CONGRATULATIONS BOCA Jr.s

The first tournament of the new soccer season is over and -despite some battles, bruises and blisters, you are ready to forge ahead into the summer tournaments as a TEAM!

Backdrop to the Tournament:

Playing up a full age group(which most of these boys have been doing for years), the Boca’s had their work cut out for them against some very solid teams: one that performed well in the Gold division in the State last year, and another who did so in the Silver. In addition to playing up against some good teams, the Boca’s were also playing under this team name for the first time, and doing so without their regular coach.

Day 1, game 1:

It was a beautiful weekend for soccer (many of us Boca Jr fans have the sunburns to prove it!) and the Memorial Day Tournament began with the boys coming out Saturday morning looking ready and excited to play a team they knew to be tough.
Facing the Woodburn Fires, the boys seemed initially focused, but after a quick attack & goal by the Fires, the Boca’s didn’t look quite like the team we all know them to be. However, a solid showing by our brave and trusty goalies, supported by strong defense and several very close attempts drilled by our tireless offensive front, kept the game to a respectable 5-0. Many of the boys felt proud of the score, realizing they had reduced the number of goals this team scored on them to half that of last year. A testament to the individual and collective importance of each member on the team.

Woodburn AFC Fires 5- EMFC Boca Jr’s. 0

Day 1, game 2:

The second game was against the local Amazon United squad (Team Manager Mitch’s fierce & friendly intercity Crest-kid rivals) where the boys hoped to make a strong showing. AU, a tall, fast, talented team of local 5th grade boys, many of whom members of the squad had played against before, proved too much for our boys- despite several good runs. Had it not been for the tenacity of our great goalies, and some fearless, fantastic saves by each one of them (who put the springs in Aidan’s boots??) the two goal deficit may have been far more.

Yet the boys never gave up, each fighting for possession until the final whistle blew. The team struggled with playing ‘their game’, but gave glimpses of what may come.

Amazon United 2- Boca Jr’s. 0

Day 2, game 1:

Sunday’s pregame arrival began at 8:20 am and was far more representative of this tourney’s unofficial nickname as the ‘cold and rainy’ then the day before. Welcomed with wet pitches from the nights rain, damp air hovering, and gray skies overhead the boys seemed well-rested and ready to play the Portland based NWSSSA Penarol.
As the game began, the sky cleared up and the onset of another beautiful day seemed to offer all of us optimism about the days’ adventure.

The boys began with good placement on the field, played solid defense and had several strong attacks. However, the absence of a left-side of the field (well, it seemed as if every Boca thought it was gone) resulted in some great crosses by the Penarol which left us scrambling to catch up. Unfortunately for the Boca’s, the Penarol had such success with their powerful crosses, they just kept doing it.

Yet our Boca’s played hard, especially Jose who, as goalie, valiantly defended the goal from the continued assault. Together, the team continued to have some great defensive saves, offensive attacks, and strong effort- but just couldn’t shut down the crisp, calculated, sharp passes of the Penarol. Fighting to the end, it was clear that the Boca’s are a team that is full of 16 talented boys who just won’t quit.

NWSSSA Penarol 7- EMFC Boca Jr’s. 0

Day 2, game 2:

Hoping to see the team coalesce into the strong unit we know they will be, we gathered for the final game- to decide the 3rd/4th place in this 4 team division of the tournament. In facing the Amazon Utd, our beloved team manager inspired the boys with a thrilling ‘incentive’(read bribe): snow cones for everyone after a winning game! Perhaps it was the wisdom of the ages working through him, perhaps the boys had worked out how to play together as a team, perhaps they felt like they had something to prove- maybe a bit of each- regardless, for the first time all weekend they looked like a team on a mission to win!

First Half:
Coming out strong, the Boca’s dominated the first half as a team. With sharp passes, calling for the ball, positive support -both verbally and physically, good placement and use of the field, leading passes and attacking possessions the Boca’s repeatedly worked the ball up the field. Working as a single unit to move the ball down the field, the Boca’s shared selflessly with each other to get the ball in striking range when Brendon incurred a foul, yielding a PK.

