I'm going to miss this

Our spring soccer season is over.  Not just for Thomas, but Marie and Frederick too.  We were tournament-hopping the two weekends before Memorial Day.

Our YMCA decided to add a U10 (Frederick) tournament to the U12 (Marie) tournament they already do at the end of each rec season.  Unfortunately I could not be at Frederick's games because Thomas (select/travel soccer) had tournament games at another location both weekends. . .and since Tom coaches the U10 team he wasn't able to get pictures. . .the team was very disappointed to lose an easy first game which put them in the "losing" finals the following weekend which they easily won.

It was a disappointing season for all of them because they were undefeated last season and the majority of the team was the same.  Oh well. . .you lose some, you win some. . .it was more that they didn't play to their full capability that I think was a disappointment. . .that just happens some seasons I guess.

Looks like a good kick from Frederick. . .one of the rare pictures I got this season. . .

Marie (#11) had her same wonderful coach this spring season as in the fall.  Coach Nick tried again to bring all girls together to compete against the other U12 co-ed teams.  Unfortunately two seasons in now it's just not working that well.  It's a really, really good group of girls but they struggle against the other teams.  Marie has learned a lot though, and played her heart out which is all that really matters to her, us, and her coach.  She love-love-loves the game and works really hard at it.  It is a lot of fun to watch her play.

Do you notice Marie's beautiful blue eyes in this picture?

 So. . .another season down. . .she is really excited to try out for the middle school team in the fall!  She just tried out for basketball a week or so ago and made that team. . .now we need to find a summer basketball camp to sharpen those skills!

Three weekends ago Thomas's select/travel soccer team played up to U14 in our local rotary tournament.  It was a miserable weekend for soccer (weather-wise).  We were bundled up and, on Mother's Day, we were in the rain!  I watched and took pictures of the first game from here:

They easily won their first game that day, which was fun.  Later that evening they played a second and although it stopped raining it was very, very cold.

<---- This game allowed the team to move on to Sunday morning :)

Sunday was Mother's Day and since it was an 8:00 a.m. game we were able to do that then head to church (the tournament was in town) and then back again for a 1:30 match-up in the finals.





I have *no* pictures from that day. . .it was pouring rain and no one had their cameras out.  At one point in the last game (the championship match) the refs refused to continue citing "dangerous field conditions". . .the game was too close and no one was happy about the call so "they" were somehow able to move the game and finish it at another location at the complex.  The boys ended up coming in 2nd place -- they were competing at the U14 level -- a first for them.  Good job!

The following weekend we traveled to our state D3 tournament.

#16 shot and made this goal -- first one of the game!!!!  His select coaches rarely play him as a forward but did this day and he didn't disappoint -- this was the first of two goals :)  Tom was very sorry to have missed the game.

The two brothers that coach this team:  Dave and Sam.  They never get very riled up. . .this is pretty much their demeanor whether they are up by 6 or down by 6.  In this particular game Thomas's team had a shut-out, beginning the tournament with maximum points.

Relaxing between games. . .it was a HOT day in May but parents brought plenty of shelter for them :)  Thomas is laying down on the ground in the middle.

Alas, they lost this second game 3-4.  We had to wait until 8 p.m. Saturday evening to see if we made it to the final rounds on Sunday.











We made it. . .making it another 4:30 a.m. wake-up call on a weekend but this time the entire family went.

Here we are, facing off in the semi-finals against a Chattanooga team at 8 a.m.  Thomas is 6th from the left.

Well, the look on Thomas's face kind of says it all. . .it was a tough loss.  I think they only scored once?  BUT this team had not been scored on once in the entire tournament so that is saying something, that they got a goal!  It was a short spring season for our team but they will come back stronger than ever, moving up to U14 this fall.  I can't wait!!