Runner's Up

It was a LONG, HOT weekend. We were at the soccer fields for 11 hours each day. But it was WORTH every sweaty second of it.

I'm not much of a sports writer, but I am a sports fan, a soccer fan, when it comes to my girls. Lindsay never ceases to amaze me with her size and speed -- overcoming girls nearly a full shoulder and head length above her as she pushes her forward position to put balls in the net. She came out of this weekend with 3 goals and helping her team into the final with the only goal in one of games to give them the "W". Her team played up a year to go to the final to play girls from the Amazon. Well, okay, but they were stinking tall! Fed purely on beans and rice. THEY WERE BIG. We lost, but held our heads high. These kids were barely standing at all as they played the final in 108 heat. It was CRAZY. They were so happy to have made the final at all -- certainly not a result any of us expected when we entered this tourney in a U13 bracket. Happy with 2nd as they got medals instead of 1st place bags. Lindsay's words: "What do you do with a bag that small? I'm glad we came in second and got the medals, instead!" I'm teaching them early...strive for the hardware!


Lindsay holding the 2nd place cup with her Placer '98 U12 team!

Then there's Mal. Sweet, quiet Mal. Who forgets all of that when she plays on the field. I love it when I can see she's getting tired of being pushed around out there and starts fighting back and winning the ball. It's so fun watching the different teams play -- Mal is a defender so we watch her completely differently than we watch Lindsay. It's like a different game and we love to see her do what she's supposed to on the field and all her footwork. She's a "header" queen despite her size. She is great at being first to the ball above and beyond the size out there. She won many a ball and was a playmaker as she helped the forwards have lots of chances to set up goal winning shots this weekend. They, too, made it to the final which went to PK's (penalty kicks). Sadly, they lost in PK's -- which is a rough way to lose a game after you dominated field play -- but again, it's all about the hardware. We were thrilled to have made a final. This was a mostly losing team last year and this year has been totally different. Much stronger team that ACTS like a team. A refreshing change. She, too, played her final at 3:30 pm in the 108 heat and played the full duration of the game with no rest on the sideline besides half time. She kept up her speed and agility and we couldn't be prouder of her and her dedication to her position and the game.


Mal is on the far bottom left with her Placer '95 U15 team! At least she's not the one on crutches!

I've got some tough cookies for kids. Fun, fun, fun! Now, let's play ball!