ThingsIThinkIThunk

While maybe not so in the great scheme of things, I see the Memorial Day tournament as the closing of a chapter in soccer. The tournament marks the ending of one season and a glimpse of the soccer future ahead. I will say that this “glimpse” of next season was a bright one! I, as well as the entire coaching staff of the Rebels, is really excited about the play on the field and promise this holds for our Rebel future!

I think everyone was little disappointed with the overall outcome of the weekend after not making the championship game considering the way we played. We played two really exciting games against, what became, the second and third place teams in the tournament. To lose out on a shot at the medal game by a combined two goals (and 60 seconds!) is really rough. More than one player, coach and referee, after seeing us play, wished us luck in the finals! But, contrasted to the previous year where we really were not competitive with the top teams we should be, and are, really excited.

Knowing we were out of the hunt going into the last game, the coaches (and players) were expecting a fun, loose, easy game to ease our way out of the weekend. Unfortunately, that isn’t what we got! Fatigue, disappointment, bad coaching? Who knows, but we hit the field for the final game and stunk it up in the first half. The coaches were really frustrated.

Lose a tough game where you play well? No problem, we’re happy with that. Win (or winning) a “walk-over” game, but playing poorly and losing the focus that carried us through the last couple of weeks (including the Border Bash)? Not going to make the ride home easy!

All of that changed at the 59:30 mark. What a difference 30 seconds can make in your outlook and mood.

With just 30 seconds of less than normal Rebel level play left on Sunday evening, Noah was taken out just inside the box and a ray of hope for saving the collective mood was born! There was no debate amongst the coaches on who would take the penalty kick. Brian Rogers walked to the line, cool as a cucumber and waited for the whistle. Tweet! Smack! Lower left corner, perfectly placed! GGGOOOOOAAAALLLLL! Brian scores his first goal of the season – making him the last of the 16, 2010/11 Rebels to score this season. Pandemonium ensues! I am not sure who was more excited, the coaches or Brian (ok it was the coaches – at least outwardly!). With that simple kick, the entire previous 59 minutes is forgotten, an hour’s worth of grumbling disappears and all that is left is bubbly, unbridled joy and smiles (really big ones)!

In all my 20+ years of coaching, I don’t ever remember having a season where every player on the team scored at least one goal. The feat may never be repeated and will be treasured for a long time. Thank you 2010/11 Rebels for a glorious season of growth and success!