Second Place Finish in the Rush Cup

WOW!!! What a weekend.
Our first tournament of the year and our first 4 games are complete. I can not describe how proud I am of each of you girls. Saturday was one very long day and yet, you came back Sunday morning early and played a fantastic game. The over all weekend was great, we found some areas that need improvement, but we also discovered the depth of our bench and the heart of our team.

We finished the Rush Cup with a second place finish, a record of 3 wins against 1 loss, and a goal difference of +2. In our first match on Saturday we played the GC Fireballs, we started the scoring early with a goal by Analise in the 14th min as she beat a defender in the box and fired off a nice shot. The Fireballs came back to tie the match in the 17th min with a high shot that just bounced over our keeper. Select went back on top in the 29th min on a break-away by Megan “Red”, as she made the run from the center line down beating the GC defense on the through-ball. The second half would open the scoring again early in only the 7th min as Theresa took a very strong shot from about 30 yards out burying it in the net. Only 8 min later in the 15th min, Christina got on the score sheet with a very nice header from another Theresa shot that rebounded off the goal post. GC would not give up as they scored their 2nd goal in the 23rd min of the half to cut the lead in half. However, we were not quite finished scoring as Jenna ended the scoring for the team on a corner kick that she bent into the goal in the 29th min. A great start for the girls as we finished the match with a 5-2 win.

Our second match of the day was much closer as we had to battle back after giving up an early goal to the Dynamos in only the 8th min of our match on a corner kick. Even with the early adversity we came back and in the 26th min we pulled the match to even on a great corner kick from Theresa that was finished off by Megan “Red”. With the match going back and forth into the second half we were able to break through and pull ahead of the Dynamos for good in the 16th min of the second on a great goal by Brittney R. She was able to run down a ball on the by-line and dribble it towards the goal pulling the keeper out of position before putting it into the back of the net.

Our third match of the day was not doubt our toughest match of the weekend. After about a 45 min delay due to lightning we finally got started with our match against the Lady Hawks from the Corpus area. Our defense held the powerful Lady Hawks scoreless through the first half and well into the second half of the match. However, after a hard challenge about 20 yards from our own goal we gave up the ice breaker on a deflected shot that just slipped past our keeper, Shelby. With the wind knocked out of our sails we hit the low point of the weekend and gave up two additional goals on some very nice shots, but played a great game as a team. With Saturday finally over we got a little rest before coming back for another early match on Sunday.

The last match of the tournament would have us against SCFC in a battle for 2nd place in the tournament. Both teams came out with early opportunities but neither of us could find the back of the net. The scoreless tie would not be broken until the 31st min when Analise would send a ball flying across the SCFC box and Megan “Red” would again find the net with a great touch. However, SCFC would come out of halftime on fire as they would pull the match even in only the 4th min on a through ball that got behind our defense. The match would stay tied until the 27th min when we would line up 27 yards out on a set piece after being fouled. It would be Theresa who would drive this one home on an outstanding left footed shot bending the ball past the outstretched arms of the SC keeper.

Over all the weekend was a great success for our girls and a very big boost for confidence in our team. We have to mention the outstanding play from our keepers Shelby and Elyssabeth “E”, great individual efforts from several of out defenders including Elyssa “El”, Elizabeth “Liz”, Nikki and center backs Tiffany, Brittany M. We also had outstanding midfield play from Jenna, Theresa, Haleigh, Carlee, Jordan J., Meagan “Red”, Brittani R., “E”, Erin W. and Erin Y. As well as some tremendous attach from strikers Christina, Analise and Kelli.

Congratulations to each of you on a great start as we get ready for our next set of matches at the Houston Labor Day Cup.