Game 5 - RSVP now!

Hello team,

We play Lost Tourists at 1:00 pm at Galludet this Sunday. 

Are you in?

Don't forget, they will be coming for us.  We had some scheduling issues that their team may have viewed as preventing a fair matchup.  They were almost relegated as a result before they managed a win in the last week to stay in our division.  They will be coming ready to settle the score.  Will you let them?

3-0 victory

I am told we earned a 3-0 victory this afternoon.

Who had the points?

RSVP for Game 4: 3:00 pm at

We play recently-promoted Geezers at 3:00 p.m. at Dunbar HS.  They will be hungry to show that they belong in this division, which they fully do.  But can we beat them?

The game is at DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL.  That's a field change from the first time the schedule was announced.

Are you in?

Note: Field location has changed for this coming weekend

Our game is at Dunbar High School in the District.  Originally, we were scheduled for Galludet.  Not any longer.  It's Dunbar.

Please make a note.

Three late goals salvage a point

It didn't look good at the 65' mark.  Our possession was lacking and we were spending most of the time on our heels after yielding two goals.  I hobbled off the field in the 30' with an injury and I was cranky.

But, late in the match, people started thinking positive and just one play turned the whole thing around for us.  Chris N. took possession on the wing about halfway to goal.  He made some moves and sent a long pass to Anna at the far post.  Shot across the goal mouth into the corner of the net!  It was well deserved because Anna had been really good throughout the game, playing quite dynamically up front.

And then she got even better.  By netting two more times, in remarkably similar ways, Anna set a new club record for the first female hat trick.  All three goals came in a 15 minute span.  That's one of only a handful of times we've scored three goals in such a short period of time.  It was great teamwork and thank goodness we took something home for it in the standings.

With that special performance, Anna outscored Roland in the run of play, and that's saying a lot.  You have to defend the guy to understand how hard it is.  Speed, strength, and skill.  We almost had that game won before, in the last two minutes, we lost him by two steps on the endline and he headed in a controversial cross for the tying goal.  It was a tough three points to give up, but just imagine how DC Thunder feels.  They were leading for most of the game and collapsed.

It was a chippy, physical, but well played game by both sides.  Anna wasn't the only good player.  Everyone did great, including Jackie Jr., whose first cap was unusual to say the least.  Diana got her first point with an assist on the last Goleros goal.

On to next week!

Notes: 3-3 tie vs DC Thunder on 9/19/10 at Galludet University.  Goals: Anna (Chris), Anna (Adrian), Anna (Diana).  GK: George.  Discipline: Griz (Yellow, intentional foul on keeper).

Galludet Field Rules

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjay Nayar
Date: Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 7:54 AM
Subject: [ccsl_teams] Gallaudet

 

Hey all,

 

This weekend is the first that we will be using the Gallaudet field so for those playing there, lets be extra mindful about being good stewards and building/keeping a good impression of our league.

 

Some specific rules:

 

* Players who need to use the bathroom should go into the Jordan Student Activities Center. They should not use the Field House, which is a few steps closer and could be easily mistaken for the "student center".

* Facility rules: no smoking, no pets, no unsupervised children, no cleats on the track (unless briefly when chasing a ball that went out of bounds), NO JUMPING THE FENCE even though it's only 4 feet high...walk around to the entrance near the bleachers.

*Parking available in lot next to field on Sundays.

 

*Throw all trash in proper receptacles

 

Thanks!

 

Sanjay

Note about posting comments

The comments feature on this website is a little glitchy.  I've noticed that I often have to click on "publish" twice.  The first time it doesn't go through.  Make sure that your comments end up being added. 

Remember, you can sign in using your google account.  Or, to avoid that trouble, you can click on "name" and just fill in whatever.  Or you can use the anonymous option and put your initials or first name in the comment so we know who it is.

Easy peasy.

Goalie depth chart taking shape

You probably know that we're extremely lucky to have three keepers.  Alec, solid.  George, solid.  Anna, solid.  But did you know that we have a pretty deep bench behind that?  There's an intense competition out there for the final spots on the GK depth chart.

Adrian has established himself as the front runner for the fourth-string spot.  His chest save this weekend was beyond the capability of a mere field player who is filling in as goalie.  His overall performance gives the team confidence.

