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WHAT.......A...........SEASON!!!!
It is hard to put into words the excitement, the competition, and of course the fun that US98 Soccer participants enjoyed these final two weeks of action. But, we'll let the Managers do their best, starting with the Final Regular Season Matches for some and Play-off Matches for others, that occured on Saturday, November 8th at Wind Garden Park at WaterSound:
U-10 Playoffs
A.C. JamBone 1 - 4 ZENIT St. Joe: ZENIT St. Joe U10 played Jambone this week in the semi-finals. The game was close with the score tied at 1-1 going into the second half. It was a great defensive battle the first half with Helene Masone making several saves to keep the score tied. In the second half Zenit got the lead with a goal from Helene Masone. Soon after, Elaina Davies scored her second goal on a well struck corner kick from Sam Rich. With the game coming to a close Sam Rich made a sweet move to get open at the top of the box and hit a well struck ball that reached the back of the net to give Zenit/St. Joe the 4-1 win. Zenit’s defense played really tough the second half not allowing any shots on goal. Defensive standouts include Jake Foster, Mia McAdams, Alysa Selvey, Will Hobbs, Collin Reaves and Sterling Smith. “We are really looking forward to the finals, we played hard this past week and look forward to a great game next week”, stated coach David Smith.
REAL Alys Beach 1 - 1 Fat Daddy's UNITED (O.T. 1-0):
Wow. What a match. It could not have been more exciting. Real Alys Beach is likely the most improved team. After losing their first three games, it looked to be a long season. However, with a new focus on defense, they were able to score a draw in their match against A.C. Another draw against Zenit left them yearning for a victory. In the final match against league leader United, they scored first but fell short in the fourth quarter for another loss. The playoffs did not look promising for Real, having drawn United.
The match started tight with both team showing great defense. However, a Seth Meadows shot from outside went just below the post and over the outstretched reach of Real goalie, William Cunningham. It looked as if Real would fallback again. The third quarter would prove to be a stalemate. William Cunningham was not going to let anything past the goal. AJ Cloutier was a defensive machine, blocking, stealing, and clearing the ball consistently. Henson Bartlett was all over the field, charging towards the offensive side. Ashton Duggan who has always played her position precisely was poised for a goal.
Real would just not give up. Finally, in the fourth quarter, it happened. AJ Cloutier stole the ball and weaved down field. After passing several players and driving to the corner, he tried to center it. His pass was redirected by a United played. Unfortunately for United, Aston Duggan was in her position. Goooaaal! 1-1!!
The final minutes were fast paced but defensive, with neither side allowing any penetration to the goal. Overtime would ensue. And after two 5-minute periods, it was still a draw! A shootout would follow.
Each team chose five of their best shooters and took turns trying to score. Both sides had outstanding goalie saves, shots off the post, and a few just wide misses. Next, a one shot shoot off until someone scored.
AJ Cloutier was up and his shot scored! But wait, the referee had not blown his whistle to allow the kick, so he would have to try again. The goalie made a great save! The Real goalie was under pressure as well, but made a save.
Finally, Henson Bartlett was up. His shot went high and just below the crossbar. Goooooooooal!!!!!! It was down to the last chance for United. The shot was hard, but just wide!! Real has its first win, and into the championship it would go!
A great match with both teams showing courage, determination and sportsmanship. Good Luck, United.
U-8 Final Regular Season Match
Matchday VII Game Summary (11.08.08)
Olympique 3, SW United 2
After thawing Zak "Han Solo" Mignot out from his carbonite prison in the fortress of JamBone the Hutt, the Olympique Rebel Alliance prepared for their battle against the fearsome soccer stormtroopers of South Walton United. The Imperial troopers, led by the fiendishly clever Darth Lisa, got off to a quick start with two devastating strikes against the rebel base. The Olympique rebellion was dejected until Dylan "Obi Wan" Sturdivant sent his team spirit from far, far away at the end of the first quarter to cheer them up.
Rallying behind the skillful flying of Chase "Chewbacca" Chandeysson, who scored the first blast, Queen Emma-dala Boulware, Nadia-2D2, and Princess Eris led the rebel attack while Queen Emma-dala Gibson manned the Ion Cannon to keep the United troopers pinned-down and scoreless for the rest of the battle. His training now complete, Avery "Luke" Neal used his Jedi passing techniques to open up the field, and then slashed a hole in the net to tie the game. Finally, Jedi Master Patrick "Yoda" Hughes showed why he was known throughout the Galaxy by sommersaulting his way the length of the field to cut the enemy's goal clean in half for the winning score.
The Olympique Rebels now prepare for their final challenge this Saturday, as the rebuilt SW Galaxy Death Star moves into firing position in the Consolation Championship. May the Force Be With Them!
