Stumbling into the playoffs

Oh, what could have been!

We missed an opportunity to finish in at least second place today, as we lost our last regular season game.  The score versus Far Post was 3-1; Far Post claims second on points.  We will finish in third or fourth depending on how DC Thunder finishes its last two matches.  If they collect six more points, they finish third and we take fourth, which would be a disappointing finish given our expectations.

We are stumbling into the playoffs.

With injury issues up and down the roster, we are banged up.  And we haven't shown well against quality competition.  We have given up the first goal against every team in the top half of the table.  In the second half of the season, we were 1-3, with a -7 goal differential.  Ugh.

Today's game was a good one despite the score line.  While the odds were stacked against us at the beginning of the match, because we didn't have any subs, we were the better team in the first half.  We dictated the pace, passed to feet, and showed confidence in all 11 players.  That didn't, unfortunately, yield any goals, which is how the season has gone for us.  Several cross bars and near misses.

But it was a different game in the second half as the defense got caught in space - without any goal cushion.  We gave up a first, then another, and then another when we changed shape to press forward.  They were each one on one's. Incredibly, Far Post even missed two sure things when they beat the defense and got behind George at the 18.  We did get a goal on a cross from Nate to Adrian, but we didn't pose any direct threats otherwise.

There is good news.  We have two weekends of rest.  We'll use the first (Memorial Day) to recuperate and the second (June 3rd, makeup date, we don't have a game) to return to form in a scrimmage against Little Urban Achievers.  There should be no thinking about "the finals" or anything of that nature.  We haven't earned that yet. There is only one game and that is our the first round of the playoffs on June 10th.  I foresee...victory!

Notes: 3-1 loss to Far Post, 5/20/12, Ridge Field.  Goal: Adrian (Nate), George (3 GA).