at 3:05 pm on May 22, we held another over the top party at El Tapatio. Thanks everyone for coming. I am pretty sure the boys had a great time and I know I did….. We gave out player awards for both teams. Hunter Gilliam received the Golden Boot with 30 goals for U11 and Riley Moore received the Golden Boot for U10 with 19 goals.

Thanks to Amanda Goss and Lori for the terrific programs - that was an excellent touch. And Thanks to everyone for the generous gifts for coach. It is definitely not expected, so THANKS!  And of course thanks to HA Perez and the El Tapatio staff.

We also had our usual season dvd and this year we had one for U11 and one for U10. If anyone needs an extra copy let us know. All in all it was a fabulous season for both teams. Though, not having any Wizard games to go to during the season was an empty space. Looking forward to June 9 and June 14. and then Sedalia Day on July 9 at Livestrong Sporting Park!!

Jugglers for Spring 2011 were: 25 Juggles – Ian Wallen, Hunter Gilliam, Zachary Morrison, Trenton Willis, Dylan Hayden, Colby Edgar. 50 Juggles – Riley Moore.

It was another overcast day with temperatures in the low 50′s. We were on Field 9 at WMSL which runs downhill north to south and the wind was blowing downhill out of the north. It was our final U11 game of the season and a win would put us top of the table for the season. We started off in our “Barcelona” offense, but Casa had a couple players upfront that were really quick, so we switched back to our normal 2 -3 – 2. Lolo put us ahead in the 6th minute and two minutes later followed up with another goal to put us up 2 to 0. The game was pretty wide open with both teams creating good scoring opportunities. In the 15th, Casa Blanca scored to make it 2-1. We were going through one of our “lapse” periods and our boys were not responding well to the agressive play on the pitch. Casa tied the game at 2-2 in the 20th minute. This is what it took for our boys to turn it back on and Trenton Willis had 5 amazing minutes where he completely shut down the midfield, got things going moving the ball to the left and to the right opening up our outside game. Trenton scored in the 21st to put us up 3-2 and then scored again in the 24th to take us in to half up 4 to 2.

In the second half, we were going uphill against the wind. We knew we had to take it up a notch to put this game away. Both teams were playing pretty aggressively all over the pitch and neither seemed like they could break free. Finally in the 11th minute, Alex got a big goal for us to break the second half open and put us up 5 to 2. In the 16th, Hunter found the net for his first goal of the game and a minute later scored again. We would end the game up 7 to 2. In the first half, 305 had 9 shots to Casa’s 10 shots. In the 2nd half, 305 had 9 shots to Casa’s 4 shots. It was a great team effort with all 11 boys giving their all and having 4 players scoring with 3 players scoring 2 a piece. We used a lot of ice throughout the game as the boys battled to win the title. Well done, boys.

The temperature was about 30 degrees cooler than when we played the previous weekend with the high about 54 degrees. Wind out of the north and some drizzle mixed in. The  boys were ready for our annual tough match with the top Parma side. In the first half, the boys put in one of their best 25 minutes of the season. Lots of good play, plenty of effort around our main objectives – Pace, Pressure, Possession and good shape. In the 6th minute, Parma took the lead on a corner kick that we just couldn’t get cleared out. Riley tied things up a minute later on a long shot over the goalie. We had plenty of shots in the first half, most coming from outside the box. in the 11th minute, Parma scored again on a corner kick. At half we were down 2 to 1, but had outshot Parma 9 to 6.

In the second half, we got off to a great start with a fabulous run from the back from Landon. He continued his run all the way down the right with a couple of give and go passes and got off a laser of a shot from the right side that blasted in the upper left of the goal. Less than a minute into the half and we had tied the game 2 to 2. In the 6th minute, Parma went up 3 to 2. We kept fighting back, but just couldn’t find the net. In the 11th, we scored an own goal to put Parma up 4 to 2. The boys were running out of gas and we were no longer providing pressure all over the pitch. We had a couple of good chances in front of  the goal, but just couldn’t finish. Parma scored on yet another set play with just a couple minutes left in the game and we ended down 2 to 5. In the second half, 305 had 9 shots to Parma’s 7. Final shot count for the game was 305 – 18 and Parma 13. We definitely had the opportunities to take this game, but we just can’t seem to work out the lapses in pressure that continue to haunt us.

U10 has one game left and I am hopeful we can put it all together for a good finish. This team has really progressed throughout the season and the first half really showed what we are capable of on the pitch. 11 boys working hard all over the pitch. Good individual skills and nice teamwork.

It was in the high 80′s with little wind when we stepped on RSC field 11 for a 1:30 game with Futura Varder. Historically, we always have a very competitive game with Varder. Today was no expception as both teams fought to a tough 0-0 draw at halftime. Neither team could get shots to fall and both goalies were making some great saves. 305 had 8 shots in the first half to Varder’s 11. The boys were all over the water and the gatorade as they tried to get re-hydrated.

