LHGCL Qualifier update...

Crazy weekend of soccer that began with a heartbreaking loss. I say heartbreaking only because the girls played well, but just got tired with only one sub on the bench. My daughter and the other starting mid were beside themselves; they so wanted to play and help their team. Maybe there was a little purpose to putting them on the bench... by the time the game was over, they were asking the coach to let them play the next game! As parents, we had a real decision to make since the next two games were do-or-die situations. We had to weigh the potential risks to our daughters' health versus the reward of winning a couple of games, or at least having a better chance to win, and advancing to the next round of the qualifier. My initial thought was that it wasn't worth the risk, especially with three girls out on trips/vacations. I didn't feel it was right to expect my daughter to risk further injury when those parents knew we were playing this qualifier these two weeks. EVERYONE knows you don't schedule anything for these two weeks! /rant off

As it was, we taped up the injured players, including our daughter, and put them out there as the first subs off the bench. Needless to say, we were a completely different team... well not completely different, just more "complete". More parts and more combinations make us a lot better. It was also a psychological lift for the girls to have the injured players back! We came out and maxed our points by beating the #2 seed in the bracket 3-0. We were supposed to face the #3 team, who are actually leading the bracket, later Sunday evening but weather forced a postponement. We will have to make that up this week but we have a little secret weapon... I'll save that for later! It was both a blessing and a curse to not get to play the second game. Blessing because we can get some rest and the injuries can heal a little more; curse because the girls were really up from that first game of the day and their confidence was very high. I'm sure that the other team is thinking the same thing... The team just has to play their game, learn from their mistakes and get better in the process. Just make it to the second weekend of the qualifier and your chances go from 43% just to advance to 81% to actually qualify for the league!

More to come... GL&HF!

Go Sting!