The last two games of the regular season were played out this weekend. The lady warriors took on first place Royal at home on Saturday. Play was fast and furious as Sodium gave it there best shot but fell just short in the 1 - 0 game. Sundays game was played at the new PCC field in the early morning. The girls passed well and out-shot ESU Arsenal all game. The 0 - 0 tie ended the 2007 regular season giving Sodium a 4-5-5 overall record and solidifying 5th place in the Premium Gold Bracket.
The second half of the regular season turned out to be challenging for Sodium, but the girls showed what they were made of and never gave up, they played hard, they kept their heads up despite their obvious disappointment gave it their all. We are all very proud of these girls and will be there for them as they head into the State Cup Tournament.
The last couple of practices that Tom has attended have been really good for the girls. A new perspective is always welcome when a high caliber team needs to get back on track . Thanks for the help Tom!
As soon as the State Cup brackets are released I will be posting the schedule so keep a close watch in the near future. (Come on, I know no one reads this, who am I kidding!) HA HA!
Next Up: State Cup!
GO SODIUM!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
About Pride
With 2 ties this weekend (very beatable teams) the best Sodium can hope for is a strong finish next week and an outside shot at third place in the bracket. The bright spot being that both OR Rush and Royal were beaten last week. Proving they are both beatable teams. Next weeks games, Saturday against Royal and Sunday against Inferno are more for pride than anything. If the girls can bring their "A" game and play to their ability we should end the regular season on a high note.
I know you guys are disappointed. Keep your heads up, as long as you can look yourself in the mirror and know you gave 100% for your team, you have nothing to hang your head about. Remember last year? Did the 2006 team give up or lose faith? Heck no! We still have a lot of soccer left this year ladies and it's time to turn it up and have some fun! Even though we tied on Sunday we didn't play bad. Look at the number of shots on goal and opportunities we had. Those balls are going to start finding the net girls, believe me, and when they do, LOOK OUT! I'm just waiting for another 10-0 shut out. You know you can do it, you just gotta believe. You gotta believe that on Saturday afternoon, when we march on to REC #5, that we are unstoppable, that we are champions and that no team can take that away.
When I was a football coach I used to teach my defensive players and little saying to keep in mind. That saying was; "If it is to be, it's up to me." And what that saying means is that if each player plays with the attitude that the team victory rests on their shoulders and that the only way the team can win is if he gives 100% every play, miracles happen. If we can adopt that same attitude as we march onto the field Saturday and Sunday, there is no doubt we will come out victorious.
"I've worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down."
~ Mia Hamm
Coach Ronnie has done an outstanding job this year with Sodium and I know she is frustrated right along with you. But girls, lets take the long hours, the sore muscles, the tears and cheers from the season to this point and give it all we can this weekend. You owe it to yourselves to know you gave it your best shot, you busted your behinds to get where you are and you are true champions.
We will be there cheering for you every second because, from up in the stands, we believe. We believe in your hard work and dedication, we believe we have the best coach and club and will stand behind you no matter what. We are proud of each and every one of you. We believe in Sodium.
"The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking."
~ Mia Hamm
GO SODIUM!
I know you guys are disappointed. Keep your heads up, as long as you can look yourself in the mirror and know you gave 100% for your team, you have nothing to hang your head about. Remember last year? Did the 2006 team give up or lose faith? Heck no! We still have a lot of soccer left this year ladies and it's time to turn it up and have some fun! Even though we tied on Sunday we didn't play bad. Look at the number of shots on goal and opportunities we had. Those balls are going to start finding the net girls, believe me, and when they do, LOOK OUT! I'm just waiting for another 10-0 shut out. You know you can do it, you just gotta believe. You gotta believe that on Saturday afternoon, when we march on to REC #5, that we are unstoppable, that we are champions and that no team can take that away.
