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2008 Cyclone Year in Review
At the Cyclone's very first team function, we said that we hoped members of the team would approach the season with the idea that:
"The most important and memorable moments that will come from playing Select Soccer will not come from wins or losses or individual achievements; they will be a result of accomplishments and activities achieved as a team and friends."
In looking at the year in review, it seems the Cyclone came to understand that message loud and clear.
It started with a small sided game on a cold, windy April day at Stonehouse Park and wrapped on a beautiful day in Morgan Hill, with the Cyclone all smiles after winning a bruiser of a last game.
In between those events were 75-80 practices (some in cold nights under THE light and headlights, others in mornings to avoid the lingering smoke of the summer), 36 games, another 10-12 scrimmages and lots of development, fun and tons of memories.
Spring
A first year team, new coaches and 16 unfamiliar teammates required that the Cyclone get right to work. With a focus on TEAM and learning what effort and dedication is required to play at a higher level, the Cyclone practiced hard in April and May and even found time to hold its very first scrimmages as a team.
I can speak for the coaches, but the players and parents probably felt the same way, we were nervous at that first scrimmages as the Cyclone played together for the first time. After a shaky 1-0 first half, the Cyclone exploded to score six more in the second – and everyone on the sidelines felt a lot better about what we were working to build.
As we headed towards the summer, a few more scrimmages showed we had what it would take to be a competitive team in year one, and most importantly, we were growing as a team and were having fun.
Summer
After a week off for many of our players to graduate into 7th grade, the Cyclone got back to business for the dog days of summer. The Coerver Camp and more scrimmages in June continued to show progress on the field by the Cyclone.
However, the summer was probably most important for how the Cyclone grew as teammates. In early July, the Cyclone held it “Summer Bash” Camp, with three days of Training Camp, team building, overnight stays and scrimmages. Although there were lots of soccer memories from that week, the most important events were off the field: Remember the frustrations and how the team worked through them on their own? Remember the movies and teambuilding? Remember the parents playing Rock Band. Remember leaving camp understanding what it would take as teammates for the team to succeed?
The remainder of July was focused on preparing for our first “real” test, the seeding tournament.
Success at the Seeding Tourney
Coming out in our “winner whites,” the Cyclone headed to Vacaville for our first real test as a team. The team came focused and looked like an experienced team, not a first-year squad. In three shortened games, the Cyclone outscored its opponents 10-0 and were bumped up a division for the regular season.
August Tournaments
With the seeding tournament success behind us, the Cyclone took on the challenge of playing in U14 brackets in the Novato and Elk Grove Sun Stroke tournaments. Our first “overnight” tournament in Novato was definitely a learning experience. In our first game, we played a tough Fair Oaks team to a 0-3 loss and dropped our second game 0-1, despite outshooting the opponent by 20 shots. Our first lesson in valuing every shot opportunity!
In the Sunday finale, we scored our first goal in a tournament – remember about 25 seconds into the second half? But lost to go 0-3.
At the Sunstroke, we won our first tournament game and played a terrific game against Sonoma Xtreme. We finished 1-2 and learned that not every bump is a foul!
Regular Season
After a tough August tournament run, the Cyclone approached the regular season with optimism. The first game was on a hot September Saturday in Marysville against the Azzurri Xtreme – a 1-0 win. A great start that demonstrated several key characteristics of the Cyclone – stingy defense, exceptional goal keeping and the creation, but not always the finishing, of goal scoring opportunities.
After 10 games throughout the region – including a rare rain game against East Sacramento – the Cyclone finished the Metro League Season 7-1-2 with a District 6 best +22 goal differential (27 goals for, only five against).
The results of the entire regular season are available in the “Game Results” and "Game Recaps" section of the website.
Fall Tournaments
The August tournament results and the success of the regular season taught the Cyclone how to compete in tournaments.
