Correction

After further research it states on the OPL website that the winner of bracket #1 (Sodium) plays the second place team from bracket #2 (Arsenal probably) and that the winner of bracket #2 (FC Portland) will play the second place team from bracket #1 (OSSA).

So, that is an update. I will post much later.

Happy Easter!

Sodium blasts their way to undefeated first round

Sodium posted it's third shut out in OPL State Cup action Saturday with a 6-0 dismantling of BSC Portland. Scoring came early as Erika headed in the opening goal from a Jadyn corner kick! The crowd erupted in the beautiful sunshine at OES. Right before half Julie beat her defender into the 6 yard box, the keeper committed and she touched a perfect pass to an unmarked MacKayla for a 2-0 Sodium lead at half. To open the second Kelly dropped a long lead pass to a breaking Dani who popped the net for a 3-0 tally. Later, Luty bombed a goal kick which found MacKayla driving hard down the right side, she lofted a beautiful cross that found Dani's head and the back of the net! Again the crowd cheered and Sodium opened the lead to 4-0. Were they done? No way! Aliyah displayed her juggling prowess and shot the to Dani again who finished it into the BSC net for the 'hat trick'! Just before the final whistle Laura lined up her corner kick, shuffled and launched a beautiful ball into the box. The deflection found Mac at the top of 18. She settled and then ripped the net as the whistle blew and Sodium marched off with a 6-0 victory to end the round robin play. Despite players sitting out and playing different positions the team looked comfortable, poised and ready for the semi final round.

What it means
Sodium is #1 in their bracket. FC Portland will most likely win their bracket barring any weird outcome of their game against WSM. Given they have beaten their own B team and our Platinum team by so many goals, they will most likely be the overall #1 team by goal differential. No change for us since #1 overall plays #2 overall so we would be playing them anyway. OSSA will be #2 in our bracket and it looks like Arsenal will advance in the #2 spot from bracket #2.
So the Semi Final games will probably be Sodium vs FC Portland and OSSA vs Arsenal.

Note
Sodium allowed the fewest goals against of any team in either U15 brackets with 0.

Let's make sure we bring our best game from here on out. We have beaten FC the last couple times we have met and lets focus on doing what it takes to do it again. There is no tomorrow from this point forward. Two games remain between you and an OPL State Championship. The semi final game will be played on grass at rec #4 and the championship on rec #1. Stay focused on what got you here and what will take you to the next level.

You gotta love this time of year!

Never Back Down. Never Give Up. Never Lose Faith.

GO SODIUM!!

OPL State Cup Continues...

The Sodium squad takes on BSC Portland 95G Black in OPL State Cup action this afternoon at 2pm @ OES. Sodium is coming off a three win weekend, BSC has took on FC White this morning at 8am (No results posted) and a loss to EMFC.

Never underestimate your opponents. Remember FC White last year? Play hard, play your game and you will rise victorious.

Never Back Down. Never Give Up. Never Lose Faith.

From the sidelines we will be yelling; GO SODIUM!!

OPL State Cup Update

The 1-0 victory over EMFC Sunday solidified Sodium's position as #1 seed in Bracket 1. Regardless of what happend next weekend vs BSC, Sodium will advance as #1. If Sodium loses they will tie in points with either OSSA Blue or EMFC. The first tie breaker is head-to-head competition. Since Sodium has beat both those teams, they advance as #1 and will play the #2 team from Bracket 2 in the semi final round. Bracket 2 is really up in the air so I am not going to even try to sort that out until next weekend. Keep the good mojo working ladies!

CONGRATULATIONS SODIUM!!!!

Up Next;
4/23/11 - 2:00PM @ OES vs BSC Portland 95G Black*

*Last game was a 3-1 defeat to EMFC.


From the sidelines at OES your faithful fans will yell; GO SODIUM!!

Never Back Down. Never Give Up. Never Lose Faith.

Sodium notches third shut-out in OPL State Cup Action!

Sodium posted its third shut-out with a 1-0 victory over the always tough EMFC Magic. More details to follow.

Go Sodium!

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Sodium Sweeps OSSA in day one of play-off action!

I will say this; I have the utmost of respect for the (formerly LOSC) OSSA squad. They have outstanding players, coaches and program. But tonight I will say I kinda lost a little respect for their fans. After the game (Sodium 1, OSSA 0) finished I overheard a parent talking on his cell phone saying the Sodium fans were "unruly" and when they were exiting I heard them talking about how bad the officiating was. And in the stands they were overheard saying; "We were robbed".

In past years years I would taken this and run with it. This year, it is what it is, a 1-0 Sodium victory over both the OSSA Blue and White teams in the OPL Play-offs.

Willy single handedly (or footedly) took the ball past several defenders into the 6 yard box where the OSSA keeper (who had another incredible game) had to commit. Willy alertly dished to Easton who was splitting the two remaining defenders to blast the ball into the net!

Up Next
Sunday @ 3pm at REC #1 against EMFC Magic

From the sidelines we will scream; GO SODIUM!!

