vs Pride update

Playing hard. 0-0 at half.

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Viva Las Vegas!

Tomorrow the Sodium squad take off for Las Vegas. Safe travels everyone!

Go Sodium!

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Click the link to get the forecast for Las Vegas while we're there!!!

Vegas Weather

GO SODIUM!!

Guts, Heart and Determination

I watched the Power Athletics National Cheer Competition on Sunday in Tacoma, WA since I didn't have a soccer game to go watch (wink) and witnessed 2 of the greatest examples of guts, heart, determination and sheer love of the sport that I've seen in a very long time.

The first was exhibited by a young lady who overcame enormous obstacles to compete for her team. In competitive cheer you can't just not show up. You can't come off the floor or call the coach and tell him/her you can't compete due to an injury. For the team to be competitive, everyone, EVERYONE, needs to show up and give it everything they have for the team. There is no bench. Otherwise you have to withdraw or, if you choose to go on stage, nothing looks right because everyone has a specific job, a specific tumbling run or stunt to base, and it leaves a hole and you have no chance to win.
But for this particular young lady, her team is the most important thing in the world. You see just 4 days before competing she had another round of chemotherapy. While the other girls had ponytails sprayed up high, she has no hair. But in no way did this stop her from giving everything she had. And when the routine was finished, not one girl on her team cared if they even placed. They surrounded this young lady with cheers, screams and tears of joy. A true testament of what being part of a team is all about. She overcame everything to compete, to be part of the team she loves.

The second example came as a team effort. In the gym Taylor's sister belongs to there is a team amply named, Fierce. This team is made of girls from the two other teams and put together just for fun, just as a fill in for a particular level. Well, on this day it was more than that. These girls decided that today, it wasn't just for fun. Today they weren't just a "practice squad" but a legitimate team to be contended with. When they approached the stage you could see just how serious they were, it was in their eyes, their stride. They came to play. When the music queued these young girls snapped into place and proceeded to perform their routine with the precision and enthusiasm of a varsity squad. They hit every tumble run, every lift, every stunt. And when the music stopped not did they burst into excited but their entire gym and the entire convention center. They had given the performance of a lifetime. Not were they impressed, so were the judges. They ended up taking home the firat place trophy for their bracket.

I wanted to share these two examples because I believe this is where we are at Sodium, on the brink of greatness. These examples show what it means to overcome obstacles, to come together, and take yourself and team to the next level.

Vegas this weekend will be a test. We are playing some the top teams in Region IV and the Nation. Who will rise up as a leader, a player willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for her team? Who will be the hero?

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

With the slots ringing in the background, the faithful will be cheering; GO SODIUM!!!

NWCL ends

Well, Magic came to play, Sodium came to watch. Best team won on this day. Magic 2, Sodium 0.

Kudos to the Magic. Their forwards kept the pressure, their mids were physical and Sahalie had another outstanding performance in the net. They deserve to be playing for the NWCL championship tomorrow. Best of luck girls.

From the sidelines
On the other hand, Sodium seems to be struggling with the new formation. It worked great when introduced at the U17/18 Showcase but since then the team looks a little lost. A jumble of players in the middle shuts down passing lanes for the forward and creates a situation that is easily defendable. I saw a lot standing around today too. I saw players lose the ball and quit instead of pursuing to recapture it. I saw players not taking their time but hurriedly taking one touch then booting to a zone. I believe the formation would work if we had our attacking mids where more aggressive and directed traffic. Make the center mids and center backs commit then find the opening. As it looks now our mids are playing with their heads down and not seeing the opportunitites as they open. We had a couple really good runs; Mac off the cross bar from Jadyn, Easton and Aliyah had a couple great crosses.
It will come with time and practice. These things happen and it won't be the last time. What is important is what you take away, what you learn from this.

Remember;
"It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference"
Thanks Kristina.

Let's learn and put this behind us. We have a huge tournament next weekend in Las Vegas and we need to focus on the tasks at hand. We will always be there rooting for you no matter the outcome. You are the team. You are United. You are Sodium.

Never back down. Never give up. Never loses faith.

