My Soccer Heroes

Saturday the boys both had their first regular-season games. Their games overlapped, which meant that Chris and I had to divide and conquer; Chris went with Michael and I went with Nicholas.

Michael's team won his game 3-0! Two of those three goals were scored by Michael! One goal was shot right-footed as a forward, the other shot was made LEFT-footed as a mid-fielder (which he is SO pleased about - he's been working that left foot a lot, and most of the boys on his team STILL won't use their left foot to shoot...grrrr). He actually made another goal playing defender, but they didn't count it due to another player being offsides. Anyway, his playing this year (as always)is outstanding. He is really honing his skills, and handles the ball with grace and finesse.

Nicholas LOVES, and I mean LOVES, to play keeper. Wonder where he gets that from.....(Uncle Dave!)? It is his favorite position, and he is recognized by his team and coach as being the BEST goalie on the team. He dons his goalie shirt and gloves and crouches ready to make the save (meanwhile his mother sits on the sidelines having a coronary every time the ball heads his way...which reminds her to fill that prescription for Valium.....). His team was dubbed last year "The Crack Kids" because there are a number of boys on the team that just goof off the whole time, and they are so hyper and uncontrollable. Nicholas and a couple of the other boys are the only ones who take it seriously....but I digress...

On Saturday Nicholas played a team that has been together for 5 years, and is coached by two semi-pro soccer players. Can you guess where I am going with this??? Nicholas played keeper for the first half of the game. This other team was on fire, and took 4 shots on goal within the first minute of the game. Nicholas saved every goal. During the first half, this team basically ran over our boys. They didn't know how to play their positions, how to throw in, how to do anything. Nicholas was blocking goals right and left, while directing the other boys on where to go and how to set up. He ended up having 5 goals scored on him, but with no one playing defense or helping him at all, and with the skill level of the opponents, he couldn't have saved them all;it was a Herculean effort on his part. He saved upwards of 30 shots, only letting 5 get through. He was awesome. At half time, he came off the field and I went to console him. He buried his head in my side and cried. The team rallied around him, as did the parents and coaches, telling him how awesome he played. Even the boy who bullies Nicholas a lot said "Nic, you kicked butt!" (Same kid played goalie second half and got his butt kicked! Ha ha!). Nicholas quickly wiped his tears, gave a couple of grunts and knelt with his team to set up the rest of the game. I told Nicholas the best way to get over his disappointment about the first half was to go out angry and take it out on the team with some great fielding. :o) He did just that. That boy played his giant heart out. He ran, slide-kicked, shoved (ok, not great but that's the way you play!) maneuvered the ball all over and around the other team, defended and had some great shots. He was SO GOOD. If you know Nicholas, you know he takes everything very seriously and gets really emotional. I have never seen him focus in and put those emotions to work like that before. I cannot tell you how proud I am of him.

The team went on to score a goal at the end of the game, and they felt really good about that. The opponents have been undefeated for 5 years, so our team didn't stand a chance. But they played their hearts out, Nicholas above all the rest.

I am so proud of my soccer boys!