State Game 1 - Homewood Freedom vs. Xtreme  - September 16 2006

The Xtreme traveled to Homewood this weekend to take on the Freedom. This game was the first of 8 divisional state games and was a must win if the Xtreme was going to maintain pace with the top teams in the division.

The team looked to be in top form from the first whistle and was controlling possession. The boys were able to keep the ball on the Freedom’s end for most of the first half. The Freedom had a lot of team speed and was looking to counter attack our possession style of play.

Although the Xtreme dominated the first half they were having trouble finding the back of the net. Several good scoring opportunities went just wide or over the net. Reid, Spike, Evan and Michael all had good looks at the goal but it was Trevor who was able to put the Xtreme up 1-0.

Trevor received the ball at the top of the 18 and made a great cut back move and was going to goal. Trevor was determined and squeezed himself thorough two defenders and played the ball off the far post. The ball bounced off the post and sliding defender made a great effort to try and keep the ball out of the net; but it was too late. The Xtreme was up 1-0 and even though the team continued to dominate the 1st half the score remained 1-0 at half.

The second half was a different story; it only took 4 minutes for the Xtreme to find the net. The team immediately got the ball deep in Freedom territory and was looking for an insurance goal. Turtle got loose in the corner and looked to play it across and in to the middle and it was Devin who was going to get a piece of this one. Devin had his sights on the ball the moment it left Turtle’s foot. He put his head on the ball and redirected the corner to the back side of the net. B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!

Up 2-0 the Xtreme didn’t let up they continued to maintain the pressure and keep the ball on the Freedom’s end of the field. Turtle once again received the ball wide on an overlapping run and was looking to get the ball across the front of the goal. He served the ball perfectly across to find Reid who one timed it in the goal.

Down 3-0 the Freedom didn’t quit. They played counter attack and tried to beat our defense with their speed. Every opportunity was squashed by the brick wall defense. Nitro, C.J., Nickelblack, 40 and Peanut all played great. Only a few times were they able it passed the defense but only to find our impenetrable keeper, Oreck.

The Xtreme held strong and the team continued to play great soccer. The deeper the team penetrated the more they pushed up the field. They pushed so far up the field that one of our central defenders found themselves with the ball at the top of the 18 and wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity. C.J. played the ball over everyone and all everyone could do was watch, including the goalie; fall just under the crossbar and in to the goal.

The scoring continued when Turtle once again got wide and put the ball across. He found Reid once again who tried to one time the ball. The goalie was ready this time and made a great save on Reid’s shot. The ball hit off the goalie and was loose inside the 18; every strikers dream, an open net. Devin was able get to the ball first and play it in to the empty net and finish off the scoring.

The Xtreme dominated the entire game and started off their State League play in spectacular fashion. The Xtreme beat the Homewood Freedom 5-0 and earned 3 points for the league play.