Weather, Loss Make for Unpleasant Game with Arlington

Playing in a persistent, driving rain made for an ugly game when Xtreme took on neighbors and rivals Arlington Forza. It was one of those games where the weather would be a factor – slowing players down, making them cold and wet, making the ball slippery, and likely ending in a low-scoring victory for a team that wouldn't necessarily deserve it.

The first half opened with Arlington controlling the ball well for the first 10-15 minutes, and Red had trouble stringing together long strings of passes. Arlington, hoping for one of those sloppy goals early, played aggressively, with 3-4 forwards in our end. They skillfully kept themselves onsides, when Eli and the Hammer would push the Red line up.

Because of Arlington's skilled passing game, Red's mids were forced to spend a lot of time assisting the defense, which made the home team's offense slow to get started.

Taxman had a nice breakaway midway through the first half that could have resulted in a goal, but the Forza keeper challenged well and made the save.

As time in the first half was winding down, Arlington was awarded a corner. As time expired they took the corner, and the slick ball somehow squirted into the goal at the near post, the visitor was up 1-0.

During the halftime the rain picked up and the temperature dropped, but despite the unpleasant conditions and the overly physical play of some Arlington players, Red came out in the second half ready for action.

And they would deliver. At 40 minutes, Eli took a corner kick that she laid perfectly into the crowded and slippery box. Hollywood received the ball, settled it, drew two defenders and the keeper's attention, and then slotted a perfect ball to the left side to waiting Taxman, who pounded it home for the tying goal.

The game continued to rock back and forth, with Forza playing hard and attacking up the flanks. This tested the Red defense and Dani now in goal, but it also created opportunities for Red breakaways, which Space Ghost, Happy Feet, and the Taxman were fed on several times.

The physical play was escalating with White not being shy about using their hands to hold the fast breaking Red offense, and several times The Professor found herself embroiled in a shoving match with a frustrated Forza player behind the play and on Forza throw-ins, but none of the officials took note.

Sledgehammer earned the team's first ever regular season card – a yellow for a tackle that from the referee's perspective looked reckless, but was probably not worthy of an actual card. The ensuring free kick resulted in a Forza goal, but luckily, scored by an offsides player – so the score remained knotted at one.

At 61 minutes, Arlington once again put numbers in the Red penalty box and the striker did a nice job of drawing the defense and Red keeper (now Happy Feet) to the left side, she then flicked the ball right to a charging mid who was able to easily tap the ball in for a go-ahead goal. It was, frankly, the only truly earned goal in the game for either side.

Red worked hard to tie the game again, with Hollywood hitting the post and Taxman rocking the crossbar, but Arlington was disciplined and protected their lead well.

Then, as time was running out and Red was taking a corner, the player with whom the Professor had been tangling all afternoon lost her cool and actually punched the Professor in the stomach right at the edge of, or inside the box.

For some reason the referee, who had already called 6 fouls for each team and awarded a yellow card, decided not to award a free kick or a penalty kick. Instead, he had the players shake hands and made the play a drop ball. A stunning end to the game with full time running out just moments later.

Red looks forward to visiting Arlington in November to close the season out and even the score. The loss dropped Red to 3-3 on the season and wins for two other teams in the division dropped Red out of first place and into third.

 

Xtreme Falls to Bitter Rival McLean

Taking the pitch for their fourth game in nine days and second in just over 24 hours, Red was a depleted team. With two starters out due to injury, another player not dressing for the game, and several banged up regulars, Xtreme called on guests First Aid and Maria to help fill the gaps. And they would.

The game against McLean got off to a decent start with Xtreme opening with a six pass sequence that ended in a quality shot. But McLean is a disciplined and well-coached team and they immediately countered. The teams traded scoring chances until the 5^th minute when Carson received the ball in the midfield and sent the ball ahead to Space Ghost. She laid a ball into space for the Taxman who settled the ball, took on the keeper, and scored.

McLean's fans were shocked. They were also unfamiliar with the offsides rule and protested loudly, rudely, and incorrectly when their team was called on it. They apparently failed to notice the multiple offsides calls Red received, or perhaps they assumed we earned all of those, while they were victims of an AR who didn't understand the game.

The first half saw the teams trade chances, pressure each other well, and maintain possession with passes that were targeted and not rused. Red logged 55 passes in the first half.

But with only 14 players to McLean's 17, fatigue began to set in. At 29 minutes, a McLean striker was able to get behind the defense on two missed Red tackles and tie the game with an acute angle shot to the near side when the keeper was reading "cross."

As the day wore on it got hotter and muggier, and by the time the second half got under way the Red girls were dripping with sweat. They were physically and mentally exhausted and with McLean playing technically well and very quickly and physically, Red began to lose concentration.

McLean dominated the midfield in the second half and the exhausted Red team began to play a long ball game that led to several offsides calls and a few decent scoring chances – but no goals. (They logged only 36 passes in the second half.) McLean also switched from defense to attack and switched fields faster and more proficiently than other opponents we've faced this year, which knocked Red back on their heels slightly.

While we never like to blame officiating for losses, the officiating in this game was inconsistent at best. Several non-calls of apparently flagrant fouls seemed to lead to McLean goals and losses of Red possession. For example, at 53 minutes a McLean attacker clearly fouled the Red central defender and sent the ball towards the Red goal. The Red defense, perhaps expecting a whistle were slow to jump, and the Red keeper also hesitated in challenging the surging McLean striker. It put Red off balance just enough to give the advantage to the striker, who made the chance count and scored the go-ahead goal.

But as we all know, Red doesn't give up, doesn't quit. And they surged ahead. With just ten minutes to play, Red began throwing everything at the McLean defense, penetrating the box and taking several shots. One exciting breakaway had the Taxman one-on-one with the keeper out of the goal. Taxman shot hard and the keeper saved it equally hard. The rebound hit Taxman squarely and bounced over the keeper towards the goal. Red surged forward to finish it off, but a McLean player got there first and was able to clear it.

Red stayed on attack and the nervous McLean team began fouling – one of the players earning a well-deserved yellow card – but not earning Red a PK when Taxman was pulled down in the box.

Then with time running down, McLean was pressuring a Red midfielder and clearly fouled her, sending her to the carpet yet again. The AR signaled foul and the referee, shockingly, waved him off claiming…advantage? But it had been Red's ball, stolen as a result of a foul. Anyway, McLean took the shot which the Red keeper saved, but under time pressure, stunned at the non-call, and mentally exhausted, the ensuing punt was misplayed. McLean came up with the ball and quickly lobbed a shot over the sprawling keeper to put the game out of reach, 3-1 at 68 minutes.

The game was further marred by unsportsmanlike conduct on behalf of the home team, which was noted and registered with the league. Red will rest up and host McLean on October 30 and hopefully even the score.

Despite the loss, Red still remains atop the division with 9 points and hopes to add to that total when they host Arlington Forza White on Saturday.

Xtreme Grabs Third Straight Win

We've written in this space about the better team not winning the game so many times it's almost too many to count. Well, on this overcast, warm Saturday, once again, the better team would not win the game. Fortunately, Xtreme was not the better team today.

Red, the visiting team, got off to a quick start – immediately pressuring PWSI Courage 98 Black and moving the ball well. Just three minutes into the game, Big Foot would challenge a Courage player in the midfield and come away with the ball. She'd fake a long shot and nudge the ball to the outside and lope up field, gaining 20 yards before finding Happy Feet inside the penalty box. She'd take on two defenders and draw the keeper to her, then perfectly slide the ball to the Taxman, angling into the box from the left side. The keeper didn't have a chance.

The teams then traded several good scoring opportunities until the 22^nd minute when Sunshine connected with Hollywood in the midfield. She'd send a ball ahead into the penalty box where Space Ghost, the Taxman, and Happy Feet had created a numerical advantage for the Red team. The Courage keeper made the initial save on Space Ghost, but the ball got away from her. Taxman pounced on it and shot, but another Courage player deflected it. As the keeper scrambled to get control of the ball, Happy Feet emerged from the pile and pounded the ball home. An ugly play, but a great example of how the Red now doesn't quit and keeps moving forward until they hear that whistle.

