Beaverton Cupdate

Friday, 7/16/10 vs PCU Impact @ REC # 3. 8:00pm kickoff
Sodium has always played PCU teams tough, this was no exception. The scoring began early with Aliyah driving down the right side and finding Mac in the box for the finish. 1-0. Within minutes Hannah, working on her favorite left side, drove a perfect cross to McKayla who ripped the net for a 2-0 Sodium lead. The relentless pressure continued as the was alertly pass back where Kelly was waiting. From about 33 yards Kelly wound up and found the top of the net. Sodium was rolling to a 3-0 advantage. Just before intermission Kelly found Eli open at the 20 yard line. Eli found the net and Sodium found themselves up 4-0. After the break the onslaught continued. Emmy down the right was looking for some to cross to, when no one showed, Emmy showed the keeper she can score too! She found the top left corner to make it 5-0. Emmy again took the ball deep where she fond McKayla muscling a defender out of the way. McKayls broke loose and popped in the 6th! Late in the match an Impact forward lofted a ball from about 22 yards out just over the 72" frame of Sodium keeper Taylor Luty. The lady warriors brushed that off when Lexi launched a corner kick which was deflected by Taylor Coon to a waiting Elly "Willy" who found the net. Game, set, match as Sodium notched the opening win 7-1.

Saturday, 7/17/10 vs RCSC G95 Black@ REC # 5. 8:00am kickoff
The squad from River City SC were tough. There mids and defenders were big and physical, their forwards skilled. with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half Emmy drove down her patented right side, found Aliyah streaking goalward and Sodium was up 1-0. Just before half Lexi found herself staring at at a 30 yard free kick. In Laura Camp-esc style she lined it up, took a run and ripped it beautifully passed the RCSC keeper. Sodium up 2-0 at half. Second opened with RCSC flurry. they attacked and attacked and at around the halfway mark found the back of the net to narrow the score to 2-1. Calmly the lady warriors regrouped. They got back to basics and began their attack. With minutes left Mac drove the ball hard down left sideline. She turned the corner into the box and ripped what we all thought was a beautiful cross but instead, it found the top far post net! The crowd went wild! Moments later the whistle blew and Sodium had notched it's second victory. 3-1.

Saturday, 7/17/10 vs WSM Venom @ PCC Rock Creek. 2:00pm kickoff
The afternoon game proved to be another scoring barrage for Sodium. Against their cross town rivals WSM Sodium always brings a good game. The first half started out more like an episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance' with each team finding its comfort zone. A dance that would end with some bruised toes. Just before the intermission Eli took a drop at about 25 yards and ripped the back of the net to give Sodium a 1-0 advantage before the break. Tom must have given the girls a little added incentive because they came out hot in the second half. Lexi lined up a corner kick that was fired passed the keeper by Kerri. 2-0. Minutes later Lexi found herself again on the attack. She dropped a pass into the box to Kerri who tangled with the diving WSM keeper. The squirted loose where Kerri popped it in! 3-0. Once the the dynamic duo hooked up. Lexi dropped a perfect lead to Kerri who ripped the net. Sodium up 4-0. With 10 minutes left, newcomer Elly "Willy" Williams drove the ball herself from 35 yards out fire a shot past the WSM keeper. 5-0. Not be outdone, Lexi found herself behind the defense from about 30 and waltzed in the 6th goal. Taylor found herself too storming the keeper but a collision in the box caused the ball to squib wide. To make up for it, the next drive found Taylor down the right side, past her defender, for a perfect cross to Lexi for the 7th and final goal.

Sunday, 7/18/10 FINAL vs RCSC @ REC # 5. 11:00am kickoff
Talk about a tale of two halves. Sodium came out in the Beaverton Cup Championship very sluggish. They weren't crisp, communicating or passing effectively. The River City squad on the other hand, did. They attacked Sodium from the opening whistle. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Sodium was on there heals more than once during the first half and had fight for the score to remain 0-0 at the break. You could tell by the body language that coach Tom was giving them a lesson in underestimating their opponent and mental preparation. Well, it worked. The lady warriors came out like the team we have seen play the last two weeks. Relentless pressure, wearing down the opposition, looking for opportunities to score. halfway through the half that opportunity presented itself. Aliyah, who had owned the right sideline for much of the game, powered past the defender and lofted a great cross where Willy was flying in to shin the ball into the net for what would prove to be the game winner. Many other opportunities went high or off the frame before the final whistle and the crowing of the Beaverton Cup Champions.

Notes from the sidelines
Never underestimate your opponents. I don't care what the score was or how many times you have beat them. The very second you enter a competition thinking you are going to walk over everyone or think just by showing up you will win, you will receive a harsh slap of reality and get beat. With that said, we needed to play the championship game with the same enthusiasm, heart and will to win as we played in with every game to this point. Period.

Now, with that said, Sodium is really starting to fire on all cylinders. Between the Cascade and Beaverton Cups Sodium has scored 34 goals while allowing just 5. I'll take that ratio any day of the week.

Up Next:
Lake Oswego Nike Cup! - I will post schedules and opponents as the weekend nears.

GO SODIUM!!