Xtreme’s Footwork Carries Them Into VIP Playoffs

Xtreme 98 Red returned to the VIP Tournament with a definite goal in mind: return to the Championship Game and win it. Fans will recall last year's impressive Xtreme performance when the squad went 2-1-0 to reach the Championship game - a game they ultimately lost to a fast-breaking FASA team.

With FASA unwilling or unable to defend their title, Xtreme entered the tournament as the heir apparent, and the girls got to work early.

Taking on the high-scoring Alexandria Revolution Red, Xtreme started moving the ball well, pressuring the Revolution keeper early and often. Revolution would break the stalemate at 7 minutes with a breakaway goal on just their second shot on goal of the game.

But Xtreme is comfortable playing catch-up – and catch-up they did. At 11 minutes The Professor stood a Revolution attacker up on the left side, came away with the ball and carried it past another attacker, sending a perfect pass ahead to Space Ghost waiting at mid-field. Space Ghost carried the ball through the mid-field and sent Sunshine on a run to goal that ended with the first Red goal of the tournament.

And the floodgates opened.

On the ensuing kick-off, the guesting Jessie would rock the post with a shot that threatened to lift the goal off it's moorings. One minute later, at 13 minutes, Jessie would steal the ball from Revolution and drive a laser into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal.

The remainder of the first half was all Xtreme. Happy Feat faced no more shots, while the Taxman would add two more unassisted goals, at 15 minutes and 18 minutes.

In the second half, Xtreme picked up where they had left off – First Aid would lend an assist to the guesting Liv 2 minutes into the half to make it 5-1. One minute later, First Aid would steal the ball from the Revolution, dribble through most of the team, and call her own number, putting the ball away for the sixth and final goal of the game.

All told, Xtreme put 28 shots on net and sent 10 more wide or high. Xtreme keepers faced only three shots – one turned away by Happy Feet, and one turned away by Taxman who spent the closing minutes of the game in goal. Effective defense from Big Foot, The Hammer, and the Sledgehammer kept Red's offense buzzing around the Revolution net, and accurate passing and creative decision making would send Xtreme away with a decisive victory.

Game 2, against the hosting Great Falls Spirit, would not be such a high scoring affair, but would be a well-played chess match.

Xtreme would put only 6 shots on goal all game, but one of them, at the 8 minute mark, would find the back of the net when Big Foot fed First Aid for the go-ahead goal.

Meanwhile Happy Feet was kept busy in the Red goal, turning away 5 quality shots in the first half.

The game was evenly matched and well-played, with First Aid running a footwork clinic that frustrated and stymied the Great Falls defense; and a solid Xtreme defense led by Jessie, Big Foot, and The Hammer. Solid performances were turned in by all the players, including Happy Feet in goal who came up with 5 more big saves. Finally, however, Great Falls would grab the equalizer in the 47^th minute.

The game would end in a draw – enough for Xtreme to at least take second place in the Division and secure a play-off spot. Xtreme's play-off schedule would depend on the outcome of the Great Falls/Alexandria game – a game the hosts would win 9-0. With Great Falls and Xtreme with identical records and a tie in head-to-head competition it was goal differential that would push GF ahead of Xtreme. Xtreme would take on old rival Team America United in the semi-final game on Sunday morning.