Courage, trailing 2-0 then tested Sharky in goal with several well-engineered plays that got them behind the Red defense. Sharky stood tall and the Courage strikers shot wide several times, keeping the score 2-0 for the visitors.

At 33 minutes, some sloppy passes from both teams in the midfield resulted in a ping pong game. Courage began to break through their own active zone and had numbers on Red when The Hammer made her presence known, stealing the ball and freeing the Red offense that transitioned more quickly than the Courage could. In the ensuring, jailbreak Happy Feet, Taxman, Hollywood, and Sunshine charged at and through three defenders. Happy Feet got a beautiful shot off and the keeper made a stunning save, but she couldn't hang onto the ball and it landed at Taxman's feet. She drove it into the back of the net, but the STAR's flag was waving – he called her offsides.

One minute later, Red then framed the free kick that the Courage keeper took, and Taxman plucked it out of the air. She settled it down and blasted it over the keeper before she could get settled again, it was 3-0 for the visitors.

The second half was a very Courage half. They moved the ball well, stringing together several 7+ pass sequences, and controlling the pace of the game, making Red chase and putting Sharky to the test several times.

Although Red had difficulty stringing together long passing sequences, what they did do well was position themselves. Courage would start a long play in the back of the right side, work the ball through the midfield, and try an attack from the left side. But the Red Defenders consistently "made like wall" and shut down the attack.

At 65 minutes the home team would get behind the defense and penetrate the penalty box. Sharky made a sprawling save – her 12^th of the game, but the rebound was hard to control. A Courage player was in the right place at the right time and she was able to blast the ball to the far post. It was 3-1.

On the following kick-off, Red quickly lost the ball to the now surging Courage who could smell another quick goal. But The Hammer would have none of it – she chopped the ball away from the attacker and made a short pass to Hollywood on the far side. Clearly angry the shut out had gotten away from them, Hollywood charged the length of the field, taking on and beating player after player. With support flying in from the near side, she split the defense, and carried the ball into the box all alone. She beat the last defender and ripped a laser at the near post. The keeper dove, but the ball sailed past her and hit the back of the net crisply, making that sound that strikers and fans love to hear.

The fans rose to their feet, but Hollywood did not celebrate and the referee was indicating a goal kick. As the Red fans were preparing to light their chairs on fire and toss them onto the field (there were more than a few questionable offsides calls that went against Red), we learned that there was a hole in the side of the net and the ball had entered the net through the side. Hollywood confirmed it – no goal.

Time ran out soon after that and Red stole the win, 3-1, to claim sole possession of first place in the division.

Red notched 87 passes in the game and only linked four or more passes together twice. They were awarded three corner kicks and surrendered 10. They committed four fouls and suffered five.

Make no mistake, Red played hard for the entire game, and if anyone deserved to steal a win it was them. They showed aggression and hunger, and this formerly sleepy team that never put up big goal numbers now has the most goals (13) and best goal differential (+9) amongst all 36 teams in the four WAGS Division 5s. But cross-county rival McLean waits in the wings; Xtreme travels to Linway Terrace on Sunday. The last time the teams met, McLean won convincingly. We'll see.

Red Wins Back-to-Back Games, Outscoring Opponents 10-1

It was a perfect fall weekend with crisp, cool air, lower temperatures, and cloudy skies diffusing the sun as Xtreme played the first of two double-header weekends.

First up, a Loudoun team that had struggled last season but turned in decent tournament performances through the 2010-11 season, added some quality players to their roster, and comes from a strong club program.

Red simply outplayed the visitors in every aspect of the game. Faster, and with more proficient passing, pressuring, and tackling, Red dominated the game from start to finish.

Through the summer, Xtreme had been working on pressuring the Active Zone and using pinpoint passing to create numerical advantages, and hence better opportunities.

It could not have been better demonstrated than at 7 minutes when Red loaded the forward zone with players. Taxman and Hollywood threaded passes through the defense, going all the way from the right side of the box to the left, where Space Ghost was waiting to tap in the first goal of the game, and once again Xtreme's first goal of the season.

Just three minutes later, Hollywood would again be pressuring the Loudoun keeper and lay a ball back beautifully for the Professor who was steamrolling her way into the zone. The keeper didn't have a chance and it was 2-0.

At 20 minutes Carson would fake a shot and with great precision, play a ball to space, just ahead of the Taxman, who would bury her first of the season into the back of the net.

The Red defenders and midfielders worked hard to keep the team on the attack, switching sides of the field quicker than the Loudoun defense could react, and transitioning from defense to offense with lightning speed.

One such play as the half was winding down resulted in the fourth goal of the game. Big Foot would stand up a Loudoun attacker and quickly send the ball over the midfield. Before Loudoun's attackers and mids could transition back to defense, Dani had received the ball and pushed it across to a surging Happy Feet. She would take on, and beat, her defender and send a brilliant cross to Hollywood who, under double coverage, slid the ball backwards to Sunshine who was charging in. She'd blast the ball home at 31 minutes.

The second half would see more scoring from two new Xtreme members. Eli would take a booming corner at 47 minutes that found Lindsey in just the right spot in the box – she'd notch her first of her travel career.

Three minutes later, as Loudoun was trying to get out of their end one of their players committed a hand ball in the center. The referee was moving the whistle to his mouth, but The Hammer picked up the oddly bouncing ball and fed Eli, who would fire in the team's sixth and final goal of the game.

It was a game in which Red was able to put into play the many things they've been practicing and show off their skills. Every single Red player made a contribution, and every single player tallied some statistic.

The team notched 121 passes and was awarded 8 corner kicks while surrendering none.

Fourteen players recorded 48 shots – 65% of them on target – while Red's keepers faced no shots on goal. Six different Xtreme players scored goals and eight players recorded assists, with Hollywood earning three.

"The Red team exhibited improved positioning," said Coach Lance. "Red made the field small when the other team had the ball, and they made it wide when they had the ball."

FPYC Visits

The second game of the double-header pitted Xtreme against a team new to WAGS, the FPYC Dynamite. Dynamite had actually worked out with the Flying Monkeys and Xtreme this summer during scrimmages. In fact, FPYC Coach Jim had even spent time in goal for Xtreme during one of the scrimmages when we found ourselves short numbers.

Xtreme got off to a slow start, lulled into playing a slower style that Dynamite were more comfortable with playing. However, the ball rarely got out of the visitors' end and Red continued to probe the defense.

"Here they come again!" shouted an FPYC fan, over and over again as he watched in horror as Red shirts swarmed past him, enveloping and devouring his midfielders.

At 22 minutes, with a goal keeper already slightly shell-shocked and badly out of position, the Taxman was able to break the scoreless tie.

But just 5 minutes later, Dynamite would answer on a long ball to their fastest player, Toni. She'd take on the Red defense, and with her long, loping strides she'd get just far enough behind the defense to take on the Red keeper by herself. She settled the ball very well, and took a well-placed shot that would beat the keeper to the far post – it was the first shot a Red keeper had faced in more than 100 minutes of soccer.

In the second half, the visitors switched to the Italian Catennacio ("door bolt") System. They put nine players behind the ball, tightly packing the penalty box, likely in hopes of preventing more Red goals, while creating opportunities for another fast break goal that is a specialty of Toni's.

But Red made their own second half adjustment, playing faster, keeping the ball for longer stretches, and switching sides quickly and efficiently. They'd also attack down the flanks instead of trying to attack that densely packed middle.

It would pay off. At 41 minutes, Carson would take a long throw in to Sunshine who would slide a ball to Sharky attacking on the right side. She settled the bouncing ball with her head, and then hammered in her first goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, Sunshine would do her impersonation of Eli or Big Foot, striking in a long-range bomb that cleared the outstretched keeper's arms.

