Notes from the Back - Championship Game

By Kerry Haselton 

Five out of the last six years, Clinton United Ladies have advanced to the Championship game. While we have only brought home the League Cup once, we are so very proud to be United and to play together.



Cheryl showing off her mad skills


We lost the final to Piscataway, 2-1. We lost the first game of the season to them, then went undefeated for 11 games, before falling to them again. Two good teams went after that trophy, went into the game with identical 10-1-1 records, and someone had to lose. They beat us fair and square.

It was a picture perfect summer morning in Parsippany. Two teams, pink and yellow, filtered onto the turf and checked in. One team was practically outnumbered by their progeny. Many of our children and partners shared the magic with us. I think most of the yellow team is too young to have kids.

The game opened back n forth, often back. United defense feeling the pressure from the very tall blond and the very muscular and tall brunette. Did I say they were young? Well, they were- they are. No matter, we are used to it- we have watched the other teams get younger all year long. We are tough, though, and Krissy leads us well. We also pack a potent offense.  Say 20 minutes in, 2 Breezers ran into each other in their penalty area, and the ball went out for a .... Goal kick?  No way, even the Breezers were shaking their heads- we asked for clarification, because one ref signaled corner, one goal kick- Corner it is, ok.

 

Maryanne heads the ball in from a corner kick!

 It took like 5 minutes to take the corner- Krissy had remarked early in the game that she felt the ball was too hard- Harvey asked for it to be checked, and it was replaced. Krissy then lofted the new ball high and hard to the penalty area. From my vantage point, I saw Maryanne leap and arch her back. It was a foregone conclusion- GOAL!!!! Lindsay caught it all with her telephoto lens. It was a super goal. 1-0.

We held strong all half. There was a great opportunity at some point for us to make it 2-0. The ball was carooming around in the box. Jo said if she had scored that one she would have retired on the spot!  Near the end of the half, LJ came out to make a save and she took the striker's knee across her jaw. No doubt she was concussed. I am sure she had a massive headache on Sunday, but they didn't score.

It was 1-0 at the half, and we knew Breezers had nothing to lose. They attacked relentlessly all half. We played better second half and had some wonderful combination play, but Breezers gk was fielding our efforts too easily. Off one of her long punts, the right forward ran onto the ball and clear into the space. She didn't wait for Krissy and Ange to close her down- she shot from about 30 yards and the ball laser beamed into the side netting far post. There was nothing anyone could do. The game was tied and Piscataway had the big MO mentum.

A short time later, the left forward cut the ball back onto her right foot and miskicked it way way far up in the air. Harvey watched it arc up in the air and heard Jen say what everyone was thinking- "S€i!". The ball dropped over the goal line from an impossible height.

We worked, we tried, we passed, we scrambled to defend, we attacked with several offside efforts, Jen made a phenomenal leaping save and stuffed a breakaway. Heather and I doubled up on another one and stripped her of the ball, Linda had an opportunity on a header but it cleared the crossbar like a field goal. We went to 3 forwards. We did everything but score.

And so our season ended. We were disappointed in ourselves. But we picked our heads up and congratulated Piscataway, who were better than we were today, and we gathered our children and ate our bananas and headed off to party (Thanks, Angel!!) Or swim or go to weddings or the beach or the concerts or the vacations we put off to be there for each other today. Because in the end, it's a game, we did our best, we came up short, but we can try again. Thanks, EVERYONE, who played or cheered or watched or babysat for us this season. We have been runner-ups more often than we would like, but we  seem always to be in the running for the trophy- we are a force to be reckoned with.

Thanks also to our sponsor, Pro-Activity, who provided us with our cool pink jerseys and the Fuel Good Cafe, where we watched the World Cup Final. We look forward to more parties and gatherings next season. Enjoy your August break, girls, nurse your bruises, and get ready to suit up in Pro-Activity pink the second Sunday in September. Let's GO United! 


Back row Lto R:  Shannon, Dawn, Erin, Kristen (Aunt Krissy), Meaghan, Maryanne, Angel, Kara, Jo, Kathy, Kerry
Bottom L to R:  Laura (Super LJ), Lindsay, Kelli, Kara (Hinsey), Heather, Cheryl, Linda, Claudia, Jen



Clinton United Books Trip to the Final, Bumping Basking Ridge, 4-2

Oh, the joys of Parsippany in the summertime.  In the previous 5 years, Clinton has earned 4 free vacation days on artificial turf just as July turns into August and the little rubber pellets begin to melt.  This year is no exception, thanks to the legions of ladies in Pepto Pink who descended on Foran yesterday to send Mavericks packing.

