Week 5: vs. Pen Fed Pirates 5-0

Oh yes what can I say, we CREAMED them!

There was Scott who not only too the goal making shot, but also diligently followed his own shot into the goal. Then the dynamic duo of Keaton and Ian each made a beautiful shot. And the creme de la creme of the might was our girl goal by Brandy!

We played well as a team, we passed often and well leaving the other team running around after our lightening plays. It is so refreshing to be the team that is still energetic and running at the end of the game instead of the team that is panting and hating all the people that run faster.

Again we went out and celebrated like the awesome kings that we are!

Tonight Week 6 - rematch with the Narwhals! Every game we have played against them has been closely fought. This time we will tip the scale and preserver! also i hope we play on a field that does not have a mysterious pile of vomit on the turf this time, and it is also not torrential rain this time.

Oh and speaking of catching up...

Team pic from summer season

From L to R, Top to bottom: James J, Phil, Nate, Wayne, Martin, Michael, Teresa, Hannah, Me, Shannon, Kenji, Paolo, James M

Sorry for the blogging hiatus...Fall Season 2012 recap and catch up here we go!

Ok ok sorry for the random hiatus but honestly I have been more than swamped. Summer was a blur of sun, hiking, soccer, rivers, mountains, more soccer and general misbehaving and hijinks.  Then fall showed up before I even caught my breath and apparently somewhere in the midst of everything I lost my damned mind and booked out every single second of my insane life with full-time work, going back to grad school for another grad degree, taking classes through my work, 2 dogs, 3 soccer teams and somewhere in the middle I managed to find myself a boyfriend. Whew! so after last night's peer pressure and wringing of hands here comes the blog - lets get caught up!

Introducing new Grass Kickers of Fall Season 2012

#3 - Mike. I prefer to think of him as Todd's long lost other half (last year's horrible reign of unfortunate hair terror was the result of these two making a bet). Mike though perhaps unimposing upon first glance this guy is surprisingly fast and also quite a good shot!

#9 - Becky. She comes highly recommended at least on the social front having been vouched for and verified by the stringent awesomeness test that is being approved by Myeshia. Also having played against her this summer in Hat Draw her soccer skills are none too shabby either. Funny, goofy, cute as a button, she is a natural addition to our roster of awesome ladies - welcome Becky!

#16 - Robby. What can I say -  he is enthusiastic, determined, energetic - oh and did I mention he is cute as heck? (oh I may be biased as he is my boyfriend).

#5 - Sinah and #26 - Elizabeth: This dynamic duo of ladies came riding in to save our ladies when we had played our 3rd game with no girl subs! Not only has these ladies made it so Andrea doesn't just kill me out of frustration - but they each bring with them unexpected talents and skills!

Finally - it is with welcome relief after a summer of longing that I welcome back...

#1 - Andrea: She is our dynamic lady striker with bright cleats and a brighter smile!
#4 - Heather: Our favorite librarian is back (with her handsome boyfriend Kevin to cheer us on)!
#15 - Scott: Our towering and newly married (sorry single ladies) wearer of many hats - whether he be our keeper or center mid or striker, this man has got the moves!
#19 - Todd: The traitor of summer got sick of getting his butt kicked on the company team and wisely returned to the black and maroon, bringing with him Mike as a peace offering
#20 - Ian: Our hungry hungry striker back with a ferocious appetite for a goal!

Okay enough with the mushy people loving section - onto the game recaps! Sorry ahead of time for that they are short and not very detailed, honestly I can't keep things in my brain for long.

Game 1 vs The Mighty Narwhals: 1 - 2
For some reason we always seem to play the Narwhals on the North Eugene and this time instead of torrential rains to mark the game we had the ominous and odd puke spot right in front of the goal box. Happy to report that as far as anyone was willing to admit no one stepped in it - hurray! First game back after between season break (and summer season break for some) went better than expected! It was wonderful to see familiar faces both on our own team and on the opposing team (Hi Laura, Sara and Marion!) It was a close game - hard fought but so much fun!

Game 2 vs. The Nutria 1-3
The lack of girl subs was really killing us this game with no Heather, Becky or Myeshia, but us ladies stuck to it and made it through. Also this game saw the return of Ian!

Game 3 vs. Dam United 1-2
Becky, Elizabeth and Sinah came to the rescue of our girls and for the first time since game 1 we had female subs! Woot! Highlights of the evening included Becky and Brandi breaking into some sort of odd sideline coordinated can-can/wiggle dance (it had a song too but i must have blocked it from my mind). Also David and Olivia came by to see us and show support with their adorable new family editions Diego and Max!

Game 4 vs. EnviroPros 7-2
Finally we break our drought and we not only win but we dominated! Robby scored his first goal ever! Way to go! Scott and Nate each also put one in, man those guys are good! But the crowning highlight of the evening goes to Ian - our lightening fast striker broke his own drought with a Hat Trick! 3 goals baby!

okay I think we are now caught up to the next game on 10/8 against PenFed Pirates - its time to get some revenge for Josh's knee!

