Julia Laine » Life with L and M

Whew… what a weekend!  I’m so glad there’s Sunday left so we can all rest!!

The JV soccer tournament started at 4:30 Friday, so immediately upon school being let out we all headed to the fields.  A huge storm front was coming through and it rained on and off throughout the game, but the girls were victorious and won it just 1-0 from a first half goal by L.  The second game was supposed to start at 7:30pm, but it was on the back end of a downpour; 20 minutes later and the girls finally took the field.  It was a horrible game by any standards.  The referee’s were as bad as I’ve ever seen, and the pitch resembled something close to a small pond by this point than a soccer field.  We were down by one goal going into the half (thanks to the ref giving them 2000 penalty kick opportunities), but L scored to kick off the second half, then a teammate scored and we were able to tie it.  We consider that a win, since the ref was so obviously making calls in favor of the other team.

It was 10pm before we got home and 11pm before we were able to wind down enough to get some sleep.  This morning came bright and early since L had to be back at the fields at 8am. Whoever won this third game was going to the final…  That game went our way at the beginning with a goal from our team, then right before the half, the other team tied it up.  I had to leave soon for M’s game in another part of the city, but was standing right behind the net when one of our midfielders made a run for it.  She overshot the goal though, and L picked it right up.  This shot looks like the keeper could have gotten it, but L had some heat on it and the keeper never touched it.  This ended up being the game winner!

Right after this I left for M’s game, and it was amazing!  Her team played so well, and after three close games from L and her team, my mind was so ready for an easy blow-out.  They won 6-1.  This is M on her way to goal.

We had to hurry back after M’s game, because L’s team was in the final at 1pm, so we grabbed some fast food and went straight back to the fields were L was playing.  The team they were playing against had not been scored on in the tournament and had been beating other teams by 4 and 5 goals, so I was not optimistic.  Our only saving grace, was that their players were as tired as we all were!  L and many of her teammates had played every second of every game, and they were beyond exhausted.  But after 70 minutes of play, the game was still tied at 0-0.  So we went to two five minute overtimes, and at the end of that… still 0-0.  We were playing awesome, but just could not put it in the net.  Now it went to PK’s though, and we were tied for the first three people, but then our fourth girl hit the post, and that was the game.  The other team won by that one goal differential.  It was a tough way to loose, but everyone was so tired by that point, we really didn’t care.  As runner ups, they got a big ole’ trophy anyway, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how both of my girls played this weekend!

The freshmen…