Maryanne ready to outrun and outskill the defense

Prescience (SAT word of the day) held sway and there was magic in the air.  On the way to the game, I saw a cop had pulled someone over by our exit and I remarked to Jen, “Hope that is one of the Mavericks, off to a bad start on the day.”  Half hour later, I get a call from Maryanne.  Yup, she’s been pulled over on Route 22.  For once, Mare was sporting her jersey on the way to the game.  Usually, she wears pumps and a slinky dress.  Luckily for her, the cop saw the Proactivity jersey and said, “Oh, are you running late to the game?  I know two of your teammates, Erin and Kara.”  She beat the ticket.  I’m surprised he didn’t give her an escort.  Our fame is growing!  Kara texted the officer and pleaded, “Let Maryann go!”  By kickoff time, we had a ton of players, and Mavericks had 5.  Hey, you are not from far away- get it together.  Once the game actually kicked off, they had risen to 12.

Linda going for the perfect pass

We played this team 10 days ago, and played poorly, and won 4-2 against 9 players.  So they must have fancied their chances, having just out-biatched Randolph in the quarterfinals.  We were glad to avoid Randolph, but this game was not super pleasant and sporting.  Mavs should have been happy to make the semis, but it seemed they were not.  They don’t seem to like soccer, or each other, very much at all.  We scored our first goal early, 10 minutes in, when Erin took a shot from distance after curling into the center from her left hand slot, and just nailed it.  Linda scored right after that.  Then the game got physical.  It was especially nasty in the middle.  The calls were a mystery at times.  Once, the ball was way up in the air and Tammy was bearing down on me.  I like life, and I like having bones in my legs, so I didn’t jump, just held my ground.  She jumped, I got bowled over, I got called for the foul.  Hmm.   Tony might want to take another look at the definition of Impeding.  All through the first half, the Mavericks attacked, but we kept them under good control and Cheryl did a wonderful job setting the line.  LJ wasn’t under a lot of pressure.  It was manageable.  But in the middle, the stew of emotions was coming to a simmer.  They had out outsized there, but not outclassed, and they were getting angry.  The half petered out comfortably at 2-0.

Heather got the first touch...hopefully without a headache

The second half opened with increased pressure.  The Mavs had nothing to lose and they were throwing everyone forward.  They are quick, and they looked to exploit the area between our goalkeeper and the back restraining line.  But that left them open to the counterattack- and Kelly got on the ball and made it 3-0.  We knew we were going to win at that point.  But Mavericks did not give up.  Kara Light came up big twice in the second half, looping back to cover Cheryl on a challenge, and clearing the ball.  But Mavericks did get a goal when Cheryl slid just at the edge of the box, got all ball, but didn’t push it far enough clear, and the score sat at 3-1.  Mavericks were salivating at the opportunity to get back in the game.  They were agitated- one player was yellow carded for dissent.  Meaghan was pissed about the contact in the middle and called another girl a Beast!  The Beast said, “You have got to be f#$k&8g kidding me.”  She was yellow carded at the next stoppage but it could have been red.  There were children everywhere, and she really yelled it out.  Jen said that the big number 7 purposely elbowed her way after the ball had left the area. Angel nearly got carded for raising her hands to the ref and walking away while he was talking to her, but he was so quiet, no one could hear him.  She kept her cool.  Erin wanted to have a verbal go at the Beast after she swore but she waved it off and then we put the game out of reached when Claudia popped up in the box to finish off a rebound.  4-1. You can’t catch us.  They did get another goal while I was getting juice for Maryanne’s boys- so cute!  And the contact continued.  One last sweet moment when Kelly cleanly won the ball off Tammy on a hard tackle and just laid her out.  What goes round comes back around.  I don’t know when relations between these two teams will ever mend.  But we were the better team on the day and fully deserved to advance.

Check out all our photos from the game:  HERE

Squad- LJ, Mary, Cheryl, Kerry, Meags, Angel, Lindsay, Kara, Maryanne, Harv, Heather, Erin, Kelly, Linda, Claudia, Jen, Jo, DJ

We play the FINAL on Saturday morning, 9 am, at Jannarone field in Parsippany.  Let’s get the trophy back!!!!

