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.