Seattle Youth Soccer Association

Good of the Game
2009 City Tournament
Comments by coaches, parents, and players

Comments received from teams about the good things that happen during this year's City tournament will be posted here as they are received. Share your stories and love of the game. Email to phoeberuss@comcast.net along with the game scores.

12-19 BU14 Last year a player on the LVR Scorpions was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to play so the team changed the named to Wumpenators to honor him as it was a character he developed for xbox. Thankfully he recovered and played this season. During the tournament we have played under our Wumpenators name causing some teams and officials to ask, "Who are you guys?" Now when the team chants Wumpenators it is both a cheer and a celebration of life. GU12 Thanks for a great tournament. This was a tough final and the Chilli Peppers fought hard the whole way. Too bad it had to end on pk’s. See you next year. GU17 The tradition continues... This year it was the Geckos' turn to take home the cup, but the Ravens deserve credit for playing a hard fought, clean match as always. Until next year (which will amazingly be the last). GU13 McG GO Girls had to win four close shutout games to get to the finals, and that doesn’t happen unless a team is committed, focused and tough. They may have been a third place silver team, but the Supremes needed to play their best to get past them. The Go Girls were very worthy of the finals. Your division and regular season results don’t matter when it comes to the City T. BU11 Congrats to LC Arsenal for a sublime performance in the final from Nighthawk Nation (McGilvra). We were honored to play you & grateful for the wonderful gift of the game ball from your coach. You are a great club, very well coached & supported & we wish you as much success in BU-12! Thanks to the SYSA City T organizers for such a thrilling event! We enjoyed every game & thought the venues & referees were first class. We'll be back, next year!

12-17 BU11 9 games in 17 days and we fell about 1 minute and a goal short from making it to our 10^th and Final Game. Great character building experience for our team to play through injuries, illness, and kudos to all the teams we played, it was fun. – The Gators

12-15 GU14 Great game by both teams, exceptionally well played with lots of hustle on both sides of the ball. The referees did a marvelous job, and as the head referee pointed out, he did not need to call a single foul the entire game - on either team! Soccer the way it was meant to be played! And it was even warm.....BU19 The Comets have ended their run in the tournament in a hard fought match with the Galaxy, 0-2. It was great to be able to play both of our long standing rivals, the Blue Bombers and the Galaxy, in the tournament this year. BU14. The officiating crew did a very good job. It was pleasure to have AR's for the first time. They ran the line very well. The referee was always in a good place to see the plays developing and called a great game. Thanks to the entire crew BU11 Congratulations to the mighty Gators on last night's win. It was a good hard fought and clean match. Thanks for the fun rivalry this
year, and good luck in the rest of the tourney! -The Hornets

12-14 GU13 I cannot believe we finished 3rd in Silver B during the regular season and are now in the Finals. So fun. ... VERY GOOD REFFING TONIGHT. The best we have experienced during the City Tournament in the past three years. Seriously. The head ref was really good in my opinion. GU17 I want to salute the McGilvra Comets for their effort in last night's game. Due to a miscommunication, they thought the game was to be played on 12/15 and not 12/14. However, a couple of Comet parents rallied what players they could on short notice and they came out strong even though short handed.We ended up winning the game due to an overwhelming number of players but the Comets determination under adverse circumstances was admirable.Also, special thanks to the refs who extended the game start time and despite the pouring rain and blowing wind, did not cancel the game.GU16 It was really a “Clash of the Titans” and a hard fought game that could have gone either way right to the 80^th minute. Best of luck to the Tigers! So ends another season…… As usual, on a miserable, dark and cold rainy night, with lots of tears and heartache….. and that was just from the coach! Fortunately Spring Soccer is just a few months away and soon it will be time to start a whole new season!

12-12 BU11 I have to say that if we had to lose, it was nice to lose to a sportsman-like bunch of young boys. They played hard and had a nice couple of coaches to boot. Best of luck to the Hornets. BU13 Darn! but great game, both sides worked hard from whistle to whistle. Good center, as usual. Very proud of my boys, and very much appreciate all who put so much into the tournament. It has been something to look forward to for a lot of years

12-10 From a referee: I was truly impressed by the play of the girls and the support of parents, families, and coaches at the U-11 matches I refereed tonight. The LVR Panthers, and Ballard Black Bears in one match and the Hillwood Cougars and the Queen Anne Vampire Bats in the other. There were truly no losers on the Interbay field tonight! There were maybe a few frozen fingers and toes (especially for the spectators) as it was more than chilly. All four teams and supporters showed their best efforts and Seattle youth soccer clubs should be proud of the young ladies as they represented their skills on the turf. Three hearty cheers for the sportsmanship, fair play, and blossoming skills I saw tonight BU14 (Bal vs Bal) Both teams have been practicing and scrimmaging together through regular season. Tonight's icicle match was another meeting where both teams played great and treated each other like gentlemen. Our opposing coaches, old acquaintances since mod level, were also polite and superb on the sidelines. Ballard Club was done proud tonight.
12-9 GU15 H a nnnds too frr oozen to typ e.....Both teams played such a great game under severe cold conditions. Disposable toe warmer inserts saved our team, I would recommend them to all teams. Stuff as many in your cleats as you can. Refs did a very professional job. Our thanks to them GU13 This was the second match-up between these two great teams and, while it is disappointing to be out of the Tourney, if we had to lose, I'm glad it was to such a gracious, sportsmanly, well-disciplined team. We wish the Dragonflies the best of luck in the rest of the Tournament.