In the second half, it was more of the same in the second half until we finally broke through with a goal in the 7th minute when Lolo top of the penalty area reversed and got off a terrific left footed shot to beat the goalie. Then Varder kicked off and just ran right through our players and scored an easy goal to tie it back up in less than a minute. And the battle continued. We started gaining possession and getting a few good chances in the last 10 minutes of the game. The boys continued to work hard and it felt like a goal was going to happen any minute. With 3 minutes to go, Riley sent in a corner kick that got knocked around in the 6 yard box before Alex crashed it into the goal. What a great effort and what it took to break the deadlock. When the ref blew the whistle for fulltime, we had held on to our lead for the 2-1 win. In the second half 305 had 11 shots to Varder’s 7. Both teams had given their all and it was a well played, hard fought match.

We were back at Legacy park field 16 for a 3:40 kickoff. Windy, but nothing like the Sunday when we played in 30+ mph winds. The temperature was in the high 70′s and the boys were being a little sluggish even before the game. At kickoff, we watched Fury take the ball down and put it into the back of our net. Five minutes later, they scored again putting us down 2 to 0. Two shots for Fury – two goals. This seemed to wake the boys up and in the 7th minute we had a good run of play and Lolo finished strongly to bring us back within one. For the next 22 minutes, we maintained the majority of possession and had several good opportunities, but just couldn’t finish. at half time we were down 1 to 2. 305 had 14 shots to Fury’s 6 shots.

In the second half, we gave up another soft goal in the 11th minute to go down 1 to 3. In the 15th, Hunter found the net to bring us back within 1 at 2 to 3. But that didn’t last long as Fury scored a minute later off a mixup in our goal going back ahead 2 to 4. It kept looking like we were  going to pull one back, but a well taken direct kick in the 19th put Fury on top 2 to 5. With only 10 minutes left in the game, it was time for the boys to seriously pick up their game and start finding the net. In the 23rd, we had a  throw in from the left side in our offensive third. Trenton got the ball and switched fields wide right to Alex. Alex made a strong run down the line and crossed into box. Lolo one-touched the ball past the goalie and we were at 3 to 5. In the 26th minute, Zachary cleared the ball out of the back and Hunter got a good touch on the bounce and then flicked the ball over the defenders head and then fired on the goal. The Goalie had to deflect the ball out and Hunter followed up with another shot that blistered the net and made the  game 4 to 5.

In the 28th minute, once again we started from a thrown in on the left, Trenton made a nice run across the box but couldn’t get the space to get off a shot so he sent the ball wide. Alex hustled it down at the corner and sent in a nice cross to Lolo who turned into a defender and the ball bounced out to Hunter who smashed a laser shot far post that bounced off the inside of the post and deflected off the reeling goalie to go into the back of the net. What a finish 5 to 5. That is what makes soccer such a great game, even a tie can feel like a win. You have to give all the boys credit. Once again playing with heart and determination. Being down 2 to 5 is never easy and to score 3 really good goals in 10 minutes says it all about this team.

U10 was at Raytown 8A for a 1:15 kickoff on a warm spring day. The sun came out and while it was windy, we have played on much windier days this spring. We had worked all week on taking the ball out of the air on punts and high balls and also on spreading the field. In the first half, the play was pretty wide open and we are creating some good chances but not finding the net. In the 14th, Daniel made a nice run with a couple moves and beat the defender to get a shot off with the goalie getting a hand on it. Daniel followed up and finished the goal to put us up 1 to 0. We went into halftime feeling like we should have scored a couple of more but only up 1 to 0. 305 had 9 shots to Blackfire’s 4 in the first half.

In the second half, Blackfire came out strong and put us on our backfoot for a  bit and they tied the game at 1 all in the 6th minute. In the 11th, they scored again and we were down 1 to 2. The boys turned it on at this point and a minute later, Riley had a nice run and beat the defender to his left, getting off a left footed shot far post to tie us up. In the 14th, Riley was  taken down outside the box. On the direct kick he drilled it into the near side beating the goalie and putting us ahead 3 to 2. The game was pretty open at this point with both teams moving the  ball end to end with some good chances. Blackfire tied the game at 3 to 3 in the 16th minute as we failed to get the ball out and it bounced around ending up in the back of our net.

With two minutes to go in the game, Trey brought down their goal kick, sent it down the line to Daniel who made a nice move and then crossed over to Riley. Riley made a positive first touch pushing the ball past the defender to his right and then got off the shot far post beating the goalie and putting us up 4 to 3. The boys held on for a good win. The second half was pretty exciting and everyone worked hard. Being such a competitive game, it was hard getting all our subs worked in as much as I would have liked, but in the end, everyone contributed to a really outstanding effort. In the 2nd half 305 had 10 shots to Blackfire’s 7.