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Kyle Owens Classic Tournament - 11v11 - Girls U11 Gold
Frisco, TX
Champions
01/26/2008 - Bracket - TSC 97 Red 1, 97 Sting White 0
01/26/2008 - Bracket - TSC 97 Red 0, Ft. Worth FC 97 White 0
01/27/2008 - Bracket - TSC 97 Red 1, Sting West 97 0
01/27/2008 - Shootout - TSC 97 Red 3, Ft. Worth FC 97 White 2
01/27/2008 - Semi-FInal - TSC 97 Red 3, TFC 97 2
01/27/2008 - FInal - TSC 97 Red 3, Sting 97G Bones 0
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TULSA TAKES TEXAS - TSC 97 RED WINS KYLE OWENS CLASSIC
FRISCO, Texas — The TSC 97 Red Girls squad emerged from a fog, both literally and at times figuratively, to claim the Kyle Owens Classic U11 Gold Division Girls Championship at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, on January 27, 2008. Bitter chill swept over the Texas plains, abruptly jarring 97 Red from the cozy indoor confines and plunging them into the 11 v 11 outdoor format. The girls were forced to rapidly adjust to super-sized fields in near freezing temperatures against five hot-footed Texas teams also looking to post their maiden 2008 tournament victory.
In Saturday bracket play, TSC dominated ball possession but managed to post only a single score in their opener against Sting Dallas White 97, winning 1-0. In game two, with the exception of a lone breakaway threat adeptly saved by the keeper, the TSC defense easily held a shutout. Meanwhile the offense struggled to convert on plentiful opportunities, ultimately deadlocking in a scoreless tie with a determined Fort Worth FC 97 White team.
Game three on Sunday kicked off well before the dim skies could burn away the dense morning fog from the air or the mind. Coach Matt Blackwell, the hearty sideline spectators and several players on the field might be hard pressed to collectively reconstruct a spotty play-by-play of what transpired during the game. Visibility was so limited that the TSC goalkeeper could not even see the opposing goal, let alone her teammates hard at work trying to breach it. TSC’s blind offensive effort resulted in a solo score as their golden goose of a D produced yet another shiny egg and another 1-0 decision over Sting West 97.
That forged a first-place tie between TSC and Fort Worth FC 97 White, both finishing with a 2-0-1 bracket play record and identical points. The bid for top seeding in semifinal play was thus settled by a shootout with Fort Worth FC, which TSC won 3-2.
In semifinal action against TFC 97, the fog lifted and the TSC forwards finally cut free, ripping off two quick early scores to start the game strong. TFC ended TSC’s impressive shutout string by capitalizing on a first-half cross-combination served from the right amidst heavy traffic. TSC scored a third in the second half to seal the win, although TSC allowed a careless goal to sneak through in the final seconds – not exactly the best way to close semifinal play, but a 3-2 win is still better than a sack of spuds.
TSC saved its best for last in its championship matchup against a battle-tested Sting West 97G Bones squad, who just barely eked by Fort Worth 97 FC White in a semifinal shootout (following double OT). If Sting West was weary, it didn’t show as they put their hearts and legs into it full throttle. But the relentless TSC 97 Red offense and brick-wall defense was far too overpowering. TSC peaked Sunday evening, churning out its best soccer of the tournament to finish off a 3-0 triumph and claim the U11 Gold title. |
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