Thursday, April 30, 2009

Desire | Commitment | Team

This will be the last post prior to the first Quarter Final game.
I want to take this opportunity to address what it means and what it takes to be, not only a Championship caliber, but any, team. These are the opinions of a former coach and athlete.

Desire The player wants to be there. Period. You will never develop an athlete who's parents pushed him/her into a sport. They have to love it and desire to be the best and contribute to the success of the team. This desire will push them to give 100% in practice and thus, perform at that same level during the game. You play like you practice. A player with this desire doesn't complain that the coach is pushing them too hard, that they had to run an extra lap or another flight of stairs. Players with this desire push themselves and their teammates because they know it is for their own good, It will make them faster, stronger, better.

Commitment To be an effective part of any team, all players need to be committed. Committed to the success of the team. If that means getting physical & rough at practice because that is the type of opponent you face, then so be it. There should never be a question. Your opponent will never back down from you, your teammates shouldn't either. Commitment means being to practice on time and working your behind off while you're there. Commitment means practicing good nutrition and getting plenty of sleep because if you don't, you run the risk of not playing to the level you need to be at and the team expects. It means doing whatever it takes. A player who is not willing to commit 100% to the team, should not be on the team.

Team [taken from July 1st, 2008 post titled: Team]

~ noun
  1. a number of persons forming one of the sides in a game or contest: a soccer team.

  2. a number of persons associated in some joint action: a team of players.

  3. a number of persons joined together in unison to achieve a common goal: to win.

  4. a number persons committed to their coach and each other, giving 100% to be the best they can, day after day, game after game: Sodium.


To be part of a team is a great achievement. To be part of a championship team is an outstanding accomplishment. What that means is that you have fought together, sacrificed together and won together. You have developed a bond that few realize and even fewer recognize. These are your sisters. You are solders doing battle on a field of green. When you step onto the field this weekend look into your teammates eyes and see the look of a warrior. A Lady Warrior. Sodium.

Your fans will be screaming our heads off; GO SODIUM!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Thoughts on the coming week

Lady warriors, we are 3 games away from making history. I don't need to stress to you what Tom said at the end of the game yesterday [but I will].
Sleep: Probably the most important factor here. 9 to 10 hours per night minimum. Go to bed at 9PM instead of 11PM or midnight. Get more if you can do it. Sorry, but that may mean no sleep overs or late night homework sessions. You can do it for one week out of the year, I know you can. Do it for the team.
Nutrition: Fuel. You need to keep your bodies running at peak performance this week. Fruits, veggies, proteins and carbs. Look up online the best way to optimize nutrition before a game, and do it. All week. This should be something you try to follow all season, not just State Cup week.
Training: Train hard. Listen. Execute. You play like you practice. Give it 100% every time you set foot on the field.
Mental Prep: Have fun this week but work hard. On game day, it's time to focus. Focus on your responsibilities. Visualize every situation that may come your way and how you will deal with it. Visualize the win. Get the adrenaline going as you drive to the field. When you get there, view the opposition as the enemy. View your dominance over them. View the scores, view the stops, view yourself winning the 50/50's. Build up some hatred toward them. These girls are standing in your way to the State Championship. These girls want to beat you and they think they can. You need to prove them wrong. You need to elevate your game and push them and pound them until they break. Period.

If we lose, we go home. There is no tomorrow. Our backs are against the wall and we can not move forward unless we give it 100%. Push your team mates. If you see someone not giving 100%, get in her face! Push her. Let her know that if she doesn't give 100% then the team cannot win. You cannot afford to have players not giving it everything they have at this point. You need 100% commitment from every player. If someone is not willing to do that, she needs to find another team where that kind of play is accepted. Period. Sodium will not accept anything less than 100% and there are girls waiting in line to join the team and they are ALL willing to give 100%.

If you elevate your game every time you set foot on the field, if you bring your 'A' game, there is not a team in Oregon that can keep up. Part of that 'A' game is the sleep, nutrition, training & mental prep. If you want to take this team to the next level, it is vital that you all make it a priority to push yourselves and follow those guidelines. Do it for the yourself, do it for Tom, do it for Sodium.

You gotta believe. We do.

