Three Kids and a Dog: Regionals - Regrets, Heat and Unbreakable Bonds

Last Thursday, Austen and I made the trek to St. Louis to start regional play that would advance them to the National League competition in Florida in July.

The first thing we notice when we arrive is the blistering heat. A cool 90-95 degrees daily. We knew this was going to be a factor in play so Austen had been hydrating at least five days before. Still the hot sun coupled with the fact that the league allowed limited subbing meant that it was going to be a tough few days.

First game, the boys came out strong. They created many offensive opportunities but the one chance the other team got they put it away. We score the equalizer a few minutes later and then manage to miss every chance we had to get the ball into the net. This game will come back to haunt them and we end in a 1-1 tie against a mediocre South Dakota team. (Their goalie did a remarkable job of saving some tough shots but still this game should have been at least 3-1 or 4-1.)

Boys complain it's so hot the bottoms of their feet are literally burning from the scalding turf below bleeding up through their cleats. We don't know what to tell them except poor water on your shoes?!

Second game is probably our toughest against Kentucky. We score early for a 1-0 lead and had a few other quality chances but can't put the ball away. They score the equalizer with about 20 minutes left to play and again we end in a 1-1 tie.

Another tie when we should be winning these games now puts us at the mercy of South Dakota having to beat or tie (with us getting at least two goals in our final game) Kentucky. Not great when you leave your destiny up to another team. They play on the field next to us for our last game so we will be able to watch their game and ours.

Third game we play a Missouri team who has a wild card into regionals and clearly aren't up to par. We start easily finding the back of the goal and Austen puts away his first goal of the tournament. We score one more and then Austen puts away another to the upper left hand corner of the goal on a direct kick outside the box. We have now secured the number of goals we need to advance but we go on to score two more for insurance purposes.

Much of that third game the parents were focused on what South Dakota was doing to Kentucky on that field next to us. It was a battle. When South Dakota scored, we would cheer too. The boys all knew we were watching that game and even the other team said, "I don't think your parents are even watching your game!" With 20 minutes left, Missouri is up 3-2 on Kentucky. We have a chance. We have a good chance. But then Kentucky gains momentum and they score one to tie up the game. Still time left and we just need South Dakota to hold on but they don't. They end up losing 4-3 and our season is over. Heartbreaking to go home when you never lost a game but you didn't win too many either. Ties mean nothing. You have to put the ball in the back of the net.

Lots to learn from and work toward for next year for sure. This is certainly a talented group of boys who had a lot of fun together and who genuinely like each other. They turn to their high school seasons now and will enjoy playing against each other on the pitch until late October or early November when they will reunite and get a chance to take it all home again!