And two minutes later, Big Foot would put a ball into space for the Taxman who, with a goal already this game, fed her generous, three-assist teammate, Hollywood, with her own teed up ball. Hollywood would not shoot high or wide – she drilled the back of the net to make the game 4-1, putting it out of reach for the visitor.

Red turned in a strong performance, with 99 passes, eight corner kicks, and again surrendering none. However, Red will need to work on playing their game at their speed – not that of their opponents. They'll also need to show greater patience in their attack, maintaining possession and switching sides as opposed to forcing bad shots or passes. Another thing Coach Lance would like to see is a spread out team that keeps balls on the carpet, as opposed to sending high bouncing balls that are difficult to control and give opponents more time to react.

All told, a great soccer weekend for Xtreme, and while confidence is rightly high, make no mistake, the tougher part of the Xtreme schedule is ahead. Another double-header is on for next week with two seasoned opponents – PWSI and McLean. Red will be ready.

Xtreme Opens Season with Home Loss

With so many WAGS games rained out this weekend thanks to the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, it was exciting that the Red squad would get to play their home opener on September 11. Defending the full Mason District for the first time, Red got off to a rocky start against the visiting ASA Arundel Attack. Much of the first half saw Red on defense, and Happy Feet, in goal for the first time in months, was brilliant, turning away all 15 (fifteen!!) shots she faced.

Red settled down, and though they had trouble getting their precision passing game going, they did generate some good offensive chances. The first official Shot on Goal of the season belonged to Big Foot, who took the deflection from a Sunshine corner kick and put the visiting keeper to the test. A test she was up to – making a great sprawling save.

Red generated a few more quality scoring chances in the first half, but it would end knotted at nil, thanks in no small part to The Hammer who was a shot blocking machine all day.

The second half began with the tables turned and Red found itself on the attack for most of the half. The girls had found their passing game – for a time anyway. Happy Feet, sprung from the goal, showed just how fast she is, beating two Attack players consistently down the right side and bringing the fans to their feet as she tested the Attack keeper with three quality scoring chances. The Taxman added several exciting scoring chances; Sunshine, the Professor, and Hollywood also added SOGs in the second half, but then Hollywood left the game after taking a nasty knock to the head inside the box.

Eli provided the most exciting moment of the game for Red fans when she lobbed a long, high ball in towards the goal from close to the center line – her trademark ICBM. Eli has seen so many keepers misplay that ball – and it is easy to misplay – but the Attack keeper did a great job tracking it and jumping at just the right time to catch the ball. But it was close.

Then at 56 minutes there was a Red defensive breakdown, Attack had numbers in the box and a shot was deflected off a Red arm, taking a weird bounce. Before the referee could blow his whistle however, an Attack player found the rebound at her feet and was able to slide it past the Red keeper. The goal was awarded.

But Red has fought back against the Attack before, and the girls were determined to tie it up quickly.

Red pressed, but then a freak play at 72 minutes sealed the game for the visitors. Attack, with at least one player in an offsides position, took a strong shot on goal. The shot sailed high, hitting the football portion of the goal, which should render the ball dead. A goal kick was in order, but the ball returned to the field of play, and the referee kept his whistle in his pocket. A confused Red pulled up just long enough for an Attack player to finish the play, and the visitors went up 2-0.

And that is how it would end.

Red was definitely off their game for much of the match, but they did show sparks of brilliance, and we're fully expecting them to bounce back quickly and put their formidable skills and soccer smarts to work. They head into next weekend with an at home double header, hosting Loudon on Saturday and a new FPYC team on Sunday.

Xtreme Knocks Out Cobwebs in Pre-Season Action

The Red squad took to a distant pitch over Labor Day weekend in two pre-season scrimmages as part of FPYC's Patriot Cup Tournament. Down three regular players, but with two guests, Xtreme showed they are prepared to make the jump to the larger field. They moved the ball very well in the first half of the first game against FASA Impact and spread the field out, making FASA chase.

The Taxman took the first official shot on goal of the presesason at the two minute mark, and she'd add three more SOGs and 2 shots that went wide. She also would notch as assist at the 16 minute mark when she and Sunshine ping-ponged shots off the keeper and between each other, Sunshine finally driving the ball home and recording the first Xtreme pre-season goal. Sharky, tested only twice in goal in the first half would come out onto the field in the second half and add an insurance goal in the 52^nd minute. Newcomer Dani spent the second half in goal and was tested twice also, turning away both quality FASA shots – one a break-away and one an odd angle shot that can give keepers trouble.

Red notched 58 passes in the first half and 54 in the second for 112. The squad recorded 23 shots from 8 players – 13 of them on target, and was awarded 3 corner kicks while surrendering none. No fouls were called for either side, but Red was called offsides multiple times. (Note we say they were "called" offsides, not that they were offsides. Not every time, anyway.)

Xtreme would win 2-0.

The extreme heat and only two substitutions took their toll on the girls and the second game, against the Flying Monkeys, would see a slightly more sluggish Red squad. But they did get off to a fine start, with Happy Feet starting in goal, Sharky took the field and on Red's first attack dribbled around and through two defenders to face the Flying Monkey's sweeper and keeper. An experienced keeper herself, Sharky knew just what to do – she used the sweeper to create a screen and blasted a laser up and over her shoulder to find the upper right corner of the net. We were still in the first minute, but the tired Xtreme was up 1-0.

But it wouldn't last. Flying Monkey and former Red guest player, Jessie, would show the season she took off didn't make a difference. At 6 minutes, she used her long strides to get behind the defense on a well-played long ball for the second time. The first time she shot wide, this time she wouldn't miss. The score was tied at 1.

Xtreme played well despite being tired and the Monkeys threatened many times. Happy Feet turned away 4 of their 5 first half shots on goal, and Sharky turned away 6 in the second half. Visiting Casey sacrificed her body to block four SOGs, The Hammer and Happy Feet blocked 2 each, and Sunshine and Eli each blocked one.

The Taxman added four more shots – three of them on target – and had Xtreme's best scoring chances of the game, but the day proved too long for Red. At 45 minutes, a Red handball led to a direct kick from 28 yards out. Red's wall, twice moved back by the referee, did what they could, but the Monkey took the kick perfectly, sending the ball over the wall and over the sprawling Sharky to squeak under the crossbar and put the home team up 2-1.

Due to an earlier agreement and encroaching darkness, the game ended five minutes early with a final score of Flying Monkeys 2, Xtreme 98 Red 1. Red recorded only 80 passes during this game, and few of them were long strings of passes and give-and-goes that is their style and that we saw during the first game. Six Red players combined for only 10 shots – 6 of them on target. Red received one corner kick and surrendered 5, committed three fouls and suffered three as well.

All told, it was a good day – exciting to watch the girls back on the pitch – almost the complete squad – and fun to see them play their open, creative style. And though technically just scrimmages, in the context of the Patriot Cup tournament, Red did win the division. All three teams had one win and one loss, but Red's goal differential was +1, the Flying Monkeys were 0, and FASA was -1.

New Player Profile - Meet: Lindsey

Lindsey impressed coaches during the open tryouts and joins Xtreme 98 Red from a Falls Church rec team. She’ll wear #38 and is looking forward to getting out on the field and stretching her legs.

We sat down with Lindsey and posed a few of our standard questions to help the fans get to know her a little better. Here are her responses:

1) When you're not playing soccer, what are you likely doing? Reading, watching TV, or going to the pool.

2) Tell us about your pets you have - or hope to get. I have a cat named Merlin.

3) What's your favorite subject in school? My favorite subjects in school are language arts and social studies.

4) What school will you attend next year? I attend Mary Ellen Henderson MS in Falls Church. (With Red teammates Sharky and The Professor.)

5) Tell us about non-soccer hobbies you have. In the winter I play basketball and in the summer I like to watch Nationals games.

6) Where did you play soccer last season? I played for the Falls Church Comets.