Not quite sure what is up with Brandi's evil laser eyes here or what in the world is going on with Mye and Robby. 

Summer Season Game 1 vs The Nutria

We set this party off right!

First game of summer season was glorious and set the proper tone for games to come!

First let me welcome our new Grass Kickers who now have joined the Black and Maroon - introducing:

00  Big James - keeper extraordinaire whom I have dubbed "The Kraken" when he comes flying out of goal and onto the pitch. He is athletic, friendly and oh did I mention the man is a freaking GIANT. Watch him sometime during game stopping balls both in and out of goal and you will see why I call him The Kraken

09 Teresa - this lady is a gem that I was lucky enough to get to in my sifting of interested players provided by the city. In our first game out she has shown herself to be a great asset as our star female striker.

11  Phil - This man is solid, not only does deftly defend the goal when in keep, he also consistently manages to dribble right through the opposition despite all their foo-foo river dance fancy footwork

12 Taylor - While previously identified mainly as the dude with the beard - Taylor has surprised everyone with his clean shaven baby faced visage and the dexterity to match the youth unveiled.

13 Little James - newly recruited away from the Taz Devils James is quick, agile and from experience he has the 6th sense and sneaky ability to move amongst the enemy unnoticed and be at the right place at the right time.

17 Martin - after playing with me, Nate and Josh on the Legit Misfits as well as on my indoor team Martin has now officially joined the Black and Maroon. Not only does he have a good foot, he is a strategic player that has great touch.

27 Palmira - Josh's family continues to enmesh with his soccer one, as his lovely wife Palmira will be joining us on the pitch. I have great confidence in her skill as her father is Cesar from Legit Misfits, and her son Allejo has often given men twice his age and size a run for their money in many a pick up game.

28 Michael - I believe this will be Michael's first season playing soccer outdoors. He is fast, nimble, agile and also just an overall very nice guy! I have played with him on my indoor team this past season where his unflagging energy has been awe inspiring - lets see what he can do outdoors!

30 Wayne - Many of us remember the first time we met him, a complete novice who looked like he would be more at home in a Buddhist temple than on the soccer pitch. Wayne has come a long way from that 1st day and after 2 seasons of growth first in hat draw then on the Legit Misfits I am glad to welcome Wayne to the Grass Kickers

31 CJ - She's fierce, she's determined and she's a ginger! Though I have been an acquaintance for a few years outside of soccer it was not until the first time she took me up on my soccer invite that I got to see the fire behind the red hair! CJ is returning to the sport after a long hiatus but after a few pick ups and last season on the Legit Misfits it is obvious that she has not forgotten the skills she learned in high school!

32 Brandi - newly lured away with the promise of rum from Dam United Brandi and her amazing foot is now where she belongs - with the Grass Kickers! What can I say - her foot and ball placement has been commented on and envied by many, her tenacity at both offense and defense makes her an asset anywhere on the field and to top it off she bakes some killer Guinness cupcakes with Bailey's icing.

33 Paolo - newly stolen from The Mighty Narwhals with the combined charms of Kenji, Phil, and Michael (this foursome anchors their men's indoor team MIBOW) Paolo is a powerful forward and striker that I am excited to unleash on our opponents.

and finally as some of you might know Josh - who was injured last season against the Pen Fed Pirates - will unfortunately not be able to join us for this season. However as in most situations there is a silver lining and I am happy to welcome back Micah who will be temporarilyy donning #19 in Todd's place for this season.

now without further ado...

Game 1 vs The Nutria Recap

I could not have asked for a better game 1. The weather was perfect - it was warm but not hot with a bit of a breeze to liven up this early summer evening of blue sky and glorious sun. Turn out was amazing (though I want to remind everyone to not get too comfortable with the amount of subs we had last night as it will be uncharacteristic of the rest of the season - summer travel, vacations etc) and as our players got their new jerseys (which i thought turned out awesome even if i do say so myself) they got to welcome back returning faces as well as meet some new ones.

This game saw the return of Jenny - who if you all remember was injured last season playing this same team and was out for the rest of Spring. She has not only returned in prime form but she also returned with a vengeance and scored a goal in the 1st half! Brandi made her debut on the grass kickers with goal right out of the gate. And Micah showed us that even though he has been away from the GK for 2 seasons he nonetheless retained his skills and also scored a goal.

Overall the team played very well together and I think this team has great promise to continue the winning streak!

After game a few of us went to High Street McMennimans' for some celebratory drinks and socializing.

Great game everyone!

Game 8 vs Slow Mo recap and season wrap up

Hey everyone sorry for the late posting! With Josh injured and not attending the games, and Olivia on vacation I have been too swamped to get a game recap going!

