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.