The Red took on one of their sister teams from ABGC, Freedom 98, on Sunday in the second match of the season. Many of the players know each other well, having played rec soccer together or on basketball teams together. The teams also shared players last season and occasionally during the last several winter indoor season. As a result, or perhaps because of the game the day before and the severe heat on Sunday, this match moved at a slower pace.
The teams felt each other out, alternating games of keep-away. Erin L. started in goal and successfully turned away four shots, including one that had her sprawling across the goal mouth 
to pounce on a rebound. Both teams quickly realized that with solid goal keeping at both ends, this was going to be a game that would be won in the trenches – a war of attrition to see who would make the first mistake. The level of physical play intensified in both directions, with our defense, led by Erin G., Kendall, and Caitlin collapsing in on Freedom attackers to limit their chances, but with Freedom pushing right back – and hard.
The game was plagued by inconsistent officiating that focused more on throw ins than the increasing physicality of the game, something that would come back to take a toll on both teams later in the game.
Emma, Aiden, and visiting Teah combined for five quality shots on the Freedom keeper – all were saved. Madison would add a shot as well, but saw limited playing time due to her sore knee and allergies that were bothering her. The first half ended as it had started, 0-0.
There was more of the same deliberate play in the second half, until the 45 minute mark when Caitlin, once again, reclaimed the ball deep in her end, and charged past Freedom attackers and mid-fielders only to be fouled in the Freedom half. The referee called a direct kick, and Caitlin, as we all knew she could, bent the ball around the Freedom wall slamming it into the back of the net from 30 yards out.
The failure of the referee to warn the girls effectively on physical play finally resulted in injuries to players on both sides. "The Hammer" and the very aggressive Freedom player she had been battling all day, collided hard and both players went down. True to form, "The Hammer" popped up first, but both players took a breather. Megan went in at defense, and despite nursing an injured angle, was able to hold her gorund admirably, helping Erin L and Caitlin protect our one goal lead. Kendall turned away five Freedom shots, including a rising shot that she was just able to get her fingers on to send over the crossbar.
At the 52 minute mark Freedom tallied the tying goal from what seemed to be an impossible angle to our keepers' left, and the teams would fight hard in the final 8 minutes for a winning goal. So hard, in fact, that we saw, for what may have been the first time in team history, a yellow card come out for an opponent.
Audrey "Space Ghost" had the best opportunity to break the tie when our defense sent her ahead with a beautiful ball. The Freedom keeper misread the pass and found herself woefully out of position. "Space Ghost" took two touches and fired right on net, but the bumpy field said "no," and a large divot slowed the ball down and redirected it just enough for the keeper to turn it aside. It was Audrey's third quality shot of the game.
The game would end in a 1-1 draw, and although a win was certainly possible, it was nice to face an opponent against whom the team is more evenly matched. Next up, a rematch against the Junior Majestics and the Vienna Comets.
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