North Florida 3v3 Challenge


Rampage 1-Andy, Andy, Mitch, Trevor, and Connor

Rampage 2-TJ, Camp, Taylor, Danny, and Chase

This was probably the toughest 3v3 our team has been to since the Got Milk Regionals a year ago. We brought two squads to this one: Rampage 1 and Rampage 2. Rampage 1 ended up in a bracket with two excellent U12 teams and a tough Team USA squad. Rampage 2 ended up in a bracket with two past 3v3 national champions. So the competition was fierce.

Rampage 1 played against a great Team USA Blue team in their first match. It was a tough head to head battle that went down to the wire. Team USA played a highly defensive game and camped a man in front of the goal. Consequently we got loads of possession time and lots of shots, but couldn't get past the back man. This one ended 2-3 in favor of our Team USA friends, in what was a well played game by both teams. Trevor got his first yellow card, which I'm sure he'll remember for years to come:-)

In game 2, Rampage 1 played against a tough JYS U12 competitive team that was physically stronger and faster, but our boys put up a great fight. At one point we were down 4-2 and it looked like it might be over, but a couple of quick goals got us back in it. Trevor and Mitch connected on one tremendous goal that was the play of the weekend. Trevor chipped a 15 yd ball to the sidelines and Mitch volleyed a rocket into the back of the net tying the game. Andy was on top of his game as well knocking in three critical goals. This one ended a tie 4-4, which was a respectable finish.

Game 3 was against a green but tough Clay County squad called the Daredevils. We came out strong and knocked in 3 unanswered goals, but got a bit cocky and by half time found ourselves down 3-3. The primary problem we were having was delayed passing. The Daredevils were aggressive and managed to steal several balls off our feet that could have easily been quality passes if we passed sooner. A half time "pep talk" woke the boys up though and they came out in the second half knocking in eight unanswered goals. All five players scored in this one with Andy leading the way with four goals and an assist. Connor knocked in three, Mitch had two goals and two assists, and Trevor and AB each knocked in one.

Game 4 was a critical game for Rampage 1, a win or a tie would assure that they would advance to the semifinals. But their opponent was another tough U12 JYS team called the Firebirds. Physically, we were outmatched in size and speed and the Firebirds had one star player that was just a bit more than we could handle at times. But our boys fought hard and stayed in this one to the end. At half time the match was tied 2-2, which was a result that I was happy with. But in the second half the Firebirds' speed allowed them to get behind our defense a couple of times and they managed to knock in a couple of easy ones. In the end the Firebirds took this game from us 3-5. As a consequence the Firebirds won the division and we dropped from a possible 1st to 4th. Mitch led the team with 2 goals, Andy netted another, and Trevor had an assist. (See below for the consolation game).

Rampage 2 started off the hard way facing one of the best 3v3 teams in the Southeast US: Team USA White. Our boys got a quick lesson in speed, agility, and movement without the ball as Team USA completely dominated this show knocking us off 10-1. The handwriting on the score sheet is a big mess, but I believe TJ got the goal and Danny got the assist. Unfortunately, a loss like this has lingering effects and may have contributed to a loss in confidence the rest of the weekend.

In game 2, Rampage 2 faced off against another national champion, Ponte Vedra Storm, a tremendously skilled girls team with speed and smarts. Our boys didn't know what hit them in this game and they were down rather quickly. No goals to report this time as we lost 0-6. Clearly two tough losses in a row, and only 1 goal in two games, left the boys a bit shell shocked.

In game 3 on the second day, Rampage 2 were looking stronger. They met up with a strong Jacksonville team called Chaos, formally the Phantoms, a team we had met in the past. It was a tough head to head battle and our boys dominated possession, but had a tough time get past the last defender, and on our open shot opportunities we were unlucky and shots that normally would have hit the back of the net went wide. Although I thought Rampage 2 played the better game, the score went the other way as Chaos won this match 4-6. Camp had a strong game with two goals and an assist, Taylor and TJ each added a goal and Danny had an assist. Although he didn't score in this one, Chase was a huge play maker for us and put in a tremendous work rate.

In game 4 Rampage 2 got a break and battled against a fun but less experienced team called the Weirdoes. I didn't get to watch this one due to a field conflict with our other team, but it was great scoring exhibition for our boys who ended this one early 12-0, making up for lost time. Camp led the team with 6 goals, Taylor had 3, TJ 2. Chase had 1 goal and 3 assists, and Danny provided 2 assists as well. It was a moral booster and came just in time for a tough match against their nemesis: Rampage 1.

Rampage 1 and Rampage 2 met in the consolation game in what was bound to be brawl. The game started off with more intense talking than playing, but after Rampage 1 went up on a quick goal from Mitch both camps got serious. It was a great see saw battle and both teams were in it to the end, but Rampage 1 prevailed with a 6-4 victory. My stat keepers were snoozing a bit during this one and the sheets were a bit disorganized. The sheets indicate Mitch led Rampage 1 with 3 goals and an assist, Andy had 2 goals and 1 assist, and Trevor had 1 goal, but I distinctly remember that AB also had a goal early in the game. Rampage 2 were led again by Camp who had 3 goals, TJ had a goal and assist and Chase knocked in a goal as well.

Both teams gave us great efforts on a hot August weekend in North Florida, with lots of touches on the ball, about 50 goals and 15 assists, and plenty of fun. Each tournament we name a Sportsman of the tournament. This time I decided the award goes to two players: Chase and Connor, who both gave us tremendous work rates and positive attitudes. Congratulations to both and to the ten players that traveled with us to Patten Park. Below are some individual stats as kept by the players.

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