Sorry for the delay in posting. Yesterday was very long, busy but very fun! Part 1 will deal with the game and part 2 the after party. The games started before the game yesterday. Although we changed jerseys in our first meeting with PK-35 on Wednesday, they were unwilling to change for the finals on Saturday. Apparently the visitors change when there is a conflict and we were listed as the visitors. While the organizers tried to talk to Pk-35 officials, they very clearly spoke English when they said they would be wearing "Black and Red". So the Fusion used this as motivation for the game. We would wear our Fusion Blue but would bring our Canadian Reds to the field, so when we won we would put them on for the medal presentation.
I never knew a rivalry could blossom after one game but there was no love between the two teams. There was a lot of tension and not a lot of words between the teams as they passed each other on the change room area. The players would finish their warm up and then line up behind the referees for the procession onto the field.
Off we go! The players walked onto the field with about 1500-2000 people in attendance. The nerves would show early as the Fusion were a little tentative and tight with their touch. However they would strike with their first good chance. Rachel threw a long ball into the box to Mikayla. Mikayla flicked the ball onto a wide open Brooke who blasted a shot. The keeper got a hand onto it but Madison followed in and buried the rebound. Pk-35 would even the score four minutes later from a cross from the right side. Jess would make a diving save but the rebound hit off Alex and an oncoming PK-35 striker and go into the net. The whole Pk-35 team (minus the keeper)ran to the corner flag and starting doing a dance celebration. This did not sit well with the Fusion girls and they picked their game up for the last minutes of the first half. Both Brooke and Mikayla were sent in on breakaways but were unable to convert. The first half would end at a 1-1 tie.
The second half started just like the first ended, with the Fusion in control. Breadyn would have a small breakaway but the Pk-35 keeper came out quickly and blocked the shot. The Fusion would get the break they needed with 10 minutes to go. Lisa intercepted the Pk-35 pass and dribbled forward before laying the ball off to Braedyn. Braedyn sent Mikayla through on a breakaway and she would make no mistake. A blast into the top of the net and the Fusion were up 2-1. We dropped into a little bit more of a defensive formation but the chances continued. Again Mikayla went in on a breakaway and slid the ball past the keeper but grazed the outside of the post. The final whistle blew soon after and the Fusion girls rushed onto the field to celebrate. A great win against the hometown side was a great character builder. Their fans definitely outnumbered our small number of fans. But our fans were loud and could be heard throughout the game. The girls quickly rushed off the field and put the Red Jerseys before the medal ceremony.
Game MVP was Mikayla Morton and rightly so. The tournament MVP was a player from PK-35 and while she had a good tournament, in my eyes nobody was better than Brooke during this week. Brooke never stopped working all week and scored in almost every game. The best I have ever seen her play. Every girl played awesome this week and the coaching staff is so proud of them all. But now it is off to pack as we are heading to the airport soon. So I will post part two later today.
Coach Dave