Clinton Edges Sparta in Absolute Thriller, 3-2 in Double Overtime

Written by:  Kerry Haselton

The stunning parallels between Team Pepto’s postseason run and Team USA’s run up to the World Cup final continued last night, with late game drama as the sun sank below the treeline at Foran.  In the end, just before the game was decided by kicks from the mark, United scored a brilliant golden goal to silence Sparta’s coach and send them back to their own cornfields.  It was a wonderful game, and it went like this…

Meags, Erin, Kara & Super LJ in goal

For the second straight game, United players answered the call and got their butts to the field in record numbers.  Everyone confessed to heavy cases of butterflies before kickoff.  Although we beat Sparta 4-1 just 2 games ago, we all knew that they were among the best teams we faced.  After working so hard to come in second in the regular season, it is very hard luck to draw Sparta in the first round.  They had trouble generating results this season, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good.  They also had one or two players with them last night that were missing last time we played- most notably #21, a friend of Maryanne’s who is a really great player.  Just looking at her gave me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. But they lack one thing we have- a goalkeeper.  Their’s is injured, and we had two last night- LJ and Mary.

Aunt Krissy looking to make the perfect corner kick

The first half featured a lot of crisp passing and some very fast attacking play.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of it was played by Sparta.  Led by Krissy and bolstered by a strong showing from LJ, we defended well.  Sparta was playing a system we had not seen before- using a decoy.  No, they did not use fake ducks to try to lure real ducks to their deaths- they used a player in the offside position to try to lure our mids and defenders into complacency and run very fast players in around her and make us fail to track them.  Krissy explained it all to us, and we learned on the job.  Kelly directed the mids.  We hung together.  Lindsay made some good slide tackles.  Laura Walker had a key block and clearance.  We generated some chances from our wide players, but there was a lot of defending to do.  We could not get any possession in the middle of the park.  But we gave up very few corners and that’s a good thing.  We had a few of our own as well, and we came close to scoring.   At one point, Sparta played a ball in over the top and Krissy went to cover it, and the decoy, #11, shifted over and blocked her off the ball.  The whistle blew.  Krissy was under the impression that she was being penalized for elbowing the girl, so she started to put up a fuss, but the call was against Sparta, for impeding, or offside, or both!  The Sparta coach said, “Nicely done.”  Krissy was winding up to take the free kick and she said, “What?  What can you mean by that?  Nicely done?  You want them to cheat?!?”  Good thing we don’t have a coach.  They were playing pretty much man down all the time they used this tactic.  Duh.  0-0 at the half.  We were very much in the game.

During the break, interested onlookers, well, mostly Mary, who was going to have to play goal against this team, wanted to go to a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2.  We explained that we don’t know how to do these things.  We used to play in a 4-3-3, but we are afraid to do it when we already can’t get a touch in center midfield.  Next season, maybe we can work on these systems at practice.  Oh, right, we don’t have any practices.  We used to try to practice, but the same 5 players always showed up. So we decided to try to push Maryanne up a bit as warranted, but otherwise, just keep on working hard.  We also needed to play faster and get to more balls first.   We were doing fine, everything was good, but then #21 came down our right side, cut back onto her right foot, and she shot the ball from 25 yards, curling it in to the side netting far post.  There was nothing anyone could do about that- it was like Heather O’Reilly’s strike in group play in Germany.  We didn’t get down, we just said, well, we should try some shots from distance of our own.  Very soon after that, still within the first 10-15 minutes of the half, we got a goal.  We built from the back, I had time and passed it to Kelly, Kelly got the ball in, and Linda scored a great goal to bring us level!  We then won several corners and started to play with confidence. We had 3 good headers of the ball framing the box on these corners (Maryanne, EJ, and Jen).  An embarrassment of riches.  But wait, there’s more.   Maryann scored after the ball had popped out to her after a free kick or a corner.  Wow, we were winning.  

