Sodium takes ODP by storm!

Sodium was perfect in sending 17 of 17 players to ODP try-outs this weekend!

Sodium represented well in both the '95 and '96 age brackets.

Best of luck to these lady warriors in the up coming games!

GO SODIUM!

Sodium "Going for the Gold" in 2010!

The 09/10 season brackets were announced today and the lady warriors will once again be doing battle in the Premier Gold bracket. Rounding out this years bracket are;

LOSC Extreme
FC Portland Platinum
SSC 95 Hotspur
Oregon Rush 95G Nike
United SA Hotshots
ESUFC Arsenal
Sherwood Force
EMFC 95 Magic

Time to put the game faces on and get ready for some tough competition!

Congratulations Sodium, you deserve it, you earned it!

GO SODIUM!!

The wait continues.......

Tic, Toc, Tic, Toc Hmmmm, let's see; On 8/2/09 the last PQT games were finished and by 3pm the results were posted. On 8/9 the final CQT games were finished and by 3pm the results were posted.

You would have thought that by 4pm on 8/2 the Gold bracket would have been determined and then by 4pm on 8/9 all the other brackets should have been determined. Maybe OYSA doesn't work on weekends?

Oh well, looks like there are a lot of parents and fans impatiently waiting since the blogosphere is now virtually silent. Can't wait to see what happens! :)

I will check back in a couple days.

To keep crisp the Sodium squad has been helping with the High School try-outs and looking like they fit in quite nicely.

In the mean time, GO SODIUM!

Brackets

OYSA will announce [I am assuming] after this weekends CQT games, the final bracket placements. As you all know since we opted to accept the invite to Virginia Beach the same weekend as PQT's, it has thrown a monkey wrench into the whole thing. Reading on several unnamed soccer forums, we have many parents from other teams who feel Sodium is not worthy of a Gold bracket placement because we haven't "earned" it. To these parents I say; "What are you afraid of?" Are you afraid Sodium might get placed in the Gold bracket and you would have to play us? Are you saying a team that has 2 State Championships, 2 trips to Regional Tournaments, 1 trip to a National Tournament and has been Gold every year is now suddenly not worthy to be placed in the Gold bracket? You make it sound like we opted to ignore PQT's and go to Disneyland.

Well before the trip to Virginia Beach we were informed that the consequences would be that our placement may be solely left up to OYSA and we accepted that wholeheartedly. It is the parents and fans of other teams who are creating this huge uproar. They are making the Sodium team and coach out to be the 'Bad Guys' in this situation. They have even stooped to name calling on several occasions. Unbelievable.

I don't get it, what has THUSC, Sodium, their fans or me done wrong in this situation? We made the decision to go and now we are waiting, like all of you are, to see what OYSA decides to do. Period. How are we wrong? How are we not worthy? It's not even up to us anymore, it's up to OYSA.

And to all the conspiracy theorists out there; no, there were no secret meetings, no influence pedaling, none of that. We are just waiting to hear where we are placed so we can start playing. End of story.

And a lot of the posters [or posers] directly bashed OYSA. If you have a problem, all the BOD's names and contact info is listed on their website. Instead of crying & blubbering all over some soccer forum, contact them directly and get factual answers.

I find it extremely funny that people can point fingers, make accusations and comments but can't really site any tangible facts. Also, put yourself in our shoes for a minute; what if it was YOUR team? Would you want everyone saying YOUR team isn't worthy or hasn't earned a Gold bracket spot? [check yours against the above mentioned Sodium credentials]
Or, would you hold to what you agreed to; to let OYSA place you where they see fit based on whatever criteria they want to use? Think about it.

Kick'n butt in whatever bracket: GO SODIUM!!

Disclaimer: If you don't like what you read on this blog, if it makes you upset, angry or embarrassed, stop reading it. Don't blame me, you are in complete control.

Thoughts from the sidelines

I wanted to share my thoughts on some issues I feel are important to the growth and health of the team. Sorry if this offends anyone because, as always, it is never my intent. I just call it the way I see it.

The first is that no person or position is set in stone or safe. If you play ODP or not, it doesn't matter. With the talent we now possess on this squad you have to earn your position every day, every practice, every game. Those who give 100%, commit to pushing themselves to get better and bettering the team, will play. Those that don't or worse, won't, will not. Period. We are now at an age where this becomes a reality and not just a threat. All of our forwards can score at any time. All our mids can control the ball and the tempo of the game. All our defenders are fast, physical and unafraid. If you are playing like crap, expect to come out. If you are not hustling or getting beat to every ball, expect to come out. There are at least 3 girls who can play your position. You have to earn the privilege to start a game. Being a captain doesn't mean squat. If you are not chosen, who cares?! You should be focusing on beating your mark into a bloody pulp, not talking to the ref or the stupid coin toss. Let someone else do it.

