Jenna and Soccer Friends

Jenna was a tiger today running after the ball on the field. She can still pretty much run anyone down and get to the ball first. It's fun to watch her. Today we played a team that included our friends, Ellie and Grace. Everyone played well, and we got to gather and say hi after the game. Darrell and Rachel came to cheer on the twins, so we got to see them as well. Rachel and Jenna both played soccer for the first time together back when they were in U9 with coach Paul.

Fall Soccer - One Last Time

Coach Paul contacted us to ask if Jenna wanted to play for him and Coach Joe one more time. Due to the way the ages run in AYSO soccer, every other year Jenna has the chance to play for these coaches who coach their own daughters who are a year younger than Jenna. Her sights are set on club volleyball later this fall, but she wanted to play soccer one more time. We bought some new cleats and shin guards, and she jumped right back in after not playing this past year. It was like riding a bike. She is still a super fantastic defender, and it's so fun to watch her play.

Last Soccer Game

We have had an interesting soccer season this spring.  After deciding to return to Coach Paul and the rec league after finishing on the All Star team, there were not enough teams in Jenna's division to play rec.  Our coach got some other teams together to create some games, and Jenna's team practiced as usual.  There wasn't quite the same AYSO energy from parents, but the kids had fun and the coaches continued to train.  Today was their last game, and I finally made it out to take some pictures.  After the game, coach invited us back to his pool to have a barbecue.  Sarah came along after being at the game to support Jenna.  We love coach Paul and wish Jenna could keep playing with him.

Jenna's Soccer Awards

We attended Jenna's team soccer party and awards ceremony tonight.  The coach said something nice about each player as he gave them their 2nd place trophies.  Jenna was one of the last, and he said she was a coach's dream because she could play any position he asked her to play, and play it well.  We were very proud of our girl and so pleased that she is enjoying soccer so much.

Gold All Star Soccer Weekend #2

Jenna played some great soccer today.  She was paired right away with the tallest girl on the other team (2nd picture with white head wrap) because no one else on her team could challenge her.  Way to go Jenna (aka: Defender Extraordinaire)!

Gold All Star Game - Weekend #1

Jenna's first games with the Gold All Star Team were this weekend.  The girls played well and the scores were tight.  The weird fog was back at night which made visibility hard, but it did move through pretty quickly.  We're proud of Jenna for helping her team so much.  She is playing some great defense against tough teams!

Soccer - For The Championship!

Not too many photos from this night time game, but here's the recap.  The girls played their hearts out...both sides.  We brought our best game, and they brought theirs.  We even had a best friend routing on the sidelines (thanks Sarah!).  We went 4, thats FOUR, quarters with NO SCORE.  That's how well both teams were playing defensively.  We lost by one point in overtime, but really, there are no losers.  With our forward going out first quarter with a broken arm (yes, it was that bad), and five of our girls playing soccer for the first time in their lives, we did VERY well.  Plus, after winning first place two years ago, it's kind of a bummer to go to regionals because of the Sunday games.  That's really not sour grapes.  With two Mormon coaches, and a good part of the team who are LDS, we wouldn't have had a great turnout for regionals.  The 2nd place trophy is still HUGE by-the-way.  Trophy party to be posted later.  Great job Vicious Hamsters!!!

Soccer - Last Regular Game

Today was the last regular soccer game of the fall season.  Our team beat this team when they last met, and if we beat them again today, we would automatically take first place and the opponent would take second.  Their team seemed to know that and played hard.  After one goal for the opponent and a bad call from the ref in favor of the opponent, our girls seemed to lose steam.  In the end we lost this round and will move on to Thursday's playoff...against the same team.  Bring it.

Random October

11th - Heather informs me that multiple water bottles by her bed are for the Zombie Apocalypse

12th - Helen, Heather and Emma get silly in the locker room after baptisms

 16th - Jenna makes super fun jack-o-lantern modgepodge candle holder at Activity Days

 18th - I find cute circle tags on Pinterest and use them for decor and gifts

Jenna's make up soccer picture day happened and resulted in cute soccer pic!

Soccer Season Ending

Today was Jenna's last regular season game.  Next week is a Bye, and then the girls do their playoff games.  Today's team was tough, but the girls did a great job.  Jenna is growing by leaps and bounds.  She loves, loves, loves soccer and would practice every day if she could.  We're so happy that she has found something she is passionate about.

Soccer Summary - Two Game Week

Thursday evening, Jenna led her team in warm-ups and got into the "using your head" drill.  She was excited to play during the evening when it was cooler.  She also played a new position, center midfield, and loved it.  The position combined both defense and scoring ability, and she left the game pumped at the prospect of playing that position again.

Before Saturday's game, we popped over to check out Jenna's friend's game.  It was fun for the girls to see each other for a few minutes.  During our game, I shot a lot of pictures of the other girls to make sure I was getting everyone's child in the photos.  I didn't get a lot of action shots from Jenna, but this first one I snapped shows Jenna up against an old team mate from her first team.  Delaney (pictured), Jenna and Rachel were unstoppable defenders on their first team, and Delaney was also one who could break away and score.  I asked Jenna if she was intimidated knowing what Delaney was capable of, but she was not.  She looked forward to the challenge.  That's our girl.

Soccer Windy Saturday

Santa Ana winds, 90 degrees and a soccer game.  I don't know how these girls did it except for possibly sweat plus the wind is cooling?  They girls played so well.  The girls won 2-0, but I usually don't post the scores because for us it's really about how well they played.  You can't ask for more than a well-played game.  Their passing as they moved the ball down the field was textbook amazing.  Jenna spent all, but one quarter as a defender, and she didn't let anyone by her.  I had to take a picture of her pony tail in the wind as she stood listening to instructions.  The last photo is of Kelly and our coach which was so perfect with Kelly in his Cross Country volunteer t-shirt.  We're really grateful to these coaches and assistant coaches who volunteer their time so our girls can have this experience.

(Jenna stopping the ball mid run to change directions)

Soccer Saturday - Score!

Jenna's team did really well today.  Lots of great passing which led to some great scoring.  Jenna made a left-footed kick into the goal.  It bounced off the pole, but from the angle she was shooting from, we didn't expect her to make it.  It was pretty awesome that she had the opportunity to score and did so (she is not a lefty).  It was also pretty awesome that the team won their game prior to their pizza party.  That's always helpful for morale, right? This is a cute group of girls, and we are having a blast watching them progress together each week.

Soccer Saturday - Goalie!

It's been hot every single Saturday, and that makes it hard for me to stand in the blistering sun for an hour shooting photos.  Today I took a little break from the heat and didn't take as many.  I did get a few of Jenna in goal.  She doesn't love the goalie position because of the pressure, but she's really good at it. I love that she's not afraid to get down and get dirty.

Soccer Season!

It was a balmy 93 degrees today in Huntington Beach, but there's no canceling soccer!  Jenna's team, the Vicious Hamsters (our coach doesn't like boring names, no offense), played well together for having several girls who are just starting soccer in U12 for the first time ever.  I think all of the girls could have done with a little cooler weather.  Hopefully the temperatures will drop these next couple of weeks.

Tough Soccer Morning

It was hot this morning! Not summer hot yet, but definitely warmer than our cold misty mornings we've been used to.  The girls did their best today.  The team we played was tough.  They were everywhere and had some pretty advance and aggressive moves.  The photo sequence here shows Jenna on what could have been an easy defensive save to the right of the goal.  Notice how her opponent doesn't give up and goes at Jenna aggressively to win the ball.  Jenna was holding her own, but it was a tough game.