New Player Profile – Meet: Elizabeth

Elizabeth rejoins the Xtreme Red family after a stint last season with the Freedom. Red families no doubt remember the very real threat Elizabeth posed to our lead in the semi-final game at the Bull Run Tournament. Ellie finally brings her considerable power to Red, where she belongs, and we look forward to watching her power and accuracy terrorize opponents this season.

We sat down with #10 and posed a few of our standard questions to help the fans get to know her a little better. Here are her responses:

1) When you're not playing soccer, what are you likely doing? When I’m not playing soccer, I love to read and play outside with my brother and sister.

2) Tell us about your pets you have - or hope to get. I would love to have a Husky or Bulldog one day =)

3) What's your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is science because I love doing experiments and learning about medicine.

4) What school will you attend next year? Next year I’ll be going to Lake Braddock Secondary School.

5) Tell us about non-soccer hobbies you have. Some of my hobbies are cooking and making potholders.
I also love to color and paint.

Fall Divisions Have Been Announced

WAGS has released the preliminary Fall Divisions, and we find ourselves in Division 5E with some former opponents and some new teams. We'll share some information on our opponents, but it is important to note that these records from last year mean almost nothing. We're all playing an entirely new game this year – bigger fields, bigger goals, bigger rosters, and more players on the field. Having said that, here's a quick look at our divisionmates.

Arlington Forza White is a transfer from Division 4. They were 2-6-1 with 14 goals for and 26 against. They fell to the Freedom 2-1 in the last game of the season last year. ASA Arundel Attack was D5 last year. They were 3-5-2 and beat the Flying Monkeys 4-3. They tied the MSC White Stallions (who we played on Memorial Day) 1-1. They had 12 goals for and 22 against last year. Also, we played them last October when they got the better of us, 3-2.

Loudon 98 White had a tough go in a D5 last year. They were 0-9-1 with 5 goals for and 51 against. Presumably they've made significant adjustments. McLean Spirit White was in our division last year where they finished 6-3-1. They beat us 3-1 and had 23 goals for and 14 against. They are one of only two teams in the division this year with a positive goal differential on last season.

Stafford Revolution 98 White was also in our division last year. They finished 3-5-1 and we beat them 2-0. They had 10 goals for and 13 against. PWSI Courage 98 Black was also in division 5 last year. They were 4-5-1 with 22 goals for and 15 against.

There is also a new team in the Division – they didn't appear to be in WAGS or ODSL last year, or they changed their name. They are the FPYC Dynamite and we'll have to wait and see what they hold for us.

Again, don't place too much stock in these statistics. As you know, they don't tell the whole story (our record appears to be 3-6-1 with a goal differential of -12, when in reality we know we were 4-5-1 with a GD of -7) and as we said at the top, we're all playing a completely different game this Fall.

But you can use this information to get excited for the season! Go Red!

Down Players, Xtreme Ends Season with a Draw

Fresh off their perfect final day at the Bull Run Tournament that vaulted them into second place and earned them trophies, the Red squad made the final trek of the season up into northern Maryland to take on LUYAA Black Venom without two key players – First Aid and Hollywood.

Would the missing Center Mid and Center Defender create a boulevard down the middle that Black Venom could exploit? In a word, "no."

The Red team showed that their hard work all season gives them the depth they need in these situations – Sharky and The Hammer filled in brilliantly for Hollywood, and Sunshine had her game of the year, closing the First Aid gap with the Taxman.

Down subs and facing a fully loaded home team, Red's game plan was to slow the game down and use their passing skills to make Black Venom wear themselves out. But Red had some difficulty getting their game going and Black Venom had a slight edge on ball possession in the first half.

Additionally, a center referee who expected the girls to come out and play with dolls and braid each other's hair was stunned to see the physical level of play from the Red team, particularly the Professor and the Sledgehammer. He assessed Red for 5 fouls (and one off-sides) in the first half alone, while the home team only earned one foul in the first half. On four occasions during the game he would call players to him and advise them to "settle down" – and with those verbal cautions, Red would avoid our first cards of the season – though the Professor was surely on the bubble for her domination on the left side.

Happy Feet turned in a spectacular performance in goal in the first half – turning away all 16 shots she faced and earning herself another half a shut-out; the half ended 0-0.

During half time the squad made their own adjustments – telling each other they needed to be better to the ball, make quicker decisions, and not let Black Venom take as many shots – and the difference showed immediately.

Red went on the attack, pressing the Black Venom keeper from the start. A long punt from Sharky sent Taxman tearing up the middle with the Venom keeper challenging. The two collided and went down, well out of the goal, but Taxman was first to her feet – got another shot off that the keeper saved, and then got her own rebound, she executed a little shovel pass to Sunshine who was streaking in from the left side, and it seemed she would score – but her shot went just wide right.

Moments later, at 45 minutes, Black Venom would break the scoreless tie with a break-away goal.

Their jubilation would not last. Red didn't come all this way to lose in Maryland.

At 53 minutes another booming punt from Sharky would find Space Ghost on the left side. She trapped the punt and dribbled up field, past two defenders, and straight at the challenging keeper. But when Space Ghost has a head of steam built up, little can stop her, she scored her fourth goal of the season, tying the game.

And then the Red machine kicked into gear, determined to take these three points. Big Foot and the Hammer blasted shots from distance that made fans on both sides gasp with the Hammer missing the crossbar by two inches and Big Foot sending the keeper sprawling.

Then at 57 minutes, Happy Feet, freed from goal and terrorizing the right side all second half, used her foot skills to draw several Black Venom players to her, leaving Sunshine wide open outside the 18. Happy Feet passed to her and Sunshine lofted a ball up and over the keeper, but just under the crossbar – Xtreme was on top 2-1 with 13 minutes to go.

Red began working the clock, holding the ball in the corners and not just sending the ball out, but rather, sending it "way out." More than a few Black Venom parents probably woke up itchy from shagging balls Big Foot and the Professor kept sending into the poison sumac circling the field.

Red also began playing a tight defense, with all players checking back – notably Grace who in just a few seconds went from taking a pass from the Sledgehammer and taking a shot, to jumping back in to foil a Venom breakaway down our left flank.

At 65 minutes Black Venom overloaded the left side and successfully drew our players over, leaving Big Foot and Sharky alone to defend the right side. Unable to clear the ball, Red fell into the Venom trap and the home team was able to cross to a waiting defender. She got a shot off which Sharky saved, but Red was outnumbered in the box and Black Venom was able to put the rebound away to tie the game back at 2.

With only five minutes to go, Red went back on offense, controlling the ball and trying to break the tie, with a handful of quality shots on goal. In the end the Black Venom keeper was up to the task and the game ended in a hard fought draw.

Xtreme 98 Red ended the season 6-6-2 (4-5-1 in league play) with 10 points in league play which "tied" them for sixth place. Reported goal differential of -12 moves them to eighth place (out of 11). Had the forfeit not been forced on the girls, they we would have finished with 13 points for sole possession of 6^th place and a goal differential of -7.

Xtreme heads into the off season with club wide tryouts looming, a quick break, and then back to the pitch to welcome new team members for summer work outs and friendlies. If your team is interested in summer scrimmages, please contact us.

Well done, ladies.

Memorial Day Tournament Part 2 – Welcome to The Gun Show and an Inter Club Showdown (updated)

Xtreme 98 Red arrived at the VSA Haymarket Complex ready for Day 2 of the Bull Run Tournament with so many mathematical outs for all the teams that it was anybody's tournament. The Black Stallions were 2-0, Freedom was 1-1, 98 Red and White Stallions were both 0-1-1, and Stafford Revolution Gold was 0-2.

Red took the pitch against Stafford first, an ODSL Division 1 team, and immediately welcomed them to the show. Just five minutes in, Big Foot took the ball from a charging Revolution player and sent Happy Feet streaking down the left side. She expertly crossed the ball to the Taxman who, as she does, made the Revolution pay. It was her team-leading 6^th goal of the season and second of the tournament, and for the second time in three games, Xtreme was out to an early lead.