Lets see…

Game 8 vs. Slow Mo

This game was a close one. The game started off with the Grass Kickers playing down a man for the first ¾ of the 1^st half. We fought to hold it down but between the fact that they had their own “Nate” (an equally fast and skilled Asian of the same height) and the fact that we were playing down a man they managed to score 2 goals. It was only through the couragous saves made by David and the lightning speed of Nate that we weren't completely creamed in those first 30 minutes. When Morgan arrived we started to breathe the beginnings of a sigh of relief which was further helped with the appearance of Alex. Finally as half time neared in the far distance we saw the tall and distinctive silhouettes of Keaton and Ian making their way to the field and I believe I was not the only person who broke into a grin and screamed “Oh thank god!”

The second half saw Alex in goal and the dynamic duo on the field. It is with the solid ball handling skills and also amazing teamwork of our forwards and mids (Kenji, Tyler, Scott, Hannah, Ian, Keaton, Bree) that we allowed our superstar of the game to shine - our amazing Andrea scoring not 1 but 2 goals! As we closed in on the end of the second quarter we were tied up but heartbreakingly in the last 5 minutes the Slow Mo’s striker shot a rocket at Alex , despite his valiant effort to stop the ball and the presence of his shin, that had too much spin and spun off his leg and into the goal.

This game marked our last game on the pitch with Tyler and Bree. Tyler played with an energy and determination that was quite frankly awe inspiring, playing with unflagging enthusiasm and really showing us what the Grass Kickers is losing with his departure. His ever present smile which belies the ferocity of his attacks has always been embedded in my mind when I think of games past. In this last game Bree’s intelligent playing, skillful ball handling and on the pitch communications underlined to me how much she has been inspiring for me and the other ladies who were so new to soccer back when the team was formed. Her poise and strength really made her an important foundational member of the team and she will be missed.

Season re-cap

This season has been amazing for me personally and I think it has been a wonderful experience for our team. It was very satisfying to see how far we have come from last season (we won a game this time around!) both in terms of the skills of the individual players and also in terms of how we have grown together as a team. The time that all of us had spent in the previous seasons playing together and getting to know each other definitely paid off on the pitch. We communicate better, we trust each other’s skill, we know our teammates strengths and weaknesses – this all results in game play that was leaps and bounds beyond last season. I think it is fitting that our last game this season was against Slow Mo – a team we played for our first game in the fall season. Whereas at that first inaugural game of this brand new team I for one was confused and intimidated – this season we held our own. In every game we played this season we made our opponents fight for every single point – and fight hard too!

Though with every season we lose some players and we gain some players I am so happy that the core of what makes the Grass Kickers the best team ever remains intact. We might not be the most winning team but I honestly think we are the closest, happiest, and most social team. We are a team that even when we lose we are still having more fun and laughing more than the team that won. We are the team that when faced with heckling and bad sportsmanship from the opponents and their sidelines we respond by being louder with our cheers and support for our teammates and drown out the negativity. We are the team that even in freezing cold or torrential rain, with a stuffy nose or a bum ankle, when we are on the pitch together there is nowhere else I would rather be and no other group of people I would rather be with.

Summer season starts next week and as with each season we will lose some teammates and gain new ones. I cannot wait to start this next season in the company of our returning players and getting to know the new additions!

Tyler’s good bye blow out dance party bash

In order to send off Tyler right to his next adventure I invite the entire team (both current, past and future) to come out this Friday night, the 8^th of June to the Oak Street Speakeasy for a night filled with laughter, dancing and fond farewells. Our amazing and talented Myeshia will be performing with her band The Essentials this evening (if you haven’t made it out to one of her gigs what in the world are you thinking?!?!?) with the opening band going on at 9:30pm. Come early before she goes on so that the poor girl gets to socialize with you all before she has to be on! Then we will dance the night away with Tyler (if you haven’t been treated to his moves on a dance floor then you really don’t know the man) to the mesmerizing sound of Myeshia’s voice.  I hope to see you all there!

Almost to the end

Hey Grass Kickers – we are nearing the end of another season and I must say our best season yet! Tomorrow night we will be playing Slow Mo at Sheldon High School. This season has seen the returning players play better than ever with our season of previous experience as teammates definitely paying off on the pitch. We also got to welcome and embrace our new players who have each contributed so much to the team both on the pitch and off!

With our last game tomorrow night also comes our last session of post game shenanigan of the season. I would encourage everyone to come out tomorrow night even just for a bit as we will be not only wrapping up another great season but also we will be bidding farewell to 2 inaugural Grass Kickers! I know it is sad but the rumors are true - after this season we will be saying goodbye to Bre and Tyler both of whom are moving north this summer. We will all be devastated with the loss of their speed, skills and enthusiasm on the pitch - but more than that I will miss their awesome company and friendship off the pitch. Over the last year I am so glad that I have gotten to know each of them (and their partners – Josh and Megan you will be missed also) who have enlivened our team BBQs and parties as well as lit up the dance floor at Essentials gigs. We wish them the best of luck in their new city and success in all their new endeavors. We hope you don’t forget about us – and that you find great people to play with up there that appreciate you as much as we do!