State Championship Action

At the half Sodium leads OSSA Blue 1-0!
Possitive mojo for the warriors!

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State Cup Begins Today!

Never Back Down. Never Give Up. Never Lose Faith.

Go Sodium!

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Timbers blast Chicago in Season Opener at Jeld-Wen

In the pouring rain the Portland Timbers christened Jeld-Wen park with a home opening victory over the Chicago Fire 4-2.

The Timbers Army was out in full force as the new field simply rocked with excitement! Hope all the players who attended kept warm and dry in preparation for the first round of OPL State Championship action.

**Schedule Change**

Saturday

10:00am @ Tigard HS vs OSSA White

7:00pm @ REC #2 vs OSSA Blue

See everyone tonight at the Coon's for the team dinner!

From next to the adult beverage table we'll be signing; GO SODIUM!!

NO PITY [I like it!]

GO SODIUM!!

Sodium finishes OPL on top

Sodium finished the OPL Winter League U15G Premier on top with 8 wins, 0 losses and 2 ties. They also posted a league leading 34 goals for and 4 against.

Sundays match up against PCU Impact was a little hard to watch but the girls rotated positions and had fun. The PCU team fought until the final whistle and had several runs deep into Sodium territory.

Up Next
Practice, team dinner and State Cup Play Off's!!!

GO SODIUM!!!

Saturday's Results

Sodium faced the ever improving EMFC Magic at PCC Saturday afternoon. This game in particular had meaning since Magic had knocked Sodium out of the NWCL and they were looking for a little payback.
Play started off with Sodium on the attack! I was standing behind the Sodium goal and play really didn't come to that end until later in the first half. With about 5 minutes gone the ball crossed the box to Willy who one touched and fired a missile into the corner for the opening score! You could tell EMFC was caught a little off guard. This certainly wasn't the same squad they faced March 5th. The battle ensued as it always does between these two as the first half whistle blew to end the half.
Sahalie, the EMFC keeper, turned in another brilliant performance as she almost singlehandedly kept the Magic in the game with outstanding save after outstanding save. Break a ways, corners you name it, Sahalie stopped it. Not until late in the second when Aliyah took the rock in the top of the box and blasted the upper corner just out of reach to bring the score to 2-0 was Sodium able to penetrate. With under 5 remaining Willy had the ball deep into the Magic box. Alertly she dropped to a poised McKayla who scorched the net from the 18 yard line to bring the final tally to 3-0. On the next corner kick you could see Sahalie and Taylor grabbing jersey's, shoving each other and laughing all the while.

As with all hard fought matches the final whistle was met with exhausted warriors hugging and laughing together. For above all the clubs, above the scores, above all else, these 2 teams have a friendship and bond that runs deep. That folks, is what it's all about.

From the Sidelines
This win solidify's Sodium place atop the OPL League. Regardless of tomorrows outcome neither OSSA or EMFC will be able to amass the points needed to overtake them. Congratulations girls on meeting your own challenges head on and overcoming them to put the team back on top.
What can I say about EMFC. The ties and bonds these two teams have formed make every match even that much more special. Whether it's the great camaraderie between the parents, the friendships that have formed between the players or just the mutual respect each team has earned from the other throughout the years, I know we always check the schedule first to see when we play Magic. Best of luck to them in the coming play-offs! And Dennis, stay off the quads until AFTER play-offs! I want to see you at the games in one piece! LOL!!

Up Next in OPL Action;
10:00am FC Portland vs ESUFC Arsenal @ South Meadows
1:00pm Sodium vs PCU Impact @ REC #2
3:00pm EMFC Magic vs OSSA Blue @ Lane Comm College

Best of luck to all as we head into the OPL State Cup play-offs!

From the cold aluminum stands at rec #2 the fans will scream; GO SODIUM!!

Beginning of the rise

Tonight the warriors of Sodium proved to themselves they are on the way back. A tale of two halves for sure. Sodium came out and had the advantage in the first half. They played with purpose, they communicated. They took nothing for granted and pushed each other to the limit. Back and forth the play went. Sodium attacked, backed off and attacked again. Each time the surge was stifled by OSSA's extremely talented keeper. With 12 minutes left Cookie took the ball deflected off a defender and punched a strong ball through where Willy stretched and put just enough cleat on it to flick it past the keepers outstretched arms for a 1-0 Sodium lead! The crowed erupted! The entire crowed knew they were witnessing a battle of epic proportion and everyone appreciated just what was happening on the pitch. With just a few minutes left Jadyn drove the ball deep down the OSSA right side. Last touch around the defender and a hard cross to the box where bodies flew. The ball deflected to a waiting Aliyah who drove the ball into the net with authority! The Sodium faithful again erupted with cheer as the halftime whistle blew.
The second half found Sodium a little flat footed. A bad position to be in against such a talented squad like OSSA. OSSA sensed the let down and turned up the heat! Relentlessly they kept the pressure on the Sodium third of the field. Eventually, under that kind of pressure, OSSA found the net to bring the tally to 2-1. Sodium did put several strings together throughout the half. On several occasions you'd find a Sodium forward running unmarked into the 18 yard box. on a few occasions they had some good looks, only to be shut down by the outstanding OSSA keeper. Towards the end you could feel the momentum starting to shift back to Sodium and they actually had a couple really good attempts go high over the bar as the final whistle blew. Both teams exchanged hugs as several of these players play ODP and other sports together. The applause rose as the teams took their sideline runs.
What a great game this was to watch. Excitement from whistle to whistle. We wouldn't have expected anything less from these two powerhouse squads.

