|
|
 |
2008 and 2009 X-Treme is Now a Fond Memory
The time has ended for the 2008/2009 Massapequa X-Treme. The tryouts have concluded and the team is broken-up. Many of the girls will now be on separate teams. Whether they are Lady Thunder, Lightning, Cyclones or still the X-Treme, they were all very special. The punishing defense, the opportunistic goal scoring or the big save in net, these little ladies came together and proved to everyone they were a force. They were at first called the "D" Team, but none of them were ever in fourth place. As a team they proved that the whole were better then its parts. Next year there will be a new coach and new players for the X-Treme. No matter who they play for, they will always in their hearts an X-Treme
|
X-TREME WINS MASSAPEQUA TOURNAMENT!!!!!!!
The X-Treme climbed to the top of Mohawk Mountain this weekend and conquered all in the Massapequa Lincoln Page Memorial Day Weekend Tournament.
It started off with a bang and the X-Treme came out flying. The first opponent was the Great Neck Jaguars. The X-Treme ran off with an initial lead of two to nil in the first half. Sam and then Kaitlyn B each delivered a goal assisted by Katie D and Sam. The X-Treme still firing on all cylinders came out and knocked another goal in thanks again to Kaitlyn B. Tough in goal was Kaitlyn L allowing only one score and stopping the Jags on a few including coming out of net and delivering the ball out of trouble. Sam put the cherry on the sundae and knocked in the fourth goal. Second half assists were awarded to Alexis and Hannah. Could this be the start of something special?
The next game was very chippy. The Jericho Avalanche decided that they would make the Broad St Bullies of the 70’s look like Torville and Dean. (Not Coach Dean, he would never be compared to a figure skater!) Elbows were thrown and even some sneak punching but this did not take the X-Treme off their game. The X-Treme took a one nothing lead thanks to a goal by Kaitlyn B on the wing with the assist by Sam.
There are players who's efforts that do not make it that much on the scoreboard. The one player on the X-Treme is little Jackie. On many occassions and throughout the tournament Jackie has stopped the rush or annoyed the other team into frustration. She is without a doubt the little fireplug of the X-Treme!
The netminding was suburb thanks to Marina whose booming punts that could even make Ray Guy (Former punter for the Oakland Raiders of the 70’s) squirm. In the second half, the “Corner Kick Queen” Kaitlyn L dropped one in, Gabby got it, delivered it to Hannah and she blasted it in. Two nil, X-Treme win!!!!
At this point Coach Frank decided to place the challenge. Mr. Softee would not be good enough. Taking a cue from Mr. Delicurdi at Unqua School, if the X-Treme were to win the tournament, Coach Frank would get a Mohawk.
The X-Treme players were pulled out of their beds by 6:00 am on Sunday to play the next game. (This is way early even by Christmas morning standards) Their next opponent was the Bethpage X-treme. Yes the same team they must have played at least 36 times this season. This game was also physical, not as dirty but still physical. In the middle of the first half Kaitlyn L and Marina performed a beautiful “give and go” and Marina knocked a high screaming shot past the Bethpage keeper. In the second half, Bethpage evened the score. At this point Massapequa woke-up, Grace in net knocked down the next couple of attempts and Massapequa took control. Alexis carried the ball forward and delivered it to Hannah who put the game away. The Massapequa’s win and now to the finals.
Unlike the Bethpage X-treme, there was little known about this opponent. The Gotham Girls from the big city decided to invade the “burbs”. They came off an impressive 9 to nil victory over a Sachem team and beat the HBC Wanderers 1-0 who the X-Treme beat in a shootout of a Waldbaums Cup game. Coach Frank decided to go with Hannah in net. He started out with his traditional back and forward lines. However the X-Treme suddenly found themselves down three to nothing at the end of the first half. The backline went soft and the front liners were getting beat to the ball. Hannah despite her efforts was left alone to fend for herself. The X-Treme never had the reputation as the comeback kids, but that was soon to change. Coach Frank made sudden line changes and brought his traditional backliner Kaitlyn L up. This move forced more speed on the front line; suddenly the scope of the game changed. The Gotham Girls began to run out of gas. With renewed energy the X-Treme forced the Gotham Girls into the same mistakes that the X-Treme were making in the first half. Sam then knocked in the first goal on an in- direct kick with help from Alison. The X-Treme then started to believe. Kaitlyn B on a pass by Kaitlyn L scrambled in and got the second goal in less than two minutes. The tide had changed, the pendulum had swung- I know lots of superlatives but why not? The X-Treme had more work to do and they did it. Less than five minutes later Alexis crossed a beautiful pass over to Grace who kicked a high booming blast over the Gotham keeper. THE SCORE WAS TIED!!!!! The Gotham girls decided to push back, but were thwarted by the backliners on at least three attempts. One however got by and the most important defensive play of the game was executed by the frontliner Grace. A Gotham girl had a clear shot on net and Grace threw her body in front and the ball went wide. Later on Sam delivered a goal kick to Jackie, who sends one up to a regular backliner Gabby who played the frontline on this shift. One then two touches A BLAST!! A SCORE!!!!! The Gotham netminder down! The X-Treme girls on the bench were wondering if it counted. IT DID!! X-Treme takes the lead 4 to 3. No strangers to one goal leads the X-Treme put the clamp on and held on tight. X-TREME WINS,,,, THE X-TREME WINS!!!!!!!!!
