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.