Whee!
The rain gods were good to us, and we played last night (in incredible humidity, but what do you do?).
First thing I did in the game, after subbing out for one of the defenders (I didn't get to start, for the first time) was to go and take the ball off someone and get myself nailed in the left ankle. I'm surprised not to see a bruise this morning, though it is still sort of sore. Maybe the ankle guards on my shin guards did their thing?
We played a good game. We wound up tying at 2 all, and of course, being me, I wonder if I'd been on the pitch to finish the game it wouldn't have been different. They scored this one fluke goal that bounced off the crossbar, off Jessie (the keeper), and in. We scored a beautiful goal, shot at a pretty decent angle by our left forward. Then it was back and forth and back and forth. We dominated most of the game, but couldn't get anything in.
Then April, one of our forwards, had a breakaway, and was taken out from behind by one of their defenders. Free kick, goal. They came back with a hard push right from kick-off, and we had nothing but slow defenders on the field. Defence couldn't get to the ball, Jessie came out to play it, didn't play it square, it dribbled past her, and none of the defenders could run into the net to save it.
(This is where I think I might've done better. Being one of the faster defenders, and having that instinct to, when I see Jessie coming out, get my ass into net, especially when there's no one to mark, as was the case in this situation. Ah well. Quantum, right?)
I did play well. I wasn't on pitch for any of the goals, for or against us, but I did have a few near-assists when I was on. I even had a shot on net from half. *big grin* I love when my one-timers work so beautifully.
I had a couple runs up the field from my wing, one of which even involved some dribbling skills I wasn't sure I had. (I'm always surprised by that, even in the action. It's this mental process of 'oh shit, there's someone over there, quick pull the ball over here' and then 'oh shit, here's another, quick, poke it with your toe and run around!') One ended with me trying to chip things up and over their defence, but my chip sucked ass and it didn't work. Another one involved a long lob cross that was beautiful. And there were others, but I've forgotten them.
One of my all-time favourite plays of the game, apart from the shot on goal from half of course, was when I'd pushed up halfway into their end on a corner. The ball went in, was kicked out of the fray by one of the opposing team, and was coming for me. I ran into it, meaning to head it, but it wound up a little too low for me and I couldn't get under it. So I, knowingly, smacked it with my face.
Smart play? No, not so far as personal safety goes. Effective? Yes. I hit it down to my foot and volleyed it back in - on the left foot, at that. And then I couldn't feel my nose or lower lip for a while. Whole new meaning to 'face the ball'. Anyway.
Again this game showed how strong the knee is getting. I was kicked a few times while trying to kick, and absolutely drilled this one player once when trying to clear the ball. (I asked, and she was okay, but she did say, "Not gonna lie, that hurt like hell." I missed the ball the first time on my right, but managed to poke it out with my left to a teammate - good job, too, 'cause Jess was way out of the goal and if I'd missed that thing, barring bad aim on their part, it would've been in.)
Good game. I'm amazed we didn't win, and wish I could've been on the field for the end of the game.
We have another game on Tuesday, apparently. Looking forward to it. I'm not sure what will be up with play-offs, 'cause we sort of got rocked all season. I'm definitely going to be playing on the indoor squad, though. Worth the registration fee.
And it means I'll be playing when Sarah's here! Weird.
First thing I did in the game, after subbing out for one of the defenders (I didn't get to start, for the first time) was to go and take the ball off someone and get myself nailed in the left ankle. I'm surprised not to see a bruise this morning, though it is still sort of sore. Maybe the ankle guards on my shin guards did their thing?
We played a good game. We wound up tying at 2 all, and of course, being me, I wonder if I'd been on the pitch to finish the game it wouldn't have been different. They scored this one fluke goal that bounced off the crossbar, off Jessie (the keeper), and in. We scored a beautiful goal, shot at a pretty decent angle by our left forward. Then it was back and forth and back and forth. We dominated most of the game, but couldn't get anything in.
Then April, one of our forwards, had a breakaway, and was taken out from behind by one of their defenders. Free kick, goal. They came back with a hard push right from kick-off, and we had nothing but slow defenders on the field. Defence couldn't get to the ball, Jessie came out to play it, didn't play it square, it dribbled past her, and none of the defenders could run into the net to save it.
(This is where I think I might've done better. Being one of the faster defenders, and having that instinct to, when I see Jessie coming out, get my ass into net, especially when there's no one to mark, as was the case in this situation. Ah well. Quantum, right?)
I did play well. I wasn't on pitch for any of the goals, for or against us, but I did have a few near-assists when I was on. I even had a shot on net from half. *big grin* I love when my one-timers work so beautifully.
I had a couple runs up the field from my wing, one of which even involved some dribbling skills I wasn't sure I had. (I'm always surprised by that, even in the action. It's this mental process of 'oh shit, there's someone over there, quick pull the ball over here' and then 'oh shit, here's another, quick, poke it with your toe and run around!') One ended with me trying to chip things up and over their defence, but my chip sucked ass and it didn't work. Another one involved a long lob cross that was beautiful. And there were others, but I've forgotten them.
One of my all-time favourite plays of the game, apart from the shot on goal from half of course, was when I'd pushed up halfway into their end on a corner. The ball went in, was kicked out of the fray by one of the opposing team, and was coming for me. I ran into it, meaning to head it, but it wound up a little too low for me and I couldn't get under it. So I, knowingly, smacked it with my face.
Smart play? No, not so far as personal safety goes. Effective? Yes. I hit it down to my foot and volleyed it back in - on the left foot, at that. And then I couldn't feel my nose or lower lip for a while. Whole new meaning to 'face the ball'. Anyway.
Again this game showed how strong the knee is getting. I was kicked a few times while trying to kick, and absolutely drilled this one player once when trying to clear the ball. (I asked, and she was okay, but she did say, "Not gonna lie, that hurt like hell." I missed the ball the first time on my right, but managed to poke it out with my left to a teammate - good job, too, 'cause Jess was way out of the goal and if I'd missed that thing, barring bad aim on their part, it would've been in.)
Good game. I'm amazed we didn't win, and wish I could've been on the field for the end of the game.
We have another game on Tuesday, apparently. Looking forward to it. I'm not sure what will be up with play-offs, 'cause we sort of got rocked all season. I'm definitely going to be playing on the indoor squad, though. Worth the registration fee.
And it means I'll be playing when Sarah's here! Weird.