Mini- Jamboree

It's like home - it's such a part of our lives that when we get back on the field it's almost comforting. Exhilarating, indeed. Full of anticipation & hope, of course. Fulfilling, absolutely!

Breana was unable to participate due to broken/sprained toes but supported her Team on the sidelines aside Coach Dan and was full of ideas of what the Team can work on. See, it's in her blood - she inherited it from her Dad.
Kaitlin scored an awesome goal with her left foot - of course quite enjoyable for me to watch. Kaitlin likes the contact between her foot and the ball. Her ability to control the ball is inate for her - she has this graceful strength about her.
We are going to spend the Fall season with an incredible group of girls - there is passion in not only their sport but in absorbing fun and sharing laughter...it's going to be a great season!

Stay tuned...

November 27, 2007

This late-afternoon sky brought a thin chill to our ears & exposed fingers while we watched Breana's Middle-School Soccer Team play against SLV. Kaitlin, the good-student she is, brought her books and finished her assignments, and, the good-sister she is, cheered on Breana and was elated with her performance on the field! (I did have to her hold her back, it's hard for these soccer-types to not be on the field playing!)MH won 2-1 all in the second half with Breana scoring the 2 goals.
This girl is fast, real fast!
For one goal she received a pass from her defender, out-smarted SLVs defender and chipped it over the goalie's head into the net. For her last goal, she received a pass from her midfielder, sped past their defender putting herself one-on-one with the goalie & into the net. It was sweet - yup, she's fast!

Jaws Soccer Fall 2007

Random shots of Kaitlin & Breana's Fall Soccer Season with their Division 3 team: SC Jaws.
(pictures taken by the Jaws' Photography team - 2 Moms) Kaitlin #12
Breana #8

Breana clearing the ball... (2 angles)
Rain or shine, soccer players hit the fields.

SC Classic - ah, to live in Santa Cruz!


Asst-Coach Dan {standing}. (Kaitlin {profile} sitting on the left - Breana {back} on instabench #8)

District Cup

The last tournament for this season and the Jaws fought hard, they hung in there tough, they dug down deep inside, they shined, they recovered...and they also laughed, developed their own team superstitions, hung out and enjoyed a weekend together.

First game was against Stanford Lightning:

My girls caught onto my tactic of counting backwards in order to best organize our days, especially soccer days - game at 9:30am, be on the field at 8:30, leave home at 7:30am, wake up at 6:30am which means bedtime is 8:30-9:00pm! Initially they resisted the early bedtime on a friday night but once they got into bed their bodies succumbed to it, albeit slowly but eventually.

The first half of the game they were at 0-0. Unfortunately the game ended at 0-4.
The team went to lunch and the girls hung out. Feet were rested, spirits were lifted and gear was dried out by the warm sun.

The second game was against the Gryphons. The team played like a well-oiled machine and they won 1-0. It was tough though, bodies crashed against each other, mud was kicked and the girls fought hard for possession of the ball - but that ball met the back of the net and the game was won.

The next day at 10:30am the team played against Revolution Red in a tough fight, they girls came into this game knowing they had to win. They've been there before, twice - at the SC Classic & the Tiburon Tournament. Glory was made by 2 players who tasted sweetness for the first time - scoring a goal does that to you, it makes you want to come back for more, it makes you hungry.At 2-0 it placed the girls in a position to be in the Consolation Round the rest was based on two games that were being played at 12:00. One team needed to lose and another team couldn't win their game with more than 1-0. With that, by 1 point, the Jaws advanced to the Consolation Round at 3:00pm.

At the first half the girls were holding at 1-0 but with the switching of the field, the sun setting with a bright glow towards their faces and the game ball being white, it added an element of difficultness to the game. No excuses though - game ended at 1-2.

Glory was still to be had though - the Jaws team with 2 subs that whole weekend, placed 4th out of 12 teams. That's something to be hugely proud of.

The drive home was beautiful, the orange vibrant sunset and the promise of a home-cooked meal at Mia & Bill's house. We spent the entire weekend together, Dan on one side of the field, me on the other and the girls in between us - as Dan would say, "As usual" :) and that's said with love...and pride.

SC Classic Soccer Tournament

During the last weekend in September, Kaitlin & Breana had a soccer tournament here in Santa Cruz. The weather was gorgeous - clear sky and a warm sun with just a hint of cool air. The first day of the tournament the team tied their first game (0-0) and lost their second (1-5). They played tough. Soccer is definitely a different sport now - it's agressive - it's a contact sport. You won't see any girlie-girls on the field now-a-days, maybe off the field (especially at this age) but definitely not on the field.