12-8 from a coach: "You know one advantage of having the parents on the other side of the field is that I can't hear them say how cold it is continuously" BU16 Boys had fun. We'll be back next year.

From Parks: History: This week’s games would not have been played on rock hard cintrex- This week’s games would not have been played on rock hard sand fields - This week’s games are being played on frozen synthetic

12-7 GU12 My fingers have thawed enough to report that it was a great game, hard-fought to the very end, with both teams playing their hearts out. The Orange Tigers are a talented group with great sportsmanship, and I hope we get to play them again sometime! The officiating was professional and excellent.
BU11 As a coach once told us "leave everything on the field. Leave the goals scored, leave the goals conceded, leave every single tear, bad touch, and broken heart on the field. Bring with you only your teammates and your desire to keep on pushing until the very end. Stand together as one and you shall stand strong." (Zoe birkbeck).

12-6 GU16 It was a very close game and the Popeyes’ defense did an excellent job of keeping the Lasers from scoring throughout the game. Then, in the last 5 minutes of the game, the Popeyes managed to get one in and we ended up going into a shoot-out! The Lasers won the shoot-out, but I have to give the Popeyes a lot of credit for a game well played! GU16 Opponent In my 7 years of coaching these players I have never been prouder than today. The Lasers are a great team with fabulous ball skills and awesome teamwork. They gave us a lesson in fluid soccer on the last day of the regular season beating us 6-1 but today we played with every ounce of energy and skill we could muster and equalized with 2 minutes left. to tie 1-1 and go to PKs. Could not quite find the touch from the spot so it is back to work on Wednesday in Georgetown. The girls wanted to thank the referee crew for their even-handed and personable game management style and for letting them play as well as they are finally realizing they can. GU15 We were lucky to have a sunny afternoon, both teams played very hard in the cold. BU13 The Salmon Bay goalie was sensational! LC Blue is a class act.

12/5 GU12 We had a great city tourney this year. Next year, we will work more on p.k's. after having 3 shoot outs in a row. GU11 We had a great game against the Mustangs and their keeper made some spectacular saves. All the girls also talked about what a great team the Mustangs were and how nice they were. We are looking forward to playing them again next season. Reply from Mustangs: Thanks for the kind words. My daughter appreciates them as well as she was the goalie in the 2nd half. Best of luck in the tournament. We’ll see you next year GU14 The referee of the game Jeff Huse was the best we have ever had. Fair calls against both sides. He kept contact without going for the ball and arms out pushing to a minimum by making early calls that kept the game safe. I wish we had more referees like him

12-3 GU13 The LVR Ravens deserve medals for bravery and not giving up in the face of adversity. Due to scheduling conflicts, the Ravens were only able to field a team of 8 girls against the MtB Gold Hawks, however, they played a great game. They never stopped trying, and lost by only 2 goals. I'm proud to say my daughter is part of that team. BU13 Great center! Both evenly-matched teams played hard from whistle to whistle. Great game! (and another BU13) The LVR Ice defeated the WD Hawks 1-0 in game 10 of the B-U13 bracket. It was a close, well played match and it is too bad the Hawks were eliminated GU11 We had a great time tonight. The Valkyries were a great team and their keepers were great and fun to watch.

12-2 GU15 Golden Cheetahs win the penalty shoot out. Flying Saints coach was a great guy. It was fun to be on the same side of the field with the opponents. That being said, missed the interaction with our parents too. Very good officiating crew.

BU13: The Hillwood Knights beat LC Blue in penalty kicks tonight in Game 5 of the BU13 division. The score was tied 1 to 1 at the end of regulation and was still tied after the first 5 penalty kicks for each team. We (the Knights) were fortunate to win on the 6th kick. The LC Blue played a great game and they were terrific sports. It's too bad someone had to lose that game.
GU19: It seems like it just wouldn’t be the City Tournament if the Killer Whales didn’t lose their first game. I guess we like doing things the hard way and will hopefully navigate our way through the losers’ bracket. Anyway, it was a hard contested match by both sides and a good game to watch. I don’t know what I’m going to miss more at the end of this season…the seniors on the team (for a lot of them I’ve been coaching for 13 years), the player/team personalities, watching a group of young kids growing up to be girls growing up to become young women who will be moving on with their lives who have put up with me for sooooo many seasons in one sport or another, or the other coaches and players that I’ve come to enjoy playing and competing with over the last four years. This has been a wonderful division of teams that has grown up together and competed. A lot of these girls on both sides of the ball know each other off the field. I hope, win or lose that these players and coaches remember the fun we’ve all had and continue to play soccer into their young adult lives. It’s never fun to be on the short end of a PK shootout, but I am most proud of my team when they compete, play hard, and have fun! Both sides competed and both sides deserved to win tonight. Unfortunately, only one team can win. Congratulations to John and the Dolphin players for a well played game of soccer and good luck the rest of the tournament. Hopefully, we will meet again somewhere down the bracket