Despite Josiah’s well-aimed ball, the keeper made a great save. Yet, the miss in the PK didn’t slow down the Boca’s, and they continued their aggressive play. Every player on the team seemed riled up and unwilling to get beaten to the ball. From the sidelines it seemed as if all the boys had been collectively energized, playing cohesively, aggressively, and in synch with each other.

Finally, about 1/2 way through the first half the boys got one! With a great series of passes beginning in the defensive end and weaving into the open spots unmanned by the AU
the boys crossed into the middle, where Hunter finished it off with a beautiful touch into goal! Yeah Boca’s! score: 1-0

Yet, the AU were not going to go quietly. The fun had only just begun. The Boca’s increased their aggressive play, fight for the ball, and the intensity with which they attacked- in equal doses to the AUs’. With the ball in their defensive end, the Boca’s led another charge- beginning with a great save by Ryan in goal (one of many great saves!) with a crisp ball to the defensive squad [on/off comprised of stoppers/sweepers/ d’s: Ben, Dana,Jay, Caden, Aidan, Alex] who moved it brilliantly up the side past midfield to midfielders [on/off comprised of Brendon, Ethan, Jose, Juan, Josiah] who moved it up to strikers [on/off comprised of Hunter & Gio].

Through the sea of boys someone shot (no idea who it was) but it was blocked by the goalie and bounced into/off a defensive player into a perfect position down the center where attacking Jose finished it off with a beautiful arching ball soaring over the goalies head! YEAH Boca’s!

2nd Half:
With the score Boca Jr’s. 2 -Amazon Utd 0, the boys seemed to relax a bit as the 2nd half began. Unfortunately, the slight lull in their collective intensity yielded a quick goal by the AU’s. Up by only 1 with most of the second half remaining, the boys began to rally. However, so did the AU’s and they answered their first goal with a quick drive back down the pitch with an arching ball no goalie could have blocked.

Realizing they weren’t set yet, the boys’ pushed back with everything they had, as evident by the fouls called upon them- the boys were increasing both their drive and their physicality. Gritty determination fueled them as the entire team worked to keep the ball in the offensive end- and finally a breakaway pass, attempted on several previous balls but thwarted each time- yielded fantastic results as the ball was passed by acute defenders around the backfield and then crisply sent forward where Hunter awaited hungrily to finish with a goal. The one v.one attack left the AU’s goalie vulnerable, and despite his efforts, the ball soared into the net!

Boca’s 3, Amazon Utd 2.

With only minutes left in the game, the AU were not willing to give up- a tough and determined team, they continued trying to work their ball into our defensive end.
With only minutes left in the game, an AU offensive attacker received a pass sent behind the Boca defensive squad from in front of half-field- they had an on-sides breakaway! The AU player, moving like lightening, had his own 1v.1 on our second half goalie (Aidan). With our entire team streaming downfield in a flurry, the player squared off on Aidan, firing off a shot while we parents held our collective breaths.

As Aidan caught the ball, the Boca’s erupted in cheers (something about snow-cones..)- the beginning of their journey to becoming a team, properly begun.
Boca Jr’s 3- Amazon Utd 2.

Epilogue:

Okay, okay, it’s a bit wordy I’ll admit (any guess who wrote it now?)- but what intrigue, what drama! But wait,it’s not over yet…

After the snow-cone freenzy and team dispersal, the brilliant & soccer-savvy Cheryl Brost thought to look on the results board to see the final results. Surprisingly enough, Kidsports confirmed: the EMFC Boca Jr’s (scoreless until their final game), managed to finish 3rd in the U11 Gold Division of the Memorial Day Tournament, with a team plaque to prove it! (No Mitch, we won’t parade it through Crest, but we’ll help you make a life-size print out)

So, after arm-wrestling Cheryl for who would take it home until Tuesday practice (okay, okay we didn’t, she’s far too gracious), we decided to take a photo of the team plaque and include it here for all to see. The real thing will be at practice on Tuesday, and we’ll take a team photo around it then.

Great work this weekend Boca Jr’s, 4 games later we’re on our way as a TEAM