Show-Me State Games 2007, MO (Soccer)

Well, I played in the Show-Me State Games once again. Once again, no medal. Having all of our players from a small town, we aren't usually the best team out there, but I always think I've got a chance. This year, I went back to MO not knowing who was going to be on my team, except a few players. The regulars were there, but of course practice time was limited. All of us work regular jobs and were doing this for the fun of it. We entered the Governor's Cup Open Rec Division (See the word Rec in italics....it will come into play later). We had a good mix of guys and girls, mostly people I knew from high school back in the day. I felt good about this. Then I looked at the schedule. The three teams in our bracket were from St. Louis, Saint Joseph, and Kansas City....yeah (sarcasm). Our first game was on Friday against FC Truman (from St. Louis). I had to start the first half playing keeper, as we had no other (short handed the first day with only two subs). These guys came out wearing a club soccer team shirt......in a RECREATIONAL LEAGUE! As predicted, they began tearing us up. Because of this, I was able to make some very good saves throughout the half, though the half ended in a 0-7 score. I got to play field then. Halfway through I went on a run, seeing my buddie Stu put a nice ball through two defenders and was able to get there before the keeper, putting it into the back of the net. Now it was 8-1. Game ended 10-2 (with another goal scored by us!).

Game 2: The second game was against the Saint Joseph team. We hung with them for most of the game, though the ref sucked. Elbows were flung quite a few times, giving me a bruise above my eye. Most of there players were fine, but a few needed some sportsmanship lessons. We were in a rec league, and were the two worst teams in our bracket, let alone the division. Not worth cracking a skull to get third instead of fourth in the bracket....only the top team moves on. Game ended I think 1-4. We lose again, but at least it was a match.

Game 3: The third game we played was on a much smaller field. We played KC United. We started playing very hard, getting as many chances as them and it finally paid off. We scored. Half ended 1-0. Good yeah? Not so fast. The second half started and we took a turn for the worst or they did for the better. One of their players, I guess finally decided it was time to play and made us pay dearly. Four goals in the first five minutes of the second half making it 1-4. We lost our momentum from there even more. Game ended in a 2-9 score.
Though we lost horribly, I figured we wouldn't win and was going for the fun of it and the exercise. Got to play ball again with people I like that actually like playing. And guess what, short of people complaining of the pain of injuries and being out of shape, I heard no complaints. 10-2, 9-2, 4-1. Serious beat downs, and yet nobody wanted the other team to let up once and nobody gave up. Novel concept.
What did I gain from all of this you ask? I got a t-shirt, a rolled swollen ankle, a few abrasions on my left arm, and a bruise over my eye. Not too bad of a deal. Man, I really must love soccer. By the end of it all, it felt like I had wrestled a 500 lb. man who had everything on the line. Soccer is great.