Turn It On Again

At this level of sports, having a good team is about half of the challenge.  The other half is consistency.  These athletes are still adolescents- their heads are not always in the game.  What will separate the good from the great is the ability to repeat results, time and time again.  Considering the respective records, and Valley West on the schedule for Friday, it would have been easy for Coughlin to overlook Sem on Wednesday- this was a classic "trap" game in the making.  Instead, Coughlin was able to turn it on again, scoring early and never really letting Sem get into the game, ending up with a 4-1 victory.

Phil Collins looked pretty shabby in that video, so I went off in search of another- I think this one is even worse.

Some thoughts-

There's no significance to the first picture in the galley- This year, they are pretty much displayed in chronological order.  It is a little odd for the opening shot to be of a spectator though.  This was actually just a test shot to get the camera set up properly, but I thought it worthy of display.

Not only does this player have 2 first names, they are an alliteration (Mrs. FotoFink is an english teacher- she taught me that).  I am quite sure that somewhere I have mislabeled Jason as John.  Or is it John as Jason?  Search for both to be safe.

This is not quite "Separated at Birth" material, but I liked it anyway-  Doesn't this remind you of this?

He's not heading this ball, it has slipped through his hands.  Sem was able to clear it away safely though.

Spectators in cars fascinate me.  Is it really that much effort to park and get out?  Drive-though banks, food, pharmacies...  now soccer matches.  Back in the old days it wasn't like this.....

Some players just love the puffy cheeks.

On a more serious note, soccer fans across the US were saddened on Tuesday to hear of the car accident and resulting injuries to US Men's National Team standout Charlie Davies.  (Not my picture, by the way.  If it were, the contrast would be better and there would be less motion blur at his feet)  Charlie's injuries are apparently not life-threatening, but could be career ending.  This news tempered the celebration of last night's draw with Costa Rica, which clinched the top spot in CONCACAF for the US team.  On to South Africa next June!

Schedule constraints pulled me away from the match a little early, so it is a slightly smaller batch of photos than usual, and no JV.  I'll be back on Monday though.

Match pictures

Tons o' pictures

Enjoy!