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Team Notes:
Wednesday, October 24: A big huge Purple Pepper thank you to all the courageous fire crews fighting on the front line to battle the wildfires in our state. We truly appreciate your extraordinary efforts.
Game Recaps:
Game 1 - vs. The Green Pickles
A fantastic start to the new season for the Purple Peppers as they come away with a well-deserved and hard-fought 3-1 win over a very tough Green Pickles team. The Peppers send the Pickles reeling as 2 quick strikes by Christine within the first 10 minutes of the first quarter have them temporarily leaning back on their heels. Both unassisted goals by Christine, have her beating her defender down her left wing and then cutting back inside to send both blasts easily past the Pickle goal keeper. The Pickles do recover though, and late in the first quarter make it 2-1 on a breakaway goal right down the middle of the Pepper defense. But Julia makes it a 2 goal lead again right at the end of the quarter as she takes a nice pass from Chandler and cracks a right-footed scorcher into the upper left corner of the Pickle net from straight-away top of the box.
Wide open action in the 2nd as both teams create good scoring chances at both ends of the field, but neither team can find the back of the net. Julia continues her dominating control of the midfield and Jen comes up big in goal to keep the quarter scoreless.
The defense bogs down a bit most of the 3rd quarter and has a tough time clearing the ball out of our zone. But they stay tough with some gritty plays by Kendall, Skylar, and Delaney, with Nicki sweeping, and Julia tracking back from her center mid position. With the help of a few amazing saves in goal by Christine, the defense holds and they keep the Pickles out of the net.
More end to end action in the 4th, as both team again continue to create several nice scoring chances, but both defenses hold, as Christine and the defense with Sam in goal, shut the door on any thoughts of a Pickle come-back.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 3 - Pickles 1
Game 2 - vs. Red Radical Rockstars
On a beautiful but rather toasty Southern California afternoon, the Peppers have it firing on all cylinders and take it to a very talented Radical Rockstars team. The Peppers come roaring out of the gate and start “peppering” the Rockstar goal but are initially unable to find the back of the net. Christine finally breaks the ice midway thru the 1st, as she takes a nice pass from Julia and tucks a tough ball just inside the right post just as she is being taken down by the defender for a 1-0 lead. The Pepper defense is tested as well, but Nicki and the Pepper-“D”, with the help of some nice saves by Grace hold the Rockstars scoreless in the quarter.
Julia shines in the 2nd, as she moves up to the center forward spot and lights up the scoreboard twice in the quarter. The combination of Erica feeding Julia a couple of nice passes combine for both scores. The first connecting from the right side as Julia buries a high blast into the upper right corner, and the second has Julia slicing up the left side to beat the keeper with a left-footed shot into the lower left corner. The defense also steps it up as Jen, in goal, denies some serious heat from the powerful Rockstar center forward, and the Peppers go into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
An exciting 3rd quarter has both teams creating several outstanding scoring chances, but neither side is able to capitalize. Skylar, Delaney, and Kendall, with Nicki sweeping and Christine in goal combine with great team defense to keep the Rockstars out of the net.
The midfield becomes wide open in the 4th, and the Pepper forwards, Madison, Jen, and Tessa are able to run free most of the quarter. The Peppers again start firing away at the Rockstar goal, and about midway thru the quarter, Madison sends a blast from outside the box from her left wing position over the keepers head and into the right far post side netting for her first tally of the season. The defense closes out the game very strong to preserve the shutout, and the Peppers register their first clean sheet of the season.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 4 - Rockstars 0
Game 3 - vs. The Tiggers
Unfortunately the re-capper missed this week's game. Here's the short version from what I've heard ...
