April 9, 2006

 

The skies were clear and the sun was shining in Vienna, but a Storm was brewing with Lightning.  Although, missing five players and having to play with only ten, the VYS Storm stepped onto the field with determination.  Knowing they had no subs and would need to conserve energy the Storm defense played it very smart and kept pulling the CYA Lightning offside.  The Lightning knew their best hope would be to send the ball over the fullbacks and try to outrun the Storm, but their plan was foiled by Samantha and Julianne who ran like the wind to snatch up the ball and redirect it up field.  After several attempts, the Lightning was able to strike, but Storm goal keeper Mikey would not give them satisfaction. 

 

The Storm increased the pressure as Kaitlyn and Clancy controlled the middle and took shots from outside the eighteen.  Erin shot with her left and just barely went wide of the far corner.  Emily maneuvered her way through traffic and got off a couple of shots.  Ritika and Sarah pushed up to help and each took shots.  Finally, with two minutes left in the first half, Daniela got loose on a breakaway, drew the CYA keeper out and connected the ball with the back of the net, and put the Storm ahead 1-0.

 

The second half was a test of wills and endurance.  CYA came back fired up and determined to break down the Storm’s defenses and applied more pressure on goal.  Storm goalkeeper, Samantha, worked hard keeping the goal clear.  One shot almost went through, but Rikita was there and made a near goal line save, disappointing the CYA fans.  Eventually, Lightning struck and evened out the score. 

 

The Storm was not about to dissipate and continued to develop attacks starting with the back three led by Julianne, who held ground and earned several free kicks to set up the offense.  Sarah fought hard and took a ball to the face and was forced off the field with a bloody nose.  Taking advantage of the Storm being yet another player down, CYA scored and took the lead.  Sarah got cleaned up and went right back out on the field, tough as nails.

 

Although exhausted and injured, the Storm gained momentum.  Daniela kept forcing the Lightning to the outside making them lose the ball for a Storm throw.  Clancy caught her second wind and made an 80 yard run to goal.  The pressure was mounting as the Storm pushed up.  Erin used her head and kept the ball in Lightning territory.  Emily worked her way around the opposition and tested the goal keeper.  With less than a minute left in the game, Mikey scored for the Storm, assisted by a beautiful outside-of-the-foot pass from Kaitlyn.  Seconds later the whistle blew, leaving the Storm even with Lightning 2-2.

 

April 2, 2006

 

After last week’s defeat, the LMVS Patriots were fired up and ready for battle.  The Storm was taken off guard by the intensity of the Patriots and conceded two early goals in the 11^th and 14^th minutes.  Feeling a little shell shocked by the unexpected barrage, the Storm regrouped and began to fight back. 

 

On the next corner kick, Daniela was not fooled by the Patriots’ attempt to distract the defense and cleared the ball to safety.  The Storm defense worked hard and stopped any further attacks.  Julianne and Kaitlyn held strong in the center and forced the Patriots out wide.  Storm goal keepers, Clancy and Samantha, stopped several hard shots and kept the Patriots from increasing their lead.

 

The Storm began to launch counter attacks out of the back.  Nicole and Sarah took advantage of open space and drove up the field.  Erin stripped the ball from an attacker, turned up field and found Federica open and ready.  Mikey faked out a marking Patriot and centered the ball to Emily who was wide open in the middle.  Catherine, undaunted by a hard hit in the stomach, plowed through the defense.  Ritika and Meghan tirelessly covered the flanks.  Alexa made several runs on goal, but the Patriots refused to give up their lead.

 

When asked about the game, Storm’s Coach Kelly said, “The Patriots were definitely hungry for a win after last weekend.  I think we came in feeling a bit over confident and weren’t focused and gave up two early goals.  That was a wake up call.  We played a much better second half, but unfortunately just couldn’t find the back of the net.  It was a tough game to lose, but we won’t make the same mistake next time.”       