The fifth-string spot is the most competitive at the moment.  I have the most experience going into camp.  But Jon has expressed an interest in trying to unseat me.  He doesn't have many minutes back there, but there's reason to believe he would be good.  And let's not forget about Nate, with lots of experience, and Chip, always underrated at the position.  Griz continues to consider himself the last-ditch option after breaking a rib at the position.  Who else from the female roster will step up?

RSVP for Game 3 - DC Thunder

We play DC Thunder at 1:00 pm on Sunday at Galludet.

Are you in?  RSVP by Thursday noon.

Man, we've played these guys a lot recently.  We played them 2-3 times in years past.  And then last season, we played them twice.  Once didn't count.  The other one, scheduled during the week, ended in a draw.  If they would have scored in those final minutes - and believe me, it was close - I think we would have turned around and played them in the playoffs a few days later.  It would have been three games against Thunder in, like, a week.

The first three points

We picked up our first win of the season on Sunday versus DC Divided, prevailing 3-1 in a late game.  The win puts us back on the map and in the race for the division title.  It offers a little solace after the disappointing loss in the opening game.

We started the game with only 9 players, because we had just three women available.  While DC Divided was emboldened during that time, they didn't have many early opportunities, except for a well-taken free kick.  When Elyse and Suzie showed up, we were full strength and the tide turned.  At about the 35' mark, we scored the first goal.  Cat's service into the box was neatly deflected by Chris D. for his first goal in orange and white.  An own goal a few minutes later put us up by two.  Griz deserves a lot of credit for a hard shot from the wing position to the far post.  The shot caused the keeper to stretch and push the ball dangerously back into play.  Their defender panicked and sent a clearance into the goal.  Halfway through the second half, we scored our third goal when I took possession in the middle of the field. Unchallenged, I was able to send Chris N. deep into the box with a flat pass.  Even though my pass was too long, the goalie misplayed the ball, which allowed Chris to follow through.  The hometown scorekeeper (me) gives an assist to the player (me).

DC Divided played well and had the goal of the match to end the game.  After a powerful, Alec/George-like save, Adrian came out of the box at just the moment we lost possession.  A DCD forward sent a long, high, and bouncing shot over Adrian and into the net.

What did the captain notice most about the game?  We were equally threatening in the middle and on the wings.  The defensive and wingers played extremely well, running down balls and getting upfield.  Diana and De had phenomenal games.  I spied Nap more than once approaching the other team's 18 on a run.  When there is adequate coverage and the timing is right, that is such a sweet way to play wingback.

Good game everyone!

Notes: 3-1 win vs DC Divided on 9/12/10 at George Mason High School.  Goals: Chris D. (Cat), Own goal, Chris N. (Pete).  GK: Adrian.

Congrats!

Congratulations on the win Sunday evening Goleros. I wish I was there to be a part of it.

See you soon!

Ally

Fancy footwork

Check out this impressive sequence involving Thierry Henry.  I wish MLS could have more of this stuff.  Click here.

Night game! RSVP for Week 2 here

Our first of two night games is this coming Sunday Sept. 12th, 9:00 p.m., George Mason High School in Falls Church. It's walkable from the West Falls Church Metro, and right off Route 7 if you're driving.

Are you in?

Please RSVP as early as possible so we can call up our reserves if necessary.

Ally & Pete

Schedule adjustment

Our game on Sunday, September 26th will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Dunbar HS.  The time is the same but the location has changed.  The schedule on this website will be updated shortly.

Tsunami wins the Orange Bowl

Well, we played this one hard, and you have to admit, we looked good.  Regardless, Tsunami picks up the 1-0 win with a direct kick from the 18' in extra time.  Congratulations to Tsunami, who capitalized really well.


None of the usual "teething" problems existed in this season opener - fitness was good, organization was good (at times excellent), folks showed up on time, and we played well.  All that is great news.  The result is just the nature of sports.  Fortunes turn quickly.

Let's talk stats.

With Vic's 91st minute strike, Tsunami evened the series score in the Orange Bowl at 3-3-1.

Fall '10 (1-0 loss)

Spring '10 (2-1 loss)

Fall '09 (no game)

Spring '09 (3-2 win)

Spring '08 (2-0 win)

Fall '08 (no game)

Fall '07 (1-1 tie)

Spring '07 (1-0 loss regular season, 2-0 win playoffs)

There have been some great match-ups in those games, always hard fought.  On occasion, Tsunami has had providence on its side with some offside calls where the ball was in the back of the net and the result changed.  But not today.  The refs were no factor and the team with the best plays won.