Linda coming in for the kill

We kept attacking, despite injuries to two of our speedy forwards- Lisa (ankle) and Linda (mild concussion- she still knew what day of the week it was on her second guess!)  Mary came up with some big saves under pressure, including one where #11 could have jumped over her but choose instead to kick her in the gut while she was down.  The refs did not look kindly on that.   Linda’s injury had caused the refs to add a little time to the second half, but we were seconds from the whistle when Sparta was playing a corner and the shot looked well struck and net-bound from the sideline when we all wondered- How did that shot go wide?  It had hit EJ’s hand and deflected out of play.  Scott did blow the whistle, we thought the game had ended, but he was pointing to the SPOT!  Mary made that kicker wait, she played all the mind games she could play, but the shot was good.  2-2.  End of regulation.  I yelled SUB, because I thought with the rapidly waning light we would go direct to pk’s  But the refs wanted to squeeze in the 2 overtime periods of 5 minutes, golden goal.  I felt good about our chances in pks, and we all know how fast those 5 minute periods go by,- so we needed to have our kickers out there, including the aforementioned, mildly-concussed Linder Feldman.  What a trooper.

Both teams went after the goal.  Nothing happened in the first period, so we switched ends.  The sun disappeared and the clock ticked inexorably down.  We won two free kicks.   Krissy was playing with a huge knee and a dead leg, but she sent them in- and HEATHER pulled an Abby Wambach and she scored a goal just seconds from the end of the game!!!!  We swarmed onto the field, Scott temporarily thought he was at World Cup and he said No Golden Goal!  Then he said, “Wait- YES, golden goal!”  And we WON and we advance to the Semis- and        WE DON’T HAVE TO PLAY RANDOLPH!  Basking Ridge got through and now we play them at 9 am Sunday at Foran.  Let’s win and go to the final for the 5th year in 6! 

Let’s GO United!

Squad- LJ, Mary, Kerry, Krissy, Angel, Lindsay, Kara, Kelly, Hines-y, Harv, EJ, Lisa, Jen, Linda, Laura, Erin, Heather, Jo, Amy, DJ, Meags, Maryanne.  Thanks also to all of our fans!

Peptos Survive Indigestion and Rally to Quell Acidic Mavericks, 4-2

Foran was coated in Pink last night as uncountable masses of Peptos appeared for the final regular season match.  The field was unlined and unmowed and the manager had to fight to wrest it from the clutches of a trainer who was too put out to move to the far field.  But she is no milquetoast and eventually, he moved off, kowtowed. 

We had 20 something players wearing the Pro-Activity P for this match.  Yes, even Jo was there, her daughter safely married off. Little Olivia was also sporting pink in support of her mom.  We have struggled to put this team on the field with 11 for a match or two, but no need to call out more troops for this one.  We were 2 deep at every position and we put two complete teams out there- each for half the game.

For some reason, playing the Mavericks is never super fun.  They seem always to be short of players and short of temper.  Their team leader, Tammy, is a fire hydrant of a player known primarily for breaking other players’ legs with her two-footed slide tackles.  To her credit, she kept her feet for this match.  Last summer, in extreme heat, we played poorly and slowly and barely emerged with a 3-2 victory against like 8 (yes, 8!!!!) of them.   This year, they had 8 or 9 players. In days past, they used to take joy in destroying us when we were short of players.  We would like to return the favor, but somehow, we don’t always bring our A game against this team.

In the team huddle, everyone was abuzz about the game plan and the manager’s brilliant allocation of players- they were speaking, of course, about Pia Sundhage.  Lisa piped up- “Guess what?  I’m going to Germany!  My daughter’s whole team is going!”

Not to be outdone, Meags countered, “Yeah, well, Nike called me on the way to the game and they are chartering a jet to send me over there and I am going to be on the bench, or in the press box, or something.”  So there!  We are so famous.  Even Nike has recognized the amazing way that Team USA’s season has tracked that of Clinton United.  I am sure Nike would have called me, but I never give out my cell number.  Our “Let’s GO United” cheer was the loudest ever because we had so many hearty voices in the huddle.

We started off so-so and we stayed that way, pretty much, but we got the first goal.  Shannon makes a practice of scoring every game and she did not disappoint today.  She was only going to stay for a half, so she decided to take her goal early, from distance, curling in over the keeper’s outstretched arms.  A bit after our 17 minute changeover to Clinton United II, Scott signaled a penalty kick against us after a tackle from behind in the box.  Krissy was working the player and when Lindsay went to double up on her she fell over.  Everyone was thinking about Germany.  Luckily, there was no penalty arc painted because the lines were too faint to replicate, so no one could step inside it.  That meant it was Mary v Maverick.  The shot came in high and just a bit to Mary’s right.  She is so quick that she got a strong hand on it and pressed it skyward but it hit in just under the bar and dropped into the net.  What a great effort.  1-1.