Having scouted the Revolution through their earlier games, the Red defense, led, brilliantly and as usual, by Hollywood, was able to completely shut down their attack, which relied on two key players. Sharky would only be asked to make one save in the first half. Which she did.

Red's precision pin-point passing terrorized the Stafford defense and keeper – they knew the shot was coming, but they weren't sure from where. Late in the first half it was Space Ghost and the Sledgehammer knocking on the door. Space Ghost charged into the box as the keeper came out; SG got the shot away, colliding with the keeper as she made an impressive save. But she couldn't hold on to the rebound, and the quick thinking Sledgehammer, who had brilliantly followed the play into the box was waiting to easily tap the ball across the goal line. But wait – there was that waving flag sound. The linesmen determined the keeper had been fouled – no goal. And Space Ghost limped off the field as the half ended.

The second half looked much like the first – Red controlling the ball and shooting on the keeper at will. For the first time all season every single Red player recorded at least one shot on goal – even keeper Sharky whose punts are like rocket propelled grenades.

Just two minutes into the second half the Taxman would return Maria's generousity from the day before, feeding her a ball that the young impact player would bury deep in the back of the net.

Feeling more comfortable with a 2-0 lead against a team that was having trouble getting their offense started, Red would begin to get creative. Corner kicks were played long and short, attacks were begun and pulled back, and Red simply dominated the Stafford team. Another Red goal would be pulled back for an offsides call, and Sharky would be asked to make four saves in the half.

Late in the game, Space Ghost told Coach Lance she thought she could go back in. And she went in hard – receiving a pass from the Sledgehammer in our zone and charging the length of the field to ice the cake with a goal at 58 minutes.

It was an impressive Red performance from start to finish: the girls tallied 10 corners and surrendered one, suffered and committed five fouls, notched 126 passes, and logged 45 shots – 30 of them on target.

Earlier in the day, Freedom had beaten the White Stallions 3-1 to secure 6 points in the standings to Red's 4. The Black Stallions had also won their earlier game, so they were a lock for first place. But second place remained open. A Freedom win would guarantee them second place. A Freedom-Red tie and White win against Black – however unlikely – would put Freedom and White in a goal differential race. However, a Red win against Freedom would give them seven points and put them in second place all by themselves.

The interclub rivals took to the pitch for the final and decisive game of the tournament – just two weeks after two Red players guested with Freedom in a WAGS Annandale win.

The two teams play very different styles – and they clashed early. Red's slow possession game came up against Freedom's hard-charging aggressive game and it was intense. Red had the upper hand on scoring chances in the first half – asking the Freedom keeper to make several exciting saves – which she did. Sharky turned away the three quality chances from Freedom – one of which had resulted in an apparent Freedom goal and left her on the ground – the wind knocked soundly out of her. But the linesman determined Sharky had possession of the ball and the Freedom player had kicked it out of her hands – no goal.

Freedom players were called for four fouls in the first half, but Red was unable to convert them, and we went into the halftime tied at nil.

The battle continued in the second half, but Red would strike first. A Taxman throw-in (erroneously credited to Big Foot at first) found Maria in the box all alone – she'd bury it for her second goal of the tournament and fourth point.

Red began to feel confident, moving the ball well and making Freedom chase – but chase they did. And Freedom began to get frustrated and the fouling increased. Freedom received 9 fouls in the second half and one player was shown a yellow card – not for a foul, but for "Dissent." Red, too, became more physical in this half, earning The Hammer a stern verbal warning from the referee as he awarded Freedom their first of two direct kicks from inside the Red half. Red built a wall as the Freedom specialist, Elizabeth, trotted up to take the kick. Red was anxious, having watched her score on this exact opportunity in her previous game against the White Stallions – but Sharky saw that play and she knew where the ball was going – upper right hand corner – and she was there to make the save of the tournament on a brilliant shot from Freedom.

But Maria was having her game of the tournament as well, and when First Aid dribbled around and through the Freedom defense and fed the ball to Taxman, who drew a defender to her and scootched a perfect ball to Maria – the young guest drilled it into the back of the net with extreme prejudice. Red was up 2-0 with 12 minutes to go.

The game took on a fever pitch and tension was high on the sidelines. Red was happy to play keep away and make Freedom chase the ball – and Freedom's finesse players tried to mount an attack – but they were running out of time. Freedom was awarded another direct kick, but the blast was sent high and the game would end 2-0 for Red.

Xtreme's girls were thrilled with the win and the perfect DAY turned in by Sharky – 5 goals for and none against – and they didn't even realize their hard work had earned them hardware. But it had, and the girls and their parents climbed the hill to pick up their second tournament trophy and secure more positive press for the club.

Over the four games Xtreme scored 8 goals and gave up 7, Xtreme keepers made 44 saves on 51 shots (86%) and notched two shut outs. The team took 129 shots – 84 of them on target (65%) and recorded 443 precision passes – averaging more than 100 per game.

Player milestones included Taxman with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points, Maria with 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points, and Space Ghost with two goals. Taxman was the shot leader with 24 shots, 16 on target; Big Foot had 23 shots with 10 on target; First Aid had 14 shots with 10 on target; and Sunshine also had 14 shots with 9 on target. Hollywood notched 11 blocked shots and the Professor recorded six.

The girls will have a fantastic and well-deserved Memorial Day break and look forward to closing out the WAGS season with a way away game in Maryland next weekend.

Memorial Day Tournament Part 1 – An Xtreme Possession Clinic and a Breakdown

Xtreme 98 Red was excited to be back at the Bull Run Tournament this year, and although the field complex in Haymarket brought back bad memories for some, the girls were ready to play.

First up, one of two Maryland teams – MSC White Stallions.

Red very quickly took control of the game, moving the ball well and drawing blood early. Two minutes into the game guesting U11 player and Happy Feet's cousin, Maria, put on the first of many dazzling footwork displays, crossed to the Taxman who dished to Sunshine, who put the ball away for the first goal of the tournament – her second on the season.

The next nineteen minutes were 90% Red as the girls played keep away and probed the Stallion defenses. The Red defense "made like wall" and very effectively shut down the Stallions long ball fast break reliant offense – Sharky was only asked to make three saves in the half.

In the twenty second minute Happy Feet took a fantastic throw in that found Space Ghost at the far edge of the box. She dribbled in, passed two defenders and a sprawling keeper, and helped herself to her second goal of the season, first of the tournament.

But the Stallions fought back, and in the 27^th minute were rewarded for their speed. A fast break caught the Red defense high and the Stallion player took two excellent touches and was able to cut the Red lead in half. We'd be 2-1 at the half.

The second half began much the way the first one did – with Red possessing the ball and making the Stallions chase. And again, early in the half – at 33 minutes – Red struck. Maria connected with the Taxman again who put this one away herself for her fifth goal of the season.

But the Stallions responded almost immediately, playing a long ball into the mid-field and then launching a header around the Professor that caught her by surprise. She caught the Stallion player, but the girl was able to get her shot away and it beat Happy Feet on the far post.

The Stallions played hard for the rest of the game – pressing Red and taking the shots they were unable to muster in the first half. Happy Feet faced twice as many shots, and she turned most of them away with ease.

Red tried to add an insurance goal, but the Stallion defenders had gotten more aggressive as they were trying to even the score. At 55 minutes a direct kick was awarded to the Stallions from just over the half. They took their time setting up, and the Stallion made it look like she might go short. The other Stallion players sold the ruse – pulling all the Red players out. Then the Stallion specialist arced a nicely taken kick into the top corner of the goal over the head of the leaping Happy Feet – the score was tied at 3 with under five minutes to go.

Red pushed back hard, anxious to recapture the lead, and had the game been 70 minutes rather than 60, they likely would have. But it was not to be, the game ended in a tie, with each team taking a point. But that point would prove extremely important for Red.

During the long break between games a Stallion parent approached us to compliment Red on their passing and possession game. "We don't see a lot of Virginia teams, and what you guys were doing out there was really intimidating." He also told us that our next opponent, MSC Black Stallions, was the better of the two club teams – but that they were down four of their players who had just guested with the White team.