I was curious about our performance in season openers.  Kind of sorry I looked it up.  We're bad and getting worse.  We are 3-8 since joining CCSL, having lost our last four season openers.  Our last win in the opening game, then, was Spring 2008.

ANYWAY...not to worry.  Great effort and structure on the field.  Congratulations especially to Diana, whose versatility playing 4 positions was important.

Did you enjoy the game?


[Notes: 1-0 loss to Tsunami on 8/29/10, Wilson HS. GK: George.  Discipline: George (yellow, deliberate handling).]

Preview of fall schedule

Ahead of our first game this Sunday, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at our schedule.  It's a tough one.

Like last season, we start off the first week playing our rivals and co-equals, Tsunami.  I'm sure everyone remembers our close 2-1 loss to them last year in that first match.  It turned out to be accurate prediction for the season.  Tsunami finished 3rd behind Itchy & Scratchy and LUA and we finished a very close fourth.

Labor Day Weekend we are off as usual so there's an early bye built in.

When the season begins in earnest we will have the first of two night games this season.  Those 9:00 p.m. games will be late, but I expect really strong attendance because everyone is home from traveling on Sunday nights.  In those early games, we will be playing DC Divided and DC Thunder, teams that we're pretty familiar with by now.  We have even records versus both teams so it's a coin toss on paper.  But you can be sure we can't rely on chance to win.

We have four games at the league's new field at Galludet University.  Combined with our Trinity game, that's five games in the same general part of Northeast DC.  We'll be getting to know the neighborhood.  My neighbor plays for Geezers, a 3rd Division team that is being promoted.  That's our 9/26 matchup at Galludet.

We finish the schedule with three hard games - Quick, LUA, and Taz.  Quick and Taz have beaten us, but we have also beaten them.  Quick, of course, scored a 6-0 victory against us before they were relegated two seasons ago.  That one was bitter because it was a meltdown on our part.  LUA we have never beaten.  We played them once about 4 years ago and then 3 times recently.  Each time it's a LUA victory, although the margins are getting thinner each time.  When is that going to end?

Our late bye is six of one, half dozen of the other.  It should allow us to get healthy. But if we are in position for the playoffs, it will result in awkward breaks in the action towards the end of the season.  Our nonstop run of several games in the spring proved to be important to our success.

Any thoughts of your own on this sked?

It will be fun and very competitive.

RSVP for Game 1 - 9:30 a.m. at Wilson HS [Re-posted]

Fall soccer is back.

Are you in for this match? 

Wilson HS is located in upper Northwest, near Ft. Reno Park.  It is metro accessible.  This field takes a while to reach on foot from the parking areas so show up early.  this is where we played our night game last spring.

DC United player salaries

I find the business of soccer to be quite interesting. 

Each year, the MLS Players Association releases player salary information as a means of keeping pressure on the league to treat players fairly and to increase compensation.  The recent collective bargaining agreement reached between the centrally-managed MLS and the players was quite interesting.  The league went from giving players practically no guaranteed money and starting salaries of as little as $14,000/year to something much more in line with their economic value.  Still, you will be surprised by how little the players make the growing disparity between the American-born workhorses of the league and the high-priced foreign players.  Are we headed back to the days of NASL?  Who knows.

Here is DC United's spread.  The last columns, from left to right, are annual salary and 2010 guaranteed compensation.


DC Allsopp Danny F $ 1 80,000.00 $ 217,500.00
DC Barklage Brandon M-F $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Boskovic Branko M $ 3 80,000.00 $ 516,200.00
DC Burch Marc D $ 7 9,000.00 $ 81,500.00
DC Cristman Adam F $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Graye Jordan D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Hamid Bill GK $ 4 0,000.00 $ 46,666.66
DC Hernandez Pablo F $ 2 40,000.00 $ 249,090.91
DC Jakovic Dejan D $ 1 47,600.00 $ 167,102.50
DC James Julius D $ 5 2,085.00 $ 61,460.00
DC King Stephen M $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC McTavish Devon D-M $ 7 0,000.00 $ 72,500.00
DC Moreno Jaime F $ 1 60,000.00 $ 185,000.00
DC Morsink Kurt M $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Najar Andy M-F $ 3 9,000.00 $ 58,995.83
DC Pena Juan D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Perkins Troy GK $ 2 00,000.00 $ 205,000.00
DC Pontius Chris M-F $ 1 00,000.00 $ 100,000.00
DC Quaranta Santino M-F $ 1 05,000.00 $ 107,500.00
DC Quinn Andrew GK $ 4 0,008.00 $ 40,008.00
DC Rice Barry D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Shanosky Conor D $ 3 1,250.04 $ 37,135.54
DC Simms Clyde M $ 1 65,000.00 $ 171,000.00
DC Talley Carey D $ 9 9,996.00 $ 99,996.00
DC Wallace Rodney M-D $ 7 5,000.00 $ 124,000.00
DC Zayner Jed D $ 5 7,000.00 $ 60,875.00


