Mockingbird Girls '92: State Cup 2009

State Championship Sunday, May 31, 2009. Mockingbird 1 – Kings SA Elite 0

What an amazing accomplishment!  My guess is there aren’t many four-peats out there in Kentucky soccer history … not even by the evil empire.  There was tremendous effort, skill and heart displayed out there today.  I can’t express how proud I am of these young ladies.

The game opened with KSA on the attack for the first five minutes, and then Mockingbird moved to the offensive end.   In the fifth minute Chelsea received a throw in from our left and sent a perfect cross toward the box that Kaitlin powerfully headed home.  Just a perfect start!  I suggested to the center at that point that we had all we needed and he should call the game.  Unfortunately the unreasonable $#^%! said “play on”!

The next 10 minutes were solidly ours with KSA on their heels.  They scared us twice around the 15th minute.  Then we had a couple of excellent chances for a second score, first by Jordan just after entering the game in the 16th minute and then four minutes later when Cate broke free down the middle. We were looking great.

Then it was KSA’s turn and they threatened first off a direct kick and then a few minutes later their forward split the central defense to get free but she kicked it over the crossbar.  In the next five minutes KSA wasted two corners (they dominated this stat for the game).  Around the 35th Shellie was involved in a massive challenge which led to some very scary times and we lost her for the game.  To add insult to injury they were awarded a direct kick which dropped in the box but was fortunately sent harmlessly over the crossbar.  Our girls settled in a bit from there and managed to hang on to the 1-0 advantage for the rest of the half.

Just after the half, in the 47th minute Cate had a great chance to double the margin but it wasn’t meant to be.  They gave us a scare in the 53rd but the next several minutes were relatively uneventful. In the 60th we had a corner but couldn’t convert.  It was mostly even play for the next 20 minutes or so then they really began pressing for the equalizer.  Over the next several minutes they had a couple of corners and a couple of direct kicks in dangerous position but really did nothing with their opportunities (reminds me of our game against Rush).

For the last 15 minutes or so of the game, Ben had us packed into our zone in defensive mode and our girls played great.  With them pressing hard we had a couple of chances to break out but really didn’t threaten.  It did use time though and time was our friend.  Finally after six minutes of added time (on top of five in the first half) we heard the three short whistles and the girls had done it again!

I have to admit I thought we were in serious trouble as the second half started.  KSA seemed to have somewhat the better of play and we were missing a key defender.  But soccer is a team game and the defense held throughout the final 45 with some fabulous play from Chloe, Christina, Heather, “Klean Sheet” Kayla, Maddie, Marge and Sydney along with lots of help from the midfield and the forwards. Please forget what I said about soccer after the Rush match.

Semi-Final Saturday, May 30, 2009. Mockingbird 4 -- Kings SA Premier 0

Four down; one to go!   

No game report tonight, seven and a half hours of soccer today - too late for a report besides you were there; you saw it.

Here's the scoring recap:

     10th minute      Cate from Chelsea
     44th minute      Shelby from Kaitlin
     56th minute      Cate from Kaitlin
     89th minute      Chelsea from Cate

Fourth final in four years. It can be yours' ladies … GO HARD!!! TAKE IT!!!!

Game 3 Monday, May 25, 2009.              Mockingbird 6 – Nelson Elite Strikers 1

Short and sweet tonight – just the facts.   The scoreless drought ended quickly and emphatically just 1:45 into the match when Lindsey dribbled down the left and sent a beautiful cross toward the goal just inside the six to Kaitlin who finished with a powerful header.   Two minutes later the ball bounced free toward Shelly directly in front of the goal about thirty yards out.   Chloe yelled shoot; Shelly followed direction and booted it home just over the goalie’s outstretched hands and just below the crossbar for the  2-0 lead.  Things settled down from there and I suspect the ladies relaxed just a tad with Mock clearly in control but not totally dominating.  If there was any doubt, Alex put the game out of reach in the 28th minute when she dribbled from the center line and pushed it by the keeper for the 3-0 margin.

The second half was mostly uneventful but Nelson actually spent some time on their attacking side of midfield for a while.   In the 62nd minute Kaitlin expanded the lead when she punched home a drop from Alex from right about the PK mark.   Nelson scored in the 78th minute off a nice play heading home a score at the near post off a corner.   Lauren got on the board assisted by Chelsea in the 81st minute and then Chelsea finally broke through after several shots squeezing it by the goalie on the short side with about a minute left for the final 6-1 result.

On to the semi’s - two wins to go!

Game 2 Sunday, May 24, 2009.              Mockingbird 0 -- KY Rush Nike 0

I hate soccer!  Soccer sucks!  The only thing I find more frustrating than soccer is golf – but at least with golf I get a chance to hit something.   There -- now I feel better.

For those of you who are worried about whether the girls will be playing in the semi’s next weekend, it’s not a lock but it’s the next closest thing. We have four points, Rush has one; we are plus eight in goal differential.  Rush needs to win by at least 4-0 and we have to lose by 4-0 in which case Rush would win the group on tiebreakers --- anybody losing sleep?  I suggest you may want to book next Saturday at 1:00pm on your calendar – probably safe to write in ink.

As for the game report there’s really not much to say.  The girls got a solid chance less than two minutes into the game on a nice combo between Kaitlin and Chelsea.  I thought they were going to quickly take control.  Unfortunately, the quality of play deteriorated quickly for the next twenty minutes or so.  The girls had trouble with their touches; couldn’t connect on passes; lost the majority of 50/50 balls and in general were just outhustled.  Not sure if they were overconfident, lacked respect for their opponent or were just objecting to the early morning start but something wasn’t right.   Gradually, they began to assert themselves in the last twenty minutes of the first half and I felt confident they would come out strong and quickly gain the advantage in the second half.