At the awards ceremony Coach Frank was treated to the chant of Mohawk-Mohawk!!!!!
Yes baby there is only one more hill to climb and it is Mt. Mohawk!!!!!
|
Coach Frank taking a well deserved rest!!!
|
A Proud Coach Frank
|
Katie proudly displaying her 1st place trophy
|
Kaitlyn B & Hannah V
|
The Players check out the new patch
|
TO THE CHAMPS!!!!!
|
Sam & Kaitlyn with the hardware!!
|
Getting Bit by the Bugs (and the Pumas)
May 10, 2009 --
The Massapequa X-Treme have fallen victims to the bug- The injury and the flu bug. There were too many tired legs due to the fact that the X-Treme were down three of their players yesterday. Again playing on a sloppy track and very little subs, the X-Treme lost 3 to 1 to the Pumas of East Meadow. Marina knocked in the lone X-Treme goal and Grace played brilliant in net. The X-Treme are hoping all will be healthy by next week so that they can get back to their winning ways.
|
"A Rain Dampened Ending"
The Massapequa X-Treme bowed out in a heartbreaking loss in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Waldbaums Cup. Facing a mighty foe and heavy rain the X-Treme held tough against the visitors from Brentwood. Despite many chances by both teams, the X-Treme were thwarted in overtime due to a high screaming shot by the Brentwood forward. Outstanding play for the X-Treme was Gabby on the backline and Kaitlyn L. in net who held Brentwood scoreless throughout the game in regulation. Setting up the forwards was Katie D who showed determination and grit. It was one of those games that one team had to win amd one had to lose. Brentwood deserves much credit in this evenly played match-up
|
X-Treme Getting All Tied-Up!
May 3, 2009 --
In last two league games the Massapequa X-Treme is now developing this new habit of tying up games. The first one last week was a road game against the Oceanside Hot Shots. Down two players and playing in very warm conditions the X-Treme came out flying. The first goal was by Sam who scored a penalty kick as a result of an Oceanside penalty in the box. (See the video-pretty cool if I say so myself!). The next goal was by Marina who slammed a hard shot past the Hot Shot keeper. At the start of second half Kaitlyn B delivered a pass to Alexis with an easy tap-in and the X-Treme looked like it was going to be a rout. All of a sudden with the X-Treme defense wearing down, Oceanside found new life. Number 23 of Oceanside began to get open and she became a one girl wrecking crew. One goal, two goals and then three within five minutes. Coach Frank had to make sudden adjustments to halt the tidal wave. The team settled down and tried to push one in and could not. The game ended in a 3 to 3 tie.
The X-Treme then took on the Syosset Jazz with some home cooking at Walker St. Again, the X-Treme began to dominate play in the Jazz zone. In the first half with the X-Treme taking shot after shot at the Jazz keeper, Marina buried one in past the Jazz netminder. The second half however the Jazz changed the volume and started to put on the heat. As a result of a screen the Jazz knocked in the tying goal. After the Jazz score it became a back and forth struggle. The X-Treme and the Jazz both got opportunities but were both unable to connect. The final score 1 to 1.
|
WHAT A WIN!!!!!!
