1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, AR

United Red went into the tourney with a full squad ready for action at Memphis this weekend! The weather was simply the best it could be the entire weekend. Our first game was against TNFC, who we had never seen before. The game ended 0-0, and it is hard to put your finger on what happened. They were not particularly strong or threatening, but we never seemed to get much of anything going. We did have a great 1 v 1 with the keeper late in the game. Unexpectedly, he stayed in the goal when most keepers would charge. Our center-mid held on too long and got too close and ultimately shot wide of the mark. There were only 3 teams per bracket (4 brackets), so each game was very meaningful for advancing. TNFC also tied Kansas Rush 0-0, so our bracket was obviously evenly matched. Now we moved on to play Kansas Rush, who we beat in bracket play, 2-1 at the Metro United tourney in October. The winner of this game would move on, and a tie would leave things tricky, so we came out firing. A perfect slot left our right forward with a good look 1 v 1 with the keeper and he put it in the corner to leave us up at the half 1-0. The second half score was a beauty as our wing worked hard to center the ball in traffic. It bounced off a player and sat up high off the ground at the 18 yd mark. Our center-mid knew that if he waited to settle the ball, the bad guys would close in too fast, so he laced a volley that found the net untouched!! We had another great look when our wing stole a pass meant for a wide defender, and found himself 1 v 1 with the keeper. But sometimes the best look is still tough to hit and we did not convert. Late in the game, Rush found life and put one in to tighten it to 2-1. Then, to keep everyone's nails short, we fouled a man in the box at the end of the 2 extra minutes added to the game. The referee indicated that the game would be over immediately after Rush took the PK. Talk about pressure!! Our keeper did his usual amazing thing and made an incredible game-saving dive to block the shot and save the day!!! On to the Semis. We played OH Cup Premier Red from Cincinnati, who had destroyed their bracket 4-0 and 5-0. Honestly, they totally controlled us the first half. But our defense held and half-time was 0-0. The second half brought us 2 good looks at scoring, but nothing hit the net. The first was a fierce strike from the corner of the 18 by our left wing that barely missed the upper 90. The other was at the end of a long run, inside the 18, that was shot hard but wide by our right wing. Final 0-0, overtime 0-0. Time for PKs. After missing our first 2, we hit the next 2 and after their 5 shots, they had managed only 2 after 2 great saves by our keeper and a miss. All we had to do was hit our last PK to make it to the Finals, and we did! Soccer outcomes are not always predictable, and we hopefully learned something from this team - we moved on, but they played the better soccer. Our final was against a good little team out of Tulsa. After this game, we felt OH Premier's pain. This team was nowhere in the class of our Semi, yet the ball found the net 3 times in this one. Tulsa scored within the first 3 minutes on a missed mark on the back side of a cross. Halftime left us down 1-0. Early in the second, we tied it up when the right forward received a well placed pass and put the ball under the keeper's stretch. After great work, our left wing found himself 1 v 1 with the keeper and our best shot at scoring. The keeper did a good job coming out to stop the shot and probably save the tournament for Tulsa. Soon after, Tulsa got a corner kick that held the 7 second rule. If the ball stays in the box for 7 seconds, it probably is going in - it did. Down 2-1 late, we moved more offensive to try to get the equalizer, and Tulsa got in the last goal late to finish 3-1. This has been a special season that united boys from several teams to form United. We entered 6 tournaments and made it to the finals of 5 (one got rained out after 2 wins)and won 2 of the tourneys. The future looks bright as we take a break and look forward to a special Spring season. Thanks to all who have worked hard to allow us to gel and grow as a team. GO MSC UNITED!!!!!!!!