Indeed, the Black Stallions were a different beast entirely, and an old, hot, tired referee didn't help matters. During the Stallions first possession of the game they pressured and one of their players and the Professor went down together in the box. The lineswoman in the far corner waved her flag; the fans and other linesman thought it was offsides on the Stallions or a possible foul called on the Stallions. The referee lumbered over to the corner to consult with the lineswoman – it was as far from the center as he would get for the entire game. After a quick consultation, the referee decided to award a Penalty Kick to the Stallions for a handball he did not see.

Sharky set up on the line and did her best to distract the Stallion player and read her eyes. Sharky did correctly read the player and dove right, but the ball was just out of reach. Red now had a hole to climb out of.

But the combination of the late game, the heat, a more skilled opponent, and lackluster officiating all worked against Red, putting them off their game and making the hole deeper. Sharky would make 11 saves in the half, but the Stallions would add two more goals, at 12 minutes and 27 minutes to go into the half up 3-0.

Red was not able to get any real momentum started – they surrendered 13 more shots on goal in the second half – Sharky would turn all but one away. Red was awarded no corner kicks but gave up four; they were awarded no fouls but were charged with three. Red only mustered 80 passes and 9 shots on goal in the game, as opposed to the previous game where they notched 139 passes and 22 shots. Blocked shots was about the only stat that improved in the second Stallion game; Red players blocked three shots in the game against White, 12 in the game against Black.

Day One of the tournament ended on a bit of a down note – a sure win had slipped away to a tie and Red was dealt a bruising 4-0 loss in the second game. But Red doesn't ever quit – Day Two would be just that – another day.

Xtreme Posts Second Shut Out in Fourth Win

A rested and hungry Red squad took to the pitch on Sunday ready to take on Maryland Rush in their final home game of the season. The home team fans wanted a definitive win after a disappointing game the week before. Right at the outset, Red took control of the game, moving the ball well and making Rush – down to only one sub – chase them.

With Red's two leading scorers, First Aid and Taxman, tied in goals (3) and battling for the season team title, the Rush keeper was going to have her hands full. And the Red offense got to work quickly, generating quality scoring chances inside five minutes and even producing a fourth and go-ahead goal for the Taxman. But wait – there was the unmistakable sound of nylon whipping in the wind – she was offsides.

The home crowd groaned, but the Center Referee and both coaches agreed: #28 was off and the internal team race remained tied.

Rush countered quickly and generated more than a few good scoring chances with their long ball game. Rush defenders used their powerful legs to send a long ball to their fast striker. She got behind the Red defense a few times, forcing Sharky to turn her shots away or come out to challenge, which she did expertly. The Red defenders also quickly adjusted. Big Foot, Hollywood, and the Professor "made like wall" and shut the Rush attack down – covering for each other and out-positioning the visitors. The Red defense blocked four shots and only allowed 6 shots in the first half, all of which Sharky handled easily.

New addition, Grace, coming off an injury that had her sidelined recently, recorded her first genuine shot on goal and scoring opportunity when she received a pass from Sunshine in the middle and charged towards the net with just one player to beat. The Rush defender planted her feet and took the full brunt of #33, going down in a heap. No foul was called and after the injured Rush player left the field the referee called for Grace to turn the ball back over to the visitors, which she did.

Red continued to move the ball well, notching 65 passes in the first half. One series, at 22 minutes, began in the back with Big Foot stealing the ball from a Rush mid-fielder, sending the ball up the line to Sunshine who bobbed and weaved past a defender and sent the ball into the middle to the waiting First Aid. She deked past the central defender and launched the ball past the Rush keeper. Xtreme was up 1-0 and First Aid pulled ahead of Taxman on the stat board.

But as her name implies, the Taxman is going to make you pay. And just one minute into the second half she pounced on an opportunity. Sledgehammer was pulled down in the Rush box, still managing to get her shot off, which the keeper deflected. The ball came right back to Sister Sledge, who, still reeling from the foul, gave a little side pass to the Taxman who fired a missile into the far corner to beat the Rush keeper. Xtreme was up 2-0 and the leaderboard in the clubhouse was tied again.

The sun came out and stated to roast the players and fans. Caught unprepared for the late game sun last week, Red was determined not to make the same mistake. The girls had a canopy and water sprayer and they kept cool. Rush was not as prepared, and with only 9 players, the heat, and Xtreme's game of keep away, it all began to take its toll on the visitors. They slowed down and were affording Red a long time to move the ball and make decisions. Red was linking together 7 and 8 pass sequences on their way to an 82 pass second half.

Rush did take more shots in the second half, but most were from distance and without a lot behind them. Happy Feet easily stopped the seven shots she faced and used a combination of punts and tosses to get Red back on attack.

Red almost increased the lead to three after a corner the girls played short landed at The Hammer's foot. She expertly teed the ball up for herself and fired a cruise missile at the net that caught everyone by surprise. Unfortunately it was about a foot too high – but the defender who now sometimes appears on offense is clearly hungry for her first goal of the season. Let's hope she gets it in the season finale in two weeks.

The game ended 2-0 – it was Xtreme's second shut out in four wins this season. The squad heads into the Memorial Day break with a full schedule – four games in two days during the Bull Run Tournament. Red will use the games to continue to build on recent successes, and open the game rosters to visiting guests. They'll close the Spring season out on the road on June 5 against LUYAA Black Venom.

Xtreme Unable to Finish Against McLean

The last time McLean Sprit White faced Xtreme it was the last game of the Fall 2010 season. A win would ensure the green and White would clinch the division. Xtreme said, "no," winning that game 2-0 and knocking Spirit into fourth place. McLean came to Annandale seeking revenge.

The game started in much the same way the last one had – with Xtreme quickly establishing the pace of the game and controlling the ball. The teams probed each other's defenses looking for a weak spot – and finally, at 6 minutes, Red seemed to find one, with three players in the White box and the first quality shot on goal from Space Ghost. But the White keeper stood tall – and Red would test her several more times in the first half – from close range, from distance, and from the left and right. Taxman and First Aid terrorized the green defense and keeper, combining for 16 shots – 13 of them on target. But the keeper rose to the challenge each time, turning away all the Red shots.

At the other end of the field, Sharky also stood tall. She only faced 5 McLean shots on goal and she turned them all away, quickly sending booming punts down the field to put her team back on the attack.

Big Foot and the Professor also helped by building a wall at the half line. They'd run down loose balls and stymie McLean's attempted long ball game. When the rare ball or player got past them, Hollywood was waiting to shut down the White offense, which she did with Xtreme prejudice, blocking a season high 5 shots.

A good Red scoring opportunity came on a succession of two Red corners. Sunshine played a medium ball in to First Aid who teed it back up to her – Sunshine came in on the angle and blasted a ball – on target, but high.

Unlike recent games the girls have played, this one was fairly foul free. Only 9 were called all game, and two of those were simply hand balls. One foul Red suffered gave them a free kick from about 20 yards. First Aid lined up to take the shot and McLean built a wall. First Aid faked the shot, instead connecting with a waiting Taxman who was to the right, outside the wall. Taxman pulled the shot out of the air and everyone tasted goal – but the White keeper was there.

The half would end with the score knotted at nil, but with Red clearly controlling the game and generating more quality scoring opportunities.

But it seemed different teams came out for the second half. Red's passing game was down (47 passes in the first half, 35 in the second), and McLean's forwards and midfielders stepped up their intensity – charging through the Red defenses to create scoring chances. And they tripled their offense from the first half.

Happy Feet faced a White onslaught and she stood tall making exciting saves, effectively tracking shots that would go wide, and mounting daunting challenges to sprinting White players. But there was anxiety on the Red sideline – White was getting too many shots – Happy Feet couldn't stop them forever. And finally, in 41 minutes, that prediction came true. White would pressure from inside the box, and Red was unable to clear the ball. On the third attempt, White scored.