So tomorrow night - post game, we will be at the Side Bar on coburg road. see you all on the pitch!

Grass Kickers vs. Crag Rats - Game Recap 5/23/12

Let me tell you, it is not an easy job to follow in the blogging footsteps of Nancy & Josh, but here’s my recap of game seven as I saw it go down.  I may not have all of the details right, but one thing I know for sure is that our team is AMAZING!  I think this was our best game to date, and it was hands down the most entertaining game to watch. 

Game seven was played against the Crag Rats at Cal Young.  I was so impressed with each and every Grass Kicker on the field!  This was a very well-matched game.  Both teams played hard.  Both teams played fast.  Very, very fast.  Every single Grass Kicker brought all they had onto the field.   It was a hard fought battle by both teams.

Early in the first half, the game’s first goal was scored by our very own Andrea!  It was an amazing shot, and I believe it was even taken with her left foot.  Super impressive, Andrea!  You know how to rock the crowd.  The Crag Rats decided it was time to bring it, and despite David’s many fancy saves (using each and every available body part), they picked up two goals of their own in the first half.

Despite the constant drizzle, spirits remained high through halftime, and the teams returned to the field for more sprint training soccer. 

Soon in the second half, the Crag Rats scored another, but the Grass Kickers were not going down without a fight.  We put on an amazing display of teamwork, and Scott scored our second goal!  Amazing job.  Way to go, Scott!  Unfortunately, the Crag Rats would not rest and scored two more, with the last one being in the final few minutes.  The game ended 3-4 (with Andrea’s goal counting for 2).

Each and every one of our Grass Kickers should be proud of themselves for a very well-played game!  Kenji and Tyler played a huge role in keeping up with the speed of the game, and providing the assists for our goal makers, Andrea & Scott.  Bre, Heather, Hannah, Shannon, and Alex rocked midfield, fighting for every ball and never giving up.  Myeshia, Nate, and Morgan were a formidable sight of defensive skills and fancy footwork.  Kudos to Myeshia for getting right back in the game after being knocked down hard.  (Hope your arm is okay!)  Last but not least, David owned that goal! 

And it wouldn’t be a Grass Kicker game recap without a blooper AND highlight, all in one:  David kicked the ball to try and clear it, the ball bounced off of Nate's forehead, sailed right back over David’s head, leaving David to jump and save it from going in at the last second.  Nice work!

We did miss Nancy, Todd, Ian, and Keaton, but special thanks to Shannon for coming to sub!  Wishing Josh & Jennie speedy knee recoveries, and come hell or high water, I will be playing next week…at our final game of the season against Slo Mo at Sheldon.  See you all there!

Recap, plus game tonight!

So I sprained (hopefully not "tore") my MCL last game, which is my excuse for not posting a recap of the game AND for not posting a pre-game entry to the blog until now.  I've been using my limp to garner sympathy for all kinds of other stuff during the last week, so why not for this, too?  Please also forgive the lameness of the following recap since it was a week ago and the trauma of my near death experience has clouded my memory. 

We scored two points in the first half, one from Rachel and one from Scott.  The Pirates scored 3 goals.  Which means they won the game since we go by points.  Close, though, and hard fought. Rough game wasn't it?  There was my knee, lots of roughness from that big guy playing forward, and Nancy told me that Todd received a bloody nose sometime in the second half.  Yeee hah!  Next time I'm bringing a wrench.

Tonight we play "Kickin It" a team that shares the exact win-loss record this season as we do. Interesting to note that the games they lost, they lost worse than we did.  So, my fellow Grass Kickers, I expect you to kick some grass tonight.  I'll be there to shout at you.. i mean cheer for you.

Post-game entertainment at the Wetlands.

Go team!

Game Tomorrow (May 9) !

Halfway through the season and we are in the middle
with Kickin It. Note that we are not on the bottom!

Given that our progress has been so steady it's tempting to imagine that we weren't the only ones charting it, and that the timing of the bye week was part of a conspiracy to upset our momentum. That's crazy talk, though. The world is full of coincidences and unlikely occurrences; like all human beings I'm just inclined to invest meaning in them where there is none.

On the OTHER hand, there is the case of the mysterious soccer ball that hit Kenji in the face last week, detaching his retina.  Witnesses didn't notice anything unusual but when I diagrammed the angles later it seemed to me the ball could only have come from the direction of the grassy knoll.  Preliminary reports say that Kenji should be OK but his doctor has forbid any soccer for at least a week.  Even worse, he isn't allowed to drink alcohol.  Get better quick, Kenji!  And put an eyepatch on, those things make you look like a badass.