The Peppers, short a few players (and one coach), play a very good Tiggers team all the way to the wire, but lose a heartbreaker, as the Tiggers score the game winner in the last seconds of the game. Erica and Julia supply the goals in the 2nd and 3rd quarters respectively, and an all-around fantastic team effort produced a very exciting game and a thrilling finish.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 2 - Tiggers 3
Game 4 - vs. FCPV
Another wonderful sunny Southern California afternoon hosts an exciting match as the Peppers take on FCPV. A quiet 1st quarter, as the Peppers control the middle of the field, with the defensive unit of Skylar, Kendall, Delaney, and Nicki, doing well to keep the FCPV forwards in check. The ball spends most of the quarter in the FCPV half, but good, solid FCPV defense does not allow us to create any really good scoring chances.
The play opens up a bit in the 2nd, as both teams start pressing forward and start creating good scoring chances. But it’s Julia who finds the back of the net first for the Peppers. Unassisted, she weaves her way past several defenders right up the middle and sends a low, driven ball off the inside of the right post and into the net for a 1-0 Pepper lead. Christine is kept busy sweeping, and Jen makes a few nice grabs in goal, to keep FCPV out of the net and the Peppers go into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The Peppers start controlling the action again in the 3rd, with Ashley and Grace snapping up balls in the midfield, and Erica making a few very nice runs down the right wing. It’s Julia again, making things happen for the Peppers, as a blast from the top of the box is knocked down, but too hot to handle for the FCPV keeper, and a hustling Jen beats the keeper to the loose ball, and knocks it home for the 2-0 lead. The defense is tested as well, but Christine stifles FCPV’s best scoring chance of the game with another amazing save in goal. The talented FCPV center midfielder finds herself behind the Pepper defense with time to set up her shot. An absolute rocket into the near post upper right corner is blocked by Christine’s outstretched hands as she dives to her left and deflects the shot harmlessly out of play.
The 4th is highlighted again by great team play, as the Peppers continue to control the middle of the field. And it’s Julia, up the middle again, who puts the game out of reach, as she buries a right-footed blast from the about 18 yard out into the left side-netting. Tough, scrappy play by the defensive unit all game long, keep FCPV out of the net, and earn the Peppers their 2nd clean sheet.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 3 - FCPV 0
Game 5 - vs. Cleats of Glory
Another beautiful Southern California afternoon (one that reminds us how lucky we are to live here), finds the Peppers matched up with the Cleats of Glory. The Peppers don’t bring their “A” game today and struggle against a very good, and very hungry-for-a-win COG team, but somehow they dig in and find just enough to steal a nail-biter that goes all the way to the wire.
The 1st quarter starts out promising for the Peppers as we create several good scoring chances, and several near misses, including a break-away that Madison gets good wood on but sends just wide left. The Peppers continue creating scoring chances but just can’t seem to find the back of the net. The defense has a solid quarter also. Skylar, Sam, Delaney, and Christine contain the COG forwards, and the ball spends most of the quarter in the COG end of the field.
The 2nd quarter opens up for both teams. It starts early as Erica takes a nice thru ball from Julia way up by the half line and shifts into high gear as she beats her defender down her right flank and blasts a low drive into the right corner to finish off the break-away and give the Peppers a 1-0 lead. The COGs even it up as the talented center forward finds her way up the middle of the Pepper defense and sends a ball just out of Jen’s reach. The Peppers waste no time getting the lead back as Grace finds a darting Julia 10 yards outside the box, and JB takes a few touches to set up her shot and then sends a low blast easily past the COG keeper and into the lower right corner for a 2-1 lead. JB again, enjoying her center forward shift, extends the lead, as she takes the ball unassisted, right up the middle of the tough COG defense and fires another rocket into the right corner from just inside the box. The defense starts to have some trouble, but Sam, Kendall, Delaney, and Christine come up with some tough plays, and hold the COGs to the lone goal in the quarter to go into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
The 3rd quarter gets ugly for the Peppers. The offense struggles to hold the ball in the COG end of the field, and the defense begins to have break downs, and the sideline nail-biting begins. The COGs make it a 1 goal game as an unlucky bounce off a keeper punt goes right to a COG forward and she quickly sends a high lofting ball just over Sam’s reach. The COG’s then even it up on a nice drive and shot down the left wing side. With lots of time left in the quarter, the Peppers continue to struggle, and the COG’s create several more scoring chances that the Peppers needed and got a little luck to survive. The quarter ends and we heard a big collective sigh of relief from the Peppers sideline.