The first test was the Hanford Central California Kickoff, where based on the success of previous Elk Grove teams, we were placed in an age-pure U14 bracket with top teams from the Central Valley and San Jose. Undeterred by some very physical play (which are demonstrated by some of the photos on the site), the Cyclone captured its two opening games to surprise the field. On Sunday, it pulled off a tie and lost in a great match against the South San Jose Hurricane to finish third. Who can forget the smells of all the different "crops" on the way to the tourney?
From one goal, to one win, to third place, the Cyclone was showing big-time improvement.
Back in the Sacramento-area for the Orangevale Halloween tournament, the shorthanded Cyclone stepped up again, playing intense games and knocking of teams several divisions “higher” to grab third place. Now, we added a trophy to our tournament haul!
District Cup/Association Cup
The post-season event allowed the Cyclone to really demonstrate what it had learned in the previous months.
The first test was District Cup where the team played regular season rivals Loomis Lady Falcons, East Sacramento and the Fair Oaks Falcons. Playing at Stonehouse Park for the first time all season, the Cyclone finished the opening round 2-0-1 to advance to the District Cup final against the Azzurri Xtreme (our opening opponent). In the final, the Cyclone once again created opportunities but could not finish and fell on a bad-break, own goal 0-1. Still, first year out – District Cup finalists!
With the Cassy Rowe Tournament – where the team raised more than $300 for her foundation -- as a warm-up (a nice 1-1-1 finish against good competition), the Cyclone headed to Morgan Hill for their ultimate test of the season – Association Cup.
Placed in a tough bracket that included the 2008 Association Cup runner up, the Cyclone looked to have its hands full as a first-year team. However, focused on the “little things” the team came ready to play, winning its first game – a back and forth thriller -- against the Diablo Crossfire 1-0. In game two, the Cyclone fought through injuries and a big wind, but fell to the eventual Association Cup Champion Orchard Valley Toros 0-3.
On Sunday, the Cyclone still had a chance to advance, but needed a win and a little help from Diablo. The opponent was the Newark Knockouts, a strong, physical team fresh off winning their District Cup. It was a game that really demonstrated the growth of the Cyclone: they fought off (almost literally) a skilled team that pushed “physical” and aggressive play to its maximum as part of its game plan.
In a perfect ending for the season, the Cyclone demonstrated what had been an emphasis going into Association Cup – mental toughness, team play and heart. Despite being fouled – memorably at times – 14 times, the Cyclone stayed composed, played as a team the entire match, showed toughness and heart and won 1-0 (and we got to that 20 win goal!).
The great team win was not quite enough to advance, but it capped the season in a very memorable way. As the Cyclone marched back together to the hotel for the final time, there was joy and pride -- no sadness -- on the Cyclone players faces for what was a tremendous season.
Final Team Stats
Overall record: 20-11-6
League record: 7-1-2
Tourney record: 13-10-4
Metro League Goal Differential: +22 (27-5)
Overall Goal Differential: +21 (59-38)
Fun: Off the Charts
Improvement: Amazing
While the match results were impressive, what was -- and always will be -most important to the coaches is that every member the team enjoyed their experience, learned the important value of being a good teammate and that through playing and learnng, developed more "love of the game."
Year two is right round the corner . . .
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2008 Results and Statistics
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Record: 20-11-6 (7-1-2) -- FINAL
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Offensive Statistics
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Name
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#
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Games
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Shots
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Goals
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Asst.
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Fouls
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Sht%
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Alyssa Andres
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2
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14
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26
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4
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3
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6
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15.4%
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Olivia Back
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24
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35
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15
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1
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3
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4
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6.7%
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Kacee Bailey
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11
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34
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45
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10
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2
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9
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22.2%
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Kenedi Barkley
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7
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37
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20
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3
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3
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10
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15.0%
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Sarah Friedrich
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72
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37
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7
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0
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0
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1
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0.0%
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Elisabeth Fusco
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1
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37
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20
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4
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0
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1
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20.0%
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Ashley Gubrud
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8
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35
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0
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0
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0
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3
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#DIV/0!
