Max’s AYSO soccer team won their game today and so has advanced to the semi-finals tomorrow. These games were supposed to be played last weekend but the whole weekend was rained out. We have an 8a game tomorrow. The teams are supposed to check in 45 minutes before the game starts, and so we will be leaving for Camarillo at 6:30a. Yikes.
(Max is number 5, towards the left)
Today’s game was a real nail-biter. In the first quarter the other team scored 2 goals. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters The Vipers did not let them score, and scored 3 goals themselves.
The referee seemed to be making all calls against The Vipers. Coach Jack had his work cut out for him helping the ref to see reason. The ref made our players back up very far from a free kick. Jack reminded him (not so gently) that the rule was 10 yards, so the ref stepped in off and the boys lined up much closer. Many throw-ins were called back (I think 5 total) for our team, but none for the other team. Once, the ref made a call without looking at the line judge who had a flag raised. Coach Jack pointed out to the ref that the line judge had a flag up. After conferring with this line judge, the ref reversed his call.
This back and forth rose to a head at the end of the 3rd quarter when a blue player was off-sides and the ball dribbled into The Vipers’ goal. I don’t know a lot about the rules, but Coach Jack was nearly apoplectic when the ref didn’t call back the goal due to the off-sides. The ref agreed that the player was off-sides, but disagreed with Coach Jack that the player was involved in the play (apparently being involved in the play matters as to whether a foul is called). After a few tense minutes, and Coach Jack throwing down his hat in disgust, the goal was allowed to stand. This set the score at 3 to 3.
The 4th quarter was scoreless for both sides, so the teams went into overtime. Overtime in soccer (at this level) is 2 five minute quarters. After the second quarter, if the score is still tied, there is a shoot-out. The teams went to the shoot-out. 5 players from each team take turns kicking the ball one on one with the goalie. The shoot out ended in a tie, 4 to 4. This leads to a ‘sudden death’ shoot-out. Each team gets a chance to score a goal. If both score, or both miss, then another pair of boys tries to score a goal. If 1 boy scores and the other misses, that is the game. Our first kicker for the sudden death scored a goal, and the shot from the opposing team was successfully blocked! The Vipers won!!!
There are 2 games tomorrow. If we win the first game, we play at noon in the Finals. If we lose the first game, we play at noon for 3rd or 4th place. The first and second place teams from this weekend advance to the Regional tournament which is in Bakersfield at the end of January.
