Game #3

Once the game got underway, it didn't take long for the Spire team to make their presence felt. In fact, they would score on their first four shots on goal, all within a seven minute span of each other. The first goal came on a play that I thought was pretty clearly offsides (it happened right in line with where I was seated), but since it wasn't called it allowed the Spire offensive player to walk in all alone on the Dynamo keeper, and the shot went high and off of the goalies hands and in. Just a minute later they made it a 2-0 game when the Dynamo goalkeeper came out to play the ball out to the side but missed in her attempt, leaving a wide open net for an easy goal. Three minutes later they were able to race past Jayden on defense (in fairness to Jay, it is a position she hasn't played much of this season, and didn't at all for her high school team this season either), leading to a shot that went back across the goal and in, making it a 3-0 game. Three minutes later the Spire attacked got behind the Tampa defense, firing a shot that once again deflected off the keepers hands and in. Before the girls could barely even get settled they were trailing by a 4-0 score. Thankfully they did settle in a little over the rest of the half, as they managed to somewhat slow the Spire attack, holding them off the board on their next four shots. Unfortunately a Dynamo player let her frustration out late in the half, pushing a defender that had beaten her from behind while in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Of course the Spire player was able to convert, though it was close, clanging off the crossbar and deflecting down and in, making it a 5-0 game. That was it for the opening half, thankfully.

Early in the second half, the Dynamo girls got their first shot on goal, and as it turned out, their only shot as well. Unfortunately they weren't able to find the back of the net on their shot, keeping the score 5-0. Despite what appeared to be an attempt to slow things down by the Spire team (not sure if they subbed out their best players, switched offense and defense, or what exactly they did), they still managed to tack on four additional goals. Their sixth goal of the game came on a play when the Dynamo defender completely whiffed on what should have been an easy clearing attempt, allowing the ball to get to a wide open Spire player, who promptly kicked the ball under the Dynamo keeper, making it a 6-0 game. Two minutes later they once again found a wide open player in front of the net, this time on a pass that allowed an easy kick into the goal, widening their lead to 7-0. It took over ten minutes for the next shot on net, but once again it was off of a Spire player, and it appeared as though nobody on the Dynamo side even attempted to stop the play from happening. With the lack of effort, it was now an 8-0 game. Had this been a high school game, that score would have ended it, but here we kept playing. Just before time expired, the Spire team attempted a corner kick. Their formation on the corner kick was to essentially box in the opposing keeper, and this time their kick was placed just right, allowing one of their players to head the ball into the net. Thankfully for the Dynamo players and fans, that was the final score, as the game ended with the score 9-0 and Tampa on the wrong end of it.

It was announced after the game that there would be no further games for the U19 Tampa Dynamo team. Although the club would have liked us to play in one more tournament, there hadn't been enough commitment from the players in attending practices or games, and many of them hadn't even paid for their seasons obligations for the referee and tournament fees, as the coach fronted the money for this one for those who hadn't paid. While it is a bittersweet ending for Jayden's soccer career, it is also a bit of relief that we don't have to go through another weekend of this.

Jayden, I do want to say that I am extremely proud of the young lady that you have become. Off the field you have become a more confident person, willing to take chances while keeping what is important to you at the front of your mind. On the field you have become a leader, and while you weren't selected as captain for your high school or club teams, your commitment to the teams and knowledge of the game indicates that you should have been. Carry these qualities forward in your lifetime, and great things await you in the future!