Several Week Recap (or "Get your priorities straight!")

Tri-Cities
In two of the best, most exciting games we’ve seen Sodium play, the lady warriors destroyed the strong Boise Les Bois team 5-1 and beat up on the U13 FC Willamette Atletica team 3-1.

In Pasco the girls started off a little slow, dropping the first two games to powerhouse local Washington teams, 2-0 and 2-1. The only goal scored Saturday was on a cross that was slam dunked by Dayna Carlson. The raging wind and bitter cold played havoc with all the teams on Saturday. Sunday brought an entirely new team to the field. With a little fire the Sodium squad took the field against a tough Les Bois team from Boise, ID. The tone was set early, shoot early and shoot often as the lady warriors rocketed shot after shot at the helpless Les Bois goalie. Dayna Carlson, Marissa Reid, Payten Sonnen and Bailey Hall all scored for the lady warriors. To add insult to injury, one of the 5 goals was an own goal off the defenders hip.

Sodium Blows Up against Atletica
After suffering a shut out earlier this season at the hands of FC Willamette Atletica, Sodium showed up ready to take the field with a vengeance. Being a year younger, a year less experienced and a little lighter than Atletica never became an issue as the lady warriors took it to them from the initial whistle. The battle was ON as bodies flew, tempers flared and Sodium scored. First was a textbook break away by Payten Sonnen flying down her favorite right side. From our vantage point I still don’t know how she shot the angle but she did and rocked the back of the net for the initial score! Atletica answered quickly on a direct kick that just got passed the dive of stand in goalie extraordinaire Erika Cook. (Who did a great job!) On a move that will go down in Sodium history, the next goal was scored just after half time by Emmy Owens. After taking a pass in traffic Emmy not only split two defenders but totally left the Atletica goalie holding her jog bra with a head fake and rocket into the net. The slack-jawed crowed, after we digested the move we just witnessed, exploded from the sidelines! I think even Ronnie and Tom were impressed by this move. To put the nail in the Atletica coffin, late in the second half after Sodium had penetrated deep into the box, the ball was dropped back to Bailey Hall who took aim and drilled a laser into the upper right corner from 25 yards out. Overall these last two games have been the best back-to-back games Sodium has put together all season. They kept their cool against the bigger, older Atletica team and even though things got very physical, they were patient and took advantage of the opportunities given. A sign of a true championship team.

ESU Arsenal (Hat-Trick for Jadyn!)
Jadyn McMillan scored all 3 goals against ESU Arsenal this Sunday in the 3-1 victory. In this preview of the next round of the State Cup, Sodium again dominated the ESU team. Playing with only 11 players the lady warriors flexed a little muscle and showed Arsenal what to expect April 12th.

What a difference a year makes (A little humble pie)
To play a team that is expected to win state in their division is one thing (we’re always up for a challenge), if that team happens to be in the age bracket above you? Well, that’s a whole new ball game. Thus was the game Saturday against FC Portland Marine at PCC. Marine was fast, big and well coached. The 1-3 score is not indicative of how well Sodium played against FC. “Let the bodies hit the turf” was definitely the theme of this match as Sodium battled all game. In the second half Sodium really played tough as Jadyn McMillan, who is scoring at will these days, scored yet again and battled Marine to a 1-1 half. After the game the FC team looked a little battered and beaten. They knew they had just played one of the best teams in the state and I think they are thankful Sodium isn’t a year older…

Back with a vengeance (Sodium vs BSC Black Magic)
Different day, different outcome, same great team. Sporting a full roster the lady warriors took the field against a much bigger Black Magic team. Sodium came out fired up, they took it to BSC right out of the gate. The defense held strong as the faster Black Magic pulled out all the stops and eventual squeaked one in pasted the diving outstretched arms of Kristin Boone, who is doing an outstanding job in the goalie box and normally shares time with Hannah Hartford who is sick (and was on vacation too!). Patience, persistence and great passing, all signs of a veteran team. Sodium exhibited all three as they just kept plugging away at the BSC goal. Coach Ronnie even changed things up a bit when she moved Taylor Coon to forward and went with a 3-4-3 alignment. The girls reacted to the new scheme perfectly because with under three minutes left, a collision in front of the Black Magic goal produced a Bailey Hall header to Marisa Reid who found the back of the net! GAME ON! The cheers from the Sodium crowed lit up the OES field. A deflated BSC team played ‘not-to-lose’ the remaining minutes and, at the final whistle, Sodium knew they had a just won a huge moral victory! The lady warriors floated off the field, heads held high with Coach Ronnie proudly following.

Notables:
I have to say, from the perspective of a fan/parent, that our team is playing exceptionally well right now. We are playing at a new level just in time for State Cup. After looking at the bracket Ronnie sent out, in my opinion, I don’t think we will have any problems advancing. As a former coach I have learned never to underestimate my opponent so we need to address them one game at a time. But, having said that, if you base things on past games and the fact that we are playing so much better now, well, you decide. I will post links to the brackets when they come available. I cannot find them through OYSA because it states they will not be available until March 19th. If anyone knows a little backdoor, please let me know.

Next up; Bend Storm - April 6th in Bend. See Ronnies email for details.

Until next time: GO SODIUM!