My commentary.  Overpaid: Alsopp, Burch, McTavish, Talley, Wallace.  Underpaid: Cristman, Pontius.  Jury is out: Pena, Hernandez, Boskovic, Perkins.

Check out Goff's blog for the full link to the salaries of players on all MLS teams.

After promotion and relegation, here's how the Second Division looks this season.  Rankings are based upon last season's final results.

1. Little Urban Achievers
2. Tsunami
3. Goleros
4. Taz Devils
5. DC Thunder
6. DC Divided
7. Lost Tourists
8. Quicksilver (from 3rd)
9. Geezers (from 3rd)

We used to have 10 teams in the division.  Since we lost two teams last season (the Replacements and Black Haggis), the league was able to drop back to 36 teams evenly split across 4 divisions.  So we will play each of these teams this season.  Every game will be competitive.

Let's do it like this

Sascha Kljestan's goal for Anderlecht this weekend serves as a good example for us.  We've got to time our runs and have enough patience to be in position for a cross.  I know my own tendency is to sprint for the 10 yard line and wait for the cross.  But that, of course, doesn't work because your teammate can't hit you in stride, especially if you beat him or her to the line, and the defenders pick you up.

Watch Kljestan arrive somewhat late, but on a great trajectory to make the play.

Another example of this was Donovan's finish versus Algeria.  He sprinted up field but took a few steps off at the end so he could chase a rebound.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFEZMS5yuEI&feature=player_embedded

Fwd: [ccsl_teams] new Ref Course - please sign up!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse Rosenthal

Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Subject: [ccsl_teams] new Ref Course - please sign up!


Hello Refs,
Please pass on the course info. listed below to anyone you know who wants to
become a ref. The course starts tomorrow and we need a few more folks ot
sign up. Thanks!

Jessie

Class Code: NORTH00055-11
Area: North
Grade: 8
Type: New Referee
Dates: August 24, 26, 31 and September 2
Times: 6:30 - 10:30 PM
Location: Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs, P.C., 1620 L Street, NW, Suite 900,
Washington, DC 20036
Club Name: WAWSL/CCSL
Instructor:Tom Frank
Contact: Jessie Kratz
Contact Email: refs@wawsl.org
Minimum #: 10
Maximum #: 30
Comments: Students must attend all four sessions (Tues. 8/24. Thurs, 8/26,
Tues, 8/31, and Thus, 9/2), and online registraton to sign up clinic
(two-step process). Please instructions on the State web page:
www.vadcsoccerref.com
Cost if the class is $65.

Schedule released; details shortly

Code Orange ends season with scoring blitz (corrected again!)

Code Orange went out with a bang today, sporting a 7-0 win.  The other team, bless their hearts, was not particularly strong.  If memory serves, goals were scored by Melissa, Griz, Carlos, Pete, Alyssa, Alec, and Vic. The goal of the match was clearly Patrick's distribution from the goalie position all the way over the top of the other team's defense.  Carlos collected the ball on the run and beat the keeper to the near post.  Wow.  I did get a goal myself too.  My scoring prowess was not exactly on display, however.  I missed quite a few opportunities.

It was a fun time.  Thanks to Tsunami for combining forces with us.  Let's look to do this again next summer.  We're heavy on guys a few weeks, but really we're constantly short players and we just need a relaxing atmosphere where organization, winning, etc etc are not the main focus.  So it works.  

Good times. 

Here are the results.  Our record was 3-4.  Two of our three victories were pretty darn close.  Our losses, not so much.  If not for the goals in the final game, it would have been super ugly in terms of goals.  Going into that last game, we had scored 3 goals in 6 matches, while giving up 16!  We ended with a GD of -7.  Andy, with two goals, was our leading scorer.  I think everyone else on the board only had one goal.  I'm sure we had an assist leader.  But I don't know who it was.  I didn't keep track today.