I missed the go ahead goal because I was retrieving one of our $40 game balls from the ball-eating bush J when it happened.  I couldn’t even tell from the cheers whether we had scored or Mavs, so I asked Heather.  She said it was us- yea!!!  Later on I consulted with my official goal-tallier, Kelly, who confirmed it was Linda.  Angel and I know it’s very hard to tell who scores from the defensive end- we are just happy when the ball is not in OUR net.  Halftime talked confirmed that we were not playing very well, but, whatever.  Krissy mom thinks we’re good, so that’s enough.

Team I went out there and played so-so but Heather got a scrappy goal.  So we were leading, 3-1.  Not for very long, though.  Mavericks somehow had us outnumbered on the right all game even though they have like 9 players.  Krissy said she would go ball, and for once, she did not get it, and the rest of the defense was kind of, like watching in disbelief.  Catherine came out and got a hand on it but it went in the goal- 3-2.  This is when things got unfun.  Scott called a foul against Mavericks, which was rare in this game, most calls seemed to go inexplicably against us, and Krissy placed a ball just a bit up the field- like say, maybe 10 yards.  Much griping ensued.  Krissy said, “Hey, whatever, we have all the time in the world.”  Tammy said, “Oh, you do, do you?” and kicked the ball not very close to Krissy, kind of away, in fact.  I had visions of yellow cards starting to appear, but Krissy placed the ball and we restarted.  Soon after, we put in team II.  Team I stood watching, knowing we needed another goal, not feeling comfortable at all.  Needing Pepto, in fact.  Then IT happened.  Just like when Abby Wambach popped up in the box and bashed that header home, only shorter, EJ popped up in the box at the end of a scrum and pounced on a rebound and slotted that ball in!  I sound like Jordan but it’s me and it’s true- it was a great goal and the relief on the sideline was like a double dose of the pink stuff.  EJ is always in the right place at the right time, and this time, she finished off the chance.  I think, looking at the standings, that we are thus assured of Second Place at least and we will have Home matches through the playoffs!  Unless, of course, I’m wrong. 

When I got home after beers and libations and cookies, my daughters saw me sporting our Pepto kit and asked if the P stands for Pepto-Bismol!  Now THAT is funny.  Thanks, everyone, for coming out to play.

Our next game is Quarterfinals next Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Foran.  More on our opponent after Sunday’s make up games and the US’s victory in World Cup.  Speaking of which, Lindsay is opening the Fuel Good Café for the game.  She will send out an email with details- but please plan to go to Fuel Good for the game- I’m gonna go.  Let’s get the team there..  Let’s GO United, all the way!!!!

Kerry

Squad- Mary, Catherine, Kerry, Lindsay, Krissy, Angel, Kara, Meags, Maryanne, Harv, Heather, Erin, Jo, Kelly, Shannon, Hines-y, Amy, EJ, Linda, Lisa, DJ  

Timekeeper Bart.

United Stifle Rage, 4-1

Written By:  Kerry Haselton


Playoffs start the following Wednesday night.  We will have a Home match for that since we are sure to finish in the top 4 with our great results this season.

We ALL got lost on the way to Station Park.  I was lost because I had no GPS, no directions, no glasses to read the phone.  Carpool was lost because the exit is labeled differently than expected.  Maryann was lost because the directions online suck.  Harvey may not have been lost- she was first to the bathroom, I know that.

Sparta is a wicked good team that has been struggling for results this season.  In this league, all the teams have become so strong that anything can happen at any time.  Add to that the nature of soccer as a low-scoring game, and you have the potential for upset every game.  Sparta is also a team that practices, and hires a coach.  The coach did not show up so they had no soccer balls.  We supplied the game ball and they asked for 5 minutes to warm up.  Harvey said- No Way- we haven't touched a ball either and we traveled an hour- so let's play!  We had a very strong side at the game with 4 subs and DJ, who had crawled out of bed only to discover we needed a gk and she had to shake the sleep from her eyes and make carpool.  What a trooper!

We had a hard time settling the ball to feet in the early going.  I know Sparta was dominating because I was huffing and puffing a bit.  It was busy in the back. I nipped the ball off the foot of one striker just in front of Dawn's hands, then stepped off to take a breather and Kara subbed in and I wasn't watching but there was some kind of flurry in the box at 20 minutes and Sparta scored.  We just kept trying to get our groove on, without a whole lotta success.  But late in the half, Kara was moving the ball up the left- it apparently went out over the touchline, but the single ref was unable to see that, and he let play continue and Kara played the whistle and we worked the ball into the box and somebody scored! I think it was Linda, maybe Kelly.  I don't know. Sparta was imploring the ref to disallow the goal because the ball had gone out- but he allowed it to stand.  Always, always, always play the  whistle.  It was 1-1 at the half and we took a rest in the shade.

