LOST WEEKEND.....

IN INDY!!!

Disappointing is the only word that comes to mind to describe last weekends 6v6 tourney in Indianapolis. The team we took was one of the strongest we've taken in recent years, but the 2 wins & 2 losses for the weekend, deflated any high hopes we had.

Traditionally a slow starter, the SSL side played their 1st game against the Kickers, an excellent team from Louisville. Predictably falling behind in the 1st half 3-0, SSL rallied in the 2nd to tie the game, & dominated play, only to lose in the final minute of play on an own goal. The Kickers went on to win the 14 team Over 30 Division with a 6-0 win in the Finals. How ironic is that. But, the ironies didn't stop there.

After that tough 1st game loss, SSL easily handled the Flying Burrito Brothers, the local host team, 4-0 to square their record at 1-1. The 3rd game, against another local team, the Coffee Crew, was a crazy shoot-out, with SSL prevailing 6-5. So, SSL ended the day with a respectable 2-1 record. Now it was off to the Sunday playoffs, & the confidence was running high following their improving style of play. SSL was primed to get to the Finals & win it, & bring home the trophy. There was only one small problem. A 1st game loss on Sunday knocked them out!

In an ugly game against EKSTRA F.C., SSL went up 1-0. Then tied 1-1. Down 2-1. Tied 2-2. Late in the 2nd half, fell behind 3-2, couldn't recover & that was the final score. Out of the tourney at 2-2. Disappointing.

I stayed around to watch the rest of the games. It's always fun to watch the playoffs. You win, you advance. You lose, you're out. It's great to watch the ebb & flow of emotion in those types of circumstances. As I mentioned earlier, there were more ironies then our 1st game loss to the eventual champ.

Each of the 2 teams we defeated, won their 1st round games. We lost ours. The team we lost to in game 3, lost their 1st round game. The team that beat them ended up in the finals, where they lost 6-0 to the team we played in the 1st round, whom we lost to 4-3 on an own goal. So, did you follow that? Just ironic, that's all.

When I spoke with the players following the final loss, everyone was in agreement, albeit stating it differently. One said we just didn't click. Another said we were either on or off & yet another said it was a lack of chemistry. Any way you look at it, we under performed. It cost us. As I said, disappointing.

Indy was a good time, except for the tourney. Well, not really. Win or lose, a soccer road trip is a good time. In spite of our results, this was no different. A good time was had by all. See you next year!

Scoring: Mondo, 5; Little Hip, 3; Michael & Chief, 2 each; Pens, Tony & Hoags, 1 each.

Tourney Team: Mike Hogan; Johnny Pens; Michael Poropat; Tony Meadows; Dave Shelton; Mondo Martinez; Steve Rankin; David Hipperson; Chris Carpenter & Guillermo Martinez.