IASC-Cobras FC Boys U19

 

Salt City- Syracuse, NY

 

The Cobras season final ended at the Salt City Tournament in Syracuse, on July 27th and July 28th.

Many new faces joined the Cobras tournament team, but it was certain from the start of the first game vs. the North Rose Jets that it was going to be a festive weekend. Some division one NCAA recruits along with other Rochester HS and Premiere level talents played with the squad.

NRJ were a scrappy bunch that played well together, but some crisp finishing by the Cobras and a clean slat was too much for the opponants, a 2-0 victory. The second game was a very competitive duel with BYSA Soccer Central, a U 17 premiere team that end up third in the recent State Cup final four earlier this summer, a 2-1 loss for us.  We felt good going into Sunday morning that we could win our semi-final game to reach the final, a rematch was in the horizon. The morning match was a sloppy defensive showing by both teams with numerous goals, some magnificent, but in the end Cobras were toying with Coliseum United out of Utica, NY. Final score was a wopping 8-4. The rematch was built up with all the hype from the first game, an intense scoreless first half ended with a upside down ride for the ages.

After the Cobras took a 1-0 lead with 15 minutes remaining all looked good for another championship title. But a BYSA player, speedy on a break, split through the defense and the Cobras keeper was caught holding a shirt of the opponent in the box, the player fell to the ground as defenders cleared the ball away. The referee justly called a penalty kick for them, but included a red card to our only keeper which seemed a little harsh for a well played game by both sides at that point. This call ruined the game, which the referees could have save if not for the red card assessment. When a referee makes a call like that, he really needs to think about the integrity of the game, not the specific incident. The Goalie was not the last man as the defense was close at hand. Going down to 10 men and no goalie, really put the Cobras in a bind and we were fresh meat to the local spectators and piranhas at hand. In the end, the local team won with a little help by the men in stripes, but the Cobras tournament team took it in stride and class. Fun weekend for all involved. It's funny when you take a bunch of kids that have never really played with each other, get them together for a weekend to play a sport they all love, and in the end experience something wonderful. I guess that is what soccer is really all about, the experience and the memories. The funny thing about this tournament is that the field where we played on, I played on first, almost 28 years ago when I was a youth. This brought back great memories of my youth playing days.  Our Gates Roadrunners team won the State Cup back then on that same field. Hopefully our boys when coaching or watching thier own kids someday will remember that old Cobras team back in 2013, that played some really wacky games and enjoyed some great times with kids that shared a similar passion.  Soccer is life and may the memories live on forever.... Coach Mike

 

 

Cobras Tournament 2013- Historical Finally

Once again the boys take home a tournament championship in style and grace. From a dramatic come from behind tie against our counter part Canadian Cumberland Cobra brothers, to a revenge blow out of our Blackwatch Expressway League revivals, to a physical battle with the Buffalo Northtown Arsenal semi-final, was just some of the highlights of the weekend.

The grand finally was against the Oshaswa Rage the team we played against last year in the final, when we had a last minute penalty kick to close out the Boys U16 2012 Cobras Championship. The team was back and ready to avenge the title that slipped away last year. These guys were hungry. The initial fight came before the game even started, when the referees were unsure which team needed to change their shirts. We did not want to wear our black uniforms in the 90 F degree weather, they did not want to wear their dark green shirts. We were the away team they were the home in tournament standings. The referees ruled that the home team needed to change. They were not please, they even made a smart comment to the linesman, nice host team. Well when I heard that, I said OK we will wear black and be the gracious host. This added fuel to our teams fire and the coaching staff made it known to the boys that we willingly changed. The Cobras came out fired up and slipped in a goal in the first ten minutes, the game went back a forth for the next 40 minutes with opportunities at both ends. The Canadians were forceful and outright trying to get back in the game. This paid dividends as they equalized with about 15 minutes left in the game. Our team could not be denied, many of them have played in this tournament with my team for years and some since they were 8 year olds. We won it as Boys U11 and went 5 years without smelling a title, until last year. Many knew that for most this was the last time they would play in our home tournament as a Cobra.

With three minutes left we took the field determined to not to go into the  automatic penalty kicks, which basically would have been a flip of a coin to the winner .

Our game winning goal came in from a vicious attack to get the job done, and the Cobras Trophy was ours for the third time in team history. Great work team and thank you all for volunteering and support throughout the weekend..........Coach Mike

Niagara Pioneers 2013 Boys U19 Champions

There is a saying that boys win matches, but men win championships.  Well our young men yesterday won a championship.  You might say, big deal it’s only a soccer tournament, I tend to differ.  I’ve been associated with many soccer events throughout my 44 years, both playing and coaching, and this weekend I experienced something I have never experienced in my life.  The emotions throughout the games were amazing. 

