Sodium Explodes @ Blue Mountain Exchange

Nobody knew what hit them. The lady warriors descended on Pasco in typical Sodium style, they took the field fast, calculated and confident.
The morning game paired Sodium with BCSC from Idaho. Crisp passing, physical play and total domination were the themes all game. Guest keeper Sahalie Doe touched the ball a total of four times as the mids and forwards controlled game. Right out of the gate Marisa Reid drove deep into BCSC territory before serving up a cross for MAC Kearney to finish into the back of the net for the game opening goal! Just moments later Jadyn McMillan took a perfect dish from Emmy Owens, juked, jived and drilled the net for a 2-0 half time lead.
You knew that wasn't the end of the fireworks, this IS Sodium remember. With about 2 minutes left Lexi Frey lined up for a corner kick which she placed for the awaiting Laura Camp to blast into the BCSC net for proved the the third and final goal. A great opening win for the lady warriors. A real confidence builder.

In the nightcap Sodium faced TRSC Flames. To try and thwart the Sodium attack the Three Rivers team threw a 6 4 alignment into the mix [6 forwards & 4 defenders]. After evaluating the set and making adjustments, Sodium began their calculated attack. First out of the box was Hannah Lautenbach who crashed in from the left side to blister the net for the opening score. Just before half Laura Camp lined up a corner kick and let it fly. The ball was blasted off several defenders before being dished back to Laura who rifled her shot just out of reach of the keeper for a 2-0 half time lead! The Sodium faithful erupted in cheers and even entertained the crowed with a little footwork of their own [really, just trying to keep warm!].
The second half started as the first had ended, the play mainly isolated to the Flames end of the field. Physical play was the norm this afternoon as bodies were hitting the turf on nearly every possession. With just 2 minutes left in the match Lexi Frey put a couple moves on the right side defender, drove to the end line and dropped a perfect chip shot to the far post where driving Hannah Lautenbach flashed in the box to head the ball into the net! The score remained 3-0 to advance Sodium to the second day of competition a perfect 2-0.

Sodium is firing on cylinders and faces SSC Elite out of Seattle tomorrow to determine the bracket winner. The bracket winner will play for the Championship that afternoon.

Bundled and huddled to keep warm, muffled we yell: GO SODIUM!

Sodium & Corvallis tie in the early game

Not much to report this game. Sodium played well but neither team could find the net in the early morning hours in Corvallis as the teams fought to a 0-0 tie.

Sodium unloads on Sherwood

In typical Sodium style the lady warriors put together another great performance against the Sherwood Sting in the afternoon game on Sunday. As with many of the games Sodium has played in the U14 bracket, the play was isolated to the opponents end of the field. The first score came as MAC Kearney broke loose down the left hand side, pumped a perfect left footed cross to a crashing Emmy Owens who fired a bullet pasted the Sting keeper! The Sodium faithful erupted in cheers as we could tell this one could get ugly. Try as they might, the mids and forwards just could not find the net as the half came to an end.
As the second half got under way the song remained the same as the play was confined to the Sting end of the field. With just under 3 minutes left Lexi Frey lofted a perfect corner kick that found Jadyn McMillan hiding behind the far post for the header goal!! High-fives all the way around as the girls mugged her at midfield.
The final whistle blew shortly after to give Sodium another U14 victory!

Up Next: Blue Mountain Exchange in Pasco!

Huddled under the tent and dodging tumbleweed, your faithful fans yell: GO SODIUM!

More than just a game...

I found an article I thought was inspirational that shows us all that there is so much more to life and sports than the game itself. Sports is about relationships, team building, dedication, commitment and competition. It's about trusting your teammates, giving everything you have for a common goal, sportsmanship and focusing on the big picture. About dealing with adversity and rising up to meet a challenge.

In my limited time on this planet I have realized many parallels between team sports and life itself. This article touches on one aspect.

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=914609

GO SODIUM!

