United Cup Exposes Areas of Opportunity

The United Cup this weekend exposed some areas of opportunity for Sodium. The term 'Team defense' was heard in the Sodium huddle as well as lessons about possession, control and communication. This United Cup proved to be a learning experience. Girls playing different positions, different combinations of players.
Friday: The lady warriors came out a little flat on Friday morning. The 8 day lay-off was evident. Sodium came up short in the 3-2 loss to Esu Arsenal at Gutherless Park. Passing, communication and hustle were a little lacking. Hannah Lautenbach scored within the first minute to give Sodium the early lead. Arsenal scored 3 unanswered goals before Emmy Owens scored on a Hannah assist.
Saturday: (Day)
As was true most of last season, when Sodium tastes defeat, the next team they play falls hard. Thus was the story against Clackamas Elite. A 7-0 spanking was the result. The scoring was led by Emmy Owens (4) Mac Kearney (1), Jadyn McMillan (1) and Marisa Reid (1). What can I say, the play was contained to the Elite side of the field all game.
Saturday: (Evening)
When a player defects to another club it always creates a rivalry. Thus is the case with WSM Strikers. To add to the fire, it was rumored that some of the WSM parents were running their mouths about how Sodium was, "Going down!" at the hands of the Strikers. Open mouth, insert foot. The lady warriors didn't need much more motivation than that to give the WSM team a good old fashioned beating. Sodium dominated them from the opening whistle. Emmy Owens scored on an assist from Bailey Hall to open the game. Laura Nguyen scored off a Bailey Hall corner kick and late in the game Payten Sonnen added the icing on the cake when she slid in and finished a Katherine Kramer cross in major league fashion!
Sunday:
Normally, you don't have to motivate Sodium to play Lake Oswego. Today, someone forgot to. Down 2-0 at half, Sodium had to scramble. On a feed from Hannah Lautenbach, Emmy Owens once again found the back of the net to bring the lady warriors to within one. A tie was just not in the stars as LO fired in 3 more goals before an alert Laura Camp chipped a shot from 20-yards that found the upper part of the net. Tom moved the "Big Kahuna" line-up putting Bailey and Bethany Hall at forward with Emmy. As with other times they have shown this or a similar set, Sodium pushed the LO defense back on their heels and into the 6-yard box. For the final score, Bethany found Payten streaking down the right side where she rifled it in. Minutes later the whistle blew and an irritated Sodium marched off the field with a 5-3 loss.

Game Notes:
Hates off and Thank You go to Erika Cook and Taylor Moscoe for stepping up and going out of position to play goalie. You girls did a great job under the circumstances and can leave the field with your heads held high. No other player could have done a better job and no one else on the team rose up to take the challenge. Thank you.
Also, we saw Laura Camp and Laura Nguyen play some mid-field, Bailey & Bethany Hall, Taylor Coon and Erika play forward and an assortment of other position shifts. I will admit, when we have the "Big Kahuna" line-up in, they are pretty intimidating!

After the last game Tom circled the team and parents. He spoke of not being disappointed but more irritated with the loss. He touched on the positives that came from this weekend and that the girls need to put this behind them, work hard and focus on the areas of improvement.

"Every team we play, it's going to be like their World Cup" was the quote from Tom. No truer words were spoke.

Next Up: Cross Fire Tournament - July 12th thru 14th in Seattle

"If it is to be, it's up to me"

GO SODIUM!

...fade to Black

The lady warriors are taking a well deserved layoff before United Cup to heal sunburns and bruised egos from Regionals. The schedule has been posted for this weekend:

Friday 6/27 - 9:30AM vs ESU Arsenal @ REC #3 - This team should be fired up since Sodium beat them in the first round of the 2008 State Cup.

Saturday 6/28 - 11:00AM vs Clackamas Elite @ Gutherless - Can't find anything on this team.

Saturday 6/28 - 5:00PM vs WSM Strikers @ REC #3 - A little history here. They now have Dayna Carlson and the last time we beat them was on 11/17/07 during State Cup. Sodium should be highly motivated against this squad.

Sunday 6/29 - Possible Semifinals @ 8:00AM - Field TBD

Sunday 6/29 - Possible Semifinals @ 2:00PM - Field TBD

The new season is upon us, if we can get fired up, bring our "A" games and stay focused on our execution, we should do just fine with the new line-up and Tom at the helm.

