The Vardar Cup was a solid start to the season, our first competitive games under a new coach, playing a new system, against three experienced opponents. Overall, our shape at the back looked pretty good, we began to combine and switch the lay in the midfield, and up top we looked fantastic. Some players stepped it up in the fight for starting spots, and others learned what it takes to play at this level. The tourney served a good purpose, and in the end, we are a better team today then we were last week, which will serve us well in our three tough Midwest Regional League games this weekend. In our first game, the score line did not reflect our dominance, as a late Peter Jacobson goal salvaged three points in a game we could have won by 5 or 6. We defended well, but did not connect well offensively or get any width in the final third. The second match against a very talented Chicago Sockers team taught us a valuable lesson; if we are not ready to play and committed to the cause, we cannot compete. After digging ourselves a 0-3 hole by the half, we showed much more commitment, toughness, and soccer brains, got a goal back, should have had a penalty, and by the end could have gotten a point out of the game. The loss will make us much better, as we learned what it takes to play against the best teams in the region. Our final game against Carmel Utd as beautiful to watch, as our attack flowed, our wingers got forward often, and we thoroughly outplayed them in every aspect of the game. Behind 5 stunning goals from Peter Jacobson, we won 8-0, but in the end, it was not enough to put us through to the semifinals.
