State Game 8 -  Xtreme  vs. Enterprise Wings - October 15, 2006

It's the final game of the State League play and the Xtreme was looking to bounce back from their tough loss from the day before. The Xtreme faced the Enterprise Wings, last years State finalist, and that was the last time the Xtreme faced the Wings. The two teams faced each other in the semifinals in last year's State Tournament. The Wings dominated the game from start to finish and beat the Xtreme 5-0.

The Xtreme was ready for this rematch and was ready for the Wings attack. The team had a good game plan it looked to pay off early. In the 4th minute of the game the Xtreme was deep on the Wings end and got fouled. The team was awarded a direct kick from just outside the 18. Michael took the direct kick and hit one of his canon shots. The goalie didn't have a chance and the Xtreme was able to get on the board first.

The Wings didn't waste any time either their high powered offense was able to counter and get the down inside the Xtreme's box. One of the strikers made a great move with the ball and put the ball to the near post and even the game at one.

Both teams had come to win and neither team was willing to budge. The game got physical and one of the Wings defenders played a little too physical and got a yellow card in the 12th minute of the game.

The Wings continued to attack and Ben made a great save in the 27th minute. The Xtreme countered and Trevor had the ball in the box and was looking to score and got knocked down with no call. That was the way the rest of the game seemed to go.

In the 32nd minute Reid made a great run on a throw in and put the ball across in front of the Wings goal. Spike was able to settle the ball and get a great shot off and put it past a diving goalie. That goal put the Xtreme up 2-1 and that's the way it went to half.

The second half was just like the first, very physical and very exciting. The Xtreme was able to great chances to score but just
didn't seem to be able to put the Wings away. In the 41st minute Michael got behind the defense and found him self one on one with the goalie. Michael tried to put the ball in to the net but the goalie made a great sliding save and blocked the ball away.

The Xtreme had several chances like that but just couldn't find a way to finish today. The team could have easily scored 5 goals today but again it just wasn't our day. When you get good chances and don't take advantage of the opportunity to put a team away it's going to cost you; and that's exactly what happened. In the 50th minute the Wings were able to get a tying goal and in the 61st minute the go ahead goal.

The Xtreme lost the game 3-2 the second game in a row we could have won. Although we lost our two final games of the State League I feel like this team has a good chance to beat any of the teams in the league. If they can pull together in these final weeks and play with great effort the Xtreme has a great chance to win the State Championship!