And finally, these two Match Reports from Championship Saturday:
U-10 Championship
ZENIT St. Joe 1 - 0 REAL Alys Beach: Zenit, St. Joe U10 played Real Alys Beach this week in the championship game. The game was close with the half time score of 1-0 in favor of Zenit. It was a great defensive battle the entire game with goalie Peter Masone making several saves. In the second half, both teams had opportunities in the box but failed to convert. The excitement of the game spilled over to the crowd with everyone screaming the entire second half. Alys Beach had a few opportunities in the closing moments of the game but Zenit’s defense played really tough and that was the difference in the game. The game ended 1-0 with Zenit’s kids jumping for joy! Everyone on both teams played their hearts out, stated coach David Smith. Zenit, St. Joes’s U10 roster included Jake Foster, Mia McAdams, Alysa Selvey, Will Hobbs, Collin Reaves, Sam Rich, Jacob Eaves (game winning goal), Georgia Bright, Peter Masone, Helene Masone, Elaina Davies, and Sterling Smith. “We are really excited to have won the U10 Championship, we played hard every week and are very fortunate that it worked out in our favor”, stated coach David Smith.
U-8 Final Match
Matchday VIII Final Game Summary (11.15.08)
Olympique 5, SW Galaxy 1
After their come-from-behind victory last week over the United stormtroopers, the Olympique rebel fleet commander learned that the final battle would be fought at the forest moon of Helen McCall against a powerful foe that had defeated the rebels earlier in the campaign: the South Walton Galaxy Death Star! This giant yellow menace was heavily armed and shielded from all attacks by massive turbo-lasers, but the rebels knew that this was their chance to defeat the Empire once and for all and restore the old soccer republic.
Alone in the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, Chase "Chewbacca" Chandeysson struck the first blow with amazing acrobatics that left the Galaxy tie-fighters crashing into each other. The battle-crazed Wookie and the raging Queen Emma-dala Boulware struck again and again at the Galactic fortress leaving the Imprerial forces confused and vulnerable. Meanwhile Patrick "Yoda" Hughes, feeling a great disturbance in the force, drew his green lightsaber and spun through the opponents to score another hit directly on the goal. But the Galaxy Death Star was not defenseless! Swarming Tie-Fighters took their toll on the Rebel fighters with disciplined defense, and then destroyed one of the Rebel flagships with a skillful goal. But then Queen Emma-dala Gibson put down the hammer and stopped all further attacks with her unbreakable defensive efforts.
Then, with faithful droid Nadia-2D2 in the back of his X-Wing and Princess Eris Neal and Dylan "Obi Wan" Sturdivant flying in formation as his wingmen, Avery "Luke" Neal dodged through the defensive blaster fire and struck the last blows against the once-unbeatable space station. After blasting open the armor-plated net with a force-guided corner kick that curved into the goal on its own, he launched the final strike into the unprotected reactor core and detonated the Galaxy Death Star in an immense cosmic explosion that nearly destroyed the entire field!
Joyfully, the entire Rebel Alliance gathered at Planet Fat Daddy's to celebrate with pizza, and bestow special awards on all the brave rebels who made this a great season with teamwork, effort, skill, and class! May the Force Be With Them, Now and Forever!
The Champions of the Age Divisions:
U-14: ZENIT St. Joe
U-10: ZENIT St. Joe
U-8: A.C. JamBone
U-14
Golden Boot: Edgar Flores (ZENIT)
Brick Wall: Henry Savoie (A.C.)
U-10
Golden Boot: Seth Meadows (UNITED)
Brick Wall: Matthew Brooks (UNITED)
U-8
Golden Boot: Payton Troy (A.C.)
Brick Wall: Chase Miles (UNITED)
GREAT Examples of the Heart, the Class, the Excitement, and the Joy that Players, as well as Parents, hopefuly felt throughout this Fall 2008 Champions League Season!
You can find and order all of the League photos (Save! - 10% Discount on all online photo orders placed before Thanksgiving 2008, Use Coupon Code " TURKEY " at check out), including many action photos from this Championship Saturday and Saturdays prior, here: http://jpsisports.com/
Every Player from every Club can hold their head high, knowing that they contributed as much as they could to everyone's enjoyment, specifically we hope their own, of a fun-filled, sometimes competitive but always a learning experience, season that has hopefully been Greater South Walton's finest in some time. US98 Soccer is committed to continue to improve what we offer to Our Youth, and we thank all of our Supporters, Volunteers, and Sponsors for helping mold this program into one that is second-to-none on the South Walton Recreational Sports scene.
Between now and our next season, there will still be exciting local soccer action as Soccer Academie INTER98, South Walton's first-ever Academy and Travel Team, tunes-up and gets ready to represent South Walton in U-11 competitions throughout the Florida Panhandle. Get behind them and show your support!!
The Spring Super Cup 2009 Season is closer than you think, with sign-ups starting in early February. Check back on our website and look for correspondence and anouncements regarding our next fun-filled and exciting offering!
Until the next time, when we'll......
SEE YOU OUT ON THE PITCH!!!
Cheers,
D. Christian Franek
President, US98 Soccer
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