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.