Be bold - the mantra of the Spring '17 Dolphins. We started practice in January on cold nights with early sunsets. The team brought a strong off season effort on the practice field and off. The training, which included countless laps around the track, helped forge a "never surrender" attitude. Exploding out of the gate, the Dolphins dominated the early portion of the schedule. Things tightened up during the next few games before we closed out the season on our customary win streak. We never suffered a loss and trailed only 2 times all season finishing a franchise best 8-0-2. That landed us Silver Medallions and a goal for next fall - perfection.
Week 1 vs. The Phoenix
So much for all the cold weather preseason conditioning - the afternoon kickoff brought brilliant sunlight and high 80's temperatures. Regardless the Dolphins came in looking very polished and made short work of their outmatched opponents. After racing to a 7 goal 1st half lead the defenders took over the offense during 2nd half garbage time. Jordan would play most the game despite being under the weather all week. She would notch an Assist early while Taylor took great shots all game and eventually connected for a score. Conditioning & Passing made all the difference in this blowout win - the aforementioned preseason program manifested itself early and often during the 8-0 route.
Jordan communicating with the coaching staff during a break in the action
More Jordan - lining up for kickoff, directing traffic out on the field,
congratulating Addison on her 4 goal game & hustling for a loose ball while Taylor plays on her toes
The defense smothers the opposing team's blue line while Coach Dad substitutes some players
Week 2 vs. Party Rockers
Week 2 brought a couple of trends in the team's favor including a rare chance to play under the lights where we are undefeated. Another positive was playing on picture day - a place where the coaching staff was an impressive 5-0. As far as the game it was a tough 1st half as a lone Penalty Kick score was the difference in favor of the Dolphins. Our conditioning kicked on during the 2nd half as we blitzed our opponents scoring early & often. Jordan was a big player in the 2nd half surge with a 2 Assist/1 Goal performance. The goals spread out amongst the team with 5 players scoring down the stretch to pull away in the impressive 7-1 victory.
Killing time at Toyota Stadium before pictures
A focused Jordan got hot in the 2nd half
Calling for a Throw-In & working a bouncer just outside the Goalie box
One final team photo as we were the last game on the slate at an empty Warren Sports Complex
Week 3 vs. Goal Busters
Finally Spring Soccer weather - despite blinding sunshine the temperatures struggled to hit 50 degrees for our mid afternoon kickoff against a familiar foe. We boasted a 5 game winning streak against the Busters and lots of confidence coming in. The game stayed tight despite a dominating first 15 minutes for the Dolphins due to several foot or shorter wide misses on scores. We carried a 1-0 lead into the 2nd half but opened with an electric score when our Specialty game kicked in - Jordan connected with Taylor for a brilliant Corner Kick goal! The Dolphins would add a 3rd goal just minutes later and eventually win 3-1.
Taylor smiles just seconds after connecting on her Corner Kick goal
Taylor smiles just seconds after connecting on her Corner Kick goal
Week 4 vs Sugarplum Shooters
Our last game before Spring Break brought cold temperatures and a physical contest against a team with deplorable sportsmanship encompassing the coaching staff, players, and parents on the sideline. The Dolphins would not be derailed by our opponents antics - Jordan & Taylor scored the first 3 goals of the game in rapid succession and we would eventually lead by 4 headed into halftime. In a few weak moments Dolphins leadership would get sucked into several sideline confrontations motivating us to "pour it on" through the 2nd half and eventually win 8-2. Through 4 games the Dolphins were unbeaten and had yet to trail this season.
The Coaches give some last minute instruction just prior to kickoff
Taylor had a fantastic game and scored 2 big early goals setting the tone for the route - Jordan notched her team high 5th Assist on the 1st of Taylor's scores
Jordan playing defense
A great view of the Dolphins leaving few options open on an opponents Throw-In
Week 5 vs. Diamonds
Coming off the Spring Break bye week the team began a several game run against the top half of the division. First up was the Diamonds - games in this rivalry have always been close - over a 3 game span we hold a 1-1-1 record and the difference in goals scored is 1 (in the Dolphins favor!). This contest would be no different. A defensive sloberknocker, both teams would have chances to score throughout but smothering defenders on both sides turned away shot after shot. With just minutes left the Dolphins committed a damaging handball deep in our own territory and faced a Penalty Kick. With the game and maybe the season on the line our All Pro Goalie, Emme, would keep her cool and catch the opposing shot. The teams would settle for a scoreless tie.
Jordan & Taylor come up short near the opposing goal as the Referee calls a turnover and Diamonds Throw-In
It was great to connect with our favorite UK Elite mentor, Coach Steven, after the game
Week 6 vs. Wildflowers
Last Fall the Wildflowers handed us not only the worst loss of the season but also the worst loss in franchise history. Determined to not suffer the same fate the team put forth a calculated effort in practice and instituted an up tempo game plan designed to wear out our opponents. Despite those efforts we once again found ourselves in another scoreless tie deep into the 2nd half. Fortune frowned upon the Dolphins when we made a bad play in front of our goal and gave up a score. The team kept their heads up and stuck with the fast paced play and tied the game just minutes later. The score signaled a clear momentum shift in the game and with just 2 minutes on the clock, Jordan notched her 6th Assist when she found a teammate open on a quick Throw-In who then scored an improbable winning goal. Pandemonium erupted on the sidelines after the play and the Dolphins held on for the emotional victory.
