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