What BGA didn't know, however, was that USN's 5th graders - including Joe and his partners in crime, Bennett, Sam, the Amazing Arnov, Rory, Sawyer and a few others - played only 10 minutes in the game. Joe's class of 5th graders is athletic and has several boys who play on high level travel soccer teams. Taken as a group, they're the USN 6th grade soccer team's secret weapon, if you will.
Last night, at FRA, Coach Davidson played most of the 5th graders the entire game in the tournament semi-final game, a rematch abasing the logo-stomping Wildcats from BGA. Different USN players, different outcome. USN shutout BGA 2 - 0 and in an interesting turn of events, to say the least, I heard the BGA parents complaining on a few occasions about how physical USN was playing. That might be a first in my boys' decade long history at USN - opposing parents parents complaining that USN students were playing too rough. I love it!
I hadn't seen Joe and his teammates play in a real game against good competition, on the big field (11 v. 11), until last night. It was fun to watch even for a soccer novice like me. Some of Joe's classmates - Rory and Sam in particular - are very good soccer players. Skilled, physical, strong legs. Arnov is, well, "amazing," with his ferocious quickness and speed. Joe and Sawyer, more athletes than soccer players, anchored the defense. Bennett, tall and agile, is a strong midfielder and physical, as well.
In other words, this isn't your father's 5th and 6th grade USN soccer team. With the infusion of the 5th graders, it's filled with athletes, soccer players, and boys that enjoy physical play. I love that, too.
For the first time all season, Joe scored a goal. Sam hit long ball over the defense and as Joe ran it down, he deflected it with his right foot, enough so that he changed the direction of the ball and tipped it over the goalie's shoulder and into the goal. From a distance, it was hard to see if Joe got a piece of the ball and there was a question as to whether he was offsides. The goal stood, though, and after the game, Joe assured me that he deflected it. I was happy for Joe because as a defenseman, he doesn't get many chances to score.
After the game, on our way to eat dinner at Pancho and Lefty's in Melrose, Joe told me how much fun it is to play soccer for USN, with his friends. Apparently, the boys break down the games at school the next day and it's a gas to talk about the game they just played in together, rather than various club or travel soccer games they played in at various locations over the weekend. Great fun!
While I'm own the subject of Joe, his advisory teacher, John Kleiner, sent him a wonderful e-mail last week, thanking him for being an influencer in their advisory group and among his classmates. Prepared, focused, kind, and friendly were words John used to describe Joe. Jude and I were proud, to say the least. Joe is blazing his own trail, I think, which is what we want him to do.
Tonight, a Belmont U. home basketball game. Tomorrow, JP has his first basketball scrimmage game, Joe's USN soccer team plays in the HVAC finals against FRA, and Joe has HBC baseball practice.
Let's Go!
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