Week Two.

I'm glad I finished with the U4 team picture in time to get back on the field for the Lion's last quarter.  I was really amazed at the huge steps all the players are taking.  Ava B. was totally in the game.  William managed a goal.  Jackson was controlling the ball.  And Jagger and Diego!  They were talking to each other and executing passes.  I was blown away by how casually they were cooperating, as though they'd done that for years. 

The Bats played well too with strong efforts from everyone.  I saw so much good ball control, so much heads-up play and so much cool-headed play from everyone.  The highlight of course was the sudden arrival of Ashley as a goal scoring threat.  She beat defenders straight-up over and over through the game and I think she's clearly had a kind of realization that with her skills she can get around anyone.  I'm surprised she only scored one goal.  Ashley is always very disciplined in practice, working hard to learn new skills.  But in games she's not always willing to test those skills.  In this game that hesitation fell away and she just used everything she had: pull-backs, step overs, change of direction and speed.  Just fantastic!
Maddox and Ava each had goals too.  Maddox's was a beauty from the corner as he bowled past defenders and Ava's was a beautiful shot from dead center of the goal box.  She got there by using that soft touch to control the ball and get into position.  Just a great game against a tough opponent.  Good work in there at keeper too Luke Z.

The Sharks played beautifully and their game featured a sort of debut too.  Like Ashley, Wyatt is a diligent practice player.  He likes to get it right.  But then in games he has tended to fall back on his old reliable blast kick rather than put those ball control skills to work.  Not this week.  This week he played with speed and grace and creativity, using the moves he's been working on in his practices to amazing affect.  He had one goal and was joined in the scoring by Ryder (he's so fast it's crazy), Zach and Jackson.  Jackson was looking good again with those skills but he needed a beautiful assist from Elizabeth to get his goal.  Sam should have had a goal with all the great dribbling he did.  He plays with a real gift for slipping past defenders without making contact.  He knows how to get skinny.
We saw great ball control and patience from everyone and I was really happy to see the effort the Sharks made to stick to our game plan for this game:  Keep your head up, find the open space before you give the ball up.  Braden bought in completely and had some great runs, keeping the ball right at his feet.  They were very strong this week and I hope we can keep steadily improving.