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Sat: RSSC Lightning 2 – PSG Gators 1
Sun: RSSC Lightning 3 – PSG Gators 2
This was the weekend both teams had circled on thier calendars. Both teams have been watching each other closely and have been impressed with the other. A late scheduling adjustment so that each team could attend the Global Tourny two weeks ago created a home & home weekend series for us and heightened the anticipation of the meeting that much more.
In two excruciatingly close games, Lightning edged out Gators by one goal each day. This was by far the most enjoyable and exciting soccer this team has been a part of so far this season. Both teams showed excellent skill, teamwork and determination.
There is no way to single out any given performance, because every player on the roster contributed mightily to the teams success this weekend. Team captain, Bella and Maria gamely stepped up to handle goalkeeper duties each day. Defense was solid as Carly & Emary were joined by Sydney, Kari and Maddie S. (who also contributed Saturday’s two goals by attacking out of the back) to keep Gators’ attacking chances to a minimum. Shannon (2 goals Sunday), Bella, Mary Jo (1 goal Sunday), Michelle and Maddie H., and also Bella, Maria & Kari in their turns up top all worked incredibly well to keep the ball moving and create excellent chances. The end result was 5 goals over the weekend against a very good defensive team that had only given up 2 goals the entire season! THAT is great team work.
This was just a magnificent job by all of you. Gators played great as well and the score line could easily have been reversed either day - and I would be just as proud of you if they had been. Because you played two great games this weekend. And the measure of your success is NOT if you win or lose the a given game, but HOW you played. When you play to your own highest potential, you are succeeding. When you bring the individual skills and team play to the game field that you work so hard at on the practice filed and on your own, you are succeeding. When each individual player contributes significantly to the team's overall performance the way all of you did this weekend, you are succeeding. And that is exactly what you did this weekend.
But on top of all that, this time ‘round at least, we also were fortunate enough to pick up the “W’s”. That is well. Because they were hard fought and excellent-well earned. So these wins ought to be extra special for you.
Keep up the hard work girls. The rewards for all you hard work is showing up in how you are playing the game. And let’s NOT lose our focus as the back half of the autumn season comes our way. You have worked hard to put yourselves into a good position. Let’s not waste that hard work by losing focus now.
Great job.
This was the weekend both teams had circled on thier calendars. Both teams have been watching each other closely and have been impressed with the other. A late scheduling adjustment so that each team could attend the Global Tourny two weeks ago created a home & home weekend series for us and heightened the anticipation of the meeting that much more.
In two excruciatingly close games, Lightning edged out Gators by one goal each day. This was by far the most enjoyable and exciting soccer this team has been a part of so far this season. Both teams showed excellent skill, teamwork and determination.
There is no way to single out any given performance, because every player on the roster contributed mightily to the teams success this weekend. Team captain, Bella and Maria gamely stepped up to handle goalkeeper duties each day. Defense was solid as Carly & Emary were joined by Sydney, Kari and Maddie S. (who also contributed Saturday’s two goals by attacking out of the back) to keep Gators’ attacking chances to a minimum. Shannon (2 goals Sunday), Bella, Mary Jo (1 goal Sunday), Michelle and Maddie H., and also Bella, Maria & Kari in their turns up top all worked incredibly well to keep the ball moving and create excellent chances. The end result was 5 goals over the weekend against a very good defensive team that had only given up 2 goals the entire season! THAT is great team work.
This was just a magnificent job by all of you. Gators played great as well and the score line could easily have been reversed either day - and I would be just as proud of you if they had been. Because you played two great games this weekend. And the measure of your success is NOT if you win or lose the a given game, but HOW you played. When you play to your own highest potential, you are succeeding. When you bring the individual skills and team play to the game field that you work so hard at on the practice filed and on your own, you are succeeding. When each individual player contributes significantly to the team's overall performance the way all of you did this weekend, you are succeeding. And that is exactly what you did this weekend.
But on top of all that, this time ‘round at least, we also were fortunate enough to pick up the “W’s”. That is well. Because they were hard fought and excellent-well earned. So these wins ought to be extra special for you.
Keep up the hard work girls. The rewards for all you hard work is showing up in how you are playing the game. And let’s NOT lose our focus as the back half of the autumn season comes our way. You have worked hard to put yourselves into a good position. Let’s not waste that hard work by losing focus now.
Great job.RSSC Lightning 8 - TSC Blue 0
Lightning put it all together Sunday as they carried play the entire match through against Troy. All aspect of the game were clicking, including corner kick restarts which accounted for a lovely goal. After a squirrly first half yesterday, defense came out focused from the start and were rock solid the entire match.
Ball movement was very good, as was team communication. This was just an overall excellent outing for the Lightning girls.
Afterward, the team stayed to cheer on our sister team RSSC Thunder'97 who played Waterford Warriors to a very exciting 3-3 draw.
Great job everybody. Keep up your hard work. Next week we face a very talented and strong Gators team twice in a home & home weekend series. This will be a very big weekend for both teams. Keep working hard and keep your focus on improving yourself every day.
Lightning put it all together Sunday as they carried play the entire match through against Troy. All aspect of the game were clicking, including corner kick restarts which accounted for a lovely goal. After a squirrly first half yesterday, defense came out focused from the start and were rock solid the entire match.
Ball movement was very good, as was team communication. This was just an overall excellent outing for the Lightning girls.