 

March 26, 2006

 

The second day of pre-season games proved once again that the VYS Storm is a powerful force, capable of destroying even the tightest of defenses.  The LMVS Patriots fought hard and denied the Storm any goals during the first half, but they could not hold up to the onslaught.  Mikey and Kaitlyn controlled the center of the field setting up the forwards time and again.  The forwards, led by Emily in the center pounded the Patriot’s goal.

 

 

Meanwhile, at the other end of the field, VYS goal keeper, Samantha, cheered her fullbacks, Nicole, Julianne and Daniela as they kept sending the ball back toward the Patriot’s goal, intensifying the pressure.  Finally, early in the second half, Catherine set up Meghan with a beautiful cross, and put the Storm on the scoreboard.

 

The Patriots tried to retaliate, but the Storm was building momentum.  Erin, Meghan and Federica relentlessly showered shot after shot on goal.  A flurry of activity in front of the goal and a well placed shot by Meghan increased the Storm’s lead.

 

Not to be kept out of the recent goal scoring frenzy, Catherine blew ahead on a breakaway and nailed one past the dazed Patriot’s keeper, only to be called offside.  Next was Daniela, using her infamous power left, but her glory was also stifled by the whistle.  (Who hired that Ref anyway?) 

 

Again the Patriots tried to push their way through the Storm, but could barely penetrate into Storm territory.  Kaitlyn was a powerhouse, stopping any Patriot that came her way.  Ritika battled hard in the midfield and stripped the ball from the attacking Patriots.  Samantha, Julianne and Nicole kept Mikey safe in goal.

 

The Patriots tried to push forward, but the Storm was just too strong and in a final wave Federica scored the crowning goal leaving the Storm on top 3-0.

 

 

March 25, 2006

 

After a slow start and conceding an early goal, the Storm intensified, shattering McLean’s brief lead.  Raging through the opposition’s defense, Kaitlyn took a hard shot from the right.  McLean’s goalkeeper couldn’t hang on to it and Erin was right there to knock it in the net.  Thus began the wave of attack against Freedom.  Only moments later Federica sailed the ball past the stunned keeper. 

 

McLean tried to rally and push through the Storm’s defense, but was denied again and again by the tenacious fullbacks.  Nicole, Julianne and Daniela formed a solid wall and thwarted McLean’s assault.  A few times McLean thought they had broken through the defense, but their hopes were dashed again by Samantha manning the goal for the Storm.  The first half ended with the Storm leading 2-1.

 

The second half was to be the Storm’s test.  With no subs could they maintain the same level of intensity or would the Storm slowly weaken?  Optimism was the name of the game.  The Storm chanted, “We can do it!  Yes we can!  Our goalie’s name is Michaelanne!”

 

Fired up and engines recharged from the brief half-time break, the Storm retook the field and showed no mercy.  Meghan, endorsed by Wheaties and Energizer, made run after run setting up the forwards and crushing any attempt McLean had to take control.  Ritika worked the left side, fearlessly making tackles and stripping the ball from McLean.  The Storm created wave after wave of attack, resulting in two more goals.  The first was made by Emily.   Next, Daniela took a hard left footed shot, taking the goal keeper by surprise.

 

The Storm was fighting hard, running on adrenaline, but fatigue was starting to show.  Running full speed on a huge and fast field was starting to take its toll.  McLean had a sudden breakaway, but the unfortunate forward could not keep the ball under control and Mikey made a sliding save, stripped the ball from the girl’s feet and sent her flying.  A second breakaway raised the hopes of the McLean fans, but again they were dashed when Samantha appeared out of nowhere saving the Storm’s lead.  McLean pressed again and finally succeeded in penetrating the Storm’s defenses. 

 

With only minutes to go the Storm dug in their heels and refused to allow McLean to build another attack.  The final whistle blew and a thunderous applause exploded from the VYS Storm sideline.  The final score 4-2.  Victorious, the Storm blew out of McLean.