Smiles o'plenty just after the season defining victory
Last Fall the Wildflowers handed us not only the worst loss of the season but also the worst loss in franchise history. Determined to not suffer the same fate the team put forth a calculated effort in practice and instituted an up tempo game plan designed to wear out our opponents. Despite those efforts we once again found ourselves in another scoreless tie deep into the 2nd half. Fortune frowned upon the Dolphins when we made a bad play in front of our goal and gave up a score. The team kept their heads up and stuck with the fast paced play and tied the game just minutes later. The score signaled a clear momentum shift in the game and with just 2 minutes on the clock, Jordan notched her 6th Assist when she found a teammate open on a quick Throw-In who then scored an improbable winning goal. Pandemonium erupted on the sidelines after the play and the Dolphins held on for the emotional victory.
Smiles o'plenty just after the season defining victory
Week 7 vs. Cheetahs
Showdown Saturday - both teams came into this match-up undefeated. The Cheetahs were Silver Division champions last Fall and had subsequently moved up to the Gold level. The Dolphins never led after falling behind in the 1st half. The team tied the game when Jordan notched an Assist after she found a streaking Addison in front of the goal. The tie would be short lived when for the 1st time in team history we scored an "own goal" on a freak play after a Corner Kick. The teams would battle to a stalemate deep into the 2nd half when in a bizarre twist Jordan would tie the game on a Corner Kick which bounced off an opposing player! That would end the scoring as the teams settled for a 2-2 tie.
Jordan, like her namesake, has a history of stepping up in big games
Showdown Saturday - both teams came into this match-up undefeated. The Cheetahs were Silver Division champions last Fall and had subsequently moved up to the Gold level. The Dolphins never led after falling behind in the 1st half. The team tied the game when Jordan notched an Assist after she found a streaking Addison in front of the goal. The tie would be short lived when for the 1st time in team history we scored an "own goal" on a freak play after a Corner Kick. The teams would battle to a stalemate deep into the 2nd half when in a bizarre twist Jordan would tie the game on a Corner Kick which bounced off an opposing player! That would end the scoring as the teams settled for a 2-2 tie.
Jordan, like her namesake, has a history of stepping up in big games
Racing down the field
Week 8 vs. Fury
A late afternoon kickoff, bright sun, and high 80's temperatures would make for difficult playing conditions against the Fury. This was one of the team's worst efforts in which we would squander multiple "player up" situations early in the game. Despite the team's struggles we would eventually force a lead before halftime. 20 minutes would pass before we would concede a score on a bad defensive play in front of our goal. Determined not to accept another tie, the Dolphins found a spark with 2 minutes left when Jordan would break free and fire an electric pass to teammate Addison who would beat the Goalie for the decisive score. The suddenly "cardiac" Dolphins would be happy to escape with the 2-1 win.
A late afternoon kickoff, bright sun, and high 80's temperatures would make for difficult playing conditions against the Fury. This was one of the team's worst efforts in which we would squander multiple "player up" situations early in the game. Despite the team's struggles we would eventually force a lead before halftime. 20 minutes would pass before we would concede a score on a bad defensive play in front of our goal. Determined not to accept another tie, the Dolphins found a spark with 2 minutes left when Jordan would break free and fire an electric pass to teammate Addison who would beat the Goalie for the decisive score. The suddenly "cardiac" Dolphins would be happy to escape with the 2-1 win.
Jordan G, Jordan K, Addison & Grace pal around before the game
Just seconds after connecting on the game winning goal & a post game celebration with friend Harper - who in her spare time likes to crash Dolphins practices
The story of this game was the weather. Throughout April weather caused schedule disruptions including a 21 day gap between games, 2 rescheduled + a missed practice, and a predicted 100% chance of rain at kickoff that missed us. The team dominated keeping the majority of the action on our opponents side of the field. Just an all around great performance coming off a long layoff despite degrading weather conditions - temperatures dropped to the tune of 15 degrees over the hour behind a stiff 20mph northwesterly wind. We left just in time as rain postponed the next game after the Dolphins 5-0 win.
Jordan & Taylor march onto the field after halftime
This is where I would write about our incredible performance to close the season - the Dolphins are 5-0 in season finales - but the team who we were playing, who I will not soil this column by naming, chickened out. Make the Dolphins 6-0 in finales but not the way we wanted to win...
Jordan has to settle for backyard touches instead of scores in what would have been a Dolphins runaway against our cowardly & winless opponents
The players were captivated by "coach speak" while waiting for awards
Hugs for Dad as he hands out certificates
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