April 18, 2009 --
There were the games and then there were games!!!!!! It combined the Super Bowl 42 win by the Giants when David Tyree caught the ball on his helmet, Bill Laettner's shot at the end of the game in 92 to thrust Duke over Kentucky, the 1984 overtime goal by Ken Morrow of the Islanders over the Rangers to capture the playoff victory and in 2003 when Aaron Boone hit the game winning home run over the Red Sox. It was dramatic 10 fold. This was the U-10 Waldbaums Cup game that will go down as one of the great ones!!!!!!
The Massapequa X-Treme won the game in a dramatic shoot-out over the HBC Wanderers!!!!
It started off with a very scary moment. Hannah in net charged the ball but came short of the goal line. The ball squeaked by her and the ball appeared to be going in, suddenly Hannah got on her feet and dived dramatically to save the goal!!!
The rest of the half was nip and tuck, nip and tuck with both teams coming just short of goal chances. In the beginning of the second half the Wanderers got the first one in. This time however, the X-Treme was determined not to let this one get by. The offense started to jell and then a pass came along and Grace squeezed one by the Wanderer keeper. The game was tied!!!!!!
Sam had an apparent in-direct kick negated because a Wanderer had failed to touch the ball. In the overtime, both teams played cat and mouse with neither team connecting then the shoot-out began. Sam got hers in. HBC countered. Marina in, HBC in. Jordanna in HBC a Hannah Stop- NO GOAL!!! Kaitlyn L in, HBC in. Jackie went wide and then HBC in. Katie D miss then HBC wide and it was down to Hannah. Hannah got hers and then it was HBC versus Hannah. HBC shot it directly at Hannah who stopped it. Game over X-Treme wins!!!!!!
|
A Second Lost in the Big Rock
In what became a bizzare ending the X-Treme lost a heartbreaker to the RVC Rave Saturday. In very windy and cold conditions the X-Treme once again dominated play but were held at bay due to strong goaltending and timely defense. The X-Treme tried to pop the ball past the RVC keeper but were thwarted on at least 6 occassions. In the middle of the second half a mad scramble took place and the the RVC forward popped the ball in. The X-Treme tried to score but were stopped.
The last rush the X-Treme pushed the ball into the RVC net area and Sam took the shot. Just as the ball screamed past the RVC netminder, the referee called the game over. The X-Treme will play on 4/18/09 against HBC to advance in the next round of the Waldbaums Cup.
|
Its Mass over Man!!!!
March 28, 2009 --
The "neutral zone trap" or "bend don't break" Massapequa X-Treme were back at it again. It was a copycat of their usual style of winning; no goals against! For almost the entire game the X-Treme did not allow the Manhasset Rock"n"Raptors to penetrate the back half of the field.
The first score came early in the first half; Jackie delivered a pretty pass to Sam who bounced a ball high above the Rock"n"Raptor netkeeper. The X-Treme coasted along most of the half controlling the play and then the Rock"n"Raptors woke up from the ice age (or the Disco Era) and had a couple of good scoring opportunities. Jordanna in net was equal to the task and stopped the team from the Miracle Mile. The Rock"n"Raptors started out strong with renewed confidence in the 2nd half, however the X-Treme collectively put down the hammer. Kaitlyn B stole a ball in the Rock"n"Raptors end and made the score 2 to nil. A couple of minutes later it was the “Kaitlyn to Kaitlyn” (L to B) pass that put the game away. Kaitlyn B notched her second goal of the game!! The X-Treme’s next battle will be a road game next Saturday against the Rockville Centre Rave.
|
X-TREME (MASSAPEQUA) ADVANCE IN FIRST ROUND OF WALDBAUMS CUP!!!!!!!!
March 21, 2009 --
There was no rust in these girls today. After months at "The Bubble" Practice at the Rough Riders and a couple of tournaments sprinkled in, the Massapequa X-Treme were back to its brand of efficient soccer. Some may call it boring but lets just call it winning. The X-Treme played a familar foe in the first round of the Waldbaums Cup, the Bethpage X-Treme! Again Massapequa won by the same score 2 to nil. Sam scored the first goal on a breakaway and then it was followed up by a goal by Jackie who received a nice pass from Gabby on the back line. Grace again played supurb goal. The defense once again controlled the backline of Bethpage to cut down any scoring opportunities. By the way, winning is never boring!
|
The "X-Treme" Team 2008/09 Season
Gabriella, Kaitlyn B, Grace, Katie, Marina, Kaitlyn L, Alison, Jordanna, Alexis, Jaclyn, Samantha & Hannah
| |
|