GO SODIUM!!

Vegas Showcase Scouting Report

Before we take off for Sin City wanted to give everyone a current update on what we can expect to see there. First we will start with Sodium.

THUSC Sodium
#1 in Oregon
#20 in Region IV
#70 Nationally

Now for the competition;

3/11/11
Pride Predators
#3 in Colorado
#48 in Region IV
#142 Nationally

3/12/11
Beach FC
#15 Cal South
#76 in Region IV
#216 Nationally

Santa Rosa United Shock
#2 Cal North
#2 Region IV
#9 National

3/13/11
MVLA SC Lightening 95G
#1 in Cal North
#1 in Region IV
#1 Nationally

Report
Pride will not be a problem if we play our game. Stay physical. Keep a body on their forwards and attack aggressively with and away from the ball.
Beach FC. Midlevel gold team from CS. 2 maybe 3 players who can bring it. Again, control the ball then attack. Word on the street, Sodium is a heavy favorite in this match up. Santa Rosa beat us in finals in Mustang and recently beat OR Rush in finals ay Arizona Presidents Cup. Time for an OR team to rise up.
MVLA. What more can you say than we will be exposed to what U15 soccer is all about. This team is #1. BUT.....and we know this well, you have to play the game. That's why I love to be the underdog. If we can bring it "Sodium Style" and keep them on their heels there is no reason we can't play with them. We have the defensive power. We have a killer offensive threat. We can rise up to this challenge lady warriors and give this team a match they will not soon forget. Remember Mustang Stampede? All those teams challenge MVLA every season. We came, we played, we conquered.

Let's bring it today and take this momentum all the way to the finals. Let's give Magic a true taste of what Sodium can do.

More to come.

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

GO SODIUM!!

well....

Let's see, how to describe todays game against ESUFC? Hmmm, how about.....NOT PRETTY. Coming off a weekend where Sodium quite efficiently handles teams of 2 and 3 years older to todays game? Baffling to say the least.

Arsenal came to play. They beat us on every ball in the air. They won 80% of the 50/50's. They stepped in front and were first to the ball. They took the ball away from our players. In the first half we couldn't string 2 passes together. ESUFC took full advantage of the opportunity given them and within the first 5 minutes had a well deserved 1-0 lead. Although the forward seemed, from most spectators vantage points, to be offsides, the officiating (which was poor in both directions) was not the problem. Arsenal flat out beat Sodium the first half. If the game had ended then, it would have been a victory for the most deserving team. But, there were still 40 minutes left to play.

The second started with a Sodium flurry. Kelly, from outside back, found Lexi streaking in from the back side. Lexi controlled the ball forcing the keeper to make a decision and then ripped the net for the equalizer. ESUFC had a couple opportunities late in the second but just couldn't penetrate. Play went back and forth until Kelly again was slicing into Arsenal territory where she placed a terrific pass to Lexi's feet and again she found the back of the net for the go ahead, and final, score. Don't get me wrong, a 'W' is a 'W' but I truly hope Sodium gets back in stride for the NWCL playoffs and then Las Vegas Showcase. Get healthy those of you who weren't there. Mend those injuries from today (Emmy) and lets get back to playing the type of game we are used to. Controlled, calculating, attacking.

I will say, to end on a high note, that the girls lived by their credo, they never gave up.

NWCL Finals Are Posted!
3/5/11 10am REC #1 - THUSC vs EMFC Magic
3/5/11 10am Aloha HS - VUSA Timbers Red vs OSSA

3/6/11 3pm REC #1 - FINALS

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

GO SODIUM!!

Health

Now is the season when health is of the utmost importance. As Tom said in his email, make sure you are taking care of your body. Proper diet, icing injuries, etc. I currently have all 3 of the girls at my house either sick in bed or recovering just enough to get to school.
Hydrate, make good meal choices, get enough SLEEP. According to the American Sleep Disorder Association teens need on average 9.5 hours of sleep per night. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you taking vitamin supplements? Keeping hydrated. All of these will ensure you keep healthy and on the field.

GO SODIUM!!