• 
  

  SUMMER 2010 (3-4, .429)

• 
  

  ---------------

• 
  

  1-0 win on 7/11 to Armory/Divided

• 
  

  1-0 win on 7/18

• 
  

  4-0 loss on 7/25 to Buena Vista

• 
  

  3-0 loss to Funky Prism on 8/1

• 
  

  7-0 loss on 8/8!

• 
  

  2-1 loss on 8/15

• 
  

  7-0 win on 8/22

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thanks to Mike, Alyssa, and Ally for helping to organize. See you in the fall!

Captains' Meeting Report

Last week, Ally and I attended the pre-season captains' meeting for the league.  Here are some of the key points that we covered:

• We discussed Division winners, both in the general classification and the playoffs.  The Flirts, once our cohorts in 3rd division, won the First Division playoffs and are going up to Premier.  Itchy & Scratchy won our division, and as we know, LUA won the playoffs.
• The season starts this weekend.  Schedule to come out soon in its entirety.  No games Labor Day Weekend but we will play Columbus Day Weekend.
• We've got great fields again.  Our fields will be: Blair HS in Silver Spring (only a few games, hopefully we're not scheduled there), Dunbar HS, Trinity, George Mason HS in Falls Church, Ridge (a few games; we'll be shifting away from this field), Galludet University, St. Stephens in Alexandria.
• The league fees did not go up.  They remain $1650 per team.  I brought the check that evening to secure our spot.  No check, no spot in the league.  Our fees are supposedly competitive with those of other leagues.  Sanjay, the Commish, mentioned that the S League, a local competitor, charges $2000 per team.  I think our fees are high myself.  But we have the best fields, best teams, best promotion/relegation system, best reffing crews, and overall best situation of any coed league.  That's why we worked so hard to get into this league.  And it's really well run.  
• BTW, there is a $500 fine/bonus charge for teams that do not supply a referee.  The Vice Commissioner has been working for years with the state associate to reduce our insurance premiums.  I think we pay something like $16-20 per player to cover insurance costs.  According to the VC, approximately $8 of those charges are necessary to cover other states whose insurance regimes lead to higher costs.  We are looking to lower costs in the DC/MD/VA state association.  We are even thinking of joining the national association only, and leaving the state, if we cannot address this issue. 
• The State Cup is returning in Dallas in October.  CCSL teams are encouraged to attend.
• The Scheduler reminded teams that we can make scheduling requests.  The league endeavors to reschedule all games, as we learned last season.  However, teams will have to accept a forfeit if they do not provide notice to the league by Wednesday COB.  Forfeits result in $200 fines, $100 of which goes to the league to offset costs and $100 of which goes to the opponent.  That reminds me, actually we are probably due $100 from last season.  Hmmm...
• The ref assignor reminded everyone of the two changes to the FIFA laws that will be enforced this season.  I can't remember one of them.  The other one has to do with the run-up to PKs.  I think I'll do a special post on these rule changes later.  Jeremy continues as our referee.
• Fees for refs this year are as follows: CR $55 per match, ARs $40 per match, 4th referee when used in the playoffs $40.  We pay the CRs-in-training $10 per match.
• There are league rules about cards.  3 yellows per season and you're out (for a game or the remainder of the season?  Not sure, probably just 1 game).  1 red = 1 game suspension automatically, and it can be reviewed for more.  Red cards are published on the CCSL website under the "Hall of Shame" page.  Haven't seen it before.
• We'll have some league social events again.
• We did promotion/relegation at the end of the meeting.  Two teams left the First Division, which meant that everyone who was eligible to go up/down did not end up going.  Cap Crew and the Flirts moved up to Premier and no one came down to First.  Itchy & Scratchy moved up to 1st Division and we added a new team directly into the 1st Division, DC Chillin.  We played them in the Summer League.  They kicked Code Orange's butt.   You may have noticed that Little Urban Achievers, our opponent in the championship game, did not accept promotion.  They will stay in our division.  Tim, their captain, reports that they lost a few key folks and picked some folks back up who will need to get the swing of things again.  Quicksilver and Geezers are promoted into our division from the 3rd Division.  Celtic and Diplomats went down. 
• Rosters will be due by the 4th week of the season (Sept. 26th).

That's it!

No word...

I haven't seen anything about the fall schedule yet.  But remember, we will play this coming Sunday, Aug. 29th.  At this point, keep the whole day open.  We want to have adequate numbers for that first match.  When I know the schedule, you'll know it.