Game 1

After sitting out last weekends tournament, Samantha got a chance to play her first game for the Liverpool FC club this afternoon, as her "second" team took the field against Taylor SC in the Reds Invitational.

Things were looking pretty iffy for the Liverpool team even before the game started, as nearly half of the team found themselves at the wrong field, leaving 8 girls to play. Thankfully the refs agreed to delay the start a few minutes as the girls started arriving. Once enough girls arrived the game got underway, and the Liverpool girls began dominating possession of the ball. They had some good looks early, as Samantha knocked a header over the crossbar on a corner kick and took a deep shot that sailed over the keeper's head but bounced up and over the net once again. Despite dominating the ball, Liverpool found themselves down two goals at halftime, as the Taylor team was able to take advantage of their few chances.

The Liverpool girls got back on track in the second half, as they found the back of the net early to narrow the gap to one. A handball in the box by Taylor set Liverpool up with a penalty kick, and one of the players asked Sam to take it. She was able to convert a nicely placed ball into the back corner of the goal to tie the game up at 2 goals apiece. Liverpool found the back of the net once again late in the game, as a curving kick bounced off the upright and into the goal, giving them a 3-2 lead that they would hang on to until the final whistle sounded.

Liverpool FC - Reds Invitational Game 1 - vs. Taylor SC 99G Green
	Samantha and her 99/00 teammates listening to their coach before the game gets underway.
	Sam going up for a header and knocking the corner kick just over the crossbar on an early scoring attempt.
	Sam getting into position on defense.
	Sam took a long distance shot over the keeper's head only to have the ball bounce just over the net.
	Sam and her teammates forming a wall on a direct kick.
	Sam challenging for the ball...
	...before completing a pass between two defenders.
	Sam gaining control of the ball...
	...before looking up to find an open teammate.
	Samantha going up to head the ball.
	Sam with another header.
	Sam trying to deflect a clearing kick by an opposing defensive player.
	Sam lining up a penalty kick...
	...and making contact with the ball...
	...and sending it towards the goal...
	...as the keeper reaches to the side...
	...while the ball nestles into the corner of the goal.

Liverpool FC - Reds Invitational Game 1 - vs. Taylor SC 99G Green

Samantha and her 99/00 teammates listening to their coach before the game gets underway.

Sam going up for a header and knocking the corner kick just over the crossbar on an early scoring attempt.

Sam getting into position on defense.

Sam took a long distance shot over the keeper's head only to have the ball bounce just over the net.

Sam and her teammates forming a wall on a direct kick.

Sam challenging for the ball...

...before completing a pass between two defenders.

Sam gaining control of the ball...

...before looking up to find an open teammate.

Samantha going up to head the ball.

Sam with another header.

Sam trying to deflect a clearing kick by an opposing defensive player.

Sam lining up a penalty kick...

...and making contact with the ball...

...and sending it towards the goal...

...as the keeper reaches to the side...

...while the ball nestles into the corner of the goal.