They are undefeated! Pictures from Tues/Wed
Team NorCal is on a roll, but the competition is going to get tough.
Today we finished up group play with a 5-0 blasting of Orjesjo FK which is another local Swedish team. While the team started out slow, once again we were able to get a goal or two in prior to half time. Once that happened, the flood gates opened.
There was some sloppy and some selfish play today - not a good sign going into the next knockout rounds. From here on out it is win or go home. The girls have made it to the final 16 of their age grouping - pretty amazing when you consider they come from 3 or 4 teams and never get to practice or play together really otherwise. You can see signs of that - both in the unfamiliarity for style of play and the trusting of each other.
I know Alyssa got pretty frustrated today - she was wide open in front of goal several times awaiting a simple touch pass from a team mate who instead tried to dribble through 3 players and lost the ball. Or a few time she placed a perfect pass into open space only to see the set up missed or wasted.
But that is soccer and she is not perfect by any means. She did get to slot in back and central defense today - with the team pressing 5 of 6 players on offense she was at times the lone defender and handled it just fine.
One of the most disappointing things going into this tournament was learning we'd play all three group games versus Swedish teams. There was hope we'd play versua more than one country to fill out the cultural experience. So now that we are advancing... we play a team from..... wait for it.... all the way from this place called.... SAN MATEO CALIFORNIA!!
Are you kidding me?
We've traveled 8000 km to play a team that lives 2 hours from our homes?
Oh well. The path forward is tough. San Mateo won 2 and tied 1 in their bracket having only scored 4 but have given up only 1. Our girls have put through 13 goals and given up 1. So tough to say how we will match up.
If we make it past them, we move onto the final 8 match up most likely versus a German team that everyone around here is telling us is the top team in the tournament. They've been blowing out teams right and left, so I guess we'll just take it one game at a time. First up... San Mateo.
Alyssa has wanted to post in her blog, but she is exhausted each day. It may be only one game per day, but it is a full day and she's usually dead tired by 930/10pm.
Then she's not getting the best sleep because the sunlight is up until 11pm and rises again around 4am and it wakes her up. Plus there is always just the difference of sleeping in a strange place.
So I'm doing my best to give updates for her.
She did tell me on the way back from her game a few hours ago as we were riding on the train that she keeps thinking about all the people who contributed to her ability to come here and how much this experience has exceeded her expectations both in terms of a cultural experience and a sporting experience and winning their bracket. She's very proud of her team for that.
Here are some photos of our day yesterday:
We had a match verus one of our host teams - Onsala BK
Following our match, they drove our team 30 km south to their home training grounds for some friendly soccer type games and skills competitions and fun language games.
Then they took us to the "beach" for even more fun, crab fishing, and eating over 60 pizzas!
Today we finished up group play with a 5-0 blasting of Orjesjo FK which is another local Swedish team. While the team started out slow, once again we were able to get a goal or two in prior to half time. Once that happened, the flood gates opened.
There was some sloppy and some selfish play today - not a good sign going into the next knockout rounds. From here on out it is win or go home. The girls have made it to the final 16 of their age grouping - pretty amazing when you consider they come from 3 or 4 teams and never get to practice or play together really otherwise. You can see signs of that - both in the unfamiliarity for style of play and the trusting of each other.
I know Alyssa got pretty frustrated today - she was wide open in front of goal several times awaiting a simple touch pass from a team mate who instead tried to dribble through 3 players and lost the ball. Or a few time she placed a perfect pass into open space only to see the set up missed or wasted.
But that is soccer and she is not perfect by any means. She did get to slot in back and central defense today - with the team pressing 5 of 6 players on offense she was at times the lone defender and handled it just fine.
One of the most disappointing things going into this tournament was learning we'd play all three group games versus Swedish teams. There was hope we'd play versua more than one country to fill out the cultural experience. So now that we are advancing... we play a team from..... wait for it.... all the way from this place called.... SAN MATEO CALIFORNIA!!
Are you kidding me?
We've traveled 8000 km to play a team that lives 2 hours from our homes?
Oh well. The path forward is tough. San Mateo won 2 and tied 1 in their bracket having only scored 4 but have given up only 1. Our girls have put through 13 goals and given up 1. So tough to say how we will match up.
If we make it past them, we move onto the final 8 match up most likely versus a German team that everyone around here is telling us is the top team in the tournament. They've been blowing out teams right and left, so I guess we'll just take it one game at a time. First up... San Mateo.
Alyssa has wanted to post in her blog, but she is exhausted each day. It may be only one game per day, but it is a full day and she's usually dead tired by 930/10pm.
Then she's not getting the best sleep because the sunlight is up until 11pm and rises again around 4am and it wakes her up. Plus there is always just the difference of sleeping in a strange place.
So I'm doing my best to give updates for her.
She did tell me on the way back from her game a few hours ago as we were riding on the train that she keeps thinking about all the people who contributed to her ability to come here and how much this experience has exceeded her expectations both in terms of a cultural experience and a sporting experience and winning their bracket. She's very proud of her team for that.
Here are some photos of our day yesterday:
We had a match verus one of our host teams - Onsala BK
Following our match, they drove our team 30 km south to their home training grounds for some friendly soccer type games and skills competitions and fun language games.
Then they took us to the "beach" for even more fun, crab fishing, and eating over 60 pizzas!
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| Captains meet NorCal vs. Onsala BK |
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| Alyssa with the team flag of Onsala BK |
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| Half time chat - rallying the team |
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| Alyssa and Makyna celebrate "Maks" goal from half field |
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| At Onsala's training grounds after our match - we played the language game! |
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| Onsala BK's crest |
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| Skills competition at Onsala BK - Alyssa's kick went 2nd furthest |
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| NorCal and Onsala players with Coach Jonas |
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| The NorCal girls with both Onsala teams |
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| Arrival at the "beach" |
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| Players vs parents crab fishing competition - Swedish meatballs were the bait! |
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| Onsala made us shirts! |
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| Onsala and NorCal as one! |
Game time Wednesday - Final Group 7 match
Davis Alliance (NorCal) versus Orjersjo FK
Win or tie we win our bracket.
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| Alyssa as center striker - odd spot for her |
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| Back as central defender - her familiar role |
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| After the match teams thank each other and the ref then shake hands. |
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| Group 7 Champions - onto the playoff rounds |
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| The girls had brought each other souvenirs from their travels |
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| After the match team dinner - meatballs! |
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