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Karly Passmore
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22
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37
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4
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0
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0
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10
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0.0%
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Jillian Maybee
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15
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37
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18
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0
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1
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17
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0.0%
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Kelly McKinnie
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14
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37
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81
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13
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2
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16
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16.0%
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Armani Munoz
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3
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31
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7
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0
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1
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7
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0.0%
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Breanna Phelps
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5
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37
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21
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3
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1
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13
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14.3%
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Krista Poole
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4
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37
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33
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2
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2
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1
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6.1%
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Daniele Rathjen
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6
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36
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82
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9
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11
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11
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11.0%
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Ashley Russell
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9
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37
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2
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0
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0
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5
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0.0%
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Mackenzie Slagle
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17
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35
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22
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4
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2
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4
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18.2%
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Shannon Westerberg
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18
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32
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64
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6
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4
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10
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9.4%
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Caira Woo
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10
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12
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3
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0
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0
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4
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0.0%
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Team Totals
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470
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59
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35
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132
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12.6%
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Yellow Cards: Daniele (1), Shannon (1), Kelly (1), Karly (1); Red Cards: None; PK Goals By: Kelly
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Keeper
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Name
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#
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Saves
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Goals
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Sav%
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SO
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PKG
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Sarah Friedrich
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72
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179
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27
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15.1%
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12
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2
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Jillian Maybee
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15
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6
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2
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33.3%
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0
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0
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Armani Munoz
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3
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4
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1
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25.0%
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0
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0
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Krista Poole
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4
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2
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0
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0.0%
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0
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0
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Bre Phelps
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5
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2
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0
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0.0%
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0
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0
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Alyssa Andres
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10
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3
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0
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0.0%
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0
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0
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Ashley Russell
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9
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23
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8
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34.8%
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0
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0
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Team Totals
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219
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38
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17.4%
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12
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2
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Parents Survive Game vs. Cyclone
In the cold and wind of Stonehouse Park, the Cyclone parents – used to lounging in chairs on the sidelines – stepped up to take on the Cyclone.
The result . . . no injuries and a 1-0 win by the parents that was reversed upon view of the game tapes.
The game stated slowly, a defensive battle as both sides warmed-up and got used to playing ion the icy tundra of Stonehouse. The Cyclone has a few opportunities stifled by the Parent defense of Passmore, Back and Barkley (sounds like a law firm).
After a halftime of hot chocolate, the parents adjusted their strategy and went on the attack. Scott Bailey missed a point blank shot and then later had a run at goal only to be taken out by Sliding Sarah Friedrich at the goal box (It was payback for an earlier slide tackle by Bailey earlier in the game). Follow-up attacks by the parents – Shauna, the Backs, the Passmores, Brett and Lenore (going one v. one against Bre) worked together to nearly put the parents on the score board.
At Mid and Defense they stepped up their game as well. Juree dropped back and joined Genet, Jennifer, Dan, Angie and Tina to control the midfield and the backline in front of star goalie Gary.
About midway through the second half, we had a near tragedy – a three-way collision of parents at the 18 that is going to look great on film at the team party. This is why we teach the girls field awareness. All survived to play on.
As the parents pressed the attack, the felt they went up 1-0 on a goal by Tyler Rathjen. But, it was disallowed due to the “only the parents can score” rule.
After 20 minutes of strong play in the second half, the parents began to fade the Cyclone went on the attack only to be rebuffed time and time again by Goalie Poole.
Tied 0-0 at the end of regulation, the game went to PKs, where Poole made a diving save to preserve a 4-3 win over the girls. However, upon further review of the game film, it was discovered that the parents flooded the filed with 14-15 players much of the second half, earning them a disqualification and the Cyclone and forfeit win.
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Workin' in the Rain
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