Champions all around

Over the weekend of  Nov 21st and 22nd, Rachael participated in the u9 (under age 9) soccer tournament. The 2 previous weekends resulted in rained out games and this was the last opportunity to have a team declared winner.  Rachael is part of team Brazil. It was a single elimination tournament so I was worried to miss the first game while I was with Megan at dance class. Meg and I arrived at the field just in time to see a triumphant team Brazil leaving the field. The second game was at 3 that afternoon. For both of these games they put Rachael in as the goalie during the 2nd half. She was great and took the coaches instruction well and stayed back by the goal when needed. We all cheered them on to another win. This win meant we would be playing in the final game for the championship.

 

Rachael was really excited to be playing in the final game especially because they knew both teams would be getting trophies. Rae had a bowling birthday party for a very good friend of hers on Sunday afternoon that was to end at 2. Her game was also at 2 so we picked her up early from the party in order to get to the game on time.

When we arrived at the field all of the Brazil girls were putting on yellow and black face paint and sprayed their hair neon yellow to match their uniforms. I snuck over to the team side of the field to take pictures as the coach was giving his pregame pep talk. Coach Ed told them to go have fun, that he was proud of them, and that the result of the game didn't matter. The girls were so ready and despite the complete lack of pressure from the coach they wanted to win. Rachael was the 2nd half goalie again. Team England had a number of larger girls on defense who could really kick the ball but Rae's team Brazil dominated the field and were on attack the majority of the game, but never scored. The energy on and off the field was palable. We played 2 rounds of overtime and the score was still 0-0. All of the parents on the sidelines were dreading this event because it means the games goes to penalty kicks. I kept thinking oh please don't put my kid in goal. It was just more pressure than I thought would be healthy for her.

Everyone was anxious about penalty kicks because it puts a lot of pressure on the girls as individuals and a huge amount of pressure on the goalies. Rachael was chosen to be the goalie for our team and this made my stomach move up into my throat. She looked so small and scared but also incredibly brave as she got set for the first kick.  For some reason they placed the ball really close to the goal instead of on the penalty line so the odds were good most of the 5 shots would go in. Rachael was in goal first and England scored. We scored and this continued back and forth till it was tied 3-3. Rachael gave a great effort on each shot but the 4th went in. The parents were all on their feet and everyone was very encouraging. Brazil's 4th kick missed. So England was up 4-3. If they scored again we would lose. Rachael got in goal again and my heart was racing. England kicked and Rachael stretched to her left, it bobbled a little but she trapped it. It was an awesome save! We went wild. I was so proud of her! Our last kicker was one of Rachael's good friends and it was up to her to tie it up. She scored we all breathed again. Still tied, the refs got ready for another round of penalty kicks.

Our coach spoke up and yelled out to just call it a tie. The parents all cheered. He conferred with the other coach and the refs and they agreed. We were all thrilled with this outcome and the girls were so relieved. As they huddled after the game Coach Ed said after Rachael made that great save he didn't want anyone else to shoot on her. They all played like champions, the tension and stress was too much for 7&8 year olds. Our team got the 2nd place trophies but coach said he is mailing them each a 1st place trophy because they were all winners. It was a wonderful outcome. We were all impressed with our coaches' sportsmanship. He just didn't want any of the girls on either team to feel like they lost. The girls all felt like champions.