Father's Day Soccer Tournament

This weekend Isabella's soccer team played their first tournament on grass together. They are really coming together as a team and it's great to watch the experienced players strategize on the field and talk to each other and assist the younger, less experienced players, directing positions and working as a team.

The Rady's Children's Charity Cup tournament was in Mira Mesa just North of San Diego. The fields were not the normal sized fields for these girls...they were Collegiate sized. Because of this the games are 25 minute games. Low scoring is the order of business.

The team had some nervous anxiety for their first game and that hurt them. They couldn't get the ball under control and organize themselves into a good passing game and the other team, which was more organized beat them pretty badly 3-0.

The second game was better and the butterflies were gone. A great game and they tied 0-0. Third game of the day was their game, they finally settled down and won 1-0.

They finished the day, tied for second placed in their flight. Goal differential was hurting them and they needed to win and score 2 goals for the first game on Sunday. They won 1-0. They had several opportunities on goal shots and they were so close (a couple off the pole and many shots straight to the goalie). They ended up tied again in points for second place but due to goal differential (from that first game) they went on as the 3rd place team. The final game was another win 1-0 and we dominated on our end of the field. Again, we just need to work on making those goal shots to the corner and not to the goalie.

What a great start to the grass season, one loss, one tie and three wins.

Isabella played left mid, which is a new position for her. She seems to be working well in that position. Her only downfall is that she has to run, run, run. She's been working on her endurance and she's making great improvements but we'll have to condition her a little more as the Fall season approaches. Once again, I am in amazement and awe of my daughter who plays such a good soccer game at 9 years old. She makes us proud and I hope we have told her that enough.