U11 Girls Kingdom Kickers -

Steve Abdo

Welcome Kickers Fans!

KINGDOM CUP - Sept. 4-6

After some good practices Steve and Chad had the girls ready to play and they entered play in the Kingdom Cup with a whirl. First up was Rush Central. The girls jumped out quick and strong - found the back of the net often - and with an on-the-ball defense, Rush Central fell to the Kickers 9-0. Next up was Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Black. GRCJ proved a more competitive challenge but the girls stepped up to it and with some good passing, a pressuring defense, and stout goal-keeping, the kickers prevailed and posted a 3-1 victory. Way to go girls!! On to the semi-finals where the Kickers squared off with Southwest Michigan. The girls came out flying! The defense denied SW time and again and sent the ball back up the field. On both the offensive and defensive ends the girls won the 50/50 balls and turned to the attack. With our goal-keepers again shutting them out, and our attackers putting the points up the girls rolled to a 7-0 win. The Kickers moved into the finals and faced the other unbeaten team - Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Gold. Both teams played their hearts out! Our girls fought hard for every ball and every inch of the field in a very physical game. There was no room for mistakes and every errant pass or extended dribble was seized on by the opposition and turned back the other way. It was a defensive struggle with neither team able to score. At the end of regulation time the score stood 0-0 and the girls got ready for the shoot-out. With coaches, teammates, and parents watching, one by one, strikers faced keepers. The pressure was intense but our girls stepped up to the challenge and traded goals with GRCJ. Great shots! Great saves! It came down to the final shot where the Kickers came up short - just barely. GRCJ came out on top and our girls placed second. It was a great game and a great tourney for them. Way to go girls!!

WMYSA - FALL SEASON

9/12 - The Kickers opened their fall season play with Red Arrow. They overwhelmed them from the start. Playing fast and smart they jumped out quick and never looked back. The defense held Red Arrow against the mid-field line and turned the ball back up field time and again where the Kicker attackers pushed the ball to the box and put it in the back of the net. The girls posted a 10-0 win.

9/20 - Next up was the Force Attack from Plainwell. The girls seemed off and a scrappy Force team played them to a 1-1 tie. They had several opportunities to rack up some more points, but just couldn't put the game away. We scored right at the end off a corner kick but the ref indicated that time had already expired. Bummer! The girls kept right at it to the very end and we just ran out of time.

9/26 - And over to Marshall-Gallihugh where the Kickers put together a complete game of good passing, swift attacks, stingy defense, and lock-out goal-keeping. The girls really stepped it up and took it to em! Marshall played a hard good game but were no match for the Kicker's intensity and the girl's all-around good performance resulted in a 7-0 victory. Way to go Kickers!

9/27 - Indiana Invaders. We traveled down to Indiana ready for a tough opponent - and they were. A physical, hard-fought game. The girls stayed together and hung tough taking it to the Invaders on offense and standing firm on defense. Great keeper play! Many heart-stopping hold-your-breath moments till the very end as the girls tried to hold on to a one goal lead. As time wound down with the Kickers still ahead, the players, coaches and parents felt a win coming our way. The ref had added time for injury, and on a corner kick, after regulation time had expired, a "hands" call set up a penalty kick. One-on-one. She made the shot and we left Indiana with a 1-1 tie. The girls played as hard as they could for as long as they could, so much heart and desire! Good play girls!!

10/11 - Indiana rematch. The Invaders came to town and the Kickers returned them home with a loss! Great game! The girls opened strong - playing like they wanted it. They took it to Indiana and never let up. Great defense!! Indiana did not have a single break-away or one-on-one with our keepers. Our girls met the ball and their players and turned them back time after time, frustrating the Invader attackers and sending the ball back the other way. The girls passed well and kept attacking deep into Indiana's territory taking the play down to their end of the field, putting the pressure on their defense. In the first half, we scored on a corner kick, flooding the box and coming away with an excellent strike to the back of their net. Another score in the second half really kicked the pressure up a notch for the Invaders. Our girls packed in on defense, swarming the ball and denying Indiana even a glimmer of clear net. As time wound down, with our defense stepped up and the offense still pushing the ball hard, a victory seemed moments away. No last minute chances for the Invaders and the girls celebrated a well deserved 2-0 win. The girls played an outstanding game! Way to go Kickers!!

FISHERS HALLOWEEN CLASSIC - Oct. 17-18
The girls traveled down to Fishers, Indiana for FSC's annual Halloween tourney and had a great time! We were down a player - she was feeling really uccky - we missed you!! They played well through the cold - a little welcomed sunshine here and there - and through the "frozen tundra" of Sunday morning posting 3 wins and a tie. Way to go Kickers!! The girls opened tournament play against FSC 99G White at noon on Saturday. They brought a strong defense and an attacking offense and won 3-0. Later that day we played the Greenfield Strikers. The Kickers were really on it - again, tough defense, good passing - an all around good game. The girls won 5-0. Sunday morning...8 a.m., frost on the ground and chilly!! The girls overcame the cold conditions, slippery footing and slick ball, and posted a 1-0 win against FC Pride 99 Select Red. On to the championship match where the Kickers squared off against the other unbeaten team. Indy Rev Excel Storm. Tough team, tough game, and the girls played just as tough! They gave it everything they had left after a long weekend of fun and games. The Kickers traded goals with the Storm and regulation time ended on a 1-1 tie. The championship was decided by goals scored and our girls placed 2nd. Excellent play through difficult conditions, way to go girls!

* this was the first goal - in play - scored on our girls this season! Amazing "team" defense!!!