As I hoped, they opened the second half strong and in the 4th minute off a corner had several chances with the goalie out of position but no one could finish. The rest of the half consisted of numerous promising offensive forays by Mockingbird but most ended with a shot off frame.  For the game Rush had few real threats and Mockingbird wasted at least a dozen corners or direct kicks in the offensive third with nothing to show.

Still after all that - three wins to go!

Game 1        Saturday, May 23, 2009.        Mockingbird 5 --Atletico Flames 1

Offside Position

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

• A player is in an offside position if:
  
  • she is nearer to her opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

• A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of her team, she is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
  • interfering with play or
  • interfering with an opponent or
  • gaining an advantage by being in that position.

• There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
  • a goal kick or
  • a throw-in or
  • a corner kick

Number of times we infringed --- stopped counting at 20.

1st Half scoring:

23rd minute      Kaitlin from Heather                             Mock 1-0
42nd minute      Lauren from Kaitlin from Heather         Mock 2-0

2nd Half scoring:

60th minute      Alex from Lauren                                  Mock 3-0
70th minute      Flame score off bad clearance              Mock 3-1
72nd minute     Shelby from Kaitlin                               Mock 4-1
86th minute      Cate unassisted                                     Mock 5-1

It's not how pretty, it's how many.

Four wins to go!

The four one seeds have all advanced out of group play and will meet next weekend back at Masterson Station to determine the 2009 State Champion.

Club Website
No Team Website found
Soccer in College Team Page

Assuming a successful Saturday afternoon outing against KSA Premier, the girls would be matched up against the winner of the other semifinal which pits last years finalist, the KSA Elite (formerly Northern Kentucky United Cobras) against Javanon, both formidable opponents and long time rivals. The other semi will be a rematch of an earlier game at the Ohio Elite Showcase where Javanon prevailed 2-0.   We have played six games, four of them in State Cup competition against KSA Elite:

Overall: Record 4 - 2 - 0 GF: 14 GA: 5

Club Website
Team Website
Gotsoccer Team Page

We have played a total of fourteen games against Javanon over the last six years; second only to games against the former LFC 92.  Here's the last five:

Club Website
Team Website
Gotsoccer Team Page

Kathy has made arrangements with Fazoli’s for the annual Pre State Cup Team Dinner.

Here are the details:

Place:            Fazoli’s
Address:       337 Whittington Parkway
                     Louisville, KY 40222
Date:             Friday, May 22
Time:            6:30PM

This the Hurstbourne location, same as prior years.  

Complete State Cup schedules can be found here.  Click "Match Schedules link on the left.   

Click here to see a field map of Masterson Station.

Click here to see a field map of Lovers Lane.    Finals moved to Masterson Station.

Here's a quick overview of the opponents for the upcoming State Cup preliminary round in Lexingotn at Masterson Station Fields.

Previous Games 7 - 0 - 0

Playing in KSSL First Divison - Spring 2009
Record is 3-3-2 as of 5/19 (6th of 10)

Club Website
Team Website

Game 2:  Kentucky Rush Nike

Previous Games 0 - 0 - 0
None

Playing in KSSL Premier Divison - Spring 2009
Record is 0-1-3 as of 5/19 (8th of 9 - partial schedule)

Club Website
No Team Website Found

Game 3:  Nelson Elite Strikers

Previous Games 6 - 0 - 0

May 2003 Mockingbird 4 Nelson; 0 Win
Apr 2004 Mockingbird 2 Nelson; 0 Win
May 2004 Mockingbird 2 Nelson; 0 Win
Jun 2004 Mockingbird 6 Nelson; 0 Win
Apr 2005 Mockingbird 2 Nelson; 0 Win
May 2006 Mockingbird 2 Nelson; 0 Win

Playing in KSSL First Divison - Spring 2009
Record is 6-2-1 as of 5/19(2nd of 10)

Club Website
No Team Website

Brackets have been drawn.  As last year's champion we are the number 1 seed in Group A. Group A consists of Mockingbird, Atletico Flames and Kentucky Rush Nike.   I assume we'll have a cross over game with Group B which should be Nelson Elite Strikers.

If the girls get through the preliminaries, they will play the winner of Group D in the semi-finals. Group D consists of KSA Premier, United 1996, Commonwealth SC and LSC Central.   This Group looks wide open as to who will make it through.

Finals will be the winner of the Group A vs Group D semifinals against the Group B / Group C winner which would most likely be KSA Elite (formerly NKUSC Cobras) or Javanon with Owensboro United and Bluegrass SC as darkhorses.

 Here's the tournament version of the brackets.   Click on the "Brackets" link on the left then click on U17 Girls tab for our bracket details.

I will attempt to put together all State Cup related information on this page. Click on the link above to get to the tournament web site.

The Preliminary Rounds will be Memorial Day weekend ... May 23, 24 and 25. Preliminaries will be at Masterson Station Fields in Lexington, same as last year.

Finals will be the following weekend --- May 30 and 31 at Lovers Lane Fields in Bowling Green, also same as last year.

KSA Elite is Kings Soccer Academy from Northern Kentucky and is Elite is the former NK United Cobras.   Missing from last year are Lexington FC, NKSL Raptors and SKY Futbol Club,