rone | soccer report threefer

On Friday, Blasters played The New Team in a grueling 23:25 game that wasn't too grueling, and i even managed to fall asleep afterwards without too much trouble. We lost 9-4 (i'm pretty sure the score was actually 10-5, but whatever). This game was the beginning of my "this is the worst division in coed play, so the other guys aren't very good; thus, i will directly challenge the ball carrier because he won't be good enough to dribble around me" theory.

On Monday, Blasters played The New Team. Yes, again. We lost again, 4-1. My "challenge the ball carrier" theory was put into practice, and gave up one goal as a result, so i think it's good and i'll continue to give it play. Our opponents were a bit whiny, but we played a clean, if tough, game (actually, both games were clean). In both games, i was victimized by poor defensive work in front of me, which led to my classic "i gotta do SOMETHING — LOOK OUT BLAARGGH I'M RENÉ HIGUITA" play. One of the new players called me out on it in Monday's game, i settled down in the second half, and we allowed no goals. So, not bad.

Tonight, i subbed in goal for Fubar. I sure missed playing with these guys; they're all really good and they bring out the best in me. We lost to Maria Elena's, 11-10, in a very exciting game where i got winded for the first time in a long while. Both teams had bad bounces and good luck; we had to play the last 4 minutes down a man (due to one teammate getting blue-carded for mouthing off to the ref, then mouthing off some more and getting a yellow card [a blue card is 2 minutes, and the player can return after the opposition scores a goal; a yellow card is 4 minutes and the player may not return until they are up]), yet we managed to score 2 short-handed goals. I got a ton of compliments from my teammates on my play, and even some from my opponents (one said, "Lucky goalie!" and he was right about that, too).

I seem to have a weird hole about a ball's width or two off my left foot. Shots in that vicinity get through because i am unable to somehow kick it away. It is perplexing. I must work on that next time.

Three games in six days... i'm beat. But i feel good.