Game 7- Jets Red vs. Xtreme- October 14, 2006

The Xtreme entered their final weekend of State League play on top of the division. This weekend was going to set the top seeds for the State tournament in November. All 4 of the top teams in the state were playing each other and something had to give.

The Xtreme traveled to Birmingham on Saturday to take on the second place Jets. The Jets came in to this game with only one loss and on a 3 game winning streak. This was the second meeting between the Jets and the Xtreme. The last time these two teams met was the Auburn Thunder Road Classic Tournament Championship.

The game was everything you would want to see in a soccer game. Both teams played extremely well and it could have gone either way. From the first whistle the game went back and fourth, up and down the field each team looking to get the advantage.

The Xtreme possessed the ball well and gained control of the game in the first half. The team was able to push the ball deep in the Jets end. Trevor made a great run in to the box and was able to get past the defense. He got a great look at the goal and sized up his shot. Trevor moved the ball to his left and put a beautiful shot to the far post. The Jets goalie was ready for the shot and dove to the far post to make a beautiful save.

The game continued to go up and down the field and both teams were working hard to get on the board first. The Xtreme had a couple of more chance but were still not able to capitalize. The Xtreme defense held strong and the game went to halftime scoreless.

The second half the Jets stepped up their game. They controlled the first part of the second half and it didn’t take long for them to get on the scoreboard first. 5 minutes in to the second half the Jets were able to hit a through ball to and overlapping midfielder. The midfielder was already behind the defense when he got the ball and he was going one on one with Ben. Ben came off his line to meet the attacker and cut off his angle. He came sliding at the ball and the midfield was just able to get the ball over Ben’s outstretched hands.

The Xtreme battled back and was able to move the ball successfully up the field and get several more chances. Michael had a couple of chance that just went wide. Evan had a great left footed shot from 25 yards out that went just wide. The ball just didn’t seem to bounce our way today.

The Jets were playing hard and were looking to put the game away. The Xtreme never quit and were trying to get the equalizing goal. The game continued to go back and fourth and it was still anybody’s game.

In the 60th minute of the game the Jets got the ball wide and deep in the corner. The Jets player turned the ball inside and crossed the ball in to the middle. It looked like Ben had a bead on the ball but when he went up to catch it, it some how got through his hands. The ball fell to the ground and seemed to just bounce right to a Jets player who put the ball in to the net.

The game ended with the Jets defeating the Xtreme 2-0 and giving the Xtreme their first loss in State League play. Although the Xtreme lost the game they played well enough to win. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way. It’s always difficult to lose but we can still take some positives from the game. The team had good chances to win the game and the team’s effort was great. They never quit; from the first kick to the final whistle. The boys will get another chance to play the Jets in the State Tournament and I feel confident the outcome will be different the next time they play.