When I was a football coach I used to teach my defensive players and little saying to keep in mind. That saying was; "If it is to be, it's up to me." And what that saying means is that if each player plays with the attitude that the team victory rests on their shoulders and that the only way the team can win is if he gives 100% every play, miracles happen. If we can adopt that same attitude as we march onto the field Saturday and Sunday, there is no doubt we will come out victorious.
"I've worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down."
~ Mia Hamm
Coach Ronnie has done an outstanding job this year with Sodium and I know she is frustrated right along with you. But girls, lets take the long hours, the sore muscles, the tears and cheers from the season to this point and give it all we can this weekend. You owe it to yourselves to know you gave it your best shot, you busted your behinds to get where you are and you are true champions.
We will be there cheering for you every second because, from up in the stands, we believe. We believe in your hard work and dedication, we believe we have the best coach and club and will stand behind you no matter what. We are proud of each and every one of you. We believe in Sodium.
"The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking."
~ Mia Hamm
GO SODIUM!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Sodium hangs with the 'Big Girls'
The Sodium girls got quite a treat this week as they got to meet and get autographs from the US Women's National Team member Leslie Osborne. After that the girls went to (of all places) Chuck-E-Cheese for dinner and an an impromptu celebration of Hannah Hartford's birthday! Happy Birthday Hannah! The following night the US Women's National Team crushed Mexico 4-0.
Hope the girls paid attention to how the 'Big Girls' finish! Ha Ha!
Next up: 6th place ESU Arsenal on REC #5 at 12:30 Saturday. Be there or be square!
GO SODIUM!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sodium Struggles
Tough to put a finger on the inconsistent play this weekend. Against Oregon Rush Sodium played well with good communication, passing and shots. Emmy Owens scored on a cross from Erika Cook that was set up nicely by Katherine Kramer. A great effort in the 2-1 loss. Next we take the turf against last place Cascade FC Dynamo and failed to get the job done. I don't think Dynamo even took one shot all game. Frankly, I do not feel we played that badly, we just couldn't find the back of the net. A problem that has plagued Sodium all season. The 0-0 tie Sunday didn't help the standings as we dropped to 5th place.
One thing to keep in mind;
Look at where Sodium was at this same period last year and look where they ended the season. We can do it if we continue to believe.
We have a great team, that much we know. We don't have a bunch of individual players or a couple of all stars that we count on every week. We play together. We cheer when we win, we cry when we lose. We are a team. How we handle diversity and challenge will sculpt out the rest of the season. We can roll over and tell ourselves that last years championship happened because we were lucky, or we can pull together as a team, rise above this little setback, and keep pushing ourselves to be better every game, every practice, every day. Girls it's all about determination and want from here on out. How determined are we to bring the "A" game the last 5 games? How bad do we want a winning season? It's up to each individual player to dig deep and ask these questions.
I use the term "we" quite a bit. I do this because I feel, as parents, we play a vital roll on this team. We come to the games and cheer, we support our players and coach Ronnie, and we feel the agony when we lose games we should have won. I know there was more than a few players who shed tears after Sunday's loss. What that proves is that we are competitive, we are a team and we are proud to be Sodium.
"Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it."
~ Mia Hamm
So lets put this weekend behind us and learn from it. Lets look at the remaining 5 games as a new season, another opportunity to bring the "In Your Face" style of play we know and love. Lets set a goal and achieve it.
We know you can, we believe in you and we're proud to be part of it.
GO SODIUM!
One thing to keep in mind;
Look at where Sodium was at this same period last year and look where they ended the season. We can do it if we continue to believe.
We have a great team, that much we know. We don't have a bunch of individual players or a couple of all stars that we count on every week. We play together. We cheer when we win, we cry when we lose. We are a team. How we handle diversity and challenge will sculpt out the rest of the season. We can roll over and tell ourselves that last years championship happened because we were lucky, or we can pull together as a team, rise above this little setback, and keep pushing ourselves to be better every game, every practice, every day. Girls it's all about determination and want from here on out. How determined are we to bring the "A" game the last 5 games? How bad do we want a winning season? It's up to each individual player to dig deep and ask these questions.
