Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Season First, Game Seven
10:16. Defending the goalie kick.
And defending it well. Gol! That's one.
10:30. Protect the goal?
Yes!
10:38
A long shot?
Yes! Gol! That's two.
10:42. Defending the goalie kick again.
And defending it well again. Gol! And that's three.
10:48. Brody scores!
And leaves Emi hanging.
Through seven games, Emilio has 37 goals.
And defending it well. Gol! That's one.
10:30. Protect the goal?
Yes!
10:38
A long shot?
Yes! Gol! That's two.
10:42. Defending the goalie kick again.
And defending it well again. Gol! And that's three.
10:48. Brody scores!
And leaves Emi hanging.
Through seven games, Emilio has 37 goals.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Season First, Game Six
10:27. Goalie kick by Brody.
And Emi takes it coast to coast. Gol! That's one.
10:28. Protecting the goal under pressure.
And then taking it all the way to the other end for a score. Impressive. That's two.
10:34. Set play sneakery.
Gol! That's three.
10:45. They've scored. We kick off.
A slow roller. Gol! That's four.
10:46. From endline to endline.
Gol! That's five.
10:47. An endline prayer.
Gol! (There's a hole in the net.) That's six for Emi.
10:48. Brody and Emi race to the goal.
Slow mo replay reveals that the ball crosses the line before Brody delivers the final push. That's seven for Emilio, including four in the last four minutes of the game.
10:56. With the left?
Yes! That's goal #8.
10:58. That hole in the net is still there.
And Emilio finds it again. That's goal #9.
Through six games, Emilio has 34 goals.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Season First, Game Five: The Phenom vs. The Leg
Before this game begins, Major ("Maj"), #4 on the Maroon Side, is just pounding the ball into the net We haven't seen anyone in this age group do that. It's clear that this is going to be our team's toughest game yet. It will also be a Classic.
What happens if you just hold the ball between your ankles? Emilio wants to know.
And he finds out: your teammate Allie sneaks in behind you and plucks it away.
While Emilio and his coaches are sharing a chuckle, Major takes off with the ball. Coach to Em: "Keep playing, Emilio!"
How on Earth did Emilio stop that shot? That's an amazing defensive play. By the end of this short clip, I'm pushing the zoom in button, when I want to be pushing the zoom out button. Oops.
One minute later, Major delivers his second shot on goal.
Fortunately, Brodie is there to stop it, and when the ball squirts out, Emilio has a breakaway opportunity. And he converts! 1-0, Lemons.
Major's defensive play is solid. This is not going to be easy.
Emilio's first header (below) goes right back out of bounds, but Coach is encouraging. He likes the commitment and the creativity.
The referee is letting both defenses play the goal kicks tight.
Emilio takes advantage and scores his second goal of the game, it's 2-0 Lemons, and Emilio comes out.
By the time he returns to the game in the second half, our lead has been reduced to 2-1.
Emi misplays an inbounds pass and Major takes off on a breakaway. Coach to Emi: "You've got to stop him, Emilio!"
Can't do it. Good goal. And just like that, the score is tied at 2. This is the closest game we've played.
Emi goes down. Dad to son: "Get up, Em!" He does. And not much longer, Major delivers a good kick to the shin that has Emi hopping on one foot.
It's late in the game when the ball strikes Emi in the shoulder. Ouch! Dad to son: "Come on, Em: keep going. Don't stop, E!" Coach to player: "Keep playing! You're a champion, Emilio!." Emilio quickly refocuses.
But it's not enough to stop a score at the other end, and the Maroon Side has taken a 3-2 lead with just under ten minutes to play.
Following the ensuing kickoff, Emi and Brodie get close but get in each other's way. Emi manages to work it back for a shot, but Major is there to deflect it, and Maroon is off to the races.
Fortunately, they miss.
Following the ensuing goal kick, with just six minutes to play, Emilio emerges for a breakaway . . .
. . . delivers his third goal of the game, and is lifted into the air by his ecstatic coach. It's a glorious moment.
On the ensuing kickoff, Major manages to get in position for the shot.
And he just misses.
Five minutes to go.
Play following the ensuing goal kick is rough. Coach think Emi and Brodie were pushed, but slow motion replay does not support the contention. Dad to son (after his second fall): "Get up, Em!"
Major lines up for goal kick on the other end and nails a teammate in the stomach. Emi's kick gets Major in the chest, and then a ricochet shot hits Emi in the jaw. Dad to son: "Keep going, Em!" Coach to Emi: "Ooooooooh! In the face again!"
With two minutes to play, Major shoots . . .
...and hits the post.
With one minute to play, Major is in position to intercept the goal kick . . .
But he can't get it. Emilio takes off with the ball but misses the delivery shot. Coach to player: "I like the effort!"
We're on the back-end of a doubleheader, there's one minute to play now, and the score is tied, 3-3.
On the ensuing goal kick, I give Emi the instructions I think he needs most at this point: "Protect your face."
He intercepts and shoots . . .
But misses wide.