The only way to look at this was a preview to the state tourney next spring. A lot can happen between now and then, but it looks like these will be the 4 teams to compete to play at Regionals here in NLR this summer 2006. So United has a lot to be excited about! As anyone will tell you, it can be very tough to dominate a strong team that knows as much about us as we know about them. NWA Lightning Strikers is a combined team of FC United and Bentonville Comets from last year that finished #1 at State 2005. As luck would have it, MSC United combined the best in central Ark to create a great 'battle of the titans'. It is unlikely that either team will dominate, but we will continue to have great battles. Our first game was a good one to feel out the strengths of NWA. They organized well and were the first to score. We were down 1-0 at the half and neither team could connect despite a good back and forth game. Our best look hit the keeper hard in the chest as he laid out to stop the shot. Final - United down 1-0. Our next game was a trip into the wind tunnel against LRFC. United playing with the wind in the first half was too much for LRFC to handle, and they spent 90% of the time with 8 and 9 players in the box and substituting players on every out of bounds (rather than attempting to organize their way out) trying to fend off the inevitable. One goal was all we could squeeze through 16 defensive legs. Halftime 1-0. The second half was a little better for both teams as the wind gave LRFC some length to the field and the sense of less pressure. However, this worked to our favor as we had more room to work and created better looking scoring opportunities. In the end, we managed to get one more in despite some very good looks and ended up 2-0. Coach was not too happy to only come out with 2 goals after so thoroughly dominating a team, but soccer can be that way sometimes. The 3rd game was early Sunday morning but the weather was beautiful once again. Ft. Smith Express is at the bottom of the pack, and basically gave us a good chance to rest with an easy 5-0 cruise. The expected final with NWA lived up to its billing. But we had a little surprise! Standout forward Corey Reed was missing from our first game with NWA in order to compete for his school in the cross country State meet. SURPRISE! Corey hits the only goal of the game with a spectacular spinning left-footed laser from 20 yds out that hits the top shelf still rising! That gave us 1-0 at the half. NWA brought up the 'big guy' from sweeper into the middle of the field to try and create a score, but United sniffed that out and created a number of our own chances including one cross that was so close to scoring that the shadow of the ball on the top post was clear to see. Final 1-0. Up until now, MSC United Red has been establishing its reputation in the region. Now we have planted our flag as one of the rising teams in Arkansas as well. Let's continue to do all the work necessary to remain competitive with the best. Go Big Red!!!

White put together 3 strong games to make a great showing at the Wolf River Classic Memphis in their first tourney. The first game was a tough one against the West Tn. Dragons from Memphis. They are a solid team that ended up in an overtime semi-final against the eventual winner Falcons, so they were a force to be reckoned with. The game was a tight one with neither team crossing the line - half-time 0-0. The game's lone goal came on a nice slot behind the keeper 1 v 1 from our right forward. Restaurant quality! Notable was the outstanding keeper play who fended off a number of good attacks, including a block with the face and scramble to wrap it up. Our 2nd game was a bit easier against the Lobos of Memphis. Coach was not happy with the first half effort as we were only up 1-0 at the half. The score was a nice half volley inside the 18 by the right forward. We had numerous chances off of some nice passing and crossing, but we preferred hitting the keeper's chest to the open net a few too many times. A good dose of manhood challenge at halftime brought better results as we scored 3 in the 2nd half to finish 4-0. The 2 wins put us in the semi against LRFC who were 2nd place in their bracket. White scored first with a perfect corner kick to header goal to put the pressure on but LRFC soon came back to tie. 1-1 at the half. The second half was a good back and forth with neither team finding the net. Overtime was played as two 10 minute halves, and LRFC put one in 9 minutes into the first overtime. White's best chance in the second overtime was with a crossed ball that seemed to land perfect at our right forward's feet 8 yds out in the middle of the goal. Somehow we could not get enough on the shot, and the game was over with us down 2-1. Great effort and good learning experience for this new team! Keep up the good work!!

    Get a chair and some popcorn for this one.  Finally we get everyone healthy and ready for our big trip to the #1 ranked tournament in the Midwest.  Our age group alone had 36 boys teams entered.  The 15 Red players plus 2 needed White players for depth gave us exactly what we needed to take the title!  Normally we don't put in names because the hard work and contributions of all players seem to get overlooked, but this tournament was unique in that we needed 6 goals to win (plus 4 in the shootout) and 6 different players scored to make it happen - truly a United effort.  
     The opener was clearly the easiest against Cincinnati Classic Hammer, though our 1-0 win left us on edge the entire game without ever getting the insurance goal to protect the lead.  We felt a couple of goals better than them.  However, in tournament play, every goal is critical and Jordan came up big early in the first half to power a ball with some heavy mojo that the keeper could not keep a handle on.  It proved to be the game winner.