Afterward, the team stayed to cheer on our sister team RSSC Thunder'97 who played Waterford Warriors to a very exciting 3-3 draw.
Great job everybody. Keep up your hard work. Next week we face a very talented and strong Gators team twice in a home & home weekend series. This will be a very big weekend for both teams. Keep working hard and keep your focus on improving yourself every day.RSSC Lightning 5 - GSSC Star 3
Genesee took advantage of early mistakes to take the lead twice in the 1st half on Saturday. But Lightning re-focused and minimized further mistakes and breakdowns in the second half and surged ahead 4-2. Star pressed hard as time was winding down and tallied one last goal to draw within one - but that would be all. A last second goal for Lightning was disallowed by the referee who blew his whistle while the ball was in the air and on the way into the net. But I don't care what that referee has to say about it. That is a goal by any reasonable measure. Final score 5-3.
A good strong come-from-behind win for Lightning. It is good to learn that we can play and come back under pressure. As with any situation, it is just a matter of focus. Just playing simple and fundamental soccer will get the job done. Good job, girls.
Genesee took advantage of early mistakes to take the lead twice in the 1st half on Saturday. But Lightning re-focused and minimized further mistakes and breakdowns in the second half and surged ahead 4-2. Star pressed hard as time was winding down and tallied one last goal to draw within one - but that would be all. A last second goal for Lightning was disallowed by the referee who blew his whistle while the ball was in the air and on the way into the net. But I don't care what that referee has to say about it. That is a goal by any reasonable measure. Final score 5-3.
A good strong come-from-behind win for Lightning. It is good to learn that we can play and come back under pressure. As with any situation, it is just a matter of focus. Just playing simple and fundamental soccer will get the job done. Good job, girls.
Lightning’97 bounced back this weekend with determination and energy to claim championship standing of the Global Invitational tournament.
Saturday, 24 Sept
RSSC Lightning 3 – Novi Jaguars Green 2
It was a very even match against Novi. Rochester were playing well, but so was Novi. The difference in this match was finishing our chances. And not allowing Novi to finish theirs – at least not as many. But it did come down to the wire, as Novi scored their second goal to get within one with about 7 minutes left. Lightning held on though, and came away with the 3-2 win.
RSSC Lightning 3 – Canton Quest 3
It was the tale of two halves. The 1st belonged to Canton. Quest showed very good skill and ball movement and broke us down several times early. With the forwards not dropping & tracking the opponent early or quickly enough, Quest took the early lead 3-1. At halftime we adjusted our playing style a little and for the first time this season we played with 3 in the back and 2 forwards. The adjustment was enough to slow down Canton’s attack, and then with that need taken care of, we were able find some attacking chances of our own. And so, scratching and clawing, we pulled our way to within one goal… and then found the equalizer to earn the draw. A tough and well earned tie (this was one of the good ones).
Sunday, 25 Sept
RSSC Lightning 3 – Ann Arbor Arsenal 0
To think back on last Sunday and then to look at this Sunday. It was like night and day. Last week we came out slow, unfocused and half-hearted. Today we exploded onto the field - and then only got stronger from there! Everything was clicking during this match. Ball movement was fantastic. We were making great use of support and switching the point of attack. The defense was stellar. Our starting defenders, Maddie H, Carly & Emary, were working the principles of defensive shape to perfection – one always stepping, the other tucking in and supporting. It was beautiful to watch. In the second half as Kari & Maddie S took their turns in the back, the quality of the defense remained rock solid.
Communication was active, passes were crisp and everybody was moving both on and off the ball for each other. This was truly a beautiful game to watch. Ann Arbor never were able to get anything going against us and in the end, Lightning walk off with a 3-0 victory.
And with the victory, came championship standing, as Canton, who also entered their 3rd match 1-0-1, earned a tie against Novi, which put us top of the table outright, without having to resort to tie-breakers.
It’s been a fantastic start to the autumn for Rochester Lightning. 4 tournaments, 2 championship standings, 1 runner-up standing, a 9-3-1 start, and only one real stumble along the way – which we seem to have learned from. Great job girls. I’m very proud of you and all the hard work you’re putting in.
Keep up the great work.RSSC Lightning 3 - GSSC Star 3
Lightning played Genesee Start to a disappointing 3-3 draw this afternoon. We came out less focused and less intense than has been usual and it showed. For, although we did carry play and control most of the match, the sense of urgency seemed to be lacking. The result was promising attacks sputtered out and quality chances that we failed to finish.
We do take a point away from the contest, so that’s a good thing. But there is no question, we did not play up to our potential today. As far as ties go, there are good ties and there are bad ties. This wasn’t one of the good ones. But that’s ok. We will take the lesson this match has to teach us, and use it to improve. We have another tournament coming up this weekend to put that improvement to work and get back on track.
Keep working hard Lightning.
Lightning played Genesee Start to a disappointing 3-3 draw this afternoon. We came out less focused and less intense than has been usual and it showed. For, although we did carry play and control most of the match, the sense of urgency seemed to be lacking. The result was promising attacks sputtered out and quality chances that we failed to finish.
We do take a point away from the contest, so that’s a good thing. But there is no question, we did not play up to our potential today. As far as ties go, there are good ties and there are bad ties. This wasn’t one of the good ones. But that’s ok. We will take the lesson this match has to teach us, and use it to improve. We have another tournament coming up this weekend to put that improvement to work and get back on track.
Keep working hard Lightning.Seasons
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