Season 16, Games One and Two: Goals One and Two

Emilio didn't get to play soccer last spring because of the Covid-19 pandemic (all games were canceled), and there weren't any soccer camps this summer for the same reason.  But practices started a few weeks ago. The only pandemic alteration I've seen is that the team does not put their hands together in the middle of a huddle for a practice-ending cheer. So far, we have seen no evidence of viral spread.

Ada has enough players for a U-19 boys team and a U-16 boys team. Though Emilio is 14, coach Rhynes has encouraged him to play on the U-19 team (with new coach Vaughn) and to join the U-16 team  (which coach Rhynes coaches) only when its games do not conflict with the U-19 games.

The first game of the season was in Duncan. Because the uniforms had not come in yet, our team wore pennies over white shirts.  We had 20 players, which is a big group.  Not all of them have been attending practices.

This was the starting lineup:

Keeper: Colton
Defensive line, left to right: Philip, Korbin, Dani, Eric
Midfield (6--holding; 7; 8--attacking): Taylor, Jesus, Sam

Forwards (9--middle, 10--left; 11--right): Augustin, Emilio, Caden (these three are also all eligible for U16)

Also playing: Minh, Isaiah, Cameron, Jonah, Jose, Saul, Asher, Landen, and Josiah.

The team name is: El Rayo.

We fell behind 2-0 within the first five minutes and were down 3-0 at half. Emilio didn't get many chances, came out after 15 minutes, went in for another five minutes in the midfield and then came out again, but at half-time Taylor commended him for his effort.

In the second half, coach Vaughn moved Taylor from holding mid to forward, and he scored to get us on the board.

Playing forward, Emilio delivers an assist to set up our second score of the game. The video below begins with a trip (though no penalty was called). Emilio goes down but gets back up, chases the defender to the baseline, steals the ball, chases it to the corner and then executes a magisterial fake. He convinces the defender that he's going to cross, but instead sneaks down the endline and chips the ball into the box, where Isaiah sends it to the back of the net.

We are outscored by one goal in the second half (4-3) and if you leave out the first five minutes of the game, we were outscored by only one goal in the first half (1-0). These are encouraging signs against a powerful Duncan team.

After the game, the traveling Ruiz-Bentons (Pablo stayed home) hit up a Taco Casa for a dine-in-the-van lunch, and headed back to Ada for Emilio's U-16 game against Shawnee at 5 pm.

This was the starting lineup for that game (we think): 

Keeper: Ben
Defensive line, left to right:  Tyler Taylor, Michael, Zeke, Dalton
Holding mid: Noah
Midfield (left, center, right): Dylan, Emilio, Bryce

Forwards (left, right): Augustin, Caden

Also playing: Tyler Walker, Bennett, Hayden

Noah wears #10 for the U16s, and Emilio was given jersey #6 for this season. The team name is "Desperados."

Emilio started the game at center mid and delivered some masterful passes and through-balls, but we ended the first half down 1-0.

For the start of the second half, Coach Rhynes moved Tyler Walker to center mid (he was late for the start of the game), moved Michael to right mid, and moved Emilio to right forward.

Thirty seconds later, we tie the score after Michael sends two perfect passes Emilio's way.

Less than a minute later, Emilio scores again after Michael serves up another perfectly placed through ball, and Emilio collects a hard shot that the keeper had deflected. 

Ten minutes later, Emilio delivers a soft through to Bryce that is disallowed because of an offsides call (which I don't see).  The pass is still worth noting.

Bryce later scores a clean goal to put us up 3-1, and Coach Rhynes pulls Augustin, Caden, and Emilio. With minutes left in the game, Shawnee pulls to within one, and Emilio goes back in at holding mid. We end the game with a 3-2 victory.

We're looking forward to next week:  two home games!