Latest News including tournament times

Great job coming from behind to tie up the game on Sunday! Roberto and David both had great goals. Our defense was solid except for two great goals by their top players. Too bad about Jake getting two yellow cards. Hopefully there is no suspension involved, I'm waiting to find out. But the team showed me they can come from behind and stay strong in the stretch. And our boys didn't let themselves get pushed around. We gave back as good as we got. The extra substitutes really helped in the last two games.

We are still in second place in the flight. Clarkston, the team we tied last week has a record of 5 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie. We have 4 wins and two ties. They have played one extra game. But we end the season strong. Our boys will have come off a tournament and finish with a three game home stand. We play the teams in 3rd and 4th place and the team one from the bottom.

What does this all mean? Our destiny is in our hands. If we win each game, we finish in first place because Clarkston will have one loss and one tie versus our two ties. We win on points. So let's focus on that.

I have the tournament schedule. Here is the link.  We definitely play on Saturday at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM. The semifinal game depends on how we do in the first two games but will be on Sunday at 9:15AM, 10:30 AM or 1:00 PM. The final game is Sunday at 6:00 PM but only if we win every  game prior. Hopefully there is little conflict with baseball and we can have most of the team there. If not, we'll be playing short and everyone will get plenty of playing time.

Regarding the end of the season and moving into next year, here is what I know. All but one of the parents I have spoken to has voted to stick with the status quo and keep paying $500 - $600 per child and not using the extra trainer time. Jarib would prefer to pay more for more training. Jack and Liam, Ned and Nayef, Sam, Roberto, David, Brandon, Freddy, Zaeem and Sebas all prefer the status quo. I have yet to speak with Joey, Jake, Joel, or Dario about their plans.

So, the most likely scenario is that we continue in the fall with the status quo and those players who wish to get more training either get it on their own or play also for another team or join an academy-style team. I hate to see this team broken up but I knew that this choice would likely make some people unhappy. I was willing to go with the majority and it looks like that is the status quo. I'll be looking to speak with the last few parents about their choice today if practice is on.

Speaking of practice, I think I've been too quick to pull the trigger on cancelling practice in the past and will not make that decision prior to 3PM from now on. As I type, the rain has ceased and we still have a chance. With the practices we have canceled, I don't think I'll need to ask any more trainer money from the parents who paid extra in the fall, perhaps a little from those who joined in the spring.

I'd like to host an end-of-season party at my house after our last game. It is an 8:30 AM Sunday game at Barbour Pond so we could all go straight over to my house after the game and let the boys swim and have brunch. Hopefully we'll be distributing trophies at the same time. (I'm not sure when we get these) If that's too early and you need to get the boys to church, I understand and we could host an afternoon party, though this will be tougher for those who live out of town. I'll put a poll about this to the left, please vote on your preference.