From our hearts we yell; GO SODIUM!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sodium advances to Quarter Finals in State Cup

Sodium advanced to the Quarter Finals of the 2009 State Cup by defeating the Aloha United Xtreme club at Aloha High School this morning. Even though the score was 0-0 at half, the first 35 minutes was all Sodium. The lady warriors knew they had a job to do, they just didn't know how hard they would have to work to get it done. In the first half alone Sodium took over 15 shots on goal. They were high, they were wide, they were off the far post. Sodium just could not buy a goal in the first half. After a "pep" talk by coach Tom, Sodium took the field in the second half with their game faces on. The second half began as the first had ended. Sodium was on the attach with run after run. Break-a-way after break-a-way. Hats off to the Aloha keeper, she stopped more shots, and received more bruises, than she has had all season I would bet. At the 15 mark of the second half we found Laura Camp lining up for a corner kick. Lately, coach Tom has sent the entire team, bench, fans and kitchen sink into the box on corner kicks. A very effective strategy so far, and this proved it again as Lexi Frey, left defender, headed Laura's corner kick into the net for a 1-0 Sodium lead! The remaining fans roared and did the wave as everyone cleared the goal box. Play continued in the Xtreme end and with under 3 minutes left Lexi, now at left mid, drove deep into Aloha territory, launched a perfect cross to a driving Emmy Owens who ripped the back of the net for what proved the final goal and solidified a Sodium 2-0 win and clinching the brackets #1 spot.

Quarter Final Bracket at a glance;
All games Saturday 5/2/09 @ Aloha High School
9:30AM - OR Rush vs OSA Inferno
11:AM - FC Portland vs Sherwood Force
12:30PM - LOSC Extreme vs Keizer Hotshots
2:00PM - Sodium vs SSC Hotspur

Important Notes;
LOSC only posted a 2-0 win over OSA Inferno. OSA is for real. Of course, Sodium only posted a 2-0 win over Aloha. EMFC 95 Magic tied Sherwood Force and actually beat them in PK's. And, SSC Hotspur only beat WSM Strikers 1-0, a team Sodium has beat up on for 2 years.

SSC Hotspur
2009 State Cup
Beat by OR Rush 3-0
Beat LOSC Harambee [B] 6-0
Beat Clackamas United Elite 3-0
Beat WSM Strikers 2-1

2008 Fall League
Hotspur was undefeated in fall league.
They beat Sherwood Force, OSA Inferno, PCU Impact, OC Fireballs, WUSC Flamengo, Aloha United Xtreme and LOSC Harambee.

2009 Spring League
Tied EMFC Magic 2-2
Beat OC Fireballs 1-0
Beat WSM Strikers 2-0
Beat OSA Explosion [B] 4-1
Beat Sherwood Force 2-0
Beat WUSC Flamengo 5-0
Beat PCU Impact 3-0
*Funny thing, it never shows SSC playing FC Portland or Keizer Hotshots and they were all in the same league??

Take-a-ways:
1) SSC knows how to win.
2) Sodium needs to neutralize their offensive threat [only one girl is scoring from what I can tell]
3) FINISH. So far in State Cup Sodium has missed more shots than I can remember.
4) Hotspur hasn't advanced to this level in a few years. If Sodium can attack the goal early, it should deflate them.
5) Look at the bracket Hotspurs played in. They got beat 3-0 by OR Rush, the only real team, and then beat a handfull of lesser teams.
6) Sodium needs to play their game. DO NOT PLAY YOUR OPPONENTS GAME. If your opponent plays slow & timid, Sodium needs to play their typical fast and physical game. If your opponent wants to play boot-ball, LET THEM. We need to play our calculated, controlled game still, no matter what.

We have a great opportunity to take out SSC Hotspur next weekend and then on to the next round. Stay focused, work hard and make every effort count. This can be your year Sodium, it all depends on who wants it bad enough to make the sacrifices to succeed. Get the rest you need, eat right and practice hard. You have to believe in yourself Sodium. Your loyal fans believe in you.

From the bleachers at Aloha High School we yell; GO SODIUM!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Sodium lets Sherwood in the door

Historically, Sodium has a tendency to play to their competition. Today's game against the Sherwood Force was no exception. The play started off as expected, Sodium pounding the ball in the Sherwood end of the field. Then Sherwood crossed midfield, found a seem in the defense, and the forward found the net from 20. Sodium down 0-1. Later in the first half, after being bounced around the ball squirted back to Aliyah Chance [I think, I was kind of blocked out] who's shot deflected off a Force player to Emmy Owens who alertly ripped it into the net. 1-1 at half. The second half found Sherwood looking at a corner kick of their own. The ball flew untouched across the face of the goal where a Force player easily found the net. Sodium down 2-1. With only a couple minutes left, Laura Camp & Lexi Frey lined up an indirect kick, Lexi touched it over to Laura who chipped a perfect shot high off the right post and in! The final whistle blew with the score deadlocked at 2 apiece.

