Going into the weekend our first goal was to not have to take anyone to the hospital. Sounds obvious enough, but after the disaster that was the Houston trip it isn't. I never got around to blogging about Houston, but the cliff notes version - 12 kids missed school, 2 ended up in the hospital, 2 spent the entire flight in the lavatory all with a stomach bug. In fact, if we don't get sick, we probably hold our 1-0 lead and get our first win or at least a point while there. We just found out that 8ish Columbus Crew kids (same flight to and from Houston) were sick the next week as well. But I digress...
The trip started well. We treat the boys as adults and they behave like it. They were great on the plane and in the airports. I gave the boys meal money in Dallas and they scattered. We arrived at LAX just after 11PM local time and were to the hotel by about 1:30AM or 4:30 in the east.
It amazes me how we have to convince kids to eat meals. They simply don't understand how much fuel they burn, not just in the games, but with the travel. Of course, when you control playing time, it becomes a little easier to convince kids to do the right thing.
U-16 Game v. Southern Central Premier (CT) - Win 2-1
The win was important on a couple levels.
- The elephant in the room is our record from last year and the perception of our program. We went a long way in changing that yesterday. You hear all the time about how "it's not about the result", who are we kidding? Results are a bi-product or development and ability.
- Confidence. The last thing I told our boys before the game is to be confident in their abilities. We know we have some talent. Out of the group we took to Houston not a single player was on the full Development Academy roster last year. The inexperience is both good and bad. Good because they don't have last year's history, bad because they don't have the experience of the speed of the game at this level and how to manage themselves.
- Game Management. Learning how to play 80 minutes without a sub isn't easy. The fitness level, or lack thereof, of kids coming out of high school is always shocking, but more importantly, kids at all levels are used to running themselves out and then getting a short break with a sub. (In the DA if you come out you are done for the day.) We turned a game that was well in-hand with a half hour left into a bit of a mess in the last 10 minutes trying to kill off the game. The U-18's dealt with this a lot last year, turning wins into ties with regularity. So, for the U-16's to hold on for the win was really good for them moving forward.
- We made early goals from Tommy Rogers and A.J. Combs hold up for victory number one on the short season.
U-18 Game v. Southern Central Premier (CT) - Win 2-0
With the exception of a few mistakes early, the game was really never in question. This is a talented group, but more importantly one that holds itself accountable. Tim is with the girls in Raleigh for the Red Bull so Marc, Jared Micklos and I have the group. Because of their experience last year and the way Tim has been able to sort them out based upon the opponent they are very flexible in the adjustments we are able to make.
- I thought the goal from Tyler Huerkamp was the best of the season until Dylan Hoop's ridiculous goal. It has to be a nominated for the Best of the Year. We were unfortunate not to get a few more, but at the end of the day 2-0 was a fair result.
- The U-18's are now 2-0-1 on the season. We don't shy away from the fact that a birth in the playoffs is the goal for the season. Seven points in 3 games is what we expected and quite frankly, short of a couple shocking decisions by the referee in Houston we should have all 9.
- Defensively, we are starting find our way. As the USMNT scout and us discussed after the game, these boys are the best on their high school teams so putting it back together where they are surrounded by equally talented players takes some time.
- We still need to evolve in the attack. The boys are used to doing everything on their own. When we get them back it takes some time to integrate back into team play. Our possession on the day really did leave some to be desired.
We are off to Santa Monica!!
