Sunday was a beautiful bluebird day with just a slight breeze blowing across field 12 at RSC. We had a 12:45 start and temperatures were already high 70′s. We started the game with no subs and the boys had a big job ahead of them to play two thirty minute halfs in this spring heat. The boys came out ready to go and really looked good. Our shape was good most of the time and we did a really good job moving the ball around the field. The key early was the way we pressured the ball and put pressure on the other team all over the field. I love it when these boys play with such graft.

The other thing that impressed me was the individual creativity the boys demonstrated. One on ones, give and goes, overlaps. Controlling the ball and switching fields. Very nice. Most of the goals were the result of good field play and some nice finishing.

Daniel started out the scoring with a goal in the 4th minute. Then Max put in the 2nd in the 9th minute. Daniel scored again in the 12th. Futura scored in the 14th. then Riley scored in the 15th. Danield shot home a rebound off of Riley’s shot to complete his hat trick. Landon had a nice run down the left and scored in the 22nd. Riley scored in the 28th and Max closed out the half with a shot from the right.

In the second half, the boys came out flat after trying to cool down on the bench at halftime. Futura kept the ball in our half and got their second goal. The boys responded well and we took control of the game again. In the second half, Riley scored 2, Daniel scored one more and Andrew got the final goal of the game with a great finish. Final score 12 to 2 with 305 taking 28 shots to Futura’s 11.

We were two wins out of two game so far on Saturday and we were hoping for the third win of the day as Sporting KC was playing New England Revolution in front of 20,000 at Livestrong Sporting Park. We had a wonderful tailgate and the atmosphere at the game was electric. Kansas City is becoming one of the most exciting home crowds in the MLS.

The night ended with Sporting winning 3 to 0 and controlling the majority of possession. Maelin ended up trading Graham Zusi her St. Patrick’s day Sporting hat Lori had made for his jersey. So a great finish to a fantastic day. The boys hung out after the game and got autographs from the Sporting players before calling it a night.

How is that for a perfect day of soccer?!!

Our U11 game was about 30 minutes after our U12 game ended. Our U11 boys playing up with U12 were having a busy morning. We were over at Legacy Park at field 4 where we had never played before. We rushed through our warm up and headed out to the field which ran South to North and downhill. The wind was blowing pretty steady south to north as well. We elected to go uphill against the wind first.

We had some good opportunities early on, but still were having trouble finishing in. Ryan put us up 1 to 0 in the 11th minute. We were working pretty well moving the ball around against the wind, but we kept losing our shape more often than not. In the 22nd minute, Blackfire hit their 2nd shot of the half and scored to tie things up 1 to 1.

In the 2nd half, we had the wind to our back and we started working the ball better out wide. Riley scored in the 10th minute to put us up 2 to 1. We had a chance to go up 3 to 1, but missed a penalty kick that went just wide. In the 24th, Riley put another corner kick into the six yard box, but it bounced out. Daniel was there to pick it up and put it home for our third goal of the game. With two minutes to go, Blackfire scored their 2nd goal from a penalty kick (handball in the box). Both teams finished the game with a strong effort and it was an exciting finish.

We ended up with 15 shots total to Blackfire’s 7. A good win, we just will need to work on our spacing and our movement to open things up a bit more. A nice win considering the boys that had doubled up this morning. Everyone played a big role in this win and it was great to see all the boys doing their part.

Another unusually warm March day. We had a 9:30 game at RSC field 12. Not too windy but a nice breeze. We had a good week of training and the boys were feeling confident. It was going to be a big day with back to back games (U12 then U11) and the home opener at Livestrong Sporting Park with Sporting KC.

The boys started off exactly as we had drilled on Tuesday with some nice passing, then down the right wing and a cross in from Alex and a beautiful header finish for Dylan. Up 1 to 0 in the first minute. Riley scored directly on a corner kick in the 4th minute. Dylan scored on a nice shot down the left side in the 8th minute. Alex scored in the 29th to put us up 4 to 0. SSC scored in the 31st minute and we went into half up 4 to 1.

We had a rough first half in our first game and we had been working on our fitness this week in addition to working the ball up the field, going wide and finishing. I encouraged the boys to come out and stay on top of their game the second half and not to flat. Lolo scored on a penalty kick in the 2nd minute, followed by Dylan’s third goal of the game for his hat trick. Dylan scored his 4th a minute later on another cross from the right from Alex and Riley setting and touching it out to Dylan.

Lolo got his second goal of the game in the 8th minute. Trey got at goal in the 12th followed by another U11 player goal by Max in the 22nd. Alex finished out the scoring in the 26th. The boys had a great game and were consistent throughout the game. Good pressure all over the field, the majority of possession and our pace was excellent. 305 Spin out shot SSC 28 shots to 8.

There is no better feeling than to see what you worked on in training, be executed so well in a game. Thanks, Boys.

U11 opened their season with a 4:00 game at Legacy Park on Field 16. A beautiful afternoon to play soccer with temperatures in the 60′s blue sky and a strong breeze blowing across the field. The boys came out ready to play and we immediately took control of the game. Riley put us in the lead with a goal in the 5th minute. We had lots of opportunities, but just couldn’t find the goal. Riley took a corner with the wind at his back and drilled a cross off of a Crush defender and it deflected into the goal.

Up 2 to 0, we should have scored a few more goals before half. Instead, we let Crush back in the game giving up goals in the 20th and 26th minutes. Colby made a couple of spectacular saves including stopping a penalty kick to keep the score tied going in to half at 2 to 2. We just went flat for about 8 minutes and gave up control of the game in the middle.

In the second half, we found our game again and had chance after chance to score. We shot wide, we hit the crossbar, we even had a couple one on one’s with the goalie, but just could not finish. In the end we outshot Crush 23 shots to 8 and should have put the game away early. Instead we walked away with a tie. Looks like U11 will be working on finishing and staying focused. When the boys were working, we controlled possession. When we lost focus, then we were constantly giving up the ball and letting them run by us. Overall – a great effort for our first game – and it was great to be outside playing soccer on such a perfect day.

After the game, everyone rushed back to Sedalia and we met at El Tapatio to watch Sporting KC win their first game of the season with CJ Sapong scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. A great end to a wonderful day of soccer.

It was an unusually warm springlike day – much like our mild winter has been. Temperatures in the low 60′s and a steady breeze coming out of the southwest blowing across field 11 at RSC. It was the twin match to our Fall season opener with the Spartans.

The boys were in a great mood and ready to play. It was our first game, so everyone was ready for the whistle. I thought we played well in the first half and had a our share of possession. The boys did a good job of controlling the middle and working the ball out wide and down the wings. Spartans scored on the first attempt on goal against the run of play and we were down 0 to 1.

The boys stayed with their game and in the 14th, Lolo tied the game up at 1 to 1. We had a few more good chances, but just couldn’t find the net. We went in at half tied 1 each.

In the second half, we came out pretty strong. Alex put us in the lead in the 9th minute with a nice run down the right. We pretty much controlled the game for about the next 8 to 10 minutes until Spartans tied things up at 2 to 2 in the 25th minute. I thought we would hold on to the 2 to 1 lead, but a draw seemed like a fair result. But then with just a couple minutes to go, Spartans scored on a corner kick that went off our keeper’s block hit the post and some how blew back into the goal. Bad luck for the boys as they had worked hard and played well.

Compared to the opening game back in the fall where we were beat 5 to 2, I thought boys had made great progress and played much better in this game. In the end, we outshot Spartans 21 to 11 for the game. Job well done, boys. Looks like we need to work on our finishing, but overall – a great effort for our first game of the season.

What a great afternoon to get the goals assembled and play some footy.