Sparta was playing their outside mids very wide and high and they were keeping Erin, Harvey, Claudia, and EJ busy defending constantly.  We decided to take some risks with that and pass those players off to the backs- me, Kara, and Angel, with help from our stoppers, Maryann and Meags.  It worked a charm.  Instead of giving up a goal early in the half, as is our custom, we buckled down the back and attacked.  Shannon got a goal on a shot from distance fairly quickly- she had been pressing for that all game, and she got her just reward.  The third goal came from a lot of lovely work from Harvey, Kelly and Cheryl over on the right.  Cheryl finished the chance. Our last goal came from Erin, out on the left.  We were passing, moving, controlling, and staying vigilant at the back.  Lately we have been allowing teams to close the gap at the end, but we did not fail this time.  Dawn was sure handed all  game, as usual. And we continued to generate chances.  EJ went sliding in on the far post after a cross from the left and she nearly scored.  Claudia was playing well on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, back in the back, Krissy as shutting everything down, though she felt she was playing slowly, having forgotten to drink the night  before.  In all, it was a great and sporting match, after which we all went home to watch an amazing USA tuck Brazil away at the last gasp.  What a day, what a game, what a team.  Yup, I mean Clinton United, and the United States- Let's GO!

We are down to the business end of the season, and like the USA, after Wednesday, it's win or GO Home.  Let's keep it up and go all the way.  We can do it!

Squad- DJ, Kerry, Krissy, Angel, Kara, Maryanne, Meags, Erin, Kelly,
Shannon, Harvey, Cheryl, EJ, Linda, Claudia,

Clinton Tethers Game Lady Hawks, 8-0

Written By:  Kerry Haselton


Our game last night was delayed by a bad accident on Route 78 that made travel time to the game hefty.  It was well after the scheduled kickoff time when the Hawks finally had 7 players and we had 13.  Hawks never made it to a full side of 11, but they played anyway and it was a sportsmanlike and easy match (for us...) on a lovely night.

Although the warning had gone out that we were also short players, many responded to the call.  Jen and I drove direct from an episode of Househunters- DC to make the game.  Shannon and Heather were sporting injuries, EJ and Claudia played on a Wednesday, a rarity for them because of work, and Cheryl was recovering from vertigo, but we were all there.

The first half ended 4-0 and we changed up our lineup to give some of our defenders a chance to get further forward on the field.  People who had already tallied a goal were not allowed to score any more.  Krissy took about 1 minute to score with a great header, then she trotted back to her sweeper spot.  Harvey played very well at right midfield and up top.  Many people contributed to the scoreline- Linda had 3 goals, Shannon scored before leaving the game early to rest her knee injury, and Kelly, EJ, Krissy and Cheryl all put the ball in the net.  The rest of us had assists and set ups and we played a nice passing game.  Jen played in goal and had a quiet match except for one sliding save which left her with a sore quad.

Player of the game was Hopatcong's goalkeeper, who made several really tough saves, especially when the sun was in her eyes.  It's hard to be a struggling team in this league, and the veterans on our team remember the days, (not long ago at all,) when Hopatcong routinely beat us 9-1. They were in the ascension and we were rebuilding.  Now the tables have turned. Hopefully they will get some new players and survive to play, because when a team folds, the whole league suffers.

After the game, we had beers with our fans, kids, and Amy and DJ, who came out to watch, or at least to imbibe!  We stayed past sunset and had a great time before heading out into the night.

Squad- Jen, Kerry, Krissy, Heather, Maryanne, Harvey, EJ, Kelly, Shannon,
Cheryl, Linda, Laura, Claudia

No game this Sunday.  We have a BYE on Wednesday the 6th.  Our next game is Sunday the 10th in Sparta.  Count to follow.  Enjoy your holiday weekend, gang!



Addendum By:  Cheryl McKinney


Kerry, once again being the optimist and always trying to find the good in every human, failed to mention the highlight of the game.