But Red was far from done. At 55 minutes Happy Feet would make a save – one of 15 she was forced to make – and send a directional punt to Space Ghost in the midfield. She'd bring the ball up field and connect with First Aid who would begin to cut across the field, drawing defenders to her. She'd then find an open Taxman on the right side who would beat her defender and take on the charging White keeper. Taxman beat the keeper and sent a hard shot to the near post, but it would hit the post and come back out. Taxman pounced on her own rebound and buried the ball in the back of the net to tie the score and notch her third goal of the season.

Red was reenergized. But it wouldn't last long. Only two minutes later, a White attack would send Happy Feet sprawling to the ground to make a save. But the ball bounced between her hands, and a charging White player would pull the ball away from her and earn herself a go-ahead goal.

With time winding down Red tried to mount an attack, throwing The Hammer, the Sledgehammer, and Grace at the White team, but the Red simply didn't have enough left in the tank and White effectively used the field to run the clock down – adding an insurance goal in the 66^th minute. They would win the game 3-1 and get their revenge.

For the second time in two weeks, Red played an excellent, dominant first half, but then failed to close the game out by not playing a full second half – something the girls will work on during the week as they prepare to host Maryland Rush next week.

 

Sleepy Xtreme Falls to SAC Celtic’s Long Ball Game

It was a beautiful day for soccer up in Columbia, Maryland on Mother's Day Sunday; the sun was shining, a light breeze was blowing, and the moms in attendance looked resplendent. Both clubs looked sharp in bright red and bright blue kits as they observed a moment of silence for Mavis Derflinger, one of the pioneers of girls' soccer in our region and the nation.

But the fans would not only be mourning the passing of a soccer legend this day – they would also mourn the Xtreme precision passing game which failed to make the trek to Maryland.

Celtic got started early, peppering the Xtreme keeper with shots – she would make 13 saves in the first half. At nine minutes, a Celtic cross into the box found two well-defended Celtic players, but an alert Celtic midfielder charged forward and found herself all alone at the far post where she was able to knock the ball across the line when it squirted free to her.

Xtreme logged only 33 passes in the first half – a season low. Perhaps the referee mistakenly signaling the half at the 30 minute mark was a blessing in disguise – it would give Red a chance to regroup. (The referee indicated he would add time in the second half to make up for his error.)

And regroup they did. Red came out down 1-0, and immediately got into the game - forcing corner kicks, logging 50 passes, and generating several exciting scoring chances. But the blue keeper used the slow field and soft ball to her advantage and made many exciting saves.

The Red keeper also made many thrilling saves, punching shots out left and right and over the bar much to the chagrin of the home team fans. She made 14 saves in the half, but would not escape unscathed. In the 38^th minute Celtic took a corner, the Red keeper made the initial save, but could not control the rebound. A pile-up in front of the goal ensued, and Celtic got the lucky bounce after our keeper made another save, a defender blocked a shot, and our keeper took a boot to the ribs – they were up 2-0.

Red continued to pressure, but the Celtic keeper and defense did an effective job of keeping their team on offense. A long ball played up at 54 minutes would find a streaking Celtic keeper who may have had a step on the kick. She scored. The referee looked over at his STAR, but no offsides was signaled so the goal stood and that was how the game ended, 3-0.

Xtreme will regroup from this and hopefully find their game in time for next week's home match up against cross-county rival McLean.

Active Weekend Sends Xtreme Over .500 – to .500 – then below .500

Xtreme 98 Red hosted Stafford's Revolution White team in the first game of a home double-header on Saturday. Revolution's girls are tall and fast and they quickly set about to try to take control of the pace of the game. They tested Sharky in goal twice in the first minute, and raced around the field, taking throw-ins in a matter of seconds, and charging full speed at the Xtreme defense.

Xtreme began to take the bait, seemingly abandoning their slower paced, methodical passing game that frustrates opponents and lulls them to sleep. The teams traded more than a half a dozen shots in the first half with fast breaks going in both directions. At about the 14 minute mark, Red took better control of the game, slowed it down some, and thrilled the crowd with great precision passing sequences that ended in great saves from the visiting keeper. Both keepers kept the offenses honest, and we went into the half knotted at nil.

Red seemed energized by their newly-asserted control, and Revolution, perhaps with several Red near misses replaying in their minds, seemed slightly more tenuous. And finally, at 42 minutes, Red's patience paid off. A Red corner kick led to several close range shots from inside the box, including a blistering one from the Taxman that ricocheted off a Revolution defender and landed on First Aid's foot. She knew what to do, blasting a shot and beating the keeper to the far post.

Just three minutes later, Sharky would send a booming punt well over the half line. Big Foot would collect it and dance around two Revolution players, sending a precision pass to the waiting Sunshine. She'd take two hops into the box, and with two defenders closing in, and the keeper challenging, take a quality shot to the far post – Xtreme was up 2-0.

Solid play from the entire squad, including 5 blocked shots from four players and 15 saves from Sharky, gave Xtreme their first regular season shut out and vaulted the team into sole possession of third place with a winning record of 3 wins, 2 losses, and zero ties.

But it wouldn't last.

On Sunday, Red took on the first place, undefeated SYC Stampede. Stampede had beaten Xtreme last year in the first game of the season, then surrendered a draw to Xtreme later in the year. Both teams wanted a win.

The field was slick with muddy patches from an early morning shower, and a strong wind blew in ominous clouds from the west – and the players took the field.

Xtreme went to work immediately, moving the ball well. This style of play is not something Stampede has seen this year, and it seemed to puzzle and frustrate them for a bit. The Stampede game is a long ball game that feeds off the speed of a few players to create fast break situations and then use dangerous physical play to break free of covering opponents. But Xtreme has speed in the back as well, and nothing if not toughness.

Early in the first half, Stampede won a loose ball in their own end and sent one of their fast strikers streaking down the field. Our own Hollywood caught the girl from behind and matched her stride for stride going into our box. Sharky also came out to challenge, and with the Stampede window closing, the girl's legs got tangled up with Hollywood's. The Stampede girl took the shot and gave Hollywood a shove as they all went down, and Hollywood came up holding her hamstring, and in pain. She would have to leave the field.

Finally, at 11 minutes, Stampede would break the tie. Stampede's only corner kick of the game would have the ball bouncing around the box, with Red unable to clear it. On their fourth attempted shot, Stampede found the back of the net.

But then Red would take over. For the final 14 minutes of the first half, Red controlled the ball, moving it around the field, probing the Stampede defense for a weak spot and only allowing two brief Stampede offensive runs with only one shot on goal. However, it was during one of these fast breaks that an SYC player, closing in on our goal, was caught on the angle by The Hammer. The girls collided, and the Stampede player gave The Hammer an extra push as she was going down. No call was made, but The Hammer would leave the game with a possible broken wrist and not return.

Stampede's defense is one that aims to take away shots from opponents by collapsing several defenders onto the player with the ball. Although this tactic left Red players open, the team had difficulty completing that final important pass to the open player. We would end up surrendering the ball, but then our defense quickly reclaimed it, and sent Red back on attack. Red's best scoring chance of the first half came when Sunshine would manage to get behind the defense on an outlet pass from the Professor. Sunshine was called offsides, however, as she had the ball when she beat the last defender, the call was mind-boggling.

The smothering Stampede defense saw to it the half would end 1-0, despite Red's on field dominance. Xtreme completed 71 passes in the first half on their way to a 121 all time high passing game.

The second half began the way the first half ended, with Xtreme controlling the ball and playing soccer, while the Stampede played a combination of kickball and rollerball.

The Sledgehammer, Taxman, and First Aid would create a great scoring chance for Red that would have tied the game when First Aid broke free of her double coverage in the box and fired a cannon at the goal. The shot loudly clanged off the post, but it showed everyone that Red was still fighting.

