Sodium Splits Weekend Contests

"Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining"

vs OR Rush 95G Nike
Sodium knew going in it was going to be a war, and what a battle it was. Rush always has given Sodium problems. Even though the Lady Warriors elevated their game, the final score was 3-0. Don't get discouraged, they played great! Even the Rush coach approached Tom and said; "You guys kicked the crap out of us, sorry." With that said, Sodium kept their heads up. We will see this team many more times and into the post season. What is important is not the score but what we learned. Playing Rush is about finishing. Yes, they scored 3 goals on about 6 shots. We scored 0 on about 20 shots. The opportunities will present themselves, we just need to take advantage. The passing is there, the ball movement and communication are there. The defense played well and, by sheer shot count, the mids and forwards played well. We just need to find the net. Plain and simple. This chapter is far from over vs OR Rush. But the next installment will be up to you.

vs EMFC 95 Magic
After a long drive South on a drizzly, cold morning the lady warriors took the field against Magic, a much improved Eugene team. In typical Sodium Style they cut the field of play in half and never left the Magic side. What could have been a double digit game turned into a 1-0 victory for Sodium. The same situation plagued them as the game before, finishing. How many balls went right to the Magic keeper or off the post before Laura Camp's corner kick [which has turned into a great weapon for Sodium!] was headed in by Hannah Lautenbach? Sodium was patient, communicating, passing and attacking when the opportunity was right. A sign of greatness. A sign of a great team.

The main points here, in my humble opinion, are that we don't get discouraged. Look at the last 2 seasons and how they ended. Look at where we are now in comparison. The Fall, indoor and Spring seasons will have peaks and valleys but in comparison, we are ahead of where we were those last two years. If we can confront the finishing hurdle now and deal with it, the rest of the year will consist of refining greatness. Last year, if you recall, we just conquered the finishing phobia right before State Cup. This year we are addressing it in the Fall! Nothing to worry about. If you get a chance, go back and read the 2008 season blog. Sodium didn't win a game in October!! So ladies, keep you heads up, keep practicing hard and giving 100% at game time and we will be in the hunt come State Cup time.
This season has just begun and there is a ton of soccer ahead. You have a great coach and an extremely talent packed team. From here on it's about work. It's about working harder to get better than the other teams are. It's about what you do off the field that will make you better. OR Rush, LOSC, FC, none of them are as dedicated, passionate and willing to sacrifice as you are. We are able to run these teams into the ground late in the games because we condition harder. Remember playing the Strikers and how their team was standing around exhausted the last 8 minutes of the game? We win with our hearts, our minds and our feet. We may not always have the biggest team, but we have the biggest hearts filled with dedication and commitment to our team. You can't teach that lady warriors.

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

From under the umbrella's we yell: GO SODIUM!