Sodium Sweeps OPL Weekend

Sodium opened the OPL Winter League with a pair victories this weekend.

Saturday afternoon found Sodium squaring off with WSM Venom at Rec #2. The new and improved WSM was bigger, faster and came to play as an influx of OSA players has really boosted this team. Play was physical but leaned toward sloppy at times as Sodium delivered just over 30% in the touch vs control category but lead in both possession and shots on goal. The first half was winding down when, on one of the many corners, Jadyn found Lexi in the 6 yard box for what would prove to be the winning header! A great first goal for OPL action.

Sunday (at the unGodly hour of 8am) Sodium faced their backyard rival FC Portland 95G Navy. These two teams have met many times and it's always battle. Both teams sport several very good ODP standouts and are very evenly matched.
The pace was fast and furious as right out of the gate Sodium was applying pressure on the FC goal. Rachel had another great game as she shut down Sodiums relentless attacks. Midway through the first half on yet another run Willy flicked a perfect pass to Jadyn flying down the left side. Jadyn cut back and ripped the far post net for the lead off score. Play remained deadlocked for the rest of the half.
Sodium came out hot to start the second half. MacKayla took a throw on the right side, spun her mark and charged the goal where she pinpointed her shot just under the bar on the far post for a 2-0 Sodium lead. The scored held until late in the match when Sodium again was knocking. Maddie, (Juliana's little sister U13), put a couple of big league moves on the FC defenders and rocketed her own score the 3-0 finally! The players and crowd roared as Maddie could do nothing but smile. A great moment in Sodium history.

Up Next
More NWCL action!

2/5 vs VUSA Timbers 95 Red @ Harmony Sports Complex (Vancouver) #8 1:00pm Kick-Off
2/6 vs OSSA @ Sunset HS Stadium 9:00am Kick-Off

From the Sidelines
It was great to see the girls shake the HS season off and get back into club shape against FC Portland. These girls play with each other at ODP and many attend the same High School so the winner gets bragging rights as well.

Injuries are becoming a factor as this weekend both Eli (now on crutches) and Dani both went down. Keep stretching, hydrating and doing all you can keep yourselves healthy. As we get ready for the upcoming showcases we need to have everyone game ready. Great job this weekend ladies!

GO SODIUM!!

New local training facility

The Timbers and THPRD are building a new facility nearby.

Check out:

www.portlandtimbers.com

And click the link to New Training Center!

GO SODIUM!!

NWCL Action and more

Congratulations to the Sodium squad as they continued there NWCL play with a victory over rival OSSA Sunday. Late in the second half Eli Beard popped a 15 yard chip shop over the top of OSSA's outstanding keeper for what would prove to be the game winner! Nicely done!

Up Next
The Sodium ladies face WSM Havoc on 1/29 @ REC #2. WSM has never posed a problem for Sodium but is one of those teams that can never be taken for granted.

Best of luck in finals this week girls!

From the sidelines
I witnessed something this weekend that I couldn't quite put my finger on this weekend. During the second half of the Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears game the Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler, just seemed to give up. He limped off the field, the trainer looked at his knee, he got on the exercise bike for a while, then just stood on the sidelines or sat on the bench. This was the biggest game in his career! This was his chance at greatness! But yet he just sat there. No ice, no wrap, no attention to his knee to rehab and get back on the field. He was done. He had checked out. He had given up. The rookie, Caleb Hanie, came on the field and marched the Bears back to within a touchdown and was on the verge of scoring when the Packers secondary intercepted Hanie's pass and sealed the win. But, this kid showed heart, determination and a will to do whatever it takes to win. I am afraid Mr. Cutler may have just sealed his fate and the Bears may have just found the spark they needed in a 3 year rookie who has taken maybe a dozen snaps on the field before yesterday. All the veteran players and coached who were announcing the game sat there astonished. They ranted that during their careers that they would have NEVER left the game in this situation. That they had been injured, sprained and torn. They went to the locker room and had the trainers do whatever was necessary to get them back on the field. They questions Cutler's toughness, both physically and mentally.

