O-40 SQUANDER EARLY 2-0 LEAD

FALL 6-3 IN FINAL

SSL jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. However, they couldn't hold that lead, nor add much more offense to their meager goal total. Maddox meanwhile, did what they always do, play with patience.

Maddox, after falling behind quickly, early, didn't change their tempo, played with patience & composure, & slowly overcame the deficit. They never did score goals in bunches, but instead, spread 3 goals out over the first half, taking a 3-2 lead at the interval, which they never relinquished, then added 3 more, spread out over the 2nd half, & closed out the championship game with a 6-3 win over the SSL O-40 side.

The Maddox goal scoring could loosely be described as something akin to chinese water torture. A goal here, a goal there, never really pouring on the offense, but enough offense to gain & maintain the lead. In the meantime, SSL was working hard to create some offense of their own, & generally were successful, albeit results were scarce. The Maddox side employed a bend but don't break defense that allowed SSL the attack, but, once they lost the ball, Maddox surged into a counterattack, & ultimately, they were successful in finishing on the SSL end.

So, SSL ends up where they were the previous 3 times in the championship game vs Maddox, & that's on the losing end. Four times to the finals, four times against Maddox, & nothing to show for it. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. However, the future looks bright for SSL. A new session starts next Tuesday & SSL is adding two or three more players, further strengthening the line-up, providing more depth, & hopefully that will get the SSL side over the hump. They hope that next session they'll once again be in the finals, but this time, the outcome will be different.

Following are the final stats & standings for the session. Thanks for reading.

THE INDY TOURNEY

Hot on the heels of a successful trip to Louisville for the annual 6v6 tourney this past April, SSL now gears up for Indy. Same format, only a whole lot hotter. This tourney is always the 3rd weekend of July. This years dates are Saturday, July 18th, & Sunday, July 19th. I'd have to say that, in our previous 10 or so trips to Indy, the average temp at this point in the summer, must have been about 90. Yikes! But, you prepare accordingly. Lots of cold drinks, tents, umbrellas, &, oh yeah, don't forget the sunblock.

I'll need to get the application in by 6/24, so don't lollygag, getting me your $30 tourney fee. As soon as I get the hotel info, I'll pass that along. The projected rosters follow.

Projected Indy Rosters                    7/18 & 7/19, 2009

O-30

1.    Dave Shelton

2.    Casey Walsh

3.    Tony Meadows

4.    Bernard Anic

5.    Sladan Kurtovic

6.    David Hipperson

7.    Jayson Adelsberger

8.    Edin Coralic

9.    Will Suk

10.  Guillermo Cortez

11.  Mondo Fernandez

12.  ?

O-40

1.     Todd Loretta

2.     Tim Kelley

3.     Johnny Pens

4.     Bob Janko

5.     James Ahearn

6.     Steve Rankin

7.     Wally Stokes

8.     Ken Brigden

9.     Mike Hogan

10.   Ronnie Rowden

11.   Michael Hartsook

12.   ?

INDY WARM-UPS

Starting this Sunday, SSL O-30 & O-40 will be playing practice games versus a variety of teams @ Ohlendorf County Park. The location of the park is just off Union. Take I-55 to west on Bayless to south on Union. Just before Union crosses over I-55, turn right on Spring. The park is on your left. Start time is 4pm.

So, take this opportunity to get some work in outside, on the grass & get acclimated to playing in the heat. There are only 5 Sundays before the Indy tourney. See you Sunday.

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	STEVE RANKIN		6	10	8	28
	JOHNNY PENS		8	8	6	22
	BOB JANKO		8	8	3	19
	KEN BRIGDEN		6	6	3	15
	JIM AHEARN		8	4	3	11
	TIM KELLEY		6	4	2	10
	JOE BEHR		4	1	3	5
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG		3	2	0	4
	MIKE HARTSOOK		3	1	1	3
	MIKE HOGAN		1	0	1	1
	DAVID SHELTON		7	0	0	0
	WALLY STOKES		3	0	0	0
	MARTY ISSA		1	0	0	0
	JOHN BOKERN		2	0	0	0
	DUCKY MAURER		0	0	0	0
	TODD LORETTA		0	0	0	0
	JOHN KOZUSCEK		0	0	0	0
	PHIL MALONEY		0	0	0	0

Date			Location
Tue 4/21 7:35 PM	L 4-6	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 4/28 8:30 PM	W 8-5	at Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 5/5 9:25 PM	W 5-4	at Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 5/12 9:25 PM	W 7-4	Vintage Utd 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 5/19 8:30 PM	W 12-4	Vetta 40+ BLUE	Concord, Field 3
Tue 5/26 7:35 PM	L 1-2	Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 6/2 7:35 PM	T 4-4	Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 6/9 7:35 PM	L 3-6	at Maddox 40+	Concord, Field 3