduling those matches. And, we just flat-out run out of room going into tournament season.

Just to be clear, I value citizenship and scholastics possibly above all else outside of family and best efforts. However, I am confident that if the girls are, generally, doing their home work and prepared, playing matches a day before testing won’t negatively affect them. Also, the anxiety of missing matches, and blowing their season might create more pain for them.

I would always bet this hardy and ferocious crew can win, and score high on tests.

Coach Brian (and, first always Haley Anne’s Dad)

Double Header

This past blustery Saturday our mighty Shockers played a double-header against NSA Magic and Revolution.

That is a lot to ask of any team. However, they conducted themselves brilliantly both in terms of character, as well as play, at naught but the highest of levels.

The first match against NSA Magic saw the Shockers a bit unnerved by our missing goalie that has mistakenly gone to the wrong fields and the prospect of only one substitute player. Nonetheless, we found ourselves executing determined “Shocker Ball” playing ninety percent of the match around the Magic goal with numerous fast breaks. We had no less then fifteen shots on goal – but, with no strikes (concentration and “finishing” must now be a focus in training). Magic had only two shots on goal. Our Defense, even missing a key leader, were nothing less than ferocious, and our Midfield, all but impenetrable. Unfortunately this included the wind partnered with the strong boot of Magics Keeper; and, the tragic result (depending of course, what side you were on) was a high bouncing ball that slipped over our on Keeper’s fingers.

Shockers 0 and Magic 1.

NOTE: We should never call that a “freak” goal. It’s simply part of “the Beautiful Game” – and, in this game the unpredictable is always the greated possibility.

But, I submit to you, we played some of our best soccer to date.

That, of course, set the stage for our second match versus NSA Revolution.

I believe that match may have, indeed, been our finest performance to date. The Shockers understood they had to rally. So, they responded by keeping, again, the ball on the Revolution side most of the match (this is, of course, a crucial part of “Shocker Ball”). We saw another ten shots on goal with no less than six strikes. However, the key was incredible communication and passing up the middle, that began with strong Defensive transitions and played right up the pipe.

Shockers 6 and Revolution 1.

I also want to point out that every single player contributed and are showing enormous improvement in both skills, as well as, confidence. It was a team if “Mighty Tigers” (and, not “silly kittens”) all that made Coach Chris and I very proud.

Coach Brian

Weekend Challenge

We have a pivotal weekend looming before our worthy Shockers.

Two big matches vs. NSA Magic and Revolution.

We approach this challenge with but one sub.

We play Shocker Ball, we prevail.

Lets muster at the South Complex Saturday around 11am.

Team Manager Mom Patty hopes to put together a picnic of sorts (light easy food mind you) between matches to keep us properly fueled.

Coach Brian

Shockers and Silverbacks

The Fusion U14 Shockers have been selected by the Atlanta Silverbacks to represent Atlanta Youth Soccer as the “walk-out” squad for the Lady Silverbacks season-opener Saturday May 16th.

Members of the Shockers will also be the official ball girls for the match.

In other news, Brian Cork has been named to the Atlanta Silverbacks Board of Directors.

Coach Brian