Black Watch Labor Day Tournament
[For Full Tournament Results Click Here]

Game	Opponent	Score	W/L
1	Weston	0-9	L
2	St. Pete	0-0	T
3	Brandon	0-3	L

Summary

We came to this tournament knowing that it would be a great challenge for our players. As "luck" would have it, we had the fortunate (or misfortunate) honor (depending on how you look at it) of being pooled with the two strongest teams at the tournament: Weston and Brandon. Having never played together as a team in a real game, I wasn't sure what to expect from our guys. I knew we wouldn't be well organized yet, but I was expecting a great effort from our kids.

In game 1 vs. Weston, I knew that we had our hands full. Past champions of their league in the Miami area, a veteran team that had played together for two years, Weston appeared to be the favorite to win the tournament. A tough way for us to start the weekend and our 2002-03 season, but it was a great opportunity for our players to see what kids their age are capable of. Weston controlled the tempo of this game from the first minute. Our team clearly wasn't prepared for what was about to hit them.

Weston dominated ball possession using mostly one and two touch passing, unbalanced our defense and mid field by switching the direction of attack and pummeled our goalies and back line with a lot of crosses and quick combination passing. In addition to playing a smart game, Weston had some great talent and potent speed. They struck quickly and we suddenly went from a confident group to a nervous looking group. Some of our kids looked a bit like deer standing in the road with a set of high beams shining on them. We had forgotten how to clear the ball, we had forgotten how to pass, how to move into space, how to support on defense, and I suspect some may have forgotten their name.

In the back, we became our own worst enemy, crossing at least three balls in to the middle the box for easy finishes by Weston. Simply summed, the first half wasn't pretty, ending 6-0 at half time. It had nothing to do with our talent. Stage fright had taken over.


TJ making a run vs. Weston.

The second half of play vs. Weston was an improvement. Our players were going to the ball better, we were linking passes, but could only get a few tied together because of lack of movement, support and involvement by players not in possession of the ball. Our defense played a bit smarter and more disciplined, but we were still vulnerable in the back.

Although we gave up 3 goals in the second half, giving Weston a 9-0 victory, there were moments where we controlled the game and tempo. There were glimpses of what we were capable of. We had a decent number of shots on goal. Mitch had three, Trevor and Cameron each had two, and Andy and Craig each launched one. On the defensive end, despite giving up nine goals, our goalies gave us a great effort. Danny had an amazing 15 saves, and Dallas had three. Despite the tough loss, this game will go down as one of the more important of the year. Our players learned that they are no longer playing recreation soccer with YSI or the YMCA. This was a quantum leap from what they had experienced in the past. I predict these boys will never again lose 9-0.

Mitch fighting for the ball vs. a tough Weston player.

In game two we played against a team more our equal: The St. Pete Raiders' B team. Having come off an equally demoralizing 11-1 loss against Brandon, both teams were looking for a victory and an opportunity to regain some confidence. We came out looking a bit more focused. Our defense played a much more disciplined game in the back and although the movement by players without the ball was still frustratingly disorganized and poor, the time of possession favored our team, perhaps 60/40. Our attacking game was better, but it was still more individual attacking patterns rather than team attacking. Mitchell led the team with seven shots, Cameron, Taylor, and Emilio each had two, and Andy, Bryce, and TJ had one each. On the defensive end, Cameron, Andy, Connor, Emilio, and Landon all gave us a strong effort. St. Pete had some close opportunities, but the end result was a shut out. Danny and Dallas both gave us aggressive, heads up halves with eight goalie saves a piece. We had quite a few opportunities to score, two of which were taken away by an inexperienced team of refs, but that's life and luck. Overall, I was happy with the boys' performance and felt a 0-0 tie was a justifiable end.

Game three would be another major challenge for us. Brandon had easily defeated St. Pete 11-1 and come off a tough 3-2 loss against Weston, the tournament favorite in a game that would later be repeated when both teams met up again in the championship match. Brandon needed a 4-0 victory over our boys to assure that they would advance to the semifinals, so the prior day's numbers indicated that they would have an easy time of it. But the Rampage were on a steep learning curve this weekend and had grown considerably as a team the prior 24 hours. We chose to line up our "muscle" in the back: Andy, Mitch, and Cameron, with Danny in the goal, with the plan to put up a strong defensive stand. Brandon came out strong, but had a difficult time penetrating into their attacking third, and consequently many of their shots were from long range. Our mid field and forwards did a much better job of spreading the field and attacking the ball, and as a consequence we may have had a slight overall advantage on possession in the first half. Our transition from defense to offense was very good at times, but getting through the Brandon backs was difficult. Danny did a great job of protecting the goal, saving 12 shots. At the end of the first half, Brandon walked off the field stunned, with only a 1-0 lead. The game was close and the Rampage had demonstrated that they came to play.

 

In the second half both teams came out determined to play hard. The Rampage continued to maintain a strong defensive stand. We made a few adjustments, putting some speed up front, Landon and Trevor, and tried to go over Brandon's head. We had some chances, but not enough mustard on our through balls. Brandon managed to score two more goals in this one and put on a very aggressive attack in the last 15 minutes, but overall our boys held them off well. Brandon certainly had the upper hand in this game, but considering that theirs' was a team that had played 50+ games together last year, I was very proud of our boys' performance. Our attacking game was not overwhelming with only four shots on goal, Mitch had two, and James and Connor had one a piece. But our defense and possession time in the mid field were excellent. Andy, Mitch, and Cameron gave us a great effort in the back in this game. And Danny was a star in the goal contributing 22 goalie saves on the day. I was very, very happy with the performance of every player on this team in our final game.

While bravely protecting the goal vs. Brandon, Emilio pauses to say the pledge of allegiance. Mitchell and Dallas wisely abstain from their patriotic duties.

Ending 3-0 against Brandon in only their third game of the year was a great moral victory and should be proof to each player that they can play at this higher level. Soccer is 80% mental and 20% physical. Each of you has to find that switch in your head that allows you to play competitive soccer the way that you're capable. Although we have a great deal to work on technically and tactically in 2002-03, each of you demonstrated in the Brandon game that you have the ability to compete with the best that Florida has to offer. We're only going to get better.

Although we ended the weekend 0-1-2, I left feeling satisfied that we had accomplished what we came to accomplish. The only bad loss is one that you don't learn from. I hope that all of you will reflect on what you did right as well as what you need to improve on. I hope that the experience of playing against great competition will motivate you to work harder both at practice and on your own. And I hope that you learned that regardless of the outcome of a game you can always, and should always have fun.

Danny coming out to control the box vs. Brandon.

Each tournament we go to we select a player that displayed the best sportsmanship overall. At the end of the day on Saturday I was thinking the award would go to James. Then I thought that, no, TJ, Danny, Craig, Connor or Dallas deserved it just as much. Then I thought that Mitch should get it because of the way he handled the end of the St. Pete game where the ref blew the whistle just as he hammered a game winning shot into the back of the net. But Andy and Cameron both played highly unselfish games. And Trevor, Emilio, Bryce, Taylor and Landon all played with enormous heart. By the end of the weekend, I decided it wasn't possible to pick one player. So in our first ever tournament together, the Sportsmanship Award goes to all fourteen players. Congratulations to Andy, Mitch, Cameron, TJ, Trevor, James, Dallas, Connor, Landon, Bryce, Taylor, Craig, Danny, and Emilio. You should be proud of what you accomplished this weekend. Keep up the great work.

 

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