Monday, June 22, 2009. Mockingbird 1 – Gladiator Rio 1

I realize you’re looking for a report on today’s game, but first a travelogue.  It is 350 miles or so from Sioux Falls to Rapid City on the way to Mount Rushmore -- only miles of I-90 and pretty much nothing else.  On the way we saw 23 cows, 9 horses and 4 people (other than those we passed in cars).   I hope this damn piece of rock is worth it tomorrow.

After hearing all the injury reports on the way to today’s game I really wondered if we’d be able to field a full eleven.  It seemed as if everyone was wounded in one way or another.  Gladiator Rio opened strong with a shot on goal in the first minute.  For the first twenty minutes they were much faster and quicker to the ball.  Almost all the play was in our defensive end and it seemed to be only a matter of time before they scored.  Around 20 minutes in, first Sydney and then Shellie left the field banged up and I thought we were in serious trouble.

But in what was an interesting strategic shift, the Gladiator forwards and midfielders lost their pace, apparently tired from all the runs they had been making.  After almost no offense in the first 25 minutes, Mockingbird got a nice long run off multiple short passes ending in our first shot on goal.  A few minutes later we had another chance off a corner but didn’t threaten.  They earned a corner when they counter attacked after our corner but we were able to clear after a few scares. 

Play was even for the next several minutes and then we asserted control for the last five minutes of the half with two solid chances including one with the goalie out of the box and on the ground.  Overall Gladiator Rio had much of the better of play for the first 25 minutes or so and then momentum gradually switched over to Mockingbird.  We were fortunate to be level at 0 – 0.

We opened well and had a corner just a minute into the second half but again didn’t threaten.  Most of the play was in our offensive third for the first six minutes then they had a strong shot in the 51st minute.  In the 53rd minute they hit the top of the cross bar off a direct kick and followed with a soft goal just a minute later.  So unfortunately we were down again for the third straight game despite having outplayed Gladiator for the first ten minutes of the half. They had a few more chances over the next several minutes but we got to the water break still down just one. 

Then the flow of the game completely changed and Mockingbird was now clearly the attacker.  Right after the water break Alex dribbled down the right side near the goal line and then sent a perfect cross through the box that Lindsey headed solidly home for tie.  Three minutes later Kaitlin had a very strong chance off a nice pass threaded down the middle by Lauren but the shot went just left of the goal.  In the 87th minute Alex just missed on a strong shot from about 20 yards out that curled about 6 inches high and left.  The game ended 1-1 which seemed to be a fair result.  They had several opportunities early while we had three or four solid chances that just missed late in each half.

I couldn’t be more proud of how hard these girls fought this weekend. They were short handed with everyone playing major minutes in hot conditions. They were down in each game and each time came back to score; once to close a 2-0 gap and make it interesting; once to convert a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win and in the last game to come back and earn a hard fought tie.  See you in the Fall!

Sunday, June 21, 2009. Mockingbird 4 – Dakota Gold Destiny 2

The girls opened the first five minutes sluggishly with play marred by the wet field which affected passing but mostly by the whistle happy referee who called a quick four or five calls all in our defensive third.   We settled in for the next ten minutes and had the slight advantage in play and a couple of opportunities. Alex ran on to a long through ball from Kaitlin in the 16th minute.   I thought the GK was going to get to it first but the wet field slowed the ball enough for Alex to get there first and the 1 – 0 lead.

After the goal Destiny picked up the pace a bit to pressure Mockingbird for the next five minutes or so but the girls gradually began to take back control.  In the 40th minute one of their forwards got a running head start go the left side but Christina bothered her enough and the shot went weakly to the right of goal.  The half ended with Mockingbird up 1-0 and honestly it wasn’t a terribly exciting game to watch as the wet field played havoc with passing and ball control.  They didn’t have much in the way of serious threats while the continuous whistle for fouls and offside slowed the match considerably. 

Going into the second half I was confident that the girls would at least get out with a tie.   I just didn’t see anything from Destiny that indicated they could score two --- once again proving the depth of my soccer ignorance.  The girls opened the second half strong and had two solid chances in the first five minutes but with no result.  The next five were all Destiny as they had two corners and a shot in the 54th minute that just went wide right.  In the 55th minute Alex broke free off a misplay by their defense but the goalie made a nice stop.