This week David and Olivia will be joining us. Welcome back guys! Nancy says that she and Myeshia spotted them, along with Morgan and Jenny at Sweetcheeks this past weekend. I don't know what "sweetcheeks" is, and I'm afraid to ask what all of you were doing there.  Gathering after Wednesdays game will be at the Old Pad (a name that sounds no better, but I do happen to know that it's a bar).

Anyway ... excited to be playing tomorrow night against the PenFed Pirates, whose record is only slightly better than ours. Lets kick some grass.

April 25 Game Recap - Grass Kickers 4 - Dam United 1

I'm going to have to adjust the graph I'm working on that shows Grass Kicker improvement over these two seasons.  It WAS a very straight line moving upwards in a relatively modest incline.  Lost the first season. This season we barely lost the first game, nearly tied the second, and tied the third.  The forecast for this game called for a tie or a modest win. And then - BAM - last night happened. The line is no longer nice and straight.  It turns out that my Rumble In the Jungle 8th round comparison wasn't hyperbole after all. Last night was the beginning of the 8th round. Maybe it was that we were playing for Jenny who was watching from the sidelines, or perhaps the steroids Ian has been surreptitiously putting in everyone's water bottles started to kick in*, or maybe it was that Nate was accelerating from 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds (faster than his usual 3.4 seconds).  Or maybe it was all of the above.  Regardless of why, we were on fire. Great game, everyone!

As you'll remember we started out the game with both teams attacking hard, with a lot of back and forth across the pitch.  Towards the middle of the first half a quick attack by the Dam United offense left Keaton alone in the goal and Dam United put us at a one point deficit.  Some teams might have been intimidated, but we clearly saw this for what it was: an invitation to bring it.  So we did. Towards the end of the first half, a shot from the left corner was fumbled by Dam United's goalie as Ian pressured him hard.  The loose ball ended up in front of my foot so I did the decent thing and kicked it into the goal.  Only two minutes later, Ian laid another pass in front of the powerful foot of Sam, who took the opportunity to put a high shot into the net.  So we ended the half ahead by 2 points.  A new experience, and after some consideration I have to say that I like it.  During the second half we returned to the ferocious back and forth of the first half, with neither team scoring until a corner kick late in the period. I was on defense so I didn't see how it went down, but the lack of cheering from our players when the ball went into the net let us know it was an own goal by Dam United.  Nothing to celebrate, but we'll take it.  I think that might have taken the wind from the Dam United sails, as they were never able to mount an effective counterattack. Grass Kickers win 4-1.

So, again, excellent game everyone.  Great work in goal Keaton, Alex and Scott.  Great midfield control and passing from Kenji, Breanne, Rachel and Tyler.  Sold defense from Myeshia, Nancy, Nate. Great attacking from Andrea, Ian, Keaton, Sam and others. And, hey, thanks to Sam and Rachel for subbing for missing and injured ladies!

Also thanks to Tyler and girlfriend Megan for bringing Rice Krispies and Capri Suns!

Next week we have a bye (next game is May 9th against the Pen Fed Pirates).  Do we want to get together next Wednesday to... practice?  Imagine that.   I'm up for it, and it doesn't have to be 8pm either.  The challenge would be to find a field.  Any ideas Nancy (or anyone)?

*Which accounts for the hair growth in odd places we've all been experiencing.

Game Tomorrow

I'm still at work but managed to watch the Champions League semifinal between Chelsea and Barcelona (on my phone which I propped against a pile of CDs). With only a few minutes to go in the second half, with only 10 men on the field and having had the ball only 28% percent of the entire game, Chelsea's Torres breaks away on a counter with the ball, cuts around the Barca goalkeep, and scores to eliminate Barcelona and secure Chelsea's spot in the final. HUGE upset. And! A model for what we are going to do to Dam United tomorrow night.

I don't mean we're going to shoot for 28% possession. I mean that despite the odds and despite the fact that Dam United has been described by soccer experts "a pretty good team, I've heard they have Brandi and Jennifer (from hat draw and our Friday team)," we are going to rope-a-dope our way to victory. Or, if Todd is correct, at least a game that ends in a tie where we will have led for most of the game. We are a team that is about improvement, even if that improvement is slow (I prefer the word "steady").

Our captain, Ian "One-Eye" Steele, who has ably led our team thus far, has gotten us some girl replacements for those who won't be there this Wed. Thanks Ian. You'll remember that part of the reason we're down is that Jenny nearly had her knee taken completely off by a big meathead last game. Those aren't her words, she was much more fair about it. So she'll be there, cheering from the sidelines. Another reason to BRING IT tomorrow night.

See you there!

Recap of April 18 Game

"Maybe I should get into
the business of grilling
tasty hamburgers instead."