The team left the field that day knowing what they needed to accomplish the next day to go onto the Consolation Round. Kaitlin went to bed with butterflies in her stomach. The next day of the tournament I was so thankful to live in this town.
That day our games were held at UCSC where we could see far off across the bay to Monterey. Crisp and clear.
Dan always calls Monterey Hawaii referring to a story I told him way back when I was a teenager.
I was a beach bum back then...now I'm just a plain bum :) ...hanging out at the beach when a little boy called out to his Dad, "Look I can see Hawaii from here!" as he was pointing to Monterey. My friends & I shreeked with laughter! Goodness, if that's Hawaii what was I doing in Santa Cruz!!! That's the way I thought back then. Now...sigh...another gorgeous day in Santa Cruz I say with a huge smile.

Their first game on this day was against another local team. A team Coached by my friends' husband and a team full of players we are fond of. It was a bit hard to have to get down & gritty but, hey, do you wanna get to the Consolation Round or not?!! The Jaws had to win this game and another team playing on the next field over had to lose theirs in order for the Consolation Round to be a reality. It was a chew-your-fingernails when you're not clenching-your-fist kind of game.

And they did it - with a beautiful corner kick by Kaitlin that delivered it at the goal via over the goalie's head right to a teammate for a header. GOAL!
1-0
That win gave them 6 points for a win, 1 point for a shutout and 1 point per goal = Baby, we're going to the Consolation Round! Woo-hoo!

2 hours later we were back on the field again.

0-3

The team fought hard, they prevented numerous goals and had a few attempts themselves. Before halftime the score was 0-0. They had a goal but it was called back.

They worked hard and brought home 4th place!

(Watching the Championship Game go into overtime - PKs are fun to watch). #12 is Kaitlin (#2 is also Kaitlin, but not our Kaitlin.)
And this is what our Champs look like after a weekend of hard playing, of pushing their bodies to the limit, of digging down deep to find that extra somethin-somethin and going for it. (minus 3 players)

(Kaitlin middle left, Breana bottom right and Dan upper right.)

We walked away from the field as the sun was setting beyond us. While Breana & I went straight home, Dan & Kaitlin went to go pick up dinner. It was a 'win' for all of us ;)

(last picture taken by Breana)

Tiburon/Mill Valley Kick-Off Soccer Tournament

We were able to stay up in Sonoma during the soccer tournament this summer. Fortunately our friends from the team were able to stay with us. Saturday morning I took a walk around the property to pick apples - sweet delicious apples. Everything and everybody was still asleep. The air was crisp, the sun very promising and the leaves were still. I tried to be as quiet as the morning but the dry grass crunched beneath my feet and, I swear, echoed across the vineyard.The night before while the girls took their friends exploring, we enjoyed a bottle - or two of Sonoma's goodness. It's nice to have an evening to unwind and talk about our lives outside of soccer, although that's what brought us together 4 years ago.Jacob & Buena Vista never fail me. Maybe it's that familiarity that makes it all so comfortable - much like that scent or taste that brings you back to that safe place in your childhood - or maybe it's just good wine. Right now it has secured this weekend in my memory bank.
Kaitlin & Breana had an awesome weekend. This tournament was the first set of games for this team to play together. They came out strong and held their own against tough teams. It was quite exciting when we realized that they had secured a spot in the Consolation Round!

Winning 4th place was a great way to start their season!

Above: Breana w/ Head Coach Tim.
Below: Kaitlin w/ Asst. Coach Da(d)n.


The SC Jaws team at their best! :D

Indoor Futsal

Breana in the pink - Kaitlin in the orange pinnie and black sweats.
Yes that's them vying for the ball in the picture below.
The girls play Indoor Futsal on friday nights. A friend started these 15 mins 5v5 pick-up games as a fun thing for the kids to do between seasons. The first one we attended was last friday. Breana had her gear on and w/ only 3 other girls, played 4 games. Kaitlin was dropped off by a friend about midway through the night and sat and watched a few games with me. With cords & Uggs on Kaitlin squirmed in the bleachers, yelled out helpful hints to her fellow gals on the court and searched vehemently around for sneakers - she was dying to get out there! She talked Dan into taking her home - she was frustrated at the red lights, told Dan to drive faster then was palpitating when Dan said he needed to run in the house for a second! Dan got her back in time to watch a game and play the final game for the night. Last night both girls were geared up and joined by more girls - they were fierce, determined and had a great time. Us parents were able to watch a night full of great games with displays of exceptional talent. Toward the end of the evening, Dan joined us after his indoor soccer game so with the 3 hungry ones we ended the night with chimichangas at Costa Brava. It really is a fun way to spend a friday night.