Off to PK land!

First up, Jadyn McMillan - 1-0
Sherwood misses - 1-0
Laura Camp in! - 2-0
Sherwood scores - 2-1
Marisa Reid finds the net - 3-1
Sherwood misses - 3-1
Lexi Frey just off the mark - 3-1
Sherwood scores - 3-2
Erika Cook with a decisive score! - 4-2


What it means:
The official score ended in a tie. This means that both Sherwood and Sodium have 7 points. If both teams win [or lose or tie] tomorrow then the team with the highest goal differential will represent the bracket in the #1 spot. If both teams have identical goal differential, it will fall back to these PK's and Sodium will advance in the #1 spot. If Sherwood wins big and Sodium loses, the Sherwood would capture the #1 spot. So basically, Sodium needs to beat the pants off of Aloha tomorrow and advance in #1 position.

The girls looked sluggish & slow tonight. Not the style of play that advances teams to the quarter finals. Sodium needs to turn up the intensity and play the fast physical game that has gotten them many, many victories this season. If they can Bring It, no other team can compete. Get a little pissed here ladies, you should have walked all over the Sherwood team. You need to take it out with a vengeance on Aloha and get back into the groove. If you can do that, then we can take the momentum into the quarter finals and beyond.

Next up: vs Aloha United Xtreme @ 9:30AM - Aloha HS. 4/26/09

GO SODIUM!

Friday, April 24, 2009

This weekend

I was in my car today and a song came on that really caught mt attention. It said something about coming face to face with your enemies. It made me think of the upcoming games this weekend and how Sherwood is coming to our house. How playing us will equate to their world cup. How we will face the enemy tomorrow face to face. How Sodium needs to face every game, tomorrow forward, like their backs were against the wall and there was no tomorrow. Let the bodies hit the turf! Just like the second half of the RVSC game, you have to get your cleats on their neck and NEVER let up! We have the talented players and coach this year and there is no reason Sodium shouldn't three peat and represent Oregon in Lancaster. I have gone to bat for this team on blogs and the Internet all year long and there is no way I would ever call it any differently. I believe in this team. I believe in Sodium. And lady warriors, I know you believe too. The time is NOW. The time is NOW to rise up. To play from the heart. To lay it all on the line.
What's it going to be Sodium, it's all up to you. Who's going to be the hero today?

Your faithful followers will be on the sidelines screaming; GO SODIUM!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

2009 State Cup Predictions

I've been blogging my predictions on other soccer forums & blogs so I thought I would bring them to our little haven of soccer fun. So, I bring you my 2009 predictions.

Quarter Finals
First Place A Bracket - OR Rush
vs
Second Place C Bracket - OSA Inferno [advances on points over ESUFC Arsenal]

First Place D Bracket - FC Portland
vs
Second Place B Bracket - EMFC Magic*

First Place C Bracket - LOSC Extreme
vs
Second Place D Bracket - Keizer Hotshots

First Place B Bracket - THUSC Sodium
vs
Second Place A Bracket - SSC Hotspur

Semi Finals
OR Rush vs FC Portland
LOSC Extreme* vs Sodium

Final
FC Portland* vs Sodium

2009 State Champion - THUSC SODIUM

*Notes:
There are some big games & assumptions this year. First, I am predicting LOSC beats Keizer. Keizer is probably feeling pretty down right now after tying a very beatable PCU Impact 3-3 and nothing would bring me more pleasure than to have them knock off LOSC so we could beat them in the Semi's. Second, that FC Portland beats OR Rush in the Semi's. Third, that EMFC beats Sherwood in the bracket.

No matter what though, Sodium needs to concentrate on their match ups and take care of business Sodium Style!

GO SODIUM!

Update to "It's about the team" post

I wanted to include this because I feel it is important.

When Emmett Smith won the NFL rushing title he was with the Arizona Cardinals. On that very play Emmett got up with the ball and ran around the outside of the field, searching. Emmett was searching for Daryl Johnston. Daryl was there broadcasting for ESPN. When Emmett finally found him in the crowd, he handed Daryl the game ball, hugged him and through his helmet said 7 words Daryl will never forget, he said; "I couldn't have done it without you".

So when its late in the second half and your exhausted and beat up, think of Daryl. Dig deep and never give up. And when you rise victorious, look at the girl next to you, a warrior who has it left it all on the field, give her a hug and tell her "We couldn't have done it without you" because that is the essence of a team.

"We will win as a team or die as individuals"

When you take the field Saturday, and the four games to follow, remember those words.