There are 2 morals to this story;
1. Champions are made from within. If you have the toughness, both mentally and physically, to face any challenge head on, do whatever it takes to overcome it, you will succeed. Now matter the situation or adversary.
2. There is always someone who is ready, willing and able to step in and take your position. Never quit giving 100%.

Never give up. Never back down. Never lose faith.

GO SODIUM!!

OPL & NWCL Schedules are up!

The following is the OPL(white) AND the NWCL(yellow) Winter Schedule for THUSC Sodium;

1/23 - 2:00pm vs OSSA @ Lakeridge HS
1/29 - 1:00pm vs WSM Havoc (formerly Strikers) @ REC #2
1/30 - 8:00am vs FC Portland 95G Navy @ Liberty HS
2/5 - 1:00am vs VUSA Timbers @ Harmony Sports Complex #8 (Vancouver)
2/6 - TBDpm vs OSSA @ TBD
2/12 - 11:00am vs PFC Avalanche 95 @ REC #2
2/12 - 11:00pm vs WSA Courage @ Doc Harris Stadium #2 (Vancouver)
2/13 - 12:00pm vs OSSA @ Sunset HS
2/13 - 3:00pm vs EMFC Magic @ Lane Community College (Eugene)
2/19 - 2:00pm vs EMFC MAgic @ Placeholder Field (PDX)
2/27 - 12:00pm vs ESUFC Arsenal @ Barlow HS
4/3 - 5:00pm vs ESUFC Arsenal @ REC #1
4/9 - 12:00pm vs PCU Impact @ Buckman Field
4/10 - 1:00pm vs PCU Impact @ REC #2

2/12 & 2/13 dates are being resolved.

Notes from the sideline
If these teams past performances are any indication of future performances, Sodium should have no problems sweeping the Winter League. Just my early prediction.

GO SODIUM!!

Final

Iredium defeats OSSA Dynamite 1-0 !

Sodium players played very well!

Go Sodium!

Additional Notes
From here on out for this tournament I will refer to this team as THUSC. "Iredium" looks like a typo.

The score was not indicative of the game at all. Kat (GK Ireland) & Luty (GK Sodium) only touched the ball a handful of times between them. The play was primarily found in the OSSA side all game. Julie & Taylor held there own quite well on defense, Eika & Eli did a great job at midfield and Emmy & MacKayla had some great runs at striker. The Sodium girls all contributed and the score could have easily have 3 or 4 to nothing.

As Soon as I hear from Great Renton and from the U18 (THUSC Gold) teams I will post them too.

Best of luck to all for an injury free weekend.

GO SODIUM!!

College Meeting Last Night

Thanks to all the Sodium parents/players who gathered for the United College Night last night.

Great information was shared by Tom and both Linus Rhode, women's varsity, and Steve Simmons, men' s varsity, coaches from OSU.

Pay attention to the timelines folks, they are approaching fast than you know!

Up Next;
FC Winter College Showcase
See email from Kristina for rostered Sodium & Ireland players.
Both U16 & U18 teams.

Greater Renton FC Tournament
Check email from Kristina for rostered Sodium players.

Thanks everyone, see you on the pitch!

GO SODIUM!!

Around the NWCL

Here's an update of what went on in other games this weekend along with some pithy commentary;

Saturday
OSSA Blue 95 2-0 Washington Soccer Academy Courage - No surprises here
Eugene Metro FC Magic 1-9 Eastside FC 95 Red - Ouch. Didn't see this one coming!
Eastside United FC Arsenal 0-1 Northwest Nationals 95 Red - Nice job Arsenal, NW is tough!
Tualatin Hills United SC Sodium 2-0 VUSA Timbers 95 Red - Woo Hoo! Go Sodium!

Sunday
Eastside United FC Arsenal 0-1 Eastside FC 95 Red - Arsenal AGAIN with a great showing against a tough team!
Tualatin Hills United SC Sodium 3-0 Washington Soccer Academy Courage - A much better match by Sodium.
Eugene Metro FC Magic 0-2 Northwest Nationals 95 Red - Magic fighting hard.
OSSA Blue 95 0-1 VUSA Timbers 95 Red - WOW! Nicely done Timbers! Didn't expect this one!

