March 14, 2011. A few of us made it up to the Sporting KC Players meet and greet at Johnny’s. I am not sure if the boys had more fun meeting and hanging with the players or the players had more fun hanging with the boys. A terrific evening that the boys will not soon forget.

U10 had to make the run from WMSL to RSC for the 3:30 start to replay the game that Lions had abandoned earlier in the season. It was without question the nicest day of the spring so far to play soccer and having a doubleheader today worked out fine. The boys kicked around while we waited for gametime and spirits were high. We were down to 3 subs, but no one was tired and everyone was ready to play again.

The Lions came out ready to play and both teams worked the ball up and down the field. Lions opened up the scoring in the 7th minute. This got the boys going and in the 10th, Trey worked a nice cross into the box and Logan had an excellent finish to tie things up 1 to 1. In the 17th, Nick made a great run from the back and handed off a perfect pass to Max who put the ball past the goalie and put us up 2 to 1. In the 21st, Riley got a good run  going, made a nice turn and fired his shot into the back of the net to put us up 3 to 1 at half. In the first half, 305 had 10 shots to Lion’s 8 shots.

In the 2nd half, Andrew started his 4th half in a row in  goal. He was having a terrifc day. In the 8th minute, the ref awarded us a penalty kick and Riley stepped up and put it nicely into the corner to make the score 4 to 1. In the 11th, minute, Lions scored to make it 4 to 2. Riley then went in goal for Andrew and Andrew finally got some time on the field. Jesus moved back up front after a terrific shift in the back with Nik. In the 17th, Jesus found some space and fired in our 5th goal of the game. 305 had 12 shots to Lion’s 3 in the 2nd half. All in all a great day of footy in KC. We are starting to see the individual skills show up on the field and we will keep working on our first touch and our passing and shooting. The boys were chatting away as we left the field and everyone was in an excellent mood after two good games.

We raced from RSC to WMSL for the 1:15 U10 game vs United. In the KC Cup we beat United 1-0 in group play and then lost to them in the final. WMSL field 4 was a very rough pitch but the weather was perfect with the temperature at 60 degrees.

Both teams worked hard in the first half with opportunities on both sides. Andrew had an oustanding first half  in goal and kept us in the game. Just before halftime, Trey made one of his blazing runs and took the ball through the defense and finished strong to put us up 1 to 0 at halftime. In the first half, 305 had 4 shots on goal to United’s 5 shots.

In the second half, we seemed to work better and were creating some good chances. Both teams were making good challenges and the ball moved up and down the field with each change of possession. United’s #11 was doing his best to emulate Stoke’s DeLapp as he was throwing the ball into the box on every throw-in. In the 7th minute he threw one in across the goal mouth and we watched the ball roll across in front of  the goal before United got on the end of it and scored to tie things up 1 to 1. It was a tough goal to concede but in the end, a draw was a fair result as both teams really worked hard and the spirit of play was excellent. Job well done to both teams. Both teams had 5 shots each in the 2nd half.

As soon as the game ended, we packed up and raced back to RSC for a 3:30 game with Liberty Lions.

Finally, a U11 game without any significant wind or weather to affect the game. It was a beautiful morning with temperatures in the high 50′s. With gametime at 10:50, playing on field 12 at RSC, the boys seemed ready to roll. Five minutes into the  game, Eduardo found the net to put us up 1 to 0. We continued to dominate possession but just couldn’t seem to finish. 15 minutes into the half, Lolo found the net again and we were up 2 to 0. That would be all the goals for the first half. 305 Spin had 12 shots on goal to the Raptor’s 4.

In the second half, it was game on and Lolo completed his hat trick with a goal in the third minute. The boys were really working well and we were moving the ball at will down the right, down the left and even through the middle. In the 7th minute, Hunter got his account started with a superb finish. For the next 10 minutes, the play was wide open as both teams pushed to score. Raptors scored in the 17th minute to make the score 4 to 1. In the last 10 minutes of the game, the boys turned it on and had a flurry of chances. Hunter scored in the 20th, followed by Lolo in the 21st and then Hunter completed his hat trick in the 23rd. The final score was 7 to 1. 305 had 12 more shots in the 2nd half to Raptor’s 7 shots.

While we started slow, we finished strong and all 11 players played well when called on. It was truly a great team effort with spot on play from back to front. Our team shape was really good in the 2nd half and we moved the ball well around the pitch.

U11 was in the KC Cup final for the second year in a row. We had thought maybe it would be a rematch with Rampage but Columbia United had a hard fought win against a really good Rampage team 1 to 0 in their playoff game. There was some wind, but the weather was beautiful with temperatures in the 60′s and blue skies. We kicked off on field 11 at 3:45 and the boys were ready. In the 9th minute, Lolo put us up 1 to 0. Then in the 14th, Alex scored and made it 2-0. 305 was controlling most of the possession and winning balls all over the pitch. They were doing well pushing the ball out wide as well as switching fields. In the 16th Hunter slipped through to make it 3-0 and then right before the end of the half, Hunter got his brace and put us up 4-0. 305 had 11 shots on goal to United’s 4.

In the second half, United came out charging and our boys were on our backfoot as we gave up a goal on United’s first shot of the half at 4 minutes on a penalty kick. United scored again in the 10th and then the 13th to make the score 4 to 3. Somehow our boys had lost the plot and we were scrambling to put it back together. Thankfully, Alex scored his second goal of the game in the 15th minute to put us up 5 to 3 and the confidence returned. Matthew scored his first goal for 305 and put us up 6 to 3. United kept fighting and found the net in the 22nd minute to make for an exciting finish with the final score 6 to 4. 305 only had 4 shots in the 2nd half to United’s 4 shots. So while United beat us 4 to 2 in the second half, our terrific first half was enough to give U11 the KC Cup championship for the second year in a row. Well done boys. Undefeated throughout the entire tournament. 305 scored 21 goals in the tournament and gave up only 8 goals. Be Champions!

