Road Trip! Fun + Some Soccer

GU14 Capitals Tie GU13 Provincial Team 2-2
Saturday saw most of the GU14 Capitals waking up very early to make the trip over to Abbotsford for a game against the Girls U13 Provincial Team (fresh off a good showing at the Nike tournament in Portland, Oregon).

Our team was missing Moira & Rachel (helping the GU15 Capitals) + Nikki (helping Claremont's senior girls soccer team) + Erin (she joined the team at the field).

I think the excitement of travel; the early travel time and the heat affected the girls play in the first half of the game. The Provincial Team showed us early their skills and were passing the ball around us - we seemed to be sitting back and waiting and we fell into a kick & run type game. A couple of team defensive errors again cost us and the Provincial Team were up 2-0 at half time.

Nigel made some half-time changes based on some strengths and weaknesses he saw and this seemed to help. The team held their shape much better in the second half and for the most part kept the Provincial Girl's out of our defensive 1/3 of the field. Our first-to-the-ball was better, our passing was better and we started to break down their mid-field and defence a bit better. Our first goal came off of a good individual effort by Kristin to win/keep the ball and placed a lovely through pass to Georgia who was streaking towards the goal and held off a defender to beat the keeper. The second goal was a similar goal although this time it was Kathy passing to Kristin who put the ball away. A great effort from our midfielders in the second half for putting the oppositon under pressure and winning the ball.

A good finish to a long, hot day girls! I understand that the bus/ferry ride home was fun!

Also, some comments from Gillian ...
Thank you to all you girls for being so GREAT on our first road trip! Up SUPER early, travelling the furthest that we will ever have to go, and being model Super Y representatives on the ferry. A great result today - nice to see you girls turn things around in the second half, and tie up the game. Great effort out there!

A couple of things now... could you girls please try to find some kind of "identifying" key-chain, luggage tag, etc. for your kit bag. It will make it much easier to distinguish them if they are "marked" somehow.

Tonight's Homework

In lieu of a practise tonight, spend a little while watching this video on some girls vying for a spot on the U17 Canadian National team. CBC documentary "The Girls of Summer". Good Stuff!!!

Here is the link to watch the documentary right off the CBC website:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/docplayer.html?id=808332039


If you have trouble with the above link go to:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/girlsofsoccer/#

Barcelona Schools Manchester

Well, the GU14 Capital's girls / fans did not do to well predicting the outcome of yesterday's UEFA Champions League final yesterday. Barcelona won 2-0 with dominance in the mid-field (Xavi & Iniesta) - having Eto'o, Henry and, of course, Messi up front doesn't hurt.

So for the other three people that voted for Barcelona with me ... feel free to gloat :-)

Read the story here...
http://www.canada.com/sports/Barcelona+outclass+Manchester+United+Champions+League+final+showdown/1636202/story.html
Checks the games statistics out here ...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=266961&cc=3888&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS

Good News .... Capitals Bag Their First Win

Capitals Commanding Win 3-0
Congratulations on your first win ladies ... well done!

Today's game was under a hot, sunny sky at PISE turf field (see special note below on turf fields). A noon kick-off saw the Capitals take on the Mountain WFC club from Vancouver (they are mainly comprised of players from the North Shore and Burnaby area). Our girls came out a bit sluggish playing a high pressure formation; but were rewarded after about 11 minutes by a nice individual effort from Kathy off of a thrown-in.

The second half saw the Capitals put on a bit more pressure and score a second goal, again off of a good second effort by Kathy ... in the corner breaking free from her check and playing a nice long hard low cross in front of the goal to a well placed Kristin - nice finishing Kristin. The third goal was a PK by Nikki (Kathy was brought down inside the 18 yard box).

A good game defending today as the Mountain girls did not get many shots on our net.

I don't want to minimize or tarnish your effort on today's win, but, in last week's loss to Coquitlam your play was much better - more intense with better possession. I am sure you felt that and your fans (parents) felt that. I know that intensity will return!

As discussed after today's game, only 1 training session next week...
- Tuesday 6:30-8pm at PISE
- Thursday - no training

Nigel requests ... Please, please, please, do not book another activity into Thursday's free time, use it to rest. Several of you are showing signs of burn out, the heat and additional activities are catching up with you.


SPECIAL NOTE ON TURF FIELDS:
A University of Missouri turf expert took temperature readings on a third generation turf field on a 98 degree day. He found the surface temperature to be 173 degrees and the head level height temperature to be 138 degrees. On very hot days athletes are practically playing in an oven.

Hydration for health and sport performance is a large and well researched topic that deserves an additional mention here. Hydration requirements will be even greater when playing on turf on a warm or hot day.