Sodium ties Reading

In a game that many thought would be a blow out, ESUFC Reading handed Sodium a tie. The game started out in typical Sodium fashion with the play centered on the Reading goal. Midway through the first half Emmy Owens, after beating her midfielder, took a break deep down the left hand side. A perfect cross was dished to a penetrating Payten Sonnen who capped the play with a rifle past the Reading keeper! Minutes later Reading capitalized on a momentary defensive breakdown to tie the score at 1-1 before half.
The second half played out like the first with play confined to the Reading half of the field. Sodium was unable to put another in the net as time elapsed and the score remained 1-1.
Coach Tom had some words about dedication, focus and State Cup preparation for the team after the game.

Next up: 9AM 2/22/09 vs Corvallis FA Red Hots in Corvallis.

After the long drive the Sodium faithful cheer: GO SODIUM!

Sodium Starts Spring Off With a Pair of Wins!

You'd thought they were just coming back from a soccer vacation in the Bahama's! The lady warriors never missed a beat as they started the Spring U-14 League season with a couple of victories! The passing was crisp, the communication was loud and the play was fluid this weekend.
The Sodium team took on Cascade FC United in the league opener Saturday. Play was isolated to the CFC side of the field all game as as Sodium keeper Camille Fairbairn touched the ball only twice all contest. All match the Sodium forwards and mids pounded the goal box as the CFC goalie made one tremendous play after another. Finally, in the closing minutes, "MAC" Kearney took her own deflection and found the back of the net with her left foot! MAC had been a thorn the side of CFC keeper all game with several breaks into the box.
Sundays game turned into a blood-bath as Sodium pounded the WUSC Valencia squad 4-0. Lexi Frey opened the door with an early score by beating her defender down the left side, cutting back and spanking the right side of the net. Next up was a familiar player in the net, MAC Kearney off a perfect feed from visiting Mercury player Morgan. The half ended 2-0. In the Tom fashion we know and love, the pumped up Sodium team came ready to dish out more punishment in the second half. Shot after shot was saved by the Valencia keeper until Hannah Lautenbach drilled it in to keep the momentum alive! The icing was brought to you by visiting Mercury player Calin as she took the outstanding cross from Payten "Wheels" Sonnen and rocketed the WUSC net!

I can't say enough how well the girls played together in the league openers. Obviously the forwards were on a tear but the mids controlled the tempo and the defense put the hammer down on more than one occasion! These girls are, in my humble opinion, light years ahead of last years squad at this juncture and will undoubtedly be ready to put the hurt on the opposition during State Cup.

A special "Thank You" goes out to the Mercury players who joined Sodium this weekend and I'm sure we will see more of them in the near future.

Next up: ESUFC Reading on 2/13/09 @ 7pm.

From under the hooded parka's we yell: GO SODIUM!

Sodium Wins U14 Indoor Tournament

The lady warriors strutted their stuff around OSU's Truax Center this weekend as they were crowned Champions of the U14 bracket!
After getting off to a rocky start [a 1-3 loss to CFA Red Hots] Sodium bounced back to tie the second game against a tough Zvezda team. The late game was an 8-0 blow out of a big but not very physical Hermistan Heat.

In the semi's Sodium faced the Zvezda team and handed them a 3-0 loss.

The Championship game looked like it was going to be a run-a-way as Sodium came out fired up scoring two quick goals. The tough CFA team kept plugging along and answered with two goals of their own. With about 5 minutes left in the match Emmy Owens crashed the box off a Payten Sonnen skyrocket to cap the game and the Championship!

There were so many goals scored that I am not going to even try to recap them. We scored from the forward position, the midfield and even got two scores from Taylor Coon on defense. It was a great team effort, no one gave up when we started off with a loss and a tie. I can say that I will tip my hat to the lady warriors who stepped up and played goalie for Sodium. Thank you guys, you rock!

And a another 'Thank You' goes out to Ronnie for coaching her old team to another tournament victory! Felt like old times to hear that familiar voice yelling at the Sodium players. You could see the smiles on the faces of the Sodium faithful throughout the Truax Center.

Great job to all who participated and we are looking forward to a great season. Check out the link to the right for the Spring League Bracket.

From the sidelines we yell; GO SODIUM!