Tournaments 2006

Tournament Summary

The weekend spent at the West Niagara Invitational was a "tale of two contrasting days".

Saturday, 3 games, some decent results and some goals. Not bad for the first competitive action of the season.

Sunday morning, no interest, no fire, no competitive spirit, so we lost to a better team (that won the tournament) 0:1.

A record was set that game for the opposing coach being heard to say, "what a save" as Lauren did everything in her power to keep the team in the game. Great job Lauren.

We need better from the group next week in Woodbridge, an excellent draw positions the Barrie Team that we know (not Sundays team) to perform well and show any observers that we are a team to be reckoned with.

Let's get it done!

In the second game Barrie played against Woodbridge west, proved to be a tougher game. The Barrie side took control the first ten minutes then Woodbridge took control, eventually scoring there first goal. Barrie soon equalized when Courtney P made it 1-1. This fierce contest went into the second half when a Woodbridge player striker landed badly. She lay in pain for about 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived. The injury looked bad, but let's hope she recovers soon and is playing the game she plays so well. Woodbridge went on to score a second goal late in the second half making the final score 2-1.

Well, it looks like winter has reared it's ugly head in time for the "Woodbridge showcase tournament." This far from snow, how far? "THIS FAR!!" You know what I mean?

Barrie spirit looked strong and organized in their first game against Peterborough on Saturday morning. Goalie Lauren McKenzie didn't have much to do until the second half until Peterborough was awarded a penalty kick for "not sure what". She made a spectacular dive, not quite reaching the ball making it 4-1 for Barrie. Goal scorers for Barrie were Cortney M., Courtney P, and Rebecca M.

Believe it or not it was colder and windier than Saturday morning against Woodbridge east. Barrie's Kristin G. scored 2 nice early goals as Barrie dominated the game but even with many scoring chances couldn't place the ball between the posts. Many chances were carried away by the wind. Barrie finished with a 2-1 win moving on to the semi finals.

As it rained on the Barrie and Sault youth players, fighting to stay warm the referees finally arrived and the semi final game begun.

Barrie spirits were high (pardon the pun) and hard work ethnics paid off against this hard working team with lots of pass and go, switching and short passes to defeat the wind, Barrie controlled the game. With Barrie's strong defense and organized midfield the sticking opportunities were many. Kristin G, started the 3-0 win with a beautiful direct free kick into the top left corner, then Brenna B, made a run up the right wing fighting of a defender to score the second. Rebecca M, quickly took possession, beat a defender, shot to the left making the final score 3-0. Barrie moves on to the finals.

Its Monday morning at Vaughn grove, the finalist teams can taste their victory; the winds have dies down to mere gale force. Both teams take to the field. The Barrie spirit and Woodbridge west have worked hard to get to this point. While performing their usual warm-up routines, they don't dare to look at each other. Ok, enough of the melo dramatic stuff, but it was tense. Barrie with it usual system of play effectively shutting down the Woodbridge teams strength on the wings, Barrie finished the first half up1-0 with nicely placed comer kick by Kristin G, to Kamiya M, running in from her defensive position. In the second half Woodbridge broke through barriers defense to equalize, bringing Woodbridge back in the game. 15 min to go Barrie scored again with another comer kick by Jenn S, and sent home by Courtney M, making it 2-1 for Barrie. Both teams battled to the end with Barrie winning the championship, what a game! "Congratulations Barrie spirit!"

Over threatening clouds, the rain held off for this early game. Finishing wasn’t something that came easy for the Barrie Team on the first game of the tournament. Barrie looked strong, especially in midfield and defence with well placed balls, crossovers, give and goes, this team dominated the game but couldn’t find the goal

( which as we all know is an important thing ), until Courtney.P. presented us with a strike coming out of nowhere giving Barrie a 1-0 Lead. This was a good example of the score not reflecting the game.

After 5 hours of heavy rain Barrie played their second game. As you can imagine it was Mud, More Mud and Much More Mud. Conditions were perfect for our rubber girl, Meghan. V. saving Barrie from a dangerous situation. After Barrie controlling the game an East Gwillimbury striker broke away with nothing more than the goalie to beat, until, as if leaping from a low hanging cloud, Meghan performed one of her famous slide tackles. This slippery game ended with no score.

SUNDAY

The heavy rain took its toll on the fields at the Barrie Sports Complex. Some needed to be closed causing rescheduling fields and game times. Under the circumstances the tournament organizers did a superb job, Managers making numerous last minute calls, some coaches with no cell phones couldn’t be reached ( nudge nudge wink wink ). Anyway it all worked out well.

BARRIE SPIRIT 3 - 0 AURORA STINGERS

The sun was shining and Barrie again was in control of this game with lots of shooting opportunities and near misses. Brittany.C. started of the goal scoring, taking advantage of a lost ball then finding the back of the net. Jenn.S. placed a well controlled free kick in the top left corner for the second goal and Rebecca.M. beat a defender to drive the ball between the posts for the third. Jenn .S. played in net for the last 20 mins. It could only happen to our Jenn, Aurora was awarded a penalty kick. There she was waiting for the worst as the ball sailed over the crossbar. Lauren played out for spell almost scoring.