We're all too young to have watched it live, but maybe you've seen Rumble in the Jungle, the fight between George Forman and Muhammed Ali held in Zaire in 1974. This was Muhammed Ali's comeback fight against George Forman, who had just beaten the crap out of Joe Frazier to take the heavyweight title. With his incredible strength and power, Forman was the overwhelming favorite to win the fight (and that was WITHOUT the GF Grill!). For the first 8 rounds he pounded the crap out of Ali.  Ali was on the ropes most of the time, trying to minimize the damage of Foreman's powerful punches. But then, in that 8th round, Ali used the energy he saved by not dancing around and came off the ropes to land a combination of punches that put Forman on the mat. 

You can see where I'm going with this - like Ali we've been taking punishment over the last 10 games, but  we've been secretly holding on to a store of energy that we're gonna put to use. Last night was the beginning of our 8th round.  We haven't yet scored a knockout, but we're definitely off the ropes and punching hard, and IT FEELS GOOD. 

So great job Grass Kickers! That was our best game so far. Great offense that took advantage of opportunities - Keaton with a header (off a melee that followed a corner, I think?) in the first half with a "butt assist" from Andrea (way to use that thing!), and Todd with a finishing kick in the second half.  Great defense, that shut down the Nutria's fast-breaking forwards. Scott's skilled keeping in the first and some of the second half, followed by Keaton's, stopped several goal attempts.  An improved passing game, too, as Josh pointed out from the sidelines.

And Jenny! Here is the true Muhammed Ali - taking on a guy twice her size and weight.  We hope your knee is OK!  Please report in so we know how you are.

And hope you are feeling better, Nancy.  Get some sleep.

Looking forward to next Wednesday when we meet Dam United at the S. Eugene High school field!

No Rain

As of 7am this morning (game day), my weather forecast is telling me that chance of precipitation @ 8pm is only 30%.   On the other hand, it's also showing me the "sunny" symbol, so take it for what it's worth.  But i have a feeling we're gonna have a dry pitch on which to hurl our soccer forces at the Nutrias.

Get your muscle massages, eat a big breakfast, read some poetry.  We are going to ROCK 2 NITE.

Game Tomorrow

I have it on good authority that the more soccer video clips you watch on Youtube, the better you become. I'm not sure about the finer points of that statement, like whether you become better at soccer or better at watching more Youtube video clips, but on the chance that it's the former here's a video of Lionel Messi dribbling a lot.  

Tomorrow we face the Nutria, which are a team of very large water-going rodents.  They've won one and lost one, which means we are definitely the hungrier team, am I right?  I sense that tomorrow we will continue our slow rise from our winless first season.  First game was close, last game was closer, so it only follow that tonight we will blossom like some sort of very aggressive flower. Speaking of aggressive flowers - we need to help our darling bad ass soccer girls bloom as goal makers - 2 points a goal is gonna help us win or at least tie games.

Also, David should be coming back to join us after undergoing a regimen of steroids.  Welcome back David! I think the steroids were for an injury he sustained so the other team should have no reason to complain. If you notice a lot of extra muscle mass, just don't say anything.

Looking forward to a great game!  After party at the Wetlands (11th and Garfield?) spearheaded by Nancy!  See you there!

Game Recap (04/11)

Hands!

I want to congratulate everyone, again, for a great game but - more than that - for getting through it without drowning. There were moments last night when I wasn't sure whether we were at a soccer game or a swim meet, and I kept checking to see whether Nate was wearing a speedo or not as a way to keep myself oriented (he wasn't, as far as I could tell).  And hey, welcome back, Nate!

We fought the good fight, against the rain and the Mighty Narwhals.  A scoreless first half (both Scott and Marion shutting down the respective offenses) ended with the heavens opening and someone, identity still unknown, began taking a giant piss from up there somewhere.  That someone should refrain from drinking heavily while watching the game, that's all I have to say. I'm not sure if it was the rain, Ian's devil-eye, or the fact that I'm 5'6", but the Narwhals got one in over my head, shortly after the second half began.  WHERE WERE YOU ALEX?  We returned the favor, shortly thereafter, with Keaton again doing the honors by scoring. Someone closer to the action should put in the comments about how that went down.We ended the game, soggy, technically at 1-2 since lady goals count for 2 points.  In a parallel universe where sexism has been eliminated, we tied 1-1.

They shave them off before
each game (they grow back
quickly)

There has been some speculation that the Narwhals won by depending on their skills as water creatures. I didn't see anyone wielding a tusk so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say the game was fairly won.  We WILL be reviewing game footage, however.

Despite last week's fiasco whereby my Photoshop time-shifting specialists failed to capture the horrible nature of Ian's near recovery, I felt I should give them another chance to show us what the Narwhals look like when in their natural state (see photo).

Lastly, I should report that the excitement didn't end at the field, apparently.  As Nancy and the ladies of the team were getting ready to leave the parking lot they could have sworn they saw two familiar-looking, shirtless, glow-in-the-dark white guys driving by in their car with the heat blasting on full. They called the police.