In the other playoff game, United beat Chivas 7 to 2 and we both kept our promise to meet again in the final. We took the field 8A at 1:30 and it was game on. United came out charging and our boys were scrambling to keep the pressure on. Both teams had some chances early on, but it wasn’t until the 15th minute that United scored to go up 1 to 0. Two minutes later, United scored again to make it 2 to 0. The boys tried to get one back before half, but just couldn’t find the net. 305 had 5 shots to United’s 12 shots.

In the second half, it was pretty clear that the boys were just out of gas. United scored quickly in the 2nd minute to go up 3 to 0. Our boys tried to put something together but United was winning the game all over the pitch. In the end, the 3 goals stood and United deservedly won the U10 division of the KC Cup. Well done to all the United players and the 305 players for a great effort.I am really proud of our boys and going undefeated in group play, winning our group, beating a strong Blackfire team to get into the final and  finishing 2nd to United is a fantastic achievement.

For the U11 playoff game, we were up against Blackfire Inferno White on field 11 at 10:45. Lolo wasn’t there for the start of the game, so Riley had to make the start with Hunter upfront. It was a CRAZY first half with Blackfire coming out and scoring in the first minute. Then in the 2nd minute Hunter tied things up. Then a minute later, Blackfire scored to take the lead 2-1. The boys kept their cool and in the 5th minute, Hunter scored to put us all tied at 2 each. So four goals in the first 5 minutes of the game. 305 was finding their rhythm and starting to win some 50/50 balls and in the 8th, Hunter completed his hat trick to put us up 3 to 2. 8 minutes, 5 goals. But in the final 17 minutes of the half, there was a goal drought. 305 had 9 shots to Blackfire’s 3.

In the second half, 305 had the majority of the possession but both teams struggled to create clear opportunities. With only a one goal lead, it was anybody’s game. In the 25th minute, Hunter blasted a direct kick that was just off the keeper’s hand for the game winner putting U11 through to the final of the KC cup f or the second year in a row. 305 had 6 shots in the 2nd half to Blackfire’s 2.

It was a beautiful morning as U10 took field 8B at 9:10am against the Blackfire Elite. We knew it would be a tough game against a good Blackfire side. The boys started well and in the 3rd minute, Riley took a long shot beating the goalie to put us up 1 to 0. The run of play was pretty open and both teams were moving the ball up and down the pitch. In the 7th minute, Blackfire tied things up at 1 a piece. For the next 13 minutes, both teams had some good chances. In the 20th, Daniel scored and put us up going into half 2-1. 305 had 13 shots to Blackfire’s 13. What a great half!

In the 2nd half, Blackfire was first to score to tie the game in the 5th minute at 2-2. Riley then put us back in the lead in the 7th minute to make it 3-2. In the 12th, Blackfire scored to tie the game at 3-3. The pace of the game was pretty hectic as both teams tried to get the go-ahead goal. In the 17th, Trey scored off a  terrific run down the right and put us up 4-3. The boys fought hard to maintain the lead and the final score was 4 to 3 with Trey getting the game winner for the second game in a row and putting U10 through to the KC Cup final. 305 had 10 shots to Blackfire’s 12. Well done boys!!

The final  game of Day 1 of the KC Cup was U10 v United at 5:50pm on field 8A. The sun was out in full force now and it had turned out to be a beautiful day. I always enjoy playing against Coach Mallams United team and we knew it was going to be a tough match. In the first half we had 6 shots to United’s 5. The play was pretty much in the middle third with both teams battling for every ball. United was winning the majority of 50/50 balls,  but our boys kept the pressure on and stopped them in our defensive third.

In the second half, it was more of the same but our possession improved and our shot count improved considerably. Their goalie had some great saves and we pounded the framework a few times. It was looking like a goalless draw was going to be the final score and time was running out as we got a corner kick that surely was going to be one of the last plays of the game. Riley took the corner to Daniel but his shot came off the cross bar and Trey followed up the shot to bury the ball into the back of the net putting us up 1 to 0. It was a frantic last few minutes as the ref had added stoppage time, but the boys held with Trey’s winning goal being he difference. 305 had 12 shots in the second half to United’s 5.

U10 won their group with 17 points, United was second with 9 points. In the other U10 group, Pride FC Chivas won their group with 18 points and Blackfire Elite finished 2nd with 12. For the playoff games to go to the final, U10 would play Blackfire Elite and United would play Chivas. After the game, Coach Mallams and I agreed that we would make sure we got to play each other again in the final.

It was 3 back to back to back games for coach as U11 played their 2nd game at 12:00 on field 11. It was definitely starting to warm up as the clouds moved out and the wind was out of the south but not as strong as in the morning. Dylan got the scoring started in the 2nd minute with a great left-footed shot down the left side. Then in the 11th, Alex came down the right side and slotted home to put us up 2 to 0. In the 16th, Trenton finished a great run up the middle to put us up 3 to 0. A minute later, Hunter made it 4. The boys were doing a good job moving the ball around and keeping possession. In the 23rd there was an own goal and then right before half, Lolo found the net with a great finish to put us up 6 to 0 at halftime. 305 had 19 shots to Brookside’s 1 shot.

In the second half, we played 24 minutes before Lolo added the 7th goal of the game. The boys were having fun and the possession was good. 305 had 13 shots on goal to Brookside’s 1.

U11 won their group with 19 points (1 short of the max 20) and Columbia United finished second with 11 points. Rampage won the other group with 14 points and Blackfire Inferno finished second with 13 points. So U11 would play Blackfire Inferno and Columbia United would play Rampage in the playoffs.