Wowzer

Ok have to brag a little here. But what's a blog for anyway??!! Sh had her first "club" game of the year today. They have moved up to a competitive travel league and are facing tough competition: big girls, physical girls (if you think soccer is not a contact sport, you have not ever been to a soccer game), fast girls. The Chilis are known for their killer passes - they "light the wick" and send the ball cross-crossing up the field. You might hear someone yell "Clyde it" which means switch fields - named after their trainer Clyde Watson who is also the assistant coach for the professional team, the Women's Washington Freedom team. (His U16 girls won the national championship, so I think he's probably pretty good). We started slowly - no refs because of a snafu, hot day, intimidated by the other girls. For a long time the score was 1-0, them. Sh was playing well the first half, but she looked tired and a bit like her shins hurt (it was 90 degrees, she should've been tired.) Second half she absolutely came alive - stealing the ball, crossing the ball, moves I just couldn't believe. Coachie leaves her in at left back for most of the 2nd half, then finally subs her (he has waves of subs at set intervals and is excellent at resting the girls). I was so proud of her - she really played top notch soccer. Wait - what's this? 2 minutes later she's back in the game - looks like a forward but could be left mid (they play 2-4-4 and their mids swing up on offense). And she's rocking the house. Next thing I know, she has the ball almost on the endline and does this spectacular banana kick across the field, over the goalie's head and into the net. Holy cow. tie game. Awesome shot - picture perfect. And of course I forgot the camara (some team photographer I turned out to be). We were still jazzed about that when there go the Chilis again - marching down the field toward the goal. The other team is getting nasty - pulling our shirts, throwing down our players (and getting a yellow card thankyouverymuch), playing the person then the ball (a no-no even in physical play). Next thing I know, Hil crosses the ball and who is standing at her post? None other than Shananigan - who pops it in for a second goal in under 5 minutes. The parents go nuts. The kids go nuts. The coaches go nuts. Aaahh, all in a day's work for the girl. The chilis hang on for the remaining 10 minutes and bring home a W. So proud. We of course went to country cone to celebrate with the best ice cream - big waffle cones with sprinkles and whipped cream. She had the biggest smile on her face the whole ride home (a long ride, too of 45 minutes).

Yeah, it was a good day, despite the rest of our lives and the scene we came home to. But that's another story for another day. For now, I am enjoying the kids and their accomplishments. Yeah my baby rocks hard.