| |
Admin
Last updated
01-05-09 03:58 PM
 
Sparta 96 Premier
ckolli@aol.com
10309 Granite Mesa Circle
Sandy, Utah
84092
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 My Site News: Semifinalists at Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament |
|
Semifinalists at Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament
November 28, 2005 - Sparta 96 Justus traveled to San Diego, CA, to play in the highly prestigious Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament. This is one of the top tournaments in the nation year after year. This year the competition level in the U-10 boys division was phenomenal, including the Cal-south state champions, Aztecs Premier. The boys would need to rise to the challenge presented by the high quality teams in this tournament.
The first game Saturday morning was against the host team, Nomads. It is not very often that a Utah team beats a team from this storied Southern California soccer powerhouse. Sparta came out of the gate a little conservatively; the Nomads had the better of the play for about the first eight minutes. However, the team gradually got themselves into the game. The first goal for Sparta came on an excellent through ball by Kolton from the left side of midfield that sprang Curtis in on goal 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Curtis took one touch and then ripped the ball into the lower left corner of the goal. The Nomads scored the equalizing goal just before halftime on a great header directly from a corner kick. The second half was noticeably higher in intensity as both teams were now ready to go, but it was all Sparta. The boys came out and played one of their best halves of soccer ever. Sparta scored five highly skillful goals in a variety of ways, while the Nomads could only answer with one. Curtis scored his second of the game on a great individual dribbling run through three defenders from midfield. Devon scored the third goal of the game on a beautifully struck corner kick, bent directly in to the top back corner of the goal. Then, Devon was preparing to cross the ball on another corner, Brendon made a twenty yard run down the middle of the field and met the ball in full stride to bury it in the back of the net. Matthew got into the action on a one time strike of a ball that was cut back from the goal line to the right side of the goal by Brendon. The sixth goal of the game was a beautiful passing display involving four players. Five one touch passes resulted in a great goal finished off by William. Final score: Sparta-6, Nomads-2.
The second game was Saturday afternoon against Placer SA from northern California. Sparta was ready to go right from the start of this game. After fifteen minutes of constant pressure by Sparta the score was 4-0. The placer team did not look like they knew what had just hit them. The entire team played at a very high level. The goal scorers were Curtis, Devon, Cole, and William, with assists by William, Devon, and Brendon. Coach Justus utilized the second half to rest players and allow some to play different positions then they normally do. Final score: Sparta-4, Placer SA-0. After the first day of the tournament Sparta was in the driver’s seat of their group.
Sunday morning, Sparta needed only a win, tie, or even a close loss against Hotspurs USA Red to win their group and move on to the quarterfinals. The boys seemed to know this before the game and came out very flat against the southern California team. Hotspurs scored two unanswered goals to take a 2-0 halftime lead. Their heads were down and they looked lifeless as they came of the field. The halftime talk from Justus was just about heart and desire to succeed, and a reminder about a similar situation at the Surf Cup three months before, in which Sparta was in first in their group and threw away two great games by losing the third game. The boys responded extremely well and came out like a team that would not be denied in the second half. An adjustment to move William to center mid paid off, as he was nearly unstoppable on the field. Tanner S. scored the first goal on an excellent assist from William. William dribbled through several players down the right side of the field (with a couple blatantly grabbing him like a football player) and laid the ball across the face of the goal for Tanner to place in to the lower corner. The only answer that Hotspurs had for William was to repeatedly grab and kick him all over the field. This tactic paid off for Sparta when a foul on William resulted in a free kick that Devon buried in the back of the net. A great comeback resulted in the final score: Sparta-2, Hotspurs USA Red-2.
Sparta finished in first place in their group, their quarterfinal opponent Sunday night was RSF Attack from southern California. This game had a very dramatic finish in a shootout. RSF Attack had an excellent forward that presented some problems for the Sparta defenders. He scored the first goal of the game after beating a couple players off the dribble and hitting a pinpoint shot to the lower corner of the goal. Sparta answered only a few minutes later on a beautiful free kick bent over the wall and just under the bar by Devon. Then just before halftime Brendon scored a very skillful goal, by flicking the ball over his and the defender’s heads, spun around and volleyed it right in to the net. The second half was full of missed opportunities for Sparta to put the game out of reach, but fatigue from four games in two days seemed to be setting in. Attack’s talented striker scored a great goal in the top corner of the goal from about twenty-five yards away on a dead run to pull the game even at two goals a piece. The remaining ten minutes of regulation were extremely intense with players from both teams giving all they could muster. At the final whistle, the game tied at two, it was time for the shootout. Spectators from many other teams surrounded the field that was all lit up under the lights. It was truly a dramatic setting for the boys to be in. All five shooters from Sparta stepped up and struck their shot with cool confidence without a single miss. Attack went four out of five, with their third shooter hitting the left post. Final score: Sparta-2 (5 pk), RSF Attack-2 (4 pk)
This set the stage for a semifinal game early Monday morning against Stampede from southern California. This was one of the best teams that Sparta has ever played. They were very quick and had excellent technical skills with the ball. However, Sparta was capable of beating them. Fatigue from the travel and previous two days of high level soccer seemed to really show on the field. They could not find the energy that brought them to this point. Stampede scored two phenomenal goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead, one of which was a volley that dipped just under the bar, struck from 25 yards out on a dead run. The halftime talk included some candy for the players to try to get some sugar energy going. Coach Justus did his best to motivate the players. The attitudes of the players were completely different to start the second half. The energy seemed to be coming back and the intensity began to return to their game. About ten minutes into the half the adjustments seemed to have paid off. Brendon made an excellent run to get on to the end of a through ball that split two defenders. He was taken down on a slide from behind just as he was about to hit a shot from ten yards out. Devon stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick. He never misses these, but on this day it was not meant to be. A few minutes later Sparta had another certain goal cleared right off the goal line by a sliding Stampede player. Justus changed formations to try to get more attackers up the field, which resulted in Stampede scoring a third goal in the final minute of the game. Final score: Sparta-0, Stampede-3.
Stampede moved on to the championship game to face Aztecs Premier. This game was a great game between two excellent teams. Regulation finished with the game tied 0-0. Aztec’s very fast and technically skilled striker scored a great goal in overtime to give them the 1-0 victory.
This tournament was a very good experience for the boys, and very fun for all the players, parents, and fans. ALL the players who attended did an excellent job: Bodie, Brendon, Cole, Curtis, Devon, Kolton, Matthew, Tanner S., Tyler, William, and Keaton. Sparta showed once again that they are right there with some of the top teams in the region, and learned many new things. It was a great tournament and we look forward to the next time we can test ourselves in the soccer capital, southern California.
|
|
build a web site | fundraising | community | collect fees online | blogz