Up Next;
3pm @ PCC Rock Creek - Sodium vs EMFC Magic. Always a great match up!
Sodium is hot for revenge as the Magic knocked them out of NWCL just last month.
Hold onto your hats folks, this could turn out to be the game of the week!

From the warmth of the concession stand we'll be telling; GO SODIUM!!

OPL State Cup Brackets

Here are the brackets followed by the schedule!

Bracket #1
THUSC Sodium
OSSA 95 Blue
EMFC Magic
OSSA 95 White
BSC Portland 95 Black

Bracket #2
ESUFC Arsenal
FC Portland Navy
WSM Havoc
FC Portland White
United Platinum

Schedule
4/16 - 10am @ Tigard High School
OSSA 95 White vs Sodium

4/16 - 5:15pm @ Aloha HS Varsity
Sodium vs OSSA 95 Blue

4/17 - 3:30pm @ REC #1
Sodium vs EMFC Magic

4/23 - 2:00pm @ OR Episcopal School
BSC Portland vs Sodium

Notes From The Sidelines
Going to be a tough road right out of the gate facing both OSSA teams on the first day. Once we battle through that we take on the Magic the next afternoon. Hope everyone is healthy and rested because we are going to need all hands on deck!

GO SODIUM!!!

OPL Action

Best of luck tonight Sodium as you take on OSSA Blue. Play tough, stay focused and take it to them "Sodium Style"!!

From underneath the 'pot-luck' tent the parents will be screaming; GO SODIUM!!!

vs Arsenal

If I shook my magic 8-ball I could probably come as close to figuring out what is going on with the team than I was on the sideline Sunday. Clearly Sodium was the better team. Time of possession, shots on goal, control of the game all went our way, but the girls just couldn't find the net. Several shots within and just outside the 18 sailed high or wide. On a couple occasions the ball was on the turf in the 6 yard box. Still, Sodium couldn't seal the deal and walked away with a disappointing 1-1 tie. Sodium's only score came after Kelly, from her center back position, drove the ball right down the center of the pitch and dished to McKayla who found the top of the net from about 19 yards. A great game was turned in by the Arsenal keeper who stopped many Sodium attempts.

From the Sidelines
From my vantage point it almost looks like the girls are trying too hard. There seems to be a lot of one-on-one play where players are taking too many touches and loosing the ball as opposed to finding the open player. Play seems to be centralized in the center of the pitch instead up the sidelines where we are the most dangerous. A couple time Aliyah pushed up the sidelines and resulted in a couple good crosses. Other than that the ball was being played right into the heart of the ESUFC defense.

The team needs to just cut loose. Stop playing tentative and worrying about making the "right" decision or the perfect "touch". Just go and play the way you can. I think it would even be better to make the wrong decision if you were giving it 100% than to over-think it and only be at 50 or 70% and lose the ball. Trust your teammates. When we scored it was because Kelly gave it 100% and drove the ball deep and made the defense commit. Once they did she dished to a wide open McKayla. Exactly the way it SHOULD be. I am seeing players instead of taking a pass and looking to advance to a teammate they are trying to beat the other team singlehandedly and resulting in loosing the ball. Selfish play. Utilize your teammates, they are very good! It is better for an attacking mid to have 3 assists in a match than to have her take 6 shots and score 1. You are a team, not a bunch of individuals.

Let's get back to fundamentals. Everyone should know what their positions responsibilities are. (IMHO)

Strikers/forwards - Score. Penetrate and finish.
Midfield - Create opportunity for the forwards to finish. Score when the opportunity presents itself. Penetrate and make the defense commit to you.
Backs - Stop the opponents attack. Feed the midfielders.
Keeper - Keep the ball out of the net.

It seems the players are more worried if they look good and get a bunch of touches than finding the open player and creating an opportunity for the team.

Think About This...
Remember how it felt when we won Beaverton Cup, Cascade Cup, LO Nike Cup and then went to the finals in Mustang Stampede? Remember how it felt to string 5, 6, 7 passes together and create a great look at the goal? It was free-flowing, players were looking for players, creating opportunities to finish. Play was fast and every pass from the defensive backfield was an opportunity to make a run and score. We need to find that place again. We need to gel as the cohesive unit you are. Don't worry so much about doing it right, just do it at 100% and it will be right. No one ever faulted a player who gave 100% of themselves on the field of battle.

Above all else; team.

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

GO SODIUM!!