YAAAAAARRR!!!   That's the rallying cry you must make as you read this.  GrassKickers from all over Eugene will hear your cry and will know, from somewhere deep inside, that we are playing our second game of the season tomorrow night against the Narwhals.  Nancy tells me that we will see some familiar faces, as Paolo, Laura K. and Marion are on their team. This is good because as we know we are about having fun and it's more fun when playing against frie- LETS CRUSH THESE PEOPLE.

The big mystery is whether or not Ian will dare show up to play after the maiming he received last week from Tyler. Ian, I've heard Tyler is going to miss this game so your face should be OK.  Also, I have used advanced Photoshop time-shifting technology to consult with specialists to come up with an approximation of where Ian should be in the healing process.  As you can see, as of 9:33am this morning, he is able to open his eye and make inappropriate advances. Specialists say he's good to go.

In other very relevant news Nancy is gonna host another ambush of Shooters after the game tomorrow.  Which reminds me:  Myeshia's band, The Essentials,  has a gig this Friday the 13th!  She is awesome so lets show up at the Oak Street Speakeasy @ 9:30pm.

Game tomorrow night (11/4) is at North Eugene High School.  See you there!

First Game Recap

Should we start a collection to purchase a face-mask for Ian or a pillow helmet for Tyler?

Great first game, everyone! Final score was 2-3, and we were fairly matched. We were down 2 points at the beginning of the first half due to a strong start by the Baron's offense, but quickly came back with two lovely left footers from Keaton. Alex and Scott would have managed a shutout in the 2nd half if not for a lucky score in a mad scramble in the penalty box off a corner kick. Which reminds me - do we not have a killer pair of goalies this season? Those two guys rock. Also a lot of talent all around the field - I think once we play a bunch of games together our game will start to gel. Oh.. and nobody - and I mean NOBODY - gets through Myeshia.

I can tell, already, that we will crush last season's record. A low bar, I know, but that's good: All we have to do is tie one game, and we've moved up in the world. So the pressure is off - we can all just have a good time. Not that we wouldn't have, anyway. But I, for one, am going to stop hiding a wrench in my shorts to kneecap the other team's strikers if we get down more than three points. No need.

Also - interesting to note that of the teams that played last night, we and the Barons were the only teams to have been evenly matched. Here are the scores:


10-1, 9-1, 9-3. Wow. I guess only time will tell as to where we fit amongst the other teams. We play the Narwhals next week.

Lastly, I want to thank Nancy, organizer extraordinaire, for putting us all together again. You do a great job!

Its here! Spring season is a go!

Okay first game is this Wednesday - I would advise that people bring a tarp or something to throw their stuff under - I will try to bring something but as well all know I can be a bit absent minded.

Lets go over a few things for those who haven't played in a while or has just joined the team.

• You MUST bring photo ID and check in with the ref at the beginning of the game - acceptable forms of identification include drivers license, oregon ID card, school ID, passport
• If you are going to be wearing glasses please show up early so you can fill out one of the eyewear disclaimer forms
• Absolutely no jewelry is permitted! and taping over it is not allowed - this is a biggie, last season a girl's team got fined $200 for her cheek piercing
• Since this league is officiated we are playing with the Off-Sides rules! If you don't remember what that is then please search either the blog or the internet to refresh on the rules
• Shin guards and socks that cover them must be worn
• Absolutely no sliding or slide tackling!

Furthermore here are some just team rules that I would like us all to observe and remember

• We are all here to have fun and be social - we are not hyper competitive. I want to remind everyone that we should all practice good sportsmanship
• If you/us/we have a problem with another player/team/ref please let me know - I will deal with it with the city and the other team's manager
• Please please please use the team cowboy site and RSVP for the games
• If you have a vehicle and can provide rides please check in with the team cowboy site or with your teammates personally to make sure that everyone who needs a ride can get one
• Please try to be cognizant of playing time and substitutions - I generally keep a pretty good eye on player rotations but sometimes I lose track. If someone from the sidelines is asking to sub in or if I ask you to sub out please do so - we want to ensure that everyone has as much playing time as they would like.

This is gonna be a great season - we have amazing players and if nothing else I will put money on the fact that we are the most social/friendly/fun team on ANY league. I can't wait to see everyone soon - GO GRASSKICKERS!

ps. we can re-start our wednesday night post game tradition either this week or next. Since our game is at churchill this week i vote for the Overtime as our post game stop. Thoughts?

So close I can barely contain myself!

Its almost here - Spring season is about to start!

I am so FREAKING EXCITED!

First of all the St. Patty's Day season kick off party was a wonderful success! We got to catch up with familiar faces and also our new players got to meet and mingle! As always the food selections were wonderful - my personal favorite was the Guinness cupcakes with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting - Thanks Brandy! (technically she is not an outdoor grasskicker...she is indoor and a legit misfit - but we can love her on our blog all the same). There were laughs and libations a plenty as typical of our soccer parties!