This game proved to be a nail biter, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. Brittany’s early goal gave Barrie the boost they needed, quickly scoring a second goal when, from the play on the right side of the 18 yard box the ball was switched to the left where Kaytlyn ran into the space to strike a nice shot home. York Utd soon brought the score up to 2-1 then Rebecca.M. touched the ball in to make it 3-1, again York Utd came back with a goal, making it 3-2. Barrie held to the lead till the final whistle blew. WHEW!

After the Barrie Team woke up 1 minute into the game they realized they were down 1-0. With no real effort, Darlington scored their goal. Barrie fought back with everything they had eventually scoring, only to be called offside, not sure why! Emotions were running high. Before this decision , Kamiya was deliberately slapped on the side of her head by a Darlington player, she understandably retaliated. ( can’t do that ). Both players were red carded. Not a good way to lose a game. On the other hand, we learn through our mistakes. As a wise man once said “ Through every adversity, there lies the seed, to an equivalent or greater success.

Barrie Spirit 0 - 2 Unionville/Mill

Apparently the Aliens returned to Eastview on Saturday morning who must have scooped up our team, replacing them with what they thought were clones. Unionville took full advantage of this, capitalizing on Barrie’s lack of drive. I can think of only one real threat to the Unionville defence, where Courtney.P. took a shot on net, the keeper fumbled and Brenna.B. tried to get a foot to it, but alas, it was cleared by the fast Unionville defender #6 who seemed to be everywhere.

Barrie Spirit 2 - 3 Mississauga

GOALSCORERS : Courtney P.

Jennifer S.

Barrie worked hard to give this provincial team a challenge to remember. Both teams fought hard for possession. It was Barrie’s turn to control the ball. On the right wing the midfield sent a ball to Brenna.B. while under attack crossed in front of the net where Courtney.P. read the play perfectly to beat the Mississauga goalkeeper making it 1-0. The surprised Panthers blasted back with both barrels, Barrie held on. It looked like Barrie would end the first half up 1-0, when 10 seconds to go Mississauga’s last shot slipped through Lauren.M.’s fingers, Lauren scrambled to retrieve the ball, but too late the balled rolled over the line, a heartbreaker for the Barrie team and fans but a nice break for Mississauga. The Panthers came back in the second half determined not to let this Barrie team get the better of them, scoring two quick goals. Barrie seemed demoralized until a free kick by Jenn.S. slipped low through a gap in the Mississauga wall in the corner of the net, the keeper knew she had no chance. Barrie fought until the end to equalize but ran out of time. I’m sure this disciplined and class Mississauga team left the field with having more respect for the Barrie team than before.

Barrie Spirit 3 - 1 Burlington

GOALSCORERS : Kamiya M.

Courtney P.

Megan R.

The Barrie team was taken by surprise by this aggressive Burlington team who scored early the game. Barrie who were still recovering from their abduction the previous day shook it off and got back into the game. The pressure was on Burlington when Jenn.S. crossed the ball to the net where Kamiya nodded it home, a beautiful play to equalize. In the second half Barrie continued with the pressure. Barrie’s strong defensive unit pushing play to midfield who created lots of scoring chances eventually paid off when Courtney.P. made it 2-1 with one of her dangerous long shots, Wow! Offensive midfielders Kristen.G. and Jenn.S. set up a nice play to give Megan.R. the opportunity to strike home one of her rockets , What a shot. A great way to end our tournament. A quick word about the game officials, Great job, makes all the difference.

JULY 13, 2006

A great job done by the Barrie Spirit 90 , superbly managed by Lori Carlson, making this “Ontario Cup” the success it was.

I would like to thank the host team (coaches, team manager,parents and Volunteer Discipline Chairs) of the U16G. for their cooperation with me as the DOCC and the hospitality shown to the game officials. The constant supply of cold water, availability of awnings for shade and easy access to the post-game paperwork made life very simple for the game officials.

The U16G coaches also put the word out and I was able to complete the roster for that tournament as well due to their assistance.

Wolter Wagter

Huronia DOCC

It was good to see everyone again after ten days of no soccer, the heart rate was back to normal, blood pressure was good, ah well, can’t have it all. What an exciting game to bring us all back to the soccer mode. As I have mentioned in the previous Darlington reports, this team seems to have our number.

Barrie came on strong, looking very much like a provincial team, dominating, taking the ball to Darlington, pressurizing the net and lots of shots on net. Already blood pressure and heart rates were on rise, it was a sight to behold. This scenario changed after about 20 mins when Darlington assumed the role of dominator, continually pounding on Barrie’s net, Barrie survived thanks to great defending and goalkeeping. The first Half ended with no score.

Barrie’s defense was under pressure and eventually broke down, allowing the Darlington forward to slide one past Lauren. Barrie bounced back quickly, from a corner kick, Jenn. slid one past the Darlington keeper to tie the game, WHEW! From end to end the game continued. Taking advantage of a broken defense, Darlington’s #77, wide open, easily beating a defender, took her shot from 15yds, yes it’s there, 2-1. Again Barrie came on strong looking in control again, Alana.M. received a well placed pass from Shannon, took her shot, it’s there, 2-2. Both teams could taste the victory in this must win game, when Darlington’s #77 received a nice cross, broke through the defense and decided the game to make it 3-2. A great competition, played well with Darlington taking advantage of a few Barrie “faux pas” giving Darlington their victory.

Ian