Know your roll for that game. No one is a starter. No one is a sub. If you find yourself starting a game, make the best of it by showing you deserve to be there by giving 100% on the field. Be first to the ball. Win the 50/50. Make smart choices with the ball. Control & Communicate. If you are coming off the bench, support the team on the field. When your time comes, prove to the coaches you deserve to start by giving 100%. You have to earn the privilege to start! When you come off the field, ask the coach why. If he says he wants to see others, great. If he says it's because you played like crap, great. LEARN FROM IT. IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME IT WILL HAPPEN. Don't hang your head and pitty yourself. Pull it together and show the coaches you want/deserve another shot on the field. As a coach, do you think I want to put someone in the game who is drowning in self-pitty? NO WAY. Say; "OK, I will do better next time" and go back and cheer the team on the field. You will get another shot. Top athletes get pissed. They get pissed at their team mates and at themselves. That is a fact and that is how they get better. But, do you think they let it affect their level of play? NO.

Let me touch on two examples;
First, Neon. I spoke to a forward who started a game and scored 3 goals. She didn't start the next 4 games. Do you think that got her down? No Way! She knew her shot would come again soon and she worked hard to make sure she was ready when it did. THAT is the attitude ALL Sodium players need to have because we can't start all 19 players every game. But Tom & Niki WILL start those who work hardest and deserve it.
Second, and I know this is going to sound corny, but right now Sodium is like a caterpillar. We are working, struggling inside to find ourselves, our true identity where all the pieces fit together. And when we do, we will emerge. A great entity on the field and you will spread your wings and fly. (I told you this was going to sound corny!) Right now Neon IS that entity. They have overcome odds, found themselves and are dominating on the field. Sodium is still in the cocoon. Struggling and developing. We have moments of brilliance (Like in Washington), and moments where we stutter (Like the first half against Illinois). Once we find ourselves and our true identity emerges, those moments where we stutter will vanish. Does that make sense? Don't worry if it doesn't, I get that feedback a lot.

In closing I just have to say that everything we do from now on needs to be done to improve and with purpose. Whether it's improving yourself or your team. We have all the pieces, we need to focus on putting them all together into a well oiled machine. Work hard, earn your spot every day, every practice, every game. If you come off the bench in a game, do it with fire! Let your mark know that the girl that just left was NOTHING compared to the warrior that just stepped on. Play with passion! Make it count inside!

We will win as a team, die as individuals.

United we will stand! GO SODIUM!!

US Club Nationals Results

After the 2 hour lightening delay Sodium took the field to resume play. Play was sluggish as the lady warriors found it difficult to resume play. FCX found themselves with 1-0 lead going into half after taking advantage of a PK.

The second half the Sodium squad still wasn't firing on all cylinders. The FCX squad took full advantage and found a soft goal to go up 2-0. This, being down 2-0 to a team that Sodium knew darn well they could beat, and the fact that the game on field #7 was tied 0-0, fired the lady warriors up. They realized they have a shot at the championship and it's time to bring the 'A' Game, Sodium Style! With about 16 minutes in regulation the lady warriors turned up the heat. They slowed the tempo and started to pound the Illinois goal box. A feed from Eli Beard down the left side was dropped into the box by the midfielder where Lexi Frey was there to pound it in! Now the girls were starting to click. We've been here before and we know how to win. The action remained fast and furious as Sodium remained on the attack. Shot after shot was off the crossbar, wide or played by the keeper. Then, with under 5 minutes remaining, Dani Brown fought her way down the right side, cleared a perfect cross to Lexi Frey who was shielding one defender while the other was on her back and slammed in the second goal for the tie! The crowd erupted as players and fans from other fields watched the action unfold. Pounding and pounding Sodium continued to grind at the FCX keeper. Unfortunately time wasn't on our side (Tom's watch actually had over 1.5 minutes left!) as time ran out and the match ended in a tie.

Results;
Arsenal wins bracket by beating Pittsburgh 1-0 (And eventually wins the tournament by beating Marin 2-0)
Sodium ties FCX (IL) to play the spoiler for FCX

I will have to say IMHO that if Sodium had brought the game they brought to Washington Regionals, we would have walked away with the tournament. Many discussions were had post game about training sessions, playing/practicing as a team and alignment. We will see what adjustments will be made to ensure Sodium brings a high caliber of play to every match.

Do not hang your heads Sodium, you represented Oregon well in this tournament and rest assured, this will not be the last National event you will attend. Rest this week. Take care of injuries, bruises and ego's. We have a lot of practices ahead before fall season (wherever we will be) and we need to take what we learned and apply it towards developing as players and as a team.

Proudly, as we apply aloe to our sunburns, we yell: GO SODIUM!!

Lightening Delay Continues

After playing 1 minute and 12 seconds the games were delayed. As of this post, we were still under the cover.

Thunder/Lightening halt play at Nationals

With the match just a minute old the warning whistle blew and teams, fans, coaches and ref's from all 19 fields were called to their vehicles for a 30 minute delay. Will update as play resumes.