From losing a heartbreaker first game, when all was said let’s just have fun and take it a game at a time.  Then winning our second game, with a glimmer of hope for Sunday morning.  The last minute heroics in our third game when we actually thought we had moved on to the final.  To suddenly having someone say,” No we are out; we did not get the help we needed from the other game.”  We actually took our team picture thinking we were going home.  If you notice there was still all smiles on the faces of the boys in that picture.  Shortly after we were notified we were in, the other game ended in a tie and jubilation broke out.  At that moment I don’t really think the kids cared about winning the final game.  The journey to the final was all the experience they needed. 

Winning the game against the team from Ohio that walked on the field thinking they had it, they were undefeated and thus far dominated the tournament, playing a high school team with a bunch of kids, was such a great joy to me and a bonus to the team.  Most of those boys were college soccer players and technically sound.  On top of everything we were down 1-0, only to come back and take the lead, and then holding on to grueling defensive stand in the last 20 minutes.  What a win, what a weekend!!!

For you history buffs, I was told by a tournament official that they needed to move this tournament up two weeks because they are celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the end of the war of 1812.  The usual weekend they hold the tournament is typically the same weekend as the Cobras Tournament.  I told the official before our first game thanks for moving it so we can enter. Ironically the last minute goal, that got us to the final, was against the Niagara Pioneer eldest U19 team, aka the host team.  It might have been our destiny that our boys were faced with such a battle throughout the weekend. A real testament of the character our kids and team possess.

I never thought this weekend would be such a roller-coaster ride for the ages. I hope all the families and players had a great time.   I know the boys will talk about this for a long time.  It is a great story that illustrates  what heart, determination, teamwork and faith can do when playing a sport, as well as what it could do in life.   Congratulations once again Cobras FC boys……..Coach Mike

 

 
                                                                                     Niagara Tournament Finals vs. Rockers (Ohio)

Cobras FC- Boys U19 Expressway League Title

With already securing the expressway BU19 league title the boys went down on a long journey to Dunkirk, NY to face a fully loaded Blackwatch soccer team.  Due to multiple graduation, work related schedules and kids on vacation we brought down 13 kids to play a double header, 11 were healthy with others dealing with some injuries.  The field was a stadium size artificial turf, and the weather was 90 F on the turf it felt like 110 F.  Blachwatch with a full 18 players were ready for us and wanted to inflict damage to us since earlier in the month we had beat them 6-1, when they were short some players.

To tell you how proud I was of this group that came down is an understatement, mainly all u17 players playing against HS Senior college bound and college level players was going to be a challenge for this group, especially since we had nothing to play for since securing the #1 spot last weekend, with a amazing 4 goal second half to clinch the league title.

The first game we came under a lot of pressure and the other team knew it, they would sub consistently to keep the team refreshed, while we continue to accumulate injuries in a gut wrenching sequences of attacks from them.  The defense held strong, while the midfield created some magnificent counter attacks. In the end we stuck out a 0-0 draw, where the majority of quality goal scoring opportunities came from us, which we could have easily won.  We took the draw as a victory and a well deserved unexpected point.  In the second game a tired Cobras team with really nothing to play for went down early 2-0 at half time.  When all was spent and down to 10 healthy bodies, with an additional 11^th on field for good faith we actually score to get back in the game 2-1.  Not sure where these kids got the energy to get back in the game, but they did. With 15 minutes left Blackwatch scored a third, and knowing this, cleaned house in the last ten minutes with two additional goal winning 5-1.  In the end our boys with great humor were playing for the love of the game and their teammates, with smiles on their faces and happiness inside of them that they accomplished something that many kids will never get a chance to experience.

Congratulations Cobras FC, all 23 players rotated throughout the 8 games in this league to win outright the division title. This is the inaugural season of this league and we are the first Boys U19 champions.  Thank you parents for your support, onto the remainder of thus far this magnificent season……Coach Mike

 

 

Cobras FC- University of Rochester- Men's Soccer Challenge Champions 2013

The Cobra FC boys, now considered men in tournament play, won the U or R annual tournament on April 28th.  The tournament had 12 High School and Club level teams competing against each other.  The boys out scored their opponents 20-4 in a impressive day of soccer. They will move on in competing in the inaugural NYSWYSA Expressway League, playing in the U19 age group. This is basically a college level league which was developed for kids in rural areas when coming home from college and wanting to play soccer, and also high soccer players needing a competitive league for the Southern Tier region of NY in the spring and summer months. We were asked to help build this league as an accomplished soccer club and we feel honored to help get it started in the first season.

