Despite a tough season, the girls' U15 Blaine
Chaos team played strong through the week of the
USA Cup soccer tournaments and reached the playoff
semifinals at the National Sports Center in
Blaine. The Chaos had gone 3-0-0 and outscored
opponents 9-5 in three preliminary games during
the week.
"We're kind of the comeback
kids," said Blaine Chaos co-coach Colleen
Fletcher. "They can do anything."
The Chaos
marched its way to the Medal Flight semifinals on
Saturday, where the team fell short to the North
Star 92 team by a score of 3-1.
The Chaos
had beaten Tonka United 2-1 to advance to the
quarterfinals where the Blaine team faced NLSC
Ramsey Rush. Rush enjoyed a bye in the first
playoff round, but the Chaos girls proved to be
the comeback kids as they scored three unanswered
goals to beat the Rush 3-1.
The Blaine team
trailed 1-0 halfway through the first period
against the Rush, but continued to work and came
up with a goal off a corner kick with only minutes
left to play in the half.
The Rush players
had some chances in the second, but were not able
to convert on another goal. With a slow roller and
a top-shelf shot, the Chaos scored two big goals
to take the lead for good. Fletcher was impressed
with the team's comeback from being a goal
down.
"[I] thought it was phenomenal,"
Fletcher said. "We're pretty excited. I think they
can win. I think they can make it all the
way."
The Chaos ended up falling short of
"all the way," stopped by the North Star 92 team
during their early-morning semifinal. North Star
92 finished as the runner-up in the bracket after
being shut out 3-0 by champion MBSA
Xtreme.
The Chaos struggled early against
North Star 92, trying to keep the ball out of the
Chaos zone. The Chaos players capitalized on their
first big chance and took a 1-0 lead. That lead
was short-lived as the Stars came right back with
a goal to tie the score. The Chaos began to find
life again with more chances and a shot off the
goalpost, but it was the Stars who put another
goal in the top corner of the net just before
halftime.
The Chaos fell further into a
lull in the second half, while the Stars came out
strong. With the exception of a breakaway, the
Chaos hardly tested the opposing goaltender. The
Stars added another tally as they defeated the
Chaos by a score of 3-1.
"I am very proud
of you," Fletcher said to her team. "You played an
excellent game."
Co-coach Todd Johnson said
he thought the Chaos played "at times great, and
at other times, flat-footed." Fletcher said she
thought the girls were tired. She attributed this
to "too much dancing" at the Grand Dance held the
previous evening. Fletcher and Johnson said they
were very proud of the team and that they played
excellent soccer throughout the
week.
Wildcats also reach semifinal
round
On the boys' side, the Blaine
Wildcats in the U19 "A" Playoff Trophy Flight also
reached their semifinals. The Wildcats went 3-1-0
and outscored opponents 15-4 in preliminary
play.
The Wildcats beat Wings JOGO 2-1 to
advance to the semifinal game against
Clachnacuddin FC from Scotland. Both teams came
out strong in a fast-paced and competitive game.
The Wildcats' defense was on its toes, playing
mostly in the Blaine zone. The pressure was kept
on the Blaine goalie and the Scotland squad
finally struck with the game's first goal with
about 25 minutes elapsed. They added another just
before halftime.
Clachnacuddin FC carried
its intense energy, along with lots of on-field
chatter, into the second half. The Wildcats had
trouble keeping control of the ball and both teams
had shots sail wide or over the goal onto 109th
Avenue, just missing a few cars. The Scotland team
scored its third goal a few minutes into the
second half, after which Wildcats coach Hollister
Struck made a goaltender substitution. He said the
change was about ensuring playing time for both
goalies and that "they both played
well."
The Wildcats had a few chances, but
the Scotland squad continued to dominate the rest
of the way, tacking on two more goals to finish
with a 5-0 victory and a chance at the
championship. Clachnacuddin FC went on to defeat
SPCAA Juventus 7-4 in that game.
Struck
said that the Wildcats played excellent soccer
overall and that the Scotland team was just "tough
to close down." The Wildcats played strong
defensively and maintained possession well
throughout the tournament, Struck
said.
"They [the Wildcats] ran into some
very good competition," the coach added.
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