GO SODIUM

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sodium rolls to 2-0 in State Cup

The lady warriors were back on their home turf Saturday to face EMFC Magic from Eugene in the second round of the 2009 State Cup.
The Magic was led by the outstanding keeper play of Sahalie Doe who often accompanies Sodium to tournaments outside the region.
In typical Sodium fashion the play was isolated to the Eugene end of the field most of the game with the winning goal coming off a Lexi Frey corner kick that was finished by midfielder Laura Camp for a 1-0 Sodium win.

The girls looked crisp, had good communication & hustle. This win was very business like. The girls took the field, assessed what needed to be done, and took care of business out shooting the magic 3-1.

Up next: 4/25 vs Sherwood Force @ 5pm - REC Field #2

Other games in our bracket;
RVSC Power Strikers 2 vs Aloha United Xtreme 1

Notable Games;
FC Portland 2 vs Keizer Hotshots 1
LOSC Extreme 6 vs BSC Mercury Black 0
OR Rush 95 5 vs WSM Strikers 0

GO SODIUM!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

It's about the team

I was sitting around the table talking with some friends and we started talking about who the greatest football player of all time is. Many, many names were thrown around from present day superstars to greats from a bygone era. Several chose Emmett Smith, the Dallas Cowboy running back that will be a future Hall-of-Fame player. I, on the other hand, chose Daryl Johnston. You may ask "Who is Daryl Johnston?" and why I would choose a fullback that only carried the ball 232 times for 753 yards and 14 touchdowns [that's 1.4 touchdowns per year!] his entire career when there were so many others to pick?

I chose Daryl for many reasons; he was unselfish, he was the hardest working player on the field, being in the limelight was not important to him, winning was. But the most important of all reasons I chose Daryl was because throughout his 10-year career Daryl always put the team first.

You see, for his entire career Daryl Johnston had the unglamorous honor of opening holes and blocking for Emmett Smith. He was Emmett's fullback. For Emmett to get 18,355 yards in his career and become the NFL's ALL TIME RUSHING LEADER, he had to rely on Daryl. Game after game, season after season, Emmett would get the glory and Daryl would get the bruises. But did that bother Daryl? No. He has 3 Superbowl rings. He has played with and against some of the most talented and gifted athletes in the 20th century. And if you ask him, he will tell you all his efforts, all his pain and sacrifices were for one thing; opening holes so Emmett could run so the team could win. Simple, according to Daryl.

Now I know we don't have any Emmett Smith's on the team. But what I do know is we have an entire team made up of warriors like Daryl Johnston. Warriors that will give everything for the success of the team.

So next time your exhausted, beat up and ready to quit on the field, think of Daryl. If Daryl quit, Emmett couldn't run.

Run Emmett Run

GO SODIUM

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Sodium opens State Cup with a decisive win

Like a boxer feeling out his opponent in a prize fight, Sodium jabbed, countered and danced in the first half, exposing weaknesses and strengths in the very big, aggressive RVSC Power Striker team. As the half was coming to a close you could tell the lady warriors had the information they needed to plan their attack as play was confined to the Rogue Valley end of the field for the last 5 minutes. Rogue Valley only had 2 shots on goals in the first half compared to Sodium's 9.
Tom made some adjustments at the break as Sodium came out with a vengeance. Hannah Lautenbach was blazing deep into Power Striker territory when she was mugged in the 18 yard box leading to a Sodium PK. Laura Camp lined it up, stutter-stepped and fired a rocket just under the cross bar and out of the keepers reach giving Sodium the 1-0 advantage! As the second half progressed so did the Sodium attack. Lexi Frey [from left defense] decided she wanted to be part of the action as she drove the ball coast-to-coast. From 20 yards out she chipped a shot just over the outstretched arms of the RVSC keeper where Emmy Owens awaited to crash with the ball into the net! From my angle it looked like the shot was in and Emmy was in the net but others say that Emmy shot it in so, I am awarding each of them the goal! A true team effort! Sodium up 2-0. Later in the half our newest member, Aliyah Chance [who had a great game!] placed a perfect pass to a charging MAC Kearney who finished by blasting the back of the net! Sodium up 3-0. Literally 2 minutes later Lexi Frey was lining up for one of her patented corner kicks. She let it fly, there was mosh pit in front of the net, the ball was cleared back out to Lexi who launched it again, over the crowed, to an awaiting Jadyn McMillan who stuffed it in for a Sodium 4-0 romp. And, to add a little "Sodium" to the wound, Emmy drove deep into the box, drilled a shot off the RV keeper and Hannah was there to mop up for the 5th and final score. Rogue Valley also racked up a couple yellow cards in the match to add insult to injury.