Then the rains came. Field conditions worsened and the ball became slick and hard to control. And that would work to Stampede's advantage. The starting putting multiple shots on Sharky – who turned away 11 in the second half – but finally at 56 minutes, the Stampede onslaught became too much. Sharky made a fantastic save on a low angle shot from her left, but the wet ball spun out of her hands and a waiting Stampede player knocked it the final three inches over the line. Three minutes later they would add a third goal in much the same way, and at 62 minutes a questionable non-call on an offsides player would add a fourth.

The game would end 4-0 for Stampede, but Xtreme demonstrated more skill and class than the visitors. It's a refrain many may be tired of hearing, but at the end of the day a classy loss is better for the soul than an ugly win.

The loss would put Xtreme back to 3 wins and 3 losses – a respectable .500. But then, a few hours later, we would received word from the league that they were going to force a forfeit on us for out 4/17 win over LMVSA Patriots. It was an unfortunate outcome, but it was technically correct. We did, unknowingly, use players who were ineligible – but the alternative was to forfeit the game up front or play with only 7 players against a full Patriot roster. We chose to play a proper game and hoped that the Patriot coaching staff would accept the game as merely a U12 soccer game. They didn't see it that way.

So Xtreme finds itself with a new record of 2-4 heading into the last part of the season. But we see no reason we can't climb back above .500 again – we'll take it one game at a time, beginning this Sunday, Mother's Day, against Celtic.

Xtreme Notches Win…For Now

Xtreme took on cross-county rival LMVSA Patriots on Sunday. Red's roster was a shadow of itself – down 5 of 12 players. Red decided to avail themselves of WAGS' Club Pass rule, which enables age appropriate players within the club to play for other club teams, as long as players only play one WAGS game per day.

However, the Patriot's manager noted there's fine print with that rule. Once the Spring season begins, players cannot use the Club Pass to play down a division. Or across the same division. It only works upwards. So, according to the WAGS rules, the three guests from the White squad would be a rule violation and Red would forfeit the game.

Faced with the tough decision of playing seven eligible players against a strong 11-person Patriot squad, we chose to field a full team with the ineligible players. The Patriots coach said he would play the game under protest.

The numerous phone calls and conferences meant we got under way about five minutes late, and Xtreme immediately began moving the ball and communicating well.

Happy Feet, spelled in goal for the first half by the visiting Mel, logged the first shot on goal of the game. First Aid followed suit with several SOGs of her own, but the Patriot keeper stood tall.

But Mel stood taller, turning away all 14 shots she faced in the first half. And her booming punts converted Red quickly back to offense. The half ended deadlocked at nil.

Finally, at 42 minutes, the visiting Reina would pull what can only be described as a "Big Foot goal." She intercepted a Patriot goal kick close to mid field, and lobbed a bomb in from the left side that soared over the diving keeper and under the crossbar. Red was up 1-0.

Ten minutes later, in the fifty-second minute, a Red goal kick would result in a goal. Mel would blast the kick up to a waiting First Aid who would dribble down the center through several defenders and finally shoot the ball past the challenging Patriot keeper.

Coach Lance would mix up the lines, with Hollywood playing back to assist The Professor and the guesting Mariana, and The Hammer found herself up top, where she would log three shots on goal.

Sunshine, Space Ghost, First Aid, and Mariana, moved the ball well in the offensive zone to create several good scoring opportunities in the second half.

With time winding down, the Patriots started to get frustrated, and a questionable play at 55 minutes would give them a goal to cut the Red lead in half.

One of the fastest Patriots was sprung on a fast break and she used her speed to get herself behind the Red defense. Happy Feet stepped up to challenge her and made the initial save, but the Patriot player charged into the Red keeper – the collision freeing the ball. The Patriot player got another touch on it to send it towards the goal line. Mel got her foot on the ball and pulled it off the line, but once again, an opponent's STAR waved the ball in. Xtreme witnesses behind the goal (and closer than the STAR) said the ball was on the line, but had not crossed it when Mel pulled it back. At any rate, there should have been a foul called when the girl crashed into our keeper. But the goal was awarded, and that was how the game would end, 2-1. On the score card.

The Patriot coach is expected to contest the game, and if WAGS upholds his challenge, the game will go down as a Red forfeit. Regardless of what the standings reflect, Red won the game and no doubt enjoyed a confidence boost as they go into the spring break.

All told, seven Xtreme players recorded 29 shots, 18 on target. Xtreme keepers turned away 20 of 21 shots. For the second straight game, Xtreme was forced to defend more corners (9) than they took (4). And again, as is usually the case, Xtreme committed two fouls and suffered four.

Xtreme enjoys a bye next weekend, but will follow up with a double header, hosting Stafford on Saturday, April 30, and the undefeated first place SYC Stampede on Sunday, May 1 – both critical games.

Picture of the Week - April 15, 2011

Happy Feet (right) performed, and The Hammer (left) ran tech for "Willy Wonka Junior" at their school this week. Sunshine approved of the performance that was well beyond a typical elementary school production. No word on whether or not Happy Feet is sporting the new Xtreme uniform for next year.

Xtreme Takes 3 Points from Maryland

Robbed of points in their first visit to the Maryland Soccerplex, Xtreme was determined to come home with points after their second trip to the Free State in as many weeks. They would not be disappointed.

Xtreme took to the turf against newly-formed WSC Pachuca Dragons 98 Blue, whose crisp new uniforms said that in spite of the team's new status, they were here to play.

The game began with Red taking control and moving the ball well. The first several shots belonged to Xtreme, and Happy Feet was rarely tested in goal.

Finally, at 10 minutes, the Dragons would strike on a long ball that freed one of their fastest players. Happy Feet made the initial save, but the spinning ball would squirt out of her hands. A heads-up play from the aggressive Dragon striker enabled her to capitalize on the loose ball and nudge the ball across the goal line.

Having dominated the play to that point and finding themselves in a one goal hole, Red was put back on their heels temporarily. They are, however, Xtreme 98 Red, and if they aren't fighting an uphill battle, what are they doing? They rallied and at 18 minutes would equalize.

The Professor stood a Dragon midfielder up at the half mark and sent a nice ball down the side to a waiting Sledgehammer. Sister Sledge would play a through ball to the Taxman who danced through two defenders and blasted the ball into the back of the net.

Back to even, the teams would trade possessions for several minutes, until Red would go on a relentless streak, scoring three goals in a five minute span as the half wound down.

First, at 27 minutes, the Sledgehammer would notch her second assist of the day when she found First Aid in the box who would beat the Dragon keeper, short side.

Four minutes later, Sunshine would really use her head when she took on a taller defender in the box. She leapt up and sent a header over the defender towards the center where a waiting Taxman would pound her second of the season past the keeper.

Just a minute later, the Hammer would take on two Dragon defenders and come away with the ball. She found Space Ghost, tearing down the left side who would beat her coverage and then beat the shell-shocked Dragon keeper.

We went to half time up 4-1 – a first for Red.

But the Dragons made several adjustments, and despite warnings to the Red players from fans and their teammates not to get complacent, the Dragons did make the game interesting – tripling their shots on goal in the half. Sharkey would turn away all four shots she faced and then come out of goal for the final minutes, replaced by First Aid.

Two unfortunate Red hand balls as time was running out would keep the Dragon hopes alive, and on one of them, at 68 minutes, they would cut the Red lead to two. The ball got past the Red wall where a secondary defender would try to clear it. Unfortunately, the angles weren't kind to Red and we recorded an own goal for the Dragons' second of the game.

That would, however, round out the scoring and it goes into the books as a 4-2 win. The girls were treated to Kona shaved ice for their efforts, and all the players contributed in the win.

Big Foot logged a season-high 11 booming shots and had the girls covering her diving to the ground in an attempt to keep up with her deadly reverses. Grace, who still needs a nickname, and came to the game on legs that had just played a lacrosse game came close to notching her first assist more than once, as her line of Sledgehammer and Sunshine knocked on the Dragons' door more than once.

Red moves ahead of three teams in the division and now looks forward to another road game next week when they take on the third place LMVSA Patriots on Sunday in Alexandria.