’91 Black

Game 1 vs Cypress Elite (0-0 draw)
 
The game was extremely hot, possibly 100 degrees at kickoff.  Cypress from California  seemed more acclimated to the heat early in the game and put WPFC under some pressure.  Cypress played in a 3-5-2 and had a couple of quality chances in the 1st half, but was unable to find the back of the net thanx to some strong team defending and a couple of excellent keeper saves.  Towards the end of the 1st half WPFC began to find it’s rhythm as a team and went into half with the games momentum. Moving into the 2nd half the team changed it’s shape to better deal with Cypress’s style and it paid off with the WPFC squad maintaining more of the possession and being the more dangerous side. Right before the end of the 2nd half WPFC created a chance to win the game, but the opponents goalie made a spectacular save and the game ended 0-0.  The sidelines of the game were full of college coaches and the team started slow, but finished strong. 18’s play Lonestars white today.

Game 2 vs. Lonestars from Texas (2-2 draw)
 
Off the kickoff we forgot to play and gave up a goal 27 seconds into the contest.  The Texas team played a 4-3-3 and pressured our backs a great deal, but we found gaps and holes in their defense and had too many chances to count.  On a counter after we had controlled the game we gave up a soft goal and found ourselves down 2-0 in a game we had thoroughly out played our opponents.  Soccer is funny like that and the team/coaches felt we could bounce back. 15 minutes into the 2nd half we scored a great goal on a cut-back pass from a forward to our target forward.  The goal jacked the team up and we took complete control of the match.  Shot after shot we were denied. After having several corners we still found ourselves down a goal.  With one minute left in the game we scored off an out swinging cross that was blasted into the net.  On the kick off we won the ball and missed a chance to win the game with no time left.  The kids showed great character today! 

Game 3 vs. Baton Rouge Soccer Club (Louisiana State Champs) (1-0 win)
 
The game had the feel of a state cup tournament game and was full of vicious tackles.  The ladies in White and Black were able to break-down their opponents backline and were unlucky to not be up early in the contest.  Going into halftime the game was deadlocked at zeroes.  In the 2nd half WPFC increased their pressure on the Louisiana state champs and were finally rewarded with a goal in the 70th minute when Marissa Munson found Hayley Shaw inside the 18 who beat the keeper to put WPFC up 1-0.  Neither team was able to find the back of the net the remaining 10 minutes and the game ended 1-0 WPFC.  The outstanding group of girls finished the tournament with a record of 1-0-2, but more importantly grew as a team and showed great character as a squad.  Awesome Job!

’92 Black

Game 1 vs Lonestar White (1-0 win)
 
This game was a 6:30 game start, which really made the atmosphere more pleasant.  The temperature at kick off was bearable, unlike the 18’s match.  WPFC came out strong and was the aggressor throughout the entire match.  Halfway through the first half Hayley Ward collected a cross from her teammate and scored a quality goal from 10 out.  The goal injected some additional energy to both teams and the games speed of play increased immediately after the goal. During the 2nd half WPFC created numerous scoring chances and the Lonestar keeper did everything in her power to keep the game close.  The game ended 1-0 WPFC.  Winning their first game was an excellent way to start off the tournament for this strong side.  

Game 2 vs. FC Dallas (1-0 win)

Welcome to the heat!  100degrees  at kick off made for fun. On top of this, we played on a sand trap.  The middle of the field had sand all over it.  We came out and played well from the start.  We missed a sitter in the box and should have been up 1-0.  About 5 minutes later we scored a great goal when a center back won a 50/50 ball in the mid-field and played it to a wide mid who linked up with a forward, who made a diagonal run and dribbled the end-line and found our other forward for a 10 yard goal.  Almost right after that we had a 5-6 pass sequence and scored an upper-v goal that was called back for a bogus offside’s call.  At halftime we were feeling good and of course ......HOT.  In the 2nd half we subbed players out a great deal and created at least two 1v1’s with the keepers and were stoned-walled.  The game ended 1-0 WPFC.  Tomorrow the kids will play for an undefeated weekend. 

Game 3 vs. Rancho Santa Fe Attack (0-0 draw)

 
Both squads met after a grueling weekend of soccer in the humid Texas air.  WPFC came out the more polished looking team and missed several quality chances in the first half.  Ignoring blisters, fatigue and injuries, the team continued to push the tempo against their California opponent during the 2nd half of the game.  The WPFC side missed two 1v1 opportunities with the Attack goalie, but were unable to finish either chance.  The Attack side played a very physical brand of soccer and the game was full of intense 50/50 tackles that garnered the attention of a handful of college coaches.  With very little time left in the contest WPFC missed a chance to win the game when their left winger got behind the Attack’s defense and missed a laser of a shot off the far post.  The game ended 0-0 and WPFC was forced to settle for a tie.  The WPFC U17 Black team finished the tournament 2-0-1 with 3 straight shutouts and continued their shutout streak to 10 games.  Way to go team!