     The second game was the one game you hope you don't get (but inevitably do) where the other team plays dirty, complains about all the calls, etc.  This was the #3 team in Kansas that recently changed its name to join the Nike Rush nationwide soccer program.  I hope they liked our uniforms.  They were also the #1 seed for the entire Gold Bracket.  God smiled on us and gave us that one special referee that knows how to control the action with his cards, yet let the players decide the game.  Thank you.  Both teams knew that this was probably the bracket deciding game and we both played with that kind of intensity.   It was in this game that coach discovered Garrett's unknown abilities as a center-mid.  This would prove crucial to our success.  Our scoring started when Zach perfectly chipped a bouncing rebound off a defender that had the keeper guessing whether or not to come out.  Wrong guess.  This put us up 1-0 at the half and the lead lasted until midway through the 2nd half, when Kansas Rush finally found a way to get one in.  You could literally feel the entire weight of the momentum land like an anvil in their favor.  Then Gage did what only he can do.  In less than a minute, he found a way through 3 determined defenders, and laced home the winner.  You could hear the anvil land heavy on our side to stay.  It took them 45 minutes of heavy labor to finally get a goal, only to lose it in a puff of dust.  That is tough to come back from, and they didn't.  Final 2-1, good guys.
     Our Sunday morning game was not as cold as Saturday's, but we played it in sludge motion.  We already had our bracket locked up, but we also did not want to lose a game and we were up against one of the great St. Louis clubs - Lou Fusz.  Corey provided the game's only goal in the first half with a signature change of direction move that left the defender stabbing at air and the keeper feeling awfully lonely. Final 1-0.  The bad news was losing Josh midway in the game to a knee injury that we hope isn't serious.  
    The Gold division was set up with 12 teams which means 3 winners and a wildcard.  Because our bracket was theoretically the toughest because the #1 seed was in it, we were scheduled to play the wildcard because we won the bracket.. Since the wildcard, Kansas Nike Rush, came from our bracket, we should then play the division #3 seed, Ohio Elite.  However, the undefeated KCFC Alliance is in the same premier league with their crosstown rivals - Kansas Rush - so the tournament decided that, for diversity, we would play KCFC Alliance.  This was essentially #1 vs. #2 in the semi and boy did it feel like it.  Looking back, playing them first probably was a difference maker in us being not as tired against such a big strong team.  Alliance won their bracket games 6-1, 6-0, 3-0.  They did this with at least 5 players that matched our biggest in size and speed.  The first half was a disaster in time with the ball for us, as the Alliance shot at us for about 25 of the 30 minutes.  But we made another discovery.  With Josh out to injury, Ralph stepped up in a huge way, and with JR and John, helped us match their front line with our own speed, strength, and size.  We had one excellent look 1 v 1 with the keeper, but he did a great job of coming out to shave our forward's angle just enough to force the miss.  He did the next best thing to shoot far post, but no one could get on the other end of it.  No score at the half.  Coach made a good half time adjustment that stretched the field in our favor and gave us much better posession in the second half.  But the game ended 0-0 and so did the 2 overtimes.  Time for PK's.  Clearly the size and reach of our keeper, Chase, would be the difference maker just as their keeper's smallness hurt them. All we had to do was place it well and things should go our way.  Alliance went first and hit the top post - intimidation already working.  Ryan went first for us and hit 1-0.  Their next guy hit his shot.  Nathan went next and their keeper guessed right and made a diving save.  They make, Gage makes. 2-2.  Chase then makes a fantastic save to put crowd volume over the 100 decibel mark.  But wait!  Chase is called  for leaving his line early and the redo is a hit for them.  Zach answers for 3-3 with one shot left for each team.  They hit the side bar - no good!  John walks up and calmly puts it in the corner and us in the FINALS!