I use the term "we" quite a bit. I do this because I feel, as parents, we play a vital roll on this team. We come to the games and cheer, we support our players and coach Ronnie, and we feel the agony when we lose games we should have won. I know there was more than a few players who shed tears after Sunday's loss. What that proves is that we are competitive, we are a team and we are proud to be Sodium.
"Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it."
~ Mia Hamm
So lets put this weekend behind us and learn from it. Lets look at the remaining 5 games as a new season, another opportunity to bring the "In Your Face" style of play we know and love. Lets set a goal and achieve it.
We know you can, we believe in you and we're proud to be part of it.
GO SODIUM!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Remaining Game Recap of Top 4 Teams
This post outlines the remaining games of the teams in the top 4 positions in the Premier Gold bracket. They are listed from toughest to the easiest (in my opinion).
Sodium - 1) Rush 95G Nike 2) Dynamo 3) Arsenal 4) Magic 5) Royal 6) Inferno
Rush 95G Nike - 1) Sodium 2) Royal 3) Inferno 4) Dynamo
Royal - 1) Inferno 2) Rush 95G Nike 3) Magic 4) Arsenal 5) Sodium
FC Platinum - 1) Magic 2) Inferno 3) Dynamo 4) Arsenal
The problem here, as I see it, is that the current #1 team in the bracket, Royal, has the next to easiest schedule and will be hard to catch. The second problem is that FC Platinum HAS the easiest schedule and may be the 'spoiler'.
Theoretically, given the fact we have the most games remaining, we could amass the most points of the top 4 and have a fighting chance for the coveted number 1 position.
With hard work, dedication and focus, I know our girls will give it everything they have in the coming weeks. They have the hearts of lions, we've seen it time and time again, and I know they will rise to this challenge like the true champions they are. We are very proud of them and will stand behind them regardless of the outcomes.
I am proud to say; GO SODIUM!
Sodium - 1) Rush 95G Nike 2) Dynamo 3) Arsenal 4) Magic 5) Royal 6) Inferno
Rush 95G Nike - 1) Sodium 2) Royal 3) Inferno 4) Dynamo
Royal - 1) Inferno 2) Rush 95G Nike 3) Magic 4) Arsenal 5) Sodium
FC Platinum - 1) Magic 2) Inferno 3) Dynamo 4) Arsenal
The problem here, as I see it, is that the current #1 team in the bracket, Royal, has the next to easiest schedule and will be hard to catch. The second problem is that FC Platinum HAS the easiest schedule and may be the 'spoiler'.
Theoretically, given the fact we have the most games remaining, we could amass the most points of the top 4 and have a fighting chance for the coveted number 1 position.
With hard work, dedication and focus, I know our girls will give it everything they have in the coming weeks. They have the hearts of lions, we've seen it time and time again, and I know they will rise to this challenge like the true champions they are. We are very proud of them and will stand behind them regardless of the outcomes.
I am proud to say; GO SODIUM!
Friday, October 5, 2007
bye bye weekend
Sodium has a bye this weekend to rest up for 6 home games in a row! Just in time to beat the Pacific Northwest weather. Wouldn't it have been fun to play in Bend the last week in October? burrrr...
Coach Ronnie was contemplating a game Tuesday, please check your email boxes for updates.
Blog Updates;
"True champions aren't always the ones that win, but those with the most guts."
~Mia Hamm
GO SODIUM
Coach Ronnie was contemplating a game Tuesday, please check your email boxes for updates.
Blog Updates;
- Birthdays! - Every month I will post the birthdays of the Sodium players for that month. Check the right hand side box in the next week or so for this new feature.
- TEAMCHAT is going away. Since this blog is an ever changing animal, with features that come and go and evolve, the TEAMCHAT feature will be removed to make room for the birthday list.
"True champions aren't always the ones that win, but those with the most guts."
~Mia Hamm
GO SODIUM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
