Game 3

Samantha and her Liverpool teammates faced off against a second Liverpool foe this weekend, in what would turn out to be their final game of the tournament. This game had some interesting twists, even as our girls were more or less dominated in terms of ball possession.

For Sam the most interesting twist occurred with her team trailing 2-0, as the starting keeper was injured after making a save. Without time to warm up, and despite not playing in goal in quite some time, Sam was forced into goal as the replacement. She made a couple of easy saves as a welcome to the game, but a shot off of a great centering pass found it's way past her, and the girls found themselves down 3-0 at halftime.

The second half was once again dominated by the opposing Liverpool team, but our girls were able to at least generate a couple of offensive attacks. Sam faced shot after shot, and she made the saves that she should have, but two got past as she couldn't adjust to the speed of some of the shots she found herself facing. I had told her to punch the ball away instead of trying to grab the ball, but she told me that is indeed what she was trying to do and just couldn't catch up to the ball. She ended up spraining a finger in the process, despite the presence of big goalie gloves, showing just how hard these shots were.

In the end the girls fell by a 5-0 score, and finished the weekend 1-2, facing some tough teams in their Liverpool stable-mates.

Liverpool FC - Reds Invitational Game 3 - vs. Liverpool FC 99/00 Redknapp
	Samantha down in position on defense...
	...before getting a foot on the ball...
	...and then holding off the attacking player.
	Sam settling the ball down with her left foot.
	After an injury to the starting keeper, Sam was forced into action for the first time in ages.
	Sam doing her best to get in position on a cross pass...
	...and watching as the opposition got off a shot...
	...but thankfully the ball sailed just wide.
	Sam talking to the starting keeper while the coach talks to the rest of the girls.
	Samantha scooping up a save in the second half.
	Sam lining up a drop-kick...
	...and taking aim at the ball...
	...and booting the ball...
	...before watching it sail down the field.
	Sam getting ready to take a goal kick...
	...and approaching the ball...
	...before preparing to kick...
	...and taking aim...
	...and making contact...
	...and sending the ball down the field.
	Sam taking another goal kick...
	...and contacting the ball...
	...before sending it towards her teammates.
	Sam playing a rolling ball...
	...by kicking it away...
	...just before the opposing player arrives.
	Sam reaching up for a save attempt...
	...but the ball had found it's way to the back of the net.
	Sam taking a shot in the mid-section...
	...but making the save.
	Sam with another drop kick...
	...taking aim at the ball...
	...and kicking the ball...
	...and watching as the ball flies down the field.
	Sam lining up a goal kick...
	...and making contact...
	...while sending the ball high in the air.
	Sam with another goal kick...
	...while taking aim for the ball...
	...and making contact...
	...and sending the ball flying.
	Sam reaching to deflect the ball...
	...but not getting enough to keep it out of the net.
	Sam grabbing the ball...
	...as the opposing player closes in on her.
	Sam taking a drop kick after making a save...
	...and kicking the ball...
	...and sending it down the field.
	Sam rolling the ball to a teammate after making a save.

Liverpool FC - Reds Invitational Game 3 - vs. Liverpool FC 99/00 Redknapp

Samantha down in position on defense...

...before getting a foot on the ball...

...and then holding off the attacking player.

Sam settling the ball down with her left foot.

After an injury to the starting keeper, Sam was forced into action for the first time in ages.

Sam doing her best to get in position on a cross pass...

...and watching as the opposition got off a shot...

...but thankfully the ball sailed just wide.

Sam talking to the starting keeper while the coach talks to the rest of the girls.

Samantha scooping up a save in the second half.

Sam lining up a drop-kick...

...and taking aim at the ball...

...and booting the ball...

...before watching it sail down the field.

Sam getting ready to take a goal kick...

...and approaching the ball...

...before preparing to kick...

...and taking aim...

...and making contact...

...and sending the ball down the field.

Sam taking another goal kick...

...and contacting the ball...

...before sending it towards her teammates.

Sam playing a rolling ball...

...by kicking it away...

...just before the opposing player arrives.

Sam reaching up for a save attempt...

...but the ball had found it's way to the back of the net.

Sam taking a shot in the mid-section...

...but making the save.

Sam with another drop kick...

...taking aim at the ball...

...and kicking the ball...

...and watching as the ball flies down the field.

Sam lining up a goal kick...

...and making contact...

...while sending the ball high in the air.

Sam with another goal kick...

...while taking aim for the ball...

...and making contact...

...and sending the ball flying.

Sam reaching to deflect the ball...

...but not getting enough to keep it out of the net.

Sam grabbing the ball...

...as the opposing player closes in on her.

Sam taking a drop kick after making a save...

...and kicking the ball...

...and sending it down the field.

Sam rolling the ball to a teammate after making a save.