Moments later, Emi is chasing the ball deep into our corner while our coach urges him to kick the ball out of bounds. Instead, Emi turns his back towards the middle of the field and in no time, he's loose on a breakaway . . . .!
But he can't maintain control.
With only seconds to play now, the Maroon goalie lines up for the kick. This time, the Maroon coach puts Major in position to take the kick from a teammate, but Emi has Major covered.
He picks off the kick and delivers the shot. Gooooooooool! Gol! Gol! Gol! Gol! Gol!
That's four on the day. You can see Major's dad in a black windbreaker throwing his arms in the air. And our coach gives Emi the double high-five.
The final whistle blows shortly after play resumes.
This was one of the most exciting sports-watching experiences I've ever had.
Through five games, Emilio has 25 goals.
*[Update from 5/5/12] This is also the only game the Maroon Side will lose all season. On the last Saturday of the season, Major's dad requests a rematch, but we don't want one. We won!
What happens if you just hold the ball between your ankles? Emilio wants to know.
And he finds out: your teammate Allie sneaks in behind you and plucks it away.
While Emilio and his coaches are sharing a chuckle, Major takes off with the ball. Coach to Em: "Keep playing, Emilio!"
How on Earth did Emilio stop that shot? That's an amazing defensive play. By the end of this short clip, I'm pushing the zoom in button, when I want to be pushing the zoom out button. Oops.
One minute later, Major delivers his second shot on goal.
Fortunately, Brodie is there to stop it, and when the ball squirts out, Emilio has a breakaway opportunity. And he converts! 1-0, Lemons.
Major's defensive play is solid. This is not going to be easy.
Emilio's first header (below) goes right back out of bounds, but Coach is encouraging. He likes the commitment and the creativity.
The referee is letting both defenses play the goal kicks tight.
Emilio takes advantage and scores his second goal of the game, it's 2-0 Lemons, and Emilio comes out.
By the time he returns to the game in the second half, our lead has been reduced to 2-1.
Emi misplays an inbounds pass and Major takes off on a breakaway. Coach to Emi: "You've got to stop him, Emilio!"
Can't do it. Good goal. And just like that, the score is tied at 2. This is the closest game we've played.
Emi goes down. Dad to son: "Get up, Em!" He does. And not much longer, Major delivers a good kick to the shin that has Emi hopping on one foot.
It's late in the game when the ball strikes Emi in the shoulder. Ouch! Dad to son: "Come on, Em: keep going. Don't stop, E!" Coach to player: "Keep playing! You're a champion, Emilio!." Emilio quickly refocuses.
But it's not enough to stop a score at the other end, and the Maroon Side has taken a 3-2 lead with just under ten minutes to play.
Following the ensuing kickoff, Emi and Brodie get close but get in each other's way. Emi manages to work it back for a shot, but Major is there to deflect it, and Maroon is off to the races.
Fortunately, they miss.
Following the ensuing goal kick, with just six minutes to play, Emilio emerges for a breakaway . . .
. . . delivers his third goal of the game, and is lifted into the air by his ecstatic coach. It's a glorious moment.
On the ensuing kickoff, Major manages to get in position for the shot.
And he just misses.
Five minutes to go.
Play following the ensuing goal kick is rough. Coach think Emi and Brodie were pushed, but slow motion replay does not support the contention. Dad to son (after his second fall): "Get up, Em!"
Major lines up for goal kick on the other end and nails a teammate in the stomach. Emi's kick gets Major in the chest, and then a ricochet shot hits Emi in the jaw. Dad to son: "Keep going, Em!" Coach to Emi: "Ooooooooh! In the face again!"
With two minutes to play, Major shoots . . .
...and hits the post.
With one minute to play, Major is in position to intercept the goal kick . . .
But he can't get it. Emilio takes off with the ball but misses the delivery shot. Coach to player: "I like the effort!"
We're on the back-end of a doubleheader, there's one minute to play now, and the score is tied, 3-3.
On the ensuing goal kick, I give Emi the instructions I think he needs most at this point: "Protect your face."
He intercepts and shoots . . .
But misses wide.
Moments later, Emi is chasing the ball deep into our corner while our coach urges him to kick the ball out of bounds. Instead, Emi turns his back towards the middle of the field and in no time, he's loose on a breakaway . . . .!
But he can't maintain control.
With only seconds to play now, the Maroon goalie lines up for the kick. This time, the Maroon coach puts Major in position to take the kick from a teammate, but Emi has Major covered.
He picks off the kick and delivers the shot. Gooooooooool! Gol! Gol! Gol! Gol! Gol!
That's four on the day. You can see Major's dad in a black windbreaker throwing his arms in the air. And our coach gives Emi the double high-five.
The final whistle blows shortly after play resumes.
This was one of the most exciting sports-watching experiences I've ever had.
Through five games, Emilio has 25 goals.
*[Update from 5/5/12] This is also the only game the Maroon Side will lose all season. On the last Saturday of the season, Major's dad requests a rematch, but we don't want one. We won!
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