Aqua Sharks - Double-header Saturday

I'm not going to give a play-by-play, it would take too long.

Peyton's in-house soccer team lost both games on Saturday. Their record is 1-2.

It started off with her team being short on players (this is what I don't care for with in-house rec leagues, kids don't show, don't call the coach to tell them they aren't coming)...makes me wonder what kind of social skills they will have as adults. I digress...

None of Peyton's teammates, nor herself, got a break throughout the whole game and after the first half they had to play with two of the other teams players.

It was hard to watch them struggle to stay in the game toward the end when they all got tired.

Peyton wouldn't score in the first quarter of the game..both Scott and I scratched our heads when she booted a few of her attempts wide...way wider than she normally does. I kept thinking she was doing it on purpose.

She had alot of attempts but her major victory during that game was passing it off and assisting her teammates on their scores...and her defense and ball-handling "moves" she was laying down on the other team. At one point the other team's coach was yelling, "There's four on one, someone needs to pick the ball." Peyton was manuevering in and out of about 4 of their players who could not stay on top of her long enough to get a foot on the ball. We were sitting on the sidelines between both teams parents...some of the kids on the other team are Peyton's school friends. I heard some of them say when Peyoton stole a ball or someone kicked it to her and she'd run by the sidelines, blowing by the other team..."Good, god, can anyone stop that kid?" and my personal favorite, "Here she goes again!"

By the third quarter, coach Charlie put Peyton in at keeper (goalie) and when the teams lined-up for the kick-off the other team's girls were cheering and jumping up and down..."Peyton's at keeper!" I guess they figured they'd get some touches on the ball with her out of the midfield area! Aqua Sharks wound-up losing that game 4-2

After the game...Peyton's friend (Carly) who was playing keeper in the first quarter came up with her mom (I know them both well) Carly's mom, Holly said to Peyton, "Great game kiddo and that was super sportsmanship what you said to Carly after your team scored that goal on her." Then she told me after our team kicked the goal, Peyton ran up to her, grabbed her hand and said, "Good try Carly." Then it dawned on me, she couldn't score the first quarter because she didn't want to hurt her friend's feelings. What a kid!!!! The best part, she didn't have to score any goals, it's more important that she get out there and play with her friends and develop the kind of social skills she'll take with her wherever she goes in life.

Scott was talking with one of the coaches from the other team after the game and she said, "I knew Peyton was going to be good, I had no idea she was THAT good."

The second game wasn't much better but all of the girls were pretty tired from having to play the first game with no break. Peyton still managed to do well with her moves and ball-handling, choosing to pass it to her teammates and giving them a chance to score. It didn't seem so important for her to be the one to take all of the shots, make all of the plays. She's becoming quite a team leader.

After the second game the other team's coach came up to Peyton and said, "Thank you for not killing us with 20 goals." (Peyton had a few shots hit the pole or go slightly wide)This coach was her first coach in in-house two years ago. They only beat us 3-2...even though our team was dog-tired the whole game.

Peyton was pleased with her performance even though she scored no goals. And both Scott and I told her how proud we were of her for being a good teammate and a good friend.

So all in all...it wasn't a "total" loss this past weekend.

[P.S. She did admit to me later she missed the goal kicks on Carly because she didn't want to hurt her feelings...but in a club game, when there is a keeper she doesn' know, she's going to BURN THE KEEPER!!!!!]