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 200th 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)
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