The next several minutes were spent in our defensive third and Destiny had two chances off direct kicks just outside the box – one on either side.  The second direct kick was a nice serve but the attacker headed it over the crossbar and we still had the 1-0 lead.  Lindsey earned a corner in the 64th minute off a nice long run down the left side but we didn’t seriously threaten.  

Destiny equalized in the 68th minute when we had a breakdown trying to clear the ball from our area.  We almost earned the lead right back on the ensuing kickoff but it wasn’t to be.  In the 71st Kaitlin took a pretty pass from Lauren near the PK mark but her shot went just wide left.  Things were looking grim when Destiny took a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute on a breakaway counter while we were pressing forward. 

Fifteen minutes to go and the Destiny fans were dancing but Mockingbird kept coming forward as they had pretty much all day only now without the offside infractions.  Then in the 78th minute Destiny handled the ball in the box and Cate calmly put the PK low and to the goalie’s right to equalize at 2-2.   Five minutes later we fouled again (at least in the Ref’s opinion) and Destiny had another direct kick opportunity but didn’t threaten.

In the 86th minute Kaitlin fought her way down the right side getting battered from both sides by Destiny defenders. She was challenged hard for at least 15 yards and just inside the box was knocked down for another PK.  This time Cate sent a perfect PK high and to the goalie's left as the GK was helplessly diving low and right – very pretty. In the last minute of play Chelsea finished the scoring with a long shot across the goal mouth into the upper left corner and the 4-2 finish.

Saturday, June 20, 2009. Mockingbird 1 – Internationals 3

This may have been the roughest, most physical soccer match I have ever seen the girls play.  The Internationals are big, strong and fast pretty much everywhere on the field.  They lived up to their #16 national ranking but our girls played a strong game and had a chance at a tie at least until the Internationals scored the clincher on a long shot with less than a minute to play. 

The first five minutes of the game were very even with both teams probing. The play was almost entirely in the middle third of the field with even possession.  Over the next several minutes the Internationals slowly took control and got two solid shots off --- one hard but right at Kayla from distance then a more threatening shot across the goal mouth with Kayla making a nice diving save.

Then Mockingbird had several chances.  First, Alex got 1 v 1 with the keeper but the keeper made a nice initial stop and the again on the rebound.  In the next few minutes we threatened off a corner and then Kaitlin got open in front of the goal but didn’t get enough on the shot.   The next several minutes our girls were clearly tiring and the Internationals were pressing hard.  A water break helped and Kaitlin almost headed an attempt over the keeper in the 30th minute.  For the next ten minutes Internationals were on the attack but couldn’t get past the defense.  The girls were tiring again but it looked like they might sneak into the half level at 0-0. 

Then in the 40th minute Mockingbird just missed off a free kick from near midfield on the right side but Internationals countered and squeezed one by Kayla for a 1-0 advantage at half.  While the ball spent most of the time in our defensive end, we had good chances and it could have easily been a 1-1 game at half, so we were still in it.

The ladies came out refreshed after the half time rest and play was even for the first several minutes.   Both sides had a couple of decent chances in the first ten minutes.  In the 61st minute, Alex got behind the defense on a long run and got to the ball a split second before the goalie.  But the GK got just enough to send the ball away from the net.  Just a minute later Kaitlin got a strong shot off from distance but the goalie deflected it for a corner kick.  They got a breakaway off the corner but Shellie was able to corral their very strong #9 until help came. 

Internationals went up 2-0 in the 67th minute when a defender fell and they had us outnumbered in the box. Things were looking down, but Alex brought everyone back when she took a nice pass from Lauren just past midfield and outraced three defenders to the goal.  Mockingbird was energized and had the best of play for the next several minutes but gradually wore down again.  Internationals scored their final goal with less than a minute left off a counter attack when Mockingbird was pressing forward to work for the tie.

Here's the bracket draw for the regionals including entries as of June 14.   All State Cups are not complete.   I've also included the most recent rankings from Soccer Girls (S-G) as of January 12 and National Soccer Ranking.com (NSR) as of June 14.   This is Regionals so there are no easy brackets but Group A is likely to be Eclipse, FC Milwaukee Blue, Ela Elite and CUP Gold - ouch!   Click here for the official full tournament draw.