Overall the boys dominated the pitch on Sunday, here were the final stats for the tournament.

Great way to start off the 2013 outdoor summer season.
 

Cobras FC 7 vs. Eastridge HS 1
Cobras FC 2 vs. Wheatland Chili 0
Cobras FC 3 vs. Rush Henrietta 0
Cobras FC 5 vs. Webster Schroder 3 (semi-final match)
Cobras FC 3 vs. Bishop Karney 0 (final match)

 

 

 

 

Black and Blue Game- Cobras FC Boys U17

This year's event consisted of a team build on Veterans vs a team with a combination of some returning Kids and a bunch New Kids. The Vets started out with a bang by putting away the first goal. The New Kids were getting their feet wet and looked disorganized and unpolished the first 20 minutes. The Vets showed some class scoring two additional goals and took a commanding 3-0 lead. The New Kids saw some light scoring their first goal of the game with just under five minutes left in the half, but a quick response by the Vets ended the half at 4-1.

Not sure what was said at the coaches halftime speech, but the New Kids came out fire up with lightning under their feet. Goal's starting coming in quickly one right after another for the New Kids one, two, three to tie the game at 4-4. The game became really intense as players began getting physical on the ball. The Vets began to press hard, but the defense would not bend. The keepers on both sides made some great saves to keep both units in the game. Finally the New Kids put the game away scoring two quick goals with ten minutes left. Overall great first scrimmage between the boys. Good sportsmanship and bonding filtered the air at the end of the competition, and the chemistry became apparent throughout the entire squad. Excitement and preparation for the 2013 season are underway and the team is set for another successful run.

 

 
 

Cobras BU16 Season- Climb to the Top

To say that the 2012 season was a adventure, would be a understatement.  We had our ups and downs, but overall our team remained strong. This season had its dramas both on and off the field. I realized that this was going to be a challenge for us playing division one Thruway premier, up U17 in RDYSL and qualifying for the President's Cup in New Hampshire. I do not regret these decisions. These kids have grown as players individually and have experienced what most will never experience. Throughout the year they matured into young men and they have faced some of the stresses of being part of this team; kids going to various schools and the rivalries, pure pressure, clicks and alliances between them, work and life events.  In the past few years we became accustomed to winning and being on top of the mountain, this year was different.  We needed a challenge, and a challenge was what we got. The test would go beyond soccer, it would examine our character as a team and individually.

In soccer, no one is above the team. That includes the coaches, players and supporters, everything needs to gel to get to your goals.  If you conquer your fears and break through your fears, in the end you have grown.

 

We have tried as coaches and parents to give these boys the best experience possible when it comes to soccer and young manhood. We have build them up mentally and physically to play high school soccer and beyond. It is my desire to have them really appreciate the beautiful game and experiences surrounding it. I have taken a handful boys at 8 years old in the house league, we've added some great and exceptional kids and families along the way, and have brought them to the highest levels in WNY soccer and a national competition in their age group. This year was a celebration of that journey, win, lose or draw, our boys have been successful.

Highlights included;

2012 RDYSL Bu17 Divison II Finalist (playing up a age group)

2012 Cobras Tournament BU16 Champions

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Annual Cobras FC Black and Blue Game

The third annual Black vs. Blue Darby was played on November 30th. Blue aka (White Team) came out fired up and took the early 3 to 1 lead. Black was scraping to get through the half, while the White defense played exceptional.  Half time score was 4 to 2. White team came out from halftime with vigor scoring two additional goals and going up 6 to 2.  The Black a never say die squad was not done though.  A quick 6 touch pass goal split the score in half 6 to 3 and suddenly they had life.  White seemed to be happy to run out the clock and take the win, but Black seemed to gain momentum and scored three goals in a matter of ten minutes to tie the game 6 to 6. Overtime!!! Last year the game finished to a draw, but Black was determined not to let this happen.  White picked up there game and hit posts on two different occasions in OT that could have put an end to the Black comeback, but it wasn't to be. After a great save by the White goalkeeper with second left in overtime, a scramble occurred in the box and Black put away the winning goal.  A comeback for the ages, 7 to 6 Black Wins!!! The Coaching by both units was stellar once again and the field of play was remarkable.  Better yet the Referee for the match was classy, elegant and fit to perfection and called a great game. Great job Boys; Let’s carry this passion over to the season......Coach Mike