    The final was against another top Midwest program, Ohio Elite from Cincinnati.  They won their semi 2-0 over Kansas Nike Rush.  Notably, they won this division as U12's and were 2nd last year as U13's.  If you really want to build them up, they were a semi-finalist in the tough Ohio South state tournament, and their coach's resume is scary good - National "A" license, NSCAA license, played professional in Europe, head coach of College of Charleston, head coach of Swedish pro team, Swedish Elite License, heck he might even have a Swedish maid, but we've got a diamond ourselves in Oscar.  Anyway, the players play the game.  For the first time in the tournament, we are down a score 0-1 after a communication error between keeper and defense.  Then big Ralph stepped in.  From left defender, he steps in front of the pass and carries his dribble past mid-field.  Noticing the keeper is a bit aggressive in position, he launches the tying shot that sails perfectly over and in.  Mega noise.  Half-time is 1-1 and the whole game has been a pleasure to watch; fair, clean and well played.  With Gage out from being kicked in the back earlier in the day, John is moved to forward to the chant of, "John, do your thing!!"  With 4 minutes left, Ryan slots John up the middle.  The remaining defender bangs John just before the keeper (literally 5'10" 185) comes out to crash the party.  Incredibly, they both lose in the collision at the 18, the ball pops toward the goal, and John emerges as the only man standing and finishes into the open net for the title victory.  Immediately, John goes down with a cramp and the ref tells the Ohio coach that he has stopped the clock.  John is taken out and we work for 4 minutes to keep the ball on the good end.  Then the strangest ending immaginable occurs.  With all eyes simultaneously glued to our watches and the field, the referee's timer goes off to signal the end of the game at the exact same time as an offsides occurs right at midfield.  The referee blows his whistle in an inordinately long blow and our sideline erupts in a raucous victory whoop.  The referee was only blowing the whistle for the offsides, and then would immediately blow it for the game ending.  Ohio kicks a monster last launch as the referee blows one, two, three.  Incredibly, as the third tweet sounded, their player heads the ball in and for a short time nobody knew what would be the result.  However, the game was actually over at  the first tweet, and how tweet it is!!   We have the utmost respect for the players and especially the coach who showed a good attitude toward Oscar after the awkward ending.  We are guessing that there are a few people from Kansas and Ohio looking for Maumelle on a map right now with a big question mark over their heads.
    Finally, a great big thank you to the boys for their perseverance and great effort to push past getting two 2nd places and into the champions circle!!!
   

This was a good tournament to test our wares against top regional competition. It was great to have Josh back in the lineup, but we still miss standouts Garrett and Ralph who have finally about recovered from broken and damaged limbs. This age can be tough on active boys! We started with the very strong (now a true rival) Falcons from Memphis. They have improved in every way from years past, and are a force to be reckoned with. Two earlier meetings this fall gave us a win and a loss, so for symmetry, we started out this tournament with a tie. A fierce, ground-hugging free-kick blasted through the wall and into the net to put us up 1-0 at the half. Falcons roared back to make it 1-2 in the middle of the 2nd half. United showed great poise and character to come right back and tie it 2-2 when getting down on ourselves might have been easier. We play these tough tourneys to be tested so we were happy to face the competition. The Saturday evening game was a bit of a break except that tie-breaker rules were looming in the background, making us wonder if we had beaten the Brentwood Matrix bad enough at 4-0. Highlights of this game were the chaotic scores of a constantly open goal because of their overly aggressive, yet very good, keeper. Our Sunday morning game against Mississippi's state champion Jackson FC, was a big game for us and we owed them a good thump on the head. Combined, 3 of the teams that our United players came from suffered 3-0, 3-0, 6-0 and 3-1 losses to Jackson last year. As a team United, we spanked them 3-0 with some excellent crafty footwork from our right forward, and left a little meat on the bone with two other Grand Canyon misses that can haunt a losing team, but are quickly forgotten when you win big. Our two wins and a tie left us as the bracket winner and overall #2 seed for the semis and finals. This proved unfortunate for us as we faced a much tougher semi than our opponent in the finals. Our semi was against Huntsville, Al. who have grown and angered a bit from last Spring. Every now and then you play a team that has been taught hockey instead of soccer, and they think this is a legitimate way to play. Legit or not, we prevailed at 2-0, highlighted by a sweet left-forward 25 yd shot that hit far-post and ricocheted in! The Finals, and third game of the day, came against MS United from Jackson, Ms. They also combined with another team and are greatly improved from last year. There was never a question they would win as they finished 4-0. We were unable to connect 3 passed in a row in this frustrating Final. More depth from our injured players would have really helped this deep into a tourney and we look forward to their return. Overall coach is very happy with the effort and level of soccer United has attained and is very excited looking forward to the rest of the year!! Super, super job, guys!!!