End of an Era

In February 2012, the Emmetts travelled south for their first soccer tournament in St. George. Joel (above) was the participant, and his team was then known as HC (Hobble Creek) Storm. Over the years Joel, Joel and Will, and then just Will played in tournaments--usually over MLK Weekend or Presidents Day Weekend in St. George, then Mesquite, then Las Vegas and finally for Will in Oceanside California and the Phoeniz area. It has been a fun 11 years. The era came to an end last weekend with Will's Utah Storm team playing in the Presidents Day Cup at the lovely (except for the jammed entrances and parking) new Bell Bank Park in southeasternmost Mesa Arizona.

This storm team was cobbled together with the high school juniors (now seniors) from several Utah valley teams when their senior teammates graduated last year. They have really jelled both on the field and as friends. 

Saturday morning at 8:00 they played a team from Nebraska gaining a 2-0 lead at the half but then tying the game at 2-2. 

Saturday afternoon they played against a Phoenix team winning 2-1. 

On Sunday evening Will had an excellent game against a team from suburban St. Paul Minnesota. Three boys chose not to play which meant Will played mid field for almost the whole game. He also played wing and striker during the tournament. 

Here's how I called the Sunday night game on the family text message: 

1-0 goal by Tyson. 

Almost goal by Will, hit the top bar. 

Cross by Will for goal called offsides. [actually, it was a foul]

Half. Will was on fire.

[goal by Will called offsides--didn't text that one I was too busy keeping track of Will's sweet moves.] 

Just missed a goal with a header.

GOAL by Will!    [sent a video which posted down below]

2-0

Shot on goal by Will blocked.

Will's out for the last 5 minutes.

Win

Monday morning they played a team from Seattle winning 6-0. Sadly the team from Nebraska that they tied in the first game also won three and tied one but since they had a higher point total they won the bracket win t-shirt. 

I took a couple of hundred photos of all the boys and shared them on a google drive. Here are some of the photos I took of Will. 

 

Will touched the ball on a goalie kick and then followed through going past the goalie and almost getting a goal. 

Regaining his balance. 

Coach Brett Bergholm has been an excellent coach. 

Hit the top bar. 

Always hustling

The blocked goal. 

The GOAL! Excellent teamwork and passing. 

Will blocked this kick with his face. You can see the ball just about ready to hit. 

Will is pretty consistent at sending corner kicks where they need to go. 

Notice the final score. Per tournament rules, only four of those points counted in the point differential determination. If all 6 had counted they would have tied for points with the Nebraska winners. 

Well done team. And thanks to Joel and Will for more than a decade of fun soccer tournaments. This one was one of the best.