The 4th starts with a hope of new life for the Peppers, but a fired up COG’s team can taste victory and continue to take it to the struggling Peppers. Although under constant attack, the Pepper defense come up with a few gritty plays to keep the COG’s out of the net, and give the offense a chance to pull one out of the hat. And late in the quarter, just when it seemed the teams would play to a draw and split the points, the offense comes up big and do pull one out of the hat. Madison works hard to end up along the endline to the right of the COG goal and sends a perfect cross right onto Jen’s foot as she makes her run right down the center of the box, a quick touch and the ball is into the left side netting for the go ahead goal. The Pepper sideline erupts and, not exactly how we drew it up in practice, but we escape with a 4-3 win, and will go back to work this week in practice.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 4 - Cleats of Glory 3
Game 6 - vs. Fighting Kiwis
On a rain-soaked field, the Peppers have their first early morning affair, meeting the Fighting Kiwis in a very well-played match for both teams.
The game is exciting right from the start as both teams display their offensive power creating good scoring chances early in the quarter at both ends of the field. Both defenses are shell-shocked early, and both teams get off several really good shots, but they are unable to put any of them into the net. Christine comes up with some huge saves, and the defense begins to make the adjustments and get their bearings by the end of the quarter. The forward line, Madison, Jen, Tessa, with help from the midfielders, Ashley, Julia, and Chandler, are also able to create quite a few very good scoring chances, but are just unable put the finishing touch on any of them.
Madison breaks the ice for the peppers early in the 2nd as she takes a nice cross from Julia and bangs a first-timer easily past the Kiwi keeper from right out in front of the goal. But the lead doesn’t last long as the Kiwi’s even it up on a blast from the right side of the box that sails just over Christine’s reach and into the left side netting. The Kiwis jump out in front just before halftime, as a defensive breakdown allows the Kiwi forward right up the middle of the field and she finishes it into the upper right corner of the net.
Solid, exciting, up and down play all quarter long by both teams highlight the 3rd. Well-disciplined defensive play by Nicki, Skylar, Kendall, and Sam, keep the very talented Kiwi offense in check, and Christine comes up with several more incredible saves to keep the quarter scoreless.
The Peppers spend most of the early part of the 4th down in the Kiwi end of the field, but tough, scrappy Kiwi defense keep them out of the net. It’s Julia who finds the equalizer midway thru the quarter, finishing off a nice give-and-go with Jen up the middle. Finding herself 10 yards out and just off to the left, she uses the outside of her right foot, and buries a nice ball just inside the right post. But the Kiwis come right back again, as the right forward gets past the defense down the right wing and sends a blast that bangs off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net. And then late in the quarter, the Kiwis put it on ice as a nice cross finds the right forward again, and she pounds it home into the upper right corner of the net. Much improved play from last weeks lack-luster performance, the Peppers played with outstanding teamwork and a lot of fire. A tough loss for the Peppers, but a well-deserved win for the Kiwis.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 2 - Fighting Kiwis 4
Game 7 - vs. The Lemonheads
Another beautiful Southern California Saturday afternoon finds the Peppers matched up with a very tough Lemonheads team. A tale of two very different halves for the Peppers this week, as they come out completely flat and the Lemonheads completely dominate the entire 1st half. The defense, at times, looks confused and disorganized, and continually leave Lemonhead forwards and midfielders unmarked to take wide open shots on goal. Midway through the quarter, a big blast from a wide open Lemonhead center midfielder from about 20 yards out and just off to the right finds the upper right corner, and the Lemonheads jump out in front 1-0. Stout goaltending by Grace, and a little of that Purple Pepper luck, somehow keep the Lemonheads out of the net for the rest of the quarter. The offense struggles too, as they seem to be a step behind the Lemonhead defense on every ball, and the ball rarely crosses over the half line the entire quarter.