And this was just what I started with before all the other varieties generously contributed as well as the more traditional St.Patty's participants of Jim Beam, Jamesons, and other fine fellows

Onto the team admin stuff...

Okay so lets see - our new players (all but one... AHEM alex) has received their new jerseys

The season's schedule has been posted - please note we have a bye week 5 so the season goes out one extra week longer. The schedule is on both the team cowboy site and the city site.

We have 3 pick ups that everyone is invited and encourage to come to - get some practice, regain your feel for the ball.

Monday 3/26 6:30pm UO turf fields
Wednesday 3/28 6:30 pm UO turf fields
Saturday 3/31 12:00pm Cal Young Middle School (this is the only one i create a team cowboy event for)

Rain or shine - and for the love of Pete bring a black and a white shirt (gray,and other random colors that could be either are not helpful btw)

Our first game of the season will be Wednesday April 4th at 8pm at Churchill High School

Please be sure to RSVP to the games - it just takes a second - so we can get an idea of if we are gonna be short and if i need to bring in subs.

Finally - I made a survey on our team cowboy site for the purposes of coordinating carpooling - please take a sec to answer and to coordinate your travel as needed.

As far as I can remember that is all for now...

See you guys on the pitch soon!

Jerseys

Jerseys for our new players have arrived!

Spring 2012

Grass Kickers – It’s that time of year again! Spring season is set to start in April and we will be playing together as a team again! I have missed every single one of you all and I cannot wait for us to play together and kick some grass!

I am happy to report that we are fortunate to have most of the team returning for the spring season – though I am sad that not everyone could return I am happy to welcome new players onto the team.

Introducing:

Kenji – Kenji is an awesome player, a friendly guy and a very sharp dresser. Kenji is a great mid and forward player.

Alex – Alex will be a great addition to our defensive lineup both on the pitch and in goal. He is a recent graduate from OSU and quite a good dancer.

Keaton – Keaton is not only an experienced player but he also gets an extra point for being the roommate to Ian our captain. The two of them together leading the offense makes a formidable duo

Hannah – Hannah is a very versatile player who is friendly and supportive both on the field and off. She is also just as crazy as me and will be playing on all my teams for spring!

Morgan – Some of us have met Morgan at the various soccer parties and other team events in the past season in the company of Jenny. Morgan not only has great taste in girlfriends but is also a good soccer player.

To kick off the season I am going to throw us a party at my house. It will be on the Saturday the 17^th – St. Patty’s day. So expect lots of green and Guinness!

Practice/Pick ups

For those of you who have not played since fall or have been otherwise occupied it’s time to get your feet moving and refresh those soccer skills.

I have been organizing a weeknight pickup game on a weekly basis at the UO turf fields. They have generally been on Tuesdays/Wednesdays at 7pm.  The next one will be this Wednesday, February 29^th at 7pm.

Also after the winter hat-draw season ends I will be organizing something for Saturday early afternoons – I will keep everyone posted. 

hehe shenanigans

Can you spot the creeper?

Creeper is coming out

Oh wait! Its just David! (Myeshia does not look relieved)

Happy 2012! Welcome back to soccer!

Hey everyone, hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season. Now its time to come out of food coma and back into shape for soccer!

Winter hat draw has begun and last Saturday was the first game. It was really great to see so many familiar faces again, geeze its been a long time! I am captain of the Diamond Peak team and our first game of the season was against Mt. Bachelor. I am so happy to have Charles and Tyler on my team, I feel in great company!

I went ahead and stayed after my game to see everyone else play. Our captain Ian was in fine form playing forward for the Three Sisters and I was glad to be able to sub for his team for a bit during that game. Ian and Keaton showed off fine skills in the forward positions which were bolstered by the awesome defense of Brandeis from my indoor team. They played against Mt. Jefferson which had the dynamic duo of Josh and Cesar to contend with.

The last game featured the 2012 debut of Josh-Husband-of-Bree playing for Mt. Hood and the refreshingly different sight of Bree on the sidelines in the lawn chair cheering for him for a change! Mt. Hood did great despite the fact that they were missing our amazing starter Andrea from their ranks as she could not make the game. But have no fear our superstar will be back on the pitch this coming week!

It was a perfect Saturday morning spent playing soccer and cheering on my friends and teammates! I am so happy it is all in full swing again! Though I have been playing soccer non stop since fall I have so missed playing with my Grass Kickers!

For anyone who wants to come and cheer your teammates on games are from 9:15 - 1:45 on Saturdays at South Eugene High School. Come on out and make some noise!

Speaking of coming out to the pitch there will be a pick up game this Sunday the 22nd at 11am also at SEHS. Come out and bring some friends!

Looking ahead, registration for the Spring season, in which we will play together again as a team will be coming up in February. Games will start first week of April. I will as always keep everyone posted.