So Remember to Hydrate well Before, During & After a game!!!

... Bad News - Highlanders Drop Home Opener

The Victoria Highlanders dropped their first game yesterday and unfortunately it was their first home game 2-1 vs Abbotsford Mariners.

The Highlanders did everything but finish their chances, losing 2-1 to the Abbotsford Mariners, despite outshooting the visitors 23-9. Victoria’s record is now one win, a loss, and three ties in the Northwest Division of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League, while the Mariners are 1-1-1.

“It’s hard to take,” said Victoria coach Colin Miller, whose team is back home again on June 5 against the Portland Timbers. “We will play worse than that and win, and that’s the disappointment.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Sun Tzu's Quote of the Week

This week's Art of War quote comes from Brittany ...

Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.

The soccer tie here is ... Set Plays (i.e. corners kicks and free kicks).

Next League Game vs Mountain WFC

Our second league game is Sunday May 24th at PISE turf. Kick off is at noon.
Please arrive at the field by 10:45am for pictures and pre-game warm-up.

We are in our home BLUE kit.

Capitals Kick-Off Season With Great Game

Capitals Drop Tough One 2-1
Our first game of the season brought us up against a very good squad from Coquitlam coached by David Norman. We saw a lot of familiar faces out there as the core of the team was Coquitlam's Metro team.

We played very well but were punished for a couple of errors in critical areas. Our defensive shape and play was more disciplined. We saw that in the first 15-20 minutes where we "allowed" Coquitlam to attack and remained disciplined, calm and dealt with their attack quite easily as they neared our goal. Good job on that ladies!

We scored a great goal and created many opportunities. Passing got better as the game went on. Very high intensity, especially in the second half of the game ... in my opinion, we owned the second half.

The final result was Coquitlam taking the game 2-1.

Sunday should be another rest day with some stretching and ice if needed for injuries.

More photos on the team photo website.

Sun Tzu's Quote of the Week

This week's Art of War quote comes from Georgia (Gi Gi) ...

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

Georgia's interpretation of this as it relates to soccer is ...

-that it shows you to invade your opponents weaknesses
-If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him-this will make our opponents play worse
-I like it because in soccer you have to use every flaw your opponent has to your advantage and do what contradicts them

First League Game vs Coquitlam

Our first league game vs Coquitlam Metro Ford is Saturday May 16th 3:00pm kick off @ Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence Turf (PISE). We will be wearing our home BLUE uniforms.

PS ... Our GU13 Capitals "sisters" kick off at 1pm. Feel free to come out and watch and cheer them.

Capitals GU14 vs BU13

Friday May 8, 2009
Our exhibition game tonight had us playing a fast fairly skilled BU13 Capitals team at Finlayson turf field. We were on the board first with a lovely passing play, capped off by a long shot by Elise from outside the 18 yard box. The boys pressed and were rewarded with two goals going ahead 2-1. However, Kathy equalized the score with a nice break down the left side of the field and placing a lovely placed ball past the keeper.

The girls played very well and the coaches were pleased with their positional play today.

Capitals U13 & U14 Girls Do "Battle"

Thursday May 7, 2009
The Girls U14 Capitals played a friendly vs the younger but hard-working u13 Capitals team coached by Bud Livingtone.

After a first half that saw the GU13 push hard against our Caps, we made some second half changes that saw the bulk of the play in their 1/2 of the field.

A good half to work on attacking and penetration.


Click on the photo for a few more pictures.

GU14 Cap Players & Fans Have Spoken!

According to our poll and the great wealth/knowledge of the game, the GU14 Cap players & fans predict that Manchester United will win the UEFA Champions League. See the results below (or on the right hand column).

Barcelona = 4 (18%)
Chelsea = 1 (4%)
Manchester U = 17 (77%)
Arsenal = 0 (0%)

Could the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is "a hottie" have anything to do with the above results?!?!

Exhibition vs GU16 Capitals Team

Sunday May 3, 2009 saw the GU14 Capitals play a very fast and aggressive GU16 Capitals team at Hampton Park (10:15am start).

The girls played very well for having a large bench and Nigel moving the players around to different positions to fine-tune player positioning, starting line-up and test girls.

For more photos, see the team photo site .

GU14 Capitals Pitch In

The girls had a great time last night pitching in at the Lower Island Soccer Association night at the Victoria Salmon Kings hockey game.

We helped sell 50/50 tickets and raised $2622.00 for Lower Islands hardship fund ... well done!!

I think the girls had a great time and got to watch a good hockey game (Victoria beat Alaska 4-0).

Great job ladies and thank you!!!!