With about ten minutes left in the first half, a hopatcong player who, no doubt was stuck in traffic on 78, rolled into the lot. Her team was desperate for her to get on the field. So much so that they actually let her play in her dry clean only work slacks. They were black and flowy and put me in mind of clam diggers or culottes or gauchos. They had a zipper and a button and even had belt loops. It was a sight to see. With the soccer socks underneath I could hardly contain my laughter as I watched her gallop around the field like somebody's mom who came to watch but was thrown on the field out of desperation. It was friggin hilarious.

At halftime she changed into shorts, and before long we all remembered who she was from last season. She rolled up her shirt, tucked it into her sports bra and played with a little 1985 seaside heights style half shirt going on. You all know who I mean, now, right? Remember her?? 

Game Report- United Vacuums Sweeps, 4-3

Written by:  Kerry Haselton


A huge carpool and sundry other United players pulled into Midvale field to find the Sweeps putting their goals together and lining the field. Apparently, they have to assemble and disassemble their goals every game. Foran is paradise compared to that!


Pregame meetings verified that this game was going to be a little different. The trees on the far side were  overhanging the field by about 8 feet, so balls hitting the branches and landing inbounds were to be played as IN. Talk about home field advantage- strategic use of tree rebounds.


Dawn Jordan came out of retirement and played between the pipes, which meant we had 11 players at the start.  We picked up one sub in the first half with Laura Walker's arrival.  The game started evenly, with both sides  taking chances for themselves.  We were reminded about 12 minutes in that giving up corners to this team is simply not a good idea. They have a left footed player who can bend that sucker like Beckham from both sides.  Sure enough, they got the first goal of the morning at the near post, when one of their tall players headed the ball back toward Meags, who said, "Well, if it hits me in the chest, I ought to be able to stop it."  But there was no time to react and it could and would have happened to any of us.


Not long after, we set a lovely series of passes in motion which freed Kelly on the right side.  She ran to the goal line and cut the cross back hard to a charging Erin who finished smartly at the far post.  1-1!



The rest of the half we dominated.  It was very comfortable at the back with Harv, Ange, Meags and I starting new attacks and the Sweeps imploring each other to start winning balls.  Before the end of the half, Linda got the first of her eventual HATTRICK of goals.  Angel had the assist.


Meags was man marking the number 3 and doing a great job of it, but she did get through on one of her diagonal runs and she bore down on DJ with menace, but Dawn came out with perfect timing and utterly stuffed her!  It was an incredible save.


I heard the Sweeps at halftime, their sometime goalkeeper who was playing central mid saying- "It's ok if we lose this game, as long as we play better second half."  I would say overall they did play better second half,  starting with the goal we let them score like 30 seconds in.  We all stopped, sure we had the number 3 offside- and she just waltzed in there and scored.  2-2, just like that!  Dawn got something on it but it dribbled over the goal line. Sweeps continued to press and caused confusion at the back as they overloaded the far post on every cross and we could not get clear. Just about that time, Waldo pulled in.  The Sweeps did not want to let us sub her in on their throw in- but they had subbed on ours, so come on get a grip!  In she came and with a lot of snazzy forward play, we got our third goal- Linda Feldman!  When you're hot, you're HOT!  But the game was far from over.  Sweeps kept attacking in droves.  They won a free kick near the middle of the short field.  The ball came in and bounced in front of Dawn on the sandy firm ground and arc'd up over her head and into the net.
Unbelievable.


So it was 3-3.  Both teams wanted the game.  We were dominant in their half, they were dominant in ours.  Waldo had the ball for what seemed like 5 minutes, probing for a shot, left foot, right foot, feet feet feet (Dr. Seuss) but the shot was blocked and fell to Erin who volleyed it, it was saved and then she came in again at the goalkeeper's feet but it hit the post!  But we continued to press and Linda got the hattrick- 4-3, and that is how it ended.  Dawn stopped the number 3 again and got kicked in the head for her troubles.  DJ and Linda share woman of the match honors on this one.


So much hard work by all the mids and forwards - Amy, EJ, Maryann, Erin, Kelly, Linda, and Laura and Waldo to make us successful in this game.  And we finished up with time for Harv and Waldo and Bart and I to get a beer at
TGI Fridays before sending our number 9 north on Route 87 towards Vermont.


Thanks everyone who played.  It was a chippy, heated game.  The Sweeps all slide tackle like push brooms.  But we swept them under the rug.

Squad- DJ, Kerry, Harv, Angel, Meags, Erin, Maryann, Kelly, EJ, Linda, Amy, Laura Walker, Laura Halfpenny