Soccer City

Pleasanton Soccer City Warmup--August 27th and 28th

Game 1 vs Mustang Stampede
An early 8:00 a.m. game began our Fall 2011 season. First game was against the Mustang Stampede, a team we had never played from Danville, that had both size and speed. After playing up in age in Spring, and against premiere teams in the Sporting Girls Invitational, it was interesting to see if we would continue our success in our own age group that we had enjoyed at the D2 cup. The defense returned as strong as ever, with new addition Paige, taking over Daniella's spot adding to the usual suspects of Rebecca (left back), Katie (stopper), Sophie T. (sweeper) and of course Kristen in goal. The game was a defensive contest, with Daniella at striker trying to outrun the Mustang defense while the Mustang offense couldn't penetrate Sportings. Daniella got through a couple of times in the first half, with one resulting in the only score of the game, a short, left footed goal from in front of the left post that snuck by the keeper low and left. As the game wore on, Mustang was less able to penetrate and it became more of a stalemate in the center of the field with Sporting able to penetrate a few times but not able to convert. Kristen did not touch the ball in the second half. Daniella's first half score held up for a final of 1-0 Sporting.

2-0 loss to Fusion

November 13th--This game was played at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Center Turf Football field, and it is a big, 120 yard by 60+ yard field. Add to this a consistent 20-30 mph wind blowing from north to south down the length of the field and this game turned into a half field game with whichever team had the wind at their back on the attack. It was very difficult for either team to clear the ball against the wind. Fusion had the wind advantage in the first half, and managed to get two scores, both by taking long shots. The first was a 30 yarder from in front of the penalty area on the left side. The ball popped away from the Sporting defense and one of the stronger Fusion legs drove it into the top of the goal over Kristen's outstretched arms. The second goal started with a shot of similar length, but this time Kristen was able to jump up and bat it away. Unfortunately, a Fusion forward was there to tap in the rebound. Fusion was also able to get a couple more good runs on the goal in the first half, but shots were errant. Sporting did manage to put some pressure on in the first half, penetrating and attacking the Fusion goal, but never with a clear shot.

In the second half, Sporting kept the ball and stayed on the attack for most of the half. The Fusion defense held, though, and Sporting kept playing the ball through the field with the wind and fast turf. Fusion, like Sporting had trouble moving the ball past midfield but did get a couple of near break aways that were stopped by Marina F. All in all the Fusion were a very different team than the one that we faced earlier in the year.

0-0 tie against Palo Alto Hurricanes

November 6th--Another defensive battle for Sporting. Sporting went to Cubberly Field looking to avenge an earlier 2-0 loss to the Palo Alto Hurricanes. Sporting dominated the first half but was still having trouble with the offside trapping defense the Hurricanes had used so well in the first match. Though the ball spent most of the first half in front of the Hurricane goal, Sporting was unable to capitalize. Moni put in a good effort for not feeling well and put some good pressure on the goal in the first half. The beginning of the second half was a different story, with the Hurricanes coming out and living up to their names. They put a great deal of pressure on the Sporting goal, but the defense was able to barely escape with some clutch stops right in front of the goal. After about 5 minutes, though the tide started to turn and Sporting went back on the offensive. Still plagued with offside calls, they did manage to penetrate the pushed-up defense and get several good runs at the goal. Celine, Morgan, Preeya, Marina H and Kiana all had chances at the goal but nothing went in. Preeya was the closest near the end of the game but her bouncing shot went just wide after getting by the keeper. All in all a good effort, but we have to learn to be patient with trapping teams. The center mids of Celine and Maya played very strong in the second half. Not a bad game, certainly better than the first, but the score didn't reflect Sporting's effort.

Hurricanes threaten early in 2nd half.

Kiana battles Skyler for a header.

Morgan runs over the keeper

Celine almost runs over the keeper.

Preeya's shot finishes just wide.

Game 2 October 30, 1-0 Loss to Castro Valley

October 30th--Game 2 of the Medina Tournament went much better for Sporting than Game 1. Sporting came out ready for a quick pace and aggressive team. Control of the ball and the attack seesawed throughout the game, with Sporting's mid-field doing a great job of keeping the ball on Sporting's half. Both teams got off shots on offense, with Morgan and Moni putting pressure on the CV goal in the first half. CV nearly scored on a PK after handling in the box, but Kristen had great anticipation and made a diving stop to prevent the goal. The tie was broken late in the second half on a fluke own goal and that was how the match ended.

Great effort in this game by all the girls, they really stepped up their play. Also, they deserve congratulations on the whole weekend. After the first 10-15 minutes of the first game, Sporting did not allow another goal (by the other team). The 3 goals that were scored on them were scored by the eventual champions of the tournament.

Kristen's diving PK stop

Halloween battle of the scary socks--1-0 Win over Devils

October 31st--The consolation game for the Medina tournament pitted Sporting and their spooky spider web socks against the equally scary skull socks of the Sunnyvale Devils (second picture). This was also the last day of Sportings pink Goals for a Cure jerseys, so we took a picture of the team in pink with spiderwebs (first picture). Kristen also wanted a pink ribbon formation picture, so we did that as well (last picture). The game was a very evenly contested match which featured more headers (pictures 3 &4 of Katie and Marlene) than any I can remember between Sporting and an opponent. Both teams were good all day on defense, with a few good attempts by Marlene and AK for the Devils, and Moni, Morgan and Preeya with open looks for Sporting. The games only goal was a long shot (figuratively and literally) by Katie (picture 5) from the left of the bottom of the center circle. The high arcing shot ball bounced in front of the keeper and high over her head (it didn't look like she had a play) into the goal. Overall a very successful tournament for Sporting, playing competitively with 3 very good teams.

Last day of the pink jerseys.

Skulls vs. Spiderwebs

Headers!

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Katie's long shot

Pink ribbon

3-0 Loss against Menlo Park Strikers

The girls came out a little flat, maybe not used to the pace and footskills of a Silver Elite level team. But still, after two quick goals and a questionable PK made it 3-0 in the first fifteen minutess, the newness wore off and Sporting played good defense and held the rest of the way. Not much happened on offense all day due to the strong Striker defense with the exception of a decent attempt by Preeya. Nothing to be ashamed of in a loss to the Strikers, they are currently in 1st place in Silver Elite league and it is good experience for our team to play against them.

2-1 Win Over MVLA Typhoons

October 16 (Saturday)--Finally, a game with the Typhoons that didn't end in a tie (I think the last 4 have been ties!). After a scoreless 1st half, Sporting started to gain momentum in the second, with several shots just missing. Sophie almost had a running header go in after arching it over the goalie only to miss a few feet wide of the open net. Kristen finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half with hard low shot that got by the keepers fingers into the right side of the goal. MVLA got the equalizer on a shot from the right that rebounded off the left post and barely got by Marina F. With time running out, George moved everybody up into the box for a Katie corner kick, and after touching several Sporting players (and Daniella's header), left defender Rebecca got a clean look and scored from the edge of the penalty area on a lob over the keeper's head. Both teams played well, with Sporting doing the best passing and ball movement of the season. Fun to watch Katie as dominating mid fielder late in the game.

Sophie lofts a header that just misses wide right.















Kristen scores on a hard, low shot.














Sporting celebrates after Rebecca's goal.