Show-Me State Games: Soccer

Well, once again I participated in the Show-Me State Games (2008) soccer tournament. As usual the boys got together a bunch of old high school friends and friends made since to play a little soccer. Unlike last year, we entered the recreational league, hoping that we could do a little better. This year we also took on a little different format. It was 8 v. 8 on slightly smaller fields. We hoped this would relieve some of last years complete exhaustion within the first 5 minutes. It almost did. We lasted till halftime before we were all pooped this year. Our first game was on Friday night. We kept up with the team through the first half both teams scoring a couple, but they pulled away in the second half (we are completely out of shape) and ended up winning something around 8-4. Sounds worse than it was. I played a little keeper and a little field. Second game was in the morning of Saturday. The other team came with 15 people (almost two teams worth). We were doing just fine again till around halftime when their extra players became much more noticeable. We lost that one around the same score something like 8-5. After that we went to chill/sleep/eat at the mall in the air conditioning. Our last game was in the afternoon of Saturday. We had heard from other teams that we could beat this one, and we did. After a little work we came away with a victory of 6-4. Better than last year. We all wanted to win at least one and we did just that. So it was a slight improvement over last year. But no matter, it was good to go and play ball with the boys who I don't see nearly enough. I always forget the fun I have in the country. We ended by going out to Hooters and then a county fair watching a tractor pull. Great way to end the weekend. Now back to Ohio for training.