Unfortunately, more of the same from the Peppers in the 2nd. The Peppers allow the Lemonheads to control the midfield, and the defense appears to be somewhat intimidated by the power of the Lemonhead offense. More valiant goaltending, with Christine in goal this quarter, and a few gritty defensive plays here and there, and the Peppers survive the quarter and go into halftime only down 1-0. The offense still has no answer for the quick and talented Lemonhead defense, and are held without a good scoring chance for the entire half.
The Peppers come out of halftime a completely different team (thank goodness). The halftime oranges seem to be just what we needed to become ourselves again. With new passion in their efforts, and new fire in their legs, the Peppers take it right to the Lemonhead defense, and at about the 5 minute mark of the 3rd, Julia finds an opening right up the middle and takes it unassisted, weaving her way past 2 defenders to find herself one-on-one with the keeper about 12 yards, and calmly buries a low driven ball into the lower left side netting for the equalizer. The Peppers continue their domination of the 3rd quarter, creating several more good scoring chances, but just as the Pepper defense did the first half, somehow the Lemonhead defense play just good enough to keep the Peppers out of the net.
The Peppers continue their inspired play in the 4th, keeping the ball in the Lemonhead half most of the quarter, allowing only a few counter attacks, which are easily stopped by a revived Pepper defense. The offense continues to create scoring chances, and put a lot of pressure on the Lemonhead defense, but are just not able to find the finish, and the Lemonhead defense remain tough to the end. A fitting end to a match between the two very evenly matched teams, as the Peppers and the Lemonheads play to a 1-1 draw and both teams will take their share of the points.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 1 - Lemonheads 1
Game 9 - vs. The Blueberries
A crisp Autumn afternoon in SoCal, find the Peppers matched up with our practice partners, the undefeated Blueberries. The Pepper defense surely would be tested, as the powerful Blueberry offense has been unstoppable for the whole season, and the Pepper offense would also have their work cut out for them, as the Blueberry defense has been shutting out offenses all season long.
The fire that the Peppers come out with in the 1st quarter is very inspiring. The defense holds their own against the powerful offense, and the Peppers control the ball most of the quarter. Late in the quarter, a signature thru ball does get past the Pepper defense, and they can’t keep up with the blazing speed of the Blueberry center forward. She finishes off the run with a blast just out of Sam’s reach for the 1-0 lead. The Peppers create some good chances of their own at the other end of the field, but can’t put the finishing touches on any of them.
The 2nd quarter is much like the 1st, the Peppers control the ball most of the quarter, but the deadly Blueberry thru balls twice catch the Pepper defense out of position. On the first one, Christine stuffs the center strikers blast from point blank range, but the second one is calmly tucked into the lower left side netting for a 2-0 lead.
More exciting play from the Peppers in the 3rd, as they continue to play well, and continue to create scoring chances, just lack the finishing touch. The defense has a strong quarter as well, keeping the ball in the Blueberry end most of the quarter. A controversial no-call goes against the Peppers, as a nice one touch shot off a corner kick that appeared to be on it’s way toward the back of the net, is deflected wide by a Blueberry player’s hand, but the referee does not blow the whistle, and play goes on.
The Peppers continue to fire away in the 4th, and midway thru the period, Julia is taken down hard in the box, just as she is about to free herself up to take the shot. The PK is awarded, and Christine, cool and composed, buries a well-struck ball into the lower left side netting to cut the Blueberry lead in half. The Peppers create several very good chances at the equalizer, but the solid back line and goaltending of the Blueberries, keep the Peppers out of the net, and the Blueberries hold on for the 2-1 win. The Peppers play very well against a very strong and talented Blueberry team, and now get ready to make their playoff run.
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 1 - Blueberries 2
November 4th - Peppers vs. The Parents
*** Game Recap Coming Soon ***
FINAL SCORE: Peppers 5 - The Parents 5
Peppers in Action
(thanks Craig for the great shots)
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Coach Ron in Action
(yup ... this is as "in action" as I get) |
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Coach Dave in Action
(Uh ... well, sort of) |
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