This year's Region II  Championship will be in Sioux Falls, SC, a mere 870 miles from Louisvlle,  Short directions are drive to Des Moines, the site of the 2007 championships, then keep going for another four hours!

The championships will run from June 19 - 24.   

Check out the "Region II 2009" tab on the left of the website for much more information.

Check back frequently for updates.

Overall Event Schedule - Mockingbird 92 Girls

 Mockingbird 93 Girls Game Schedule

 Mockingbird 94 Boys Game Schedule

There are sixteen teams competing for the Region II Championship and the right to advance to the National Championships in Lancaster, Massachusetts July 20 through 26.    Champions from fourteen State Cups (including Ohio North and South) along with the Fall (TDB) and Spring (CASA) MRL Wildcard entries will compete.  There will be four, four team pools playing each other in a three game round robin for the right to advance to the semi's and then the finals.

We are in pool "D" consisting of the Internationals from Cleveland, OH,  Gladiator Rio from Omaha, NE,  and Dakato Gold Destiny from Sioux Falls. currently ranked #4, #18, and #45 respectively in Region II according to National Soccer Ranking.com.   The Internationals are also ranked 16th nationally.

Game #1: Sat. June 20 - Ohio North - Internationals

The ladies' first game will most likely be their most challenging. The Ohio North champion, Internationals, are currenty ranked 16th nationally and 4th in Region II by NSR.  The Internationals are the repeat state champion from Ohio North having defeated CASA both years   This spring they finished 5th in the MRL Premier League but were in a very tightly bunched pack of six teams.  They were the Region II semifinalist coming out on top in a bracket with Dynamo, Madison 56'ers Red (WI) and Classics Hammer.  Click here for the scores from that bracket.  They lost 2-0 in the semis to Vardar.

Take a look at their Got Soccer team page for some game scores.

Here's the club's website: Internationals Soccer Club
Haven't found a team website yet.

Game #2: Sun. June 21 -Dakota Gold Destiny

This team is from Sioux Falls, SD and is the four time State Champion of South Dakota. They are currently ranked #45 in Region II by NSR and Soccer Girls does not have them ranked.   This spring they played in teh MRL for the first time finishing fifth of eight teams in the MRL First Division Red.  At Regionals last year our girls prevailed in a hard fought 2-1 match that was tied at 1-1 with 13 minutes left in the match.

Take a look at their Got Soccer team page for some game scores.

Here's the club's website:          Dakota Gold SC
Here's some team information:    Dakota Gold Destiny

Game #3: Mon. June 22 -Gladiator Rio

Gladiator Rio is the three-peat state champion from Nebraska.   They are just coming off their high school season.   They are currently ranked 18th in Region II by NSR and Soccer Girls has them at #15 in Region II. Our girls have never played this team.

Take a look at their Got Soccer team page for some game scores.

Here's the club's website: Gladiator Soccer Club
Here's the team's website: Gladiator Rio

To see the complete Region II Championship draw for the U17 Girls click here.

Click on the link for details on the Baymont Inn amd Suites in Sioux Falls where the team will be staying for the Region II Championship.

Baymont Inn and Suites - Sioux Falls
3200 Meadow Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57106

US Phone:          605-362-0835
Fax:                   605-362-0836
E-Mail:               generalmanager17888@wynhg.com

Can't speak to the quality but if nothing else this will hotel will be much more convenient to the fields than Green Bay and certainly last year in Illinois.

Driving directions -

      Louisville to Hotel in Sioux Falls  
      Airport to Hotel

           Hotel Address:
                    3200 Meadow Avenue
                    Sioux Falls, SD 57106 US

      Hotel to fields
      Fields to Hotel

The games will be played at the Yankton Trail Soccer Complex which is located at:

        Entrance --    4005 Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
        Exit --           57th and Western Trail Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Here's a link to Google Maps:

Here's a map of the Yankton Trail Soccer Complex field layout.

Sioux Falls Area Map and Points of Interest.

Here's the team entries for the regionals as of June 7.  I've also included the most recent rankingsin Region II from Soccer Girls (S-G) as of January 12 and National Soccer Ranking.com (NSR) as of June 6. 

Some links to Sioux Falls, SD information:

Convention and Visitors Bureau 
Argus Leader    Area Newspaper
Wikipedia on Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Weather
Sioux Falls Radio Stations. Enter 57101 in the Zip Code box and hit submit.