Sodium is starting to file fire on all cylinders just as the State Cup is getting underway. Let's keep the momentum as Eugene Magic comes to town next weekend.

In other bracket games;
Sherwood 3, Aloha 2

In other State Cup Games
FC Portland 4, PCU 0
LOSC 3, Arsenal 0
Rush 3, Hotspur 0
Keizer 6, Oregon City 1
And our friends WSM Strikers 0, LOSC Harambee[B squad] 0

Great job ladies! Remember your goals and your teammates goals and let's have a great week of practice. Always strive to be better. Every practice, every game, every day.

From somewhere on I-5 the parents are yelling: GO SODIUM!

Together with family & friends, the Coons wish everyone Happy Easter!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

To Sodium

The journey begins...

Tomorrow, lady warriors, you embark on a journey, a journey that began June 20th on the Big Island of Hawaii. With a new coach and new players you will continue the tradition that is Sodium. A tradition of hard charging, fast physical play. Of sacrificing everything and never saying die. Tomorrow, there will be no tomorrow. You have to treat every game like it will be your last, with your back up against the wall.
Tomorrow marks the third year you will take the field for State Cup. All eyes will be upon the New Back In Black crew. There will be some who will doubt, some who will say that this years team cannot match up. But we know. We know the heart of this years team. We know the sacrifices and that you know how to fight and how to win. Leave no doubt on the field lady warriors, it's GO TIME.
Tomorrow when you take the field you will remember how it feels to be a champion, and what it took to get there. The blood, sweat, tears and exhaustion you endured. Tomorrow you will remember the sacrifices you made, how hard you have worked & fought and the lessons you have learned.
When you look up in the stands, feel proud Sodium. You have earned your place and the respect of all who follow you now, and those who wish to play for this glorious team in the future.
Tomorrow, when you take the field as a team, you will truly reflect what it means to be a team. What it means to work as a single entity toward a common goal. To fight and to sacrifice as one, as Sodium.

Tomorrow you will lace up your cleats, put on your game face and don the uniform of a champion. Wear it proud lady warriors, and let's go make history!

You be proud, we'll be loud! GO SODIUM

McMillan's host first State Cup dinner

Dan & Kirsten McMillan opened their home to the wrath that is the lady warriors of Sodium. In celebration of the upcoming State Cup games, Sodium will gather for a feast before each battle.

Thank you parents for your support in hosting these events. We are hoping for several of these gatherings, the last one the week of May 9th.

Gather your strength lady warriors, this year you will put to the test. It will be the battle of the fittest with only the strongest surviving. Push yourself, push your team, and we will be victorious!

From the round table we cheer; HAIL SODIUM!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sodium tunes up for State Cup with trip to Eagle Crest

The lady warriors made their favorite road trip east this weekend to take on OR Rush 95. In typical Bend fashion the officiating was less than stellar but the play was spectacular! Right out of the gate Rush took advantage of a lapse in defense and scored. Sodium had several players absent so they had some player shifts and only one sub compared to Rush's 5. Not be out done Sodium came back with an offensive flurry that culminated with MAC Kearney taking advantage of a keeper miscue by ripping the ball past her for a 1-1 tie. Sodium came knocking again late in the first half when Hannah Lautenbach's attempt to chip the ball into the far corner just deflected off the cross bar. The half ended as the play see-sawed back and forth. The majority of play in the second half was isolated to the Rush side of the field. Although, there were occasions when Sodium keeper Camille Fairbairn had to make a some awesome saves to keep the score tight, but other than that, it was in Rush's end. It wasn't for lack of opportunity that the score was tied. The lady warriors penetrated and penetrated but just couldn't find the net as the much improved Rush defense held their ground. I'm sure we will see this team again in State Cup, so keep pushing Sodium and next time we meet we will have a full healthy roster and give them a little taste of Back in Black!

Next up; Rogue Valley in Medford on 4/11/09 for the first game of State Cup!

GO SODIUM!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Welcome Aliyah!

The lady warriors are proud to announce a new member to the Back in Black Sodium squad, Aliyah Chance!
Aliyah comes to us via Westside Metros, plays midfield and forward and is part of the very talented 1996 ODP team.
Aliyah will travel with Sodium to Bend and Medford in the coming weeks and I am sure will make a great addition to the team as we embark on State Cup!

Parents, make sure you introduce yourself to Colleen in the coming weeks.

Great to have you as part of the team!

GO SODIUM!