GO SODIUM!

Back to business for Sodium

With the Region 4 tournament behind them the lady warriors return to Oregon to start working on the 2008-2009 season. The core of seasoned veterans will take the field for the United Cup June 27th, 28th & 29th accompanied by a new crop of Sodium players and a new coach. New leaders will emerge this year to take the reins , a new coach will introduce a new style of play to fit his players. But one thing remains constant this year; Sodium Style of play.
A hard-nosed attitude of imortality, bringing their "A" everytime and never leaving anything in the tank. THAT, dear readers, is something that will never change. The vets will teach the rookies and the rookies will pass it on the next year. The tried and true embrace of a champion. Will it happen again this year? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, it's going to be a great journey. I am looking forward to this season and I hope you are too.

Next Up: United Cup @ REC. - June 27th, 28th & 29th

With a new group of parents to party with we yell: GO SODIUM!

Sodium unloads on LOSC

The triple game weekend ended with the Sodium girls UNLOADING on the U14G LOSC Edge team. So many goals were scored we lost count. I think it was 6 or 7. The lady warriors came out hot and opened the floodgates in the first two minutes and never looked back! The forwards scored, the mid-fielders scored and even Laura Nguyen almost scored from her defensive position! It was a joy to behold and reminded us all how we got to be two time State Champs and that, even though you are a U14 team, you'd better bring your "A" game to compete. Hats off to Mac (two scores!), Taylor Moscoe and Camille Fairbairn who all racked up a tone of playing time and are all playing really well! This game concluded the oddest weekend of play we've seen. An extremely physical 0-3 loss to the U14G WSM Harambee team, a 1-1 tie to a U15G Lake Oswego Hurricane team with the help of players from Zinc and Sapphire and ending with a can of whoop fanny being opened up today. Very exciting really.
We need to ride this wave to Regionals (and yes, that was a pun!) and take the Cal South team head-on!
Great job ladies! (remember, any time we beat an LO team it's a good thing!)
Next up: A relaxing week of practice and packing for Honolulu.

While watching Dan Lautenbach do the hula, we yell: GO SODIUM!

Sodium gets Physical in Washington

Sodium took a little road trip last weekend to Orchards Washington's Harmony Sports Complex to take on The Columbia Pacific Timbers Red U12B & U13G teams. Even though they were a good 6-12 inches shorter, the U12B team gave Sodium a run for their money Saturday. The lopsided officiating and physical play proved to be about as much as Sodium could handle as tempers flared and Sodium put the hammer down on a couple Timbers. "Don't even think of entering the 18-yard box" as the Sodium defense tightened and bodies began to fly. Only one yellow card was issued in the 2-2 tie, (Timber for slide tackling from behind).
Sundays game proved to be an exciting match up. Although the Columbia team was bigger, they proved to be no match for 2 time State Champions. Early in the first half, Bailey Hall launched a free kick from about 25 yards out which was met with a header from an alert Hannah Lautenbach. Her header crossed the net passed an outstretched Red goalie right to Jadyn McMillan who finished it into the back of the net! Just before half Erika Cook, who is playing very well, ripped the net on a break-a-way securing a 2-1 half-time lead. Play remained locked as the Warrior Girls battled the Columbia team. Late in the final period, as Sodium came crashing into the Red goal box, Bailey Hall launched another chip shot from 20 yards. The Red Goalie, obviously feeling the heat from the Sodium forwards, mishandled the ball and Jadyn McMillan was there again to punish the Columbia team with a goal! Later in the game, after a flurry of shots, the Columbia team managed one more goal past a diving Camille Fairbairn. Both Sodium goalies had exceptional games this weekend.
Overall I would say this was a good, productive weekend for Sodium. They got in some good old fashioned 'Sodium Style' play mixed with a more finesse game. The girls shined, played their game and should feel good about the work they got this weekend. The newer players played great this weekend and are getting settled in for the '08-'09 season which should prove to be a good one.

Up Next:
I know we play FC Vancouver (WA) on 6/7 but there was also talk of other games. As I find out, I will post.

Until next time: GO SODIUM!