NWCL U15 Standing:

Olympic Division
THUSC Sodium [7 pts]
WSA Courage [4 pts]
OSSA Blue 95 [4 pts]
VUSA Timbers 95 Red [3 pts]

Rainier Division
Eastside FC 95 Red [13 pts]
Northwest Nationals 95 Red [13 pts]
Eugene Metro FC Magic [1 pt]
Eastside United FC Arsenal [0 pts]

Stay tuned, more to come!

GO SODIUM!!

This weekends wrap up

The girls started off the weekend looking a little rusty. Saturdays match against VUSA Timbers was evident of the holiday layoff. The first score came in the first half as Lexi passed a fake corner kick to Jadyn who drove to the box and found the upper left corner of the net. Rusty, kind of. Relentless pressure, always. Sodium attacked the goal from the opening whistle. Half time had the score still 1-0. The second half had the Sodium squad showing greater patience and starting to string of passes together. Numerous opportunities in and just outside the box. Late in the second found the girls pounding the goal again. Sodium was jockeying for position when the pass went to Willy's feet just inside the box. Alertly she two touched and blasted a shot just inside the far post giving Sodium a 2-0 lead that would prove to be the final. Great performances were exhibited by all but recognition needs to be made to Erika and Aliyah for their contributions.

Sunday we witnessed the Sodium we have come to know and love. Communication, crisp passing and relentless pressure up front. It really didn't matter what combination Tom had at mid or at forward, these girls came to play and they wouldn't be denied. I don't think the WSA Courage coach read the scouting report from the Timbers game (LOL!) because Sodiums first score came from yet another fake corner kick. Jadyn again blasted the net for a 1-0 half time lead. Crosses, corners, blasts from the mid-field. Sodium was delivering from every position. The second half found Lexi at forward and with a nifty two-touch she found the far post post to give Sodium a 2-0 lead. With under 5 minutes left Aliyah fed Lexi a long lead pass. Lexi out ran the field and ripped the net past the diving Courage keeper, Sodium 3, Courage 0. With under a minute Mac was streaking in from the left side on a break and pulled down from behind in desperation in the 18 yard box. The ensuing PK was given to Lexi who just missed on the far side. Game, set, match.

Next up;

January 14th-17th, FC Portland Winter College Showcase.

Notes from the sidelines
The team played pretty well this weekend overall. From the sidelines we noticed some standout performances though; in addition to Erika and Aliyah I would like to recognize Kerri's play. She was asked to play defense Sunday and had a great showing. Mac (nursing a knee injury), MacKayla and Willy all played with fire & passion. And, a little kudos to the defense for not allowing a goal all weekend. I could actually name every player but will limit my praise due to short attention span. Lol!
If the girls can keep up this pace of improvement every week, Sodium could conceivably win out the NWCL season.

Great job ladies!

GO SODIUM!!!

Upcoming Schedule

Wow, it's been since before Christmas since I last posted. I guess that's what Holidays and vacations do. Here is the upcoming Sodium schedule;

1/8/11 - vs VUSA Timbers @ REC #2 (1:00pm Kick off)
1/9/11 - vs WSA Courage @ REC #1 (9:00am Kick off)

1/12/11 - THUSC College Night for U14 - U17 players
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Courtyard Marriott
3050 NW Stucki Pl
Hillsboro, OR 97214
Guest Speakers: Linus Rhode & Steve Simmons from OSU

1/14 - 1/17 - FC Portland College Showcase

1/23/11 - vs OSSA Blue @ Lakeridge HS (Time TBD)
2/5/11 - vs VUSA Timbers @ (location TBD) (1:00pm Kick off)
2/12/11 - vs WSA Courage @ Doc Harris Stadium Turf (11:00am Kick off)
2/13/11 - vs OSSA Blue @ Sunset HS (12:00 Kick off)

Get ready for some soccer folks. Stay healthy, hydrated and warm durning training so we can field a competitive team.

"Let's Get Ready To Rumble"!!!!!!!!!!

GO SODIUM!!