This is where you can read about our wins and losses
and various rambling game analyses by coach Mark!!
For results from previous years see archives
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November 7th vs Brentwood '98 Select and Harpeth '98 Black: 5-1, 1-2. State tournament in Cookeville, TN. 21 teams in 7 brackets of 3.... blind draw... Winners of each bracket move on with one additional team as a wild-card. The rest go home!! This means you most likely need two wins on day one to move on. A team by the name of Brentwood '98 Select won the gold bracket we participated in two weeks ago in Murfreesboro but apparently Brentwood uses team names loosely, as the group from Brentwood we faced this day was clearly not the same boys we faced two weeks ago. That team outlasted us in a hard fought battle, but today we dominated with goals from Bill (2), Grahm (1), Jolen (1) and an electrifying goal off a header from Grant! Their coaches confirmed that their U12 group is an academy and team rosters change frequently. Their group fought hard and played well, but we got the job done and had one win behind us.
Even with a good start in game one, we knew we would have our hands full after looking at the score (7-0) that Harpeth put up against Brentwood earlier in the day! This game was another that the soccer fans must have enjoyed from the edge of their seats!! This was a hard fought game from whistle to whistle. Harpeth jumped on us early and scored twice in the first half, but we were able to lock things down until halftime. We were able to move the ball well from our defense through the midfield, but the Harpeth defense did an excellent job of denying shot opportunities all game long. Midway through the second half Jolen was able to break free across the middle and hit a great shot to the upper corner that made the score 1-2. Try as we might, we couldn't get the equalizer, and despite a great effort from our defense to hold them scoreless the remainder of the way, we fell 1-2 in the end. Despite some great play by our boys, we didn't have the points to advance out of the bracket so our state run was over. Harpeth went on to win two more on Sunday (7-0, and 4-0) before falling to the Brentwood Elite team 2-3 in the finals. We were obviously disappointed to get eliminated after just two games, but can take some pride in our score against the TN state finalists!! Another great season for the Flames with many more to come!!!!
October 25th vs TNFC '98 Crew: 1-2. Watching these two talented teams teams battle it out on a bright fall day I would think most spectators would have assumed this was a championship game, not the consolation game from the bracket!! The Crew came out of the blocks with some very impressive play through their midfield that literally put us on our heels for the first 5 or 10 minutes. If it were not for some spectacular saves from Andrew, this one would have turned badly for us quick. But, we held, made some adjustments, and then gave up a crazy goal on a ball that just sat in the box 5 feet from Andrew's outstretched hands, his feet seemingly stuck to the ground.... go figure! Bill got us the equalizer just before the half expired and we knew we were in for another 30 minutes of pressure soccer! Both keepers made some great saves in the second half, denying what looked like certain goals (including a PK that luckily went straight at Andrew), but near the end we gave up the winner on a nicely placed ball from a break-away, and that was game. All in all, a great tournament for us despite the lack of a win. We've needed to play against this type of competition for a while and those 5-0 wins in league play have really not helped us as much as these types of competitive games do. I know the boys (and probably parents, and well.... yeah, a coach or two!) would have liked a win, but I think this type of play will only serve to improve our guys in the long run. Good stuff Flames!!
October 24th vs Brentwood '98 Select & MSC Strikers '98 Premier: 3-4, 3-5. Welcome to the Bash in the 'Boro tourament in Murfreesboro. We knew going in that by playing up in the highest division for our age group we would be tested, but that is what this team needs, and it is certainly what they got!! Every team we faced put incredible pressure on us from the opening kickoff and for the most part our boys responded well. Interestingly, the game that we felt like we had the best chance to win was game one (we led briefly in that one by a score of 2-1) and while it did not come out in our favor, it was interesting to see that Brentwood team move on to win the tournament on Sunday... We are that close, but still not close enough!! Goals against Brentwood came from Bill, Graham (PK) and Caleb. The game against the Strikers was a physical battle for us as they had both good speed and size, not to mention plenty of talent!! We were tied in this one at 3-3 before a late flurry from the Strikers put us away. Goals for the flames came from Jolen (2) and Bill. Despite the losses, we felt good about our play and were certainly impressed with the level of talent across the board in our opponents.
October 18th vs FC Alliance '98 Gold 2 and 1: 7-0, 2-0. FC Alliance has two teams at our age group that play division 2 and then a pool of players that make up two more teams (Gold 1 and 2) that play division 3. Must be nice to have such a group of talented players to draw from... But our 13 players from Cleveland seem to hold their own, and we played well on this day for sure. Still not overly pleased with our finishing in these games where the chances are frequent, but we're moving forward with each game and that is all we can ask for. Goals on the days came from Bill (4), Jolen (2), Grant (2), and Chris (1).
October 17th vs BUSC Hammers '98: 2-1. We knew going up for this match that we would be in for a tough match. The Hammers beat us 3-2 earlier this season at the Ocoee Cup so we knew they would be ready for anything we had. Add a wet chilly morning to the mix and you've got the makings of another great Flames/Hammers game! This was definitely another great one in the series. Both teams played extremely well and although I'm sure the Hammers would have liked the win, neither team really lost this one... one team just outlasted the other. I thought our guys played extremely well (you have to if you are going to beat this team) and while everyone on the team deserves some praise, our keeper Andrew was really the star of the day. With the Hammers putting relentless pressure on our goal, Andrew came off the line several times, smothering the ball at their striker's foot just before he could shoot. Their keeper likewise made some nice stops, but in the end we prevailed.... this time! Our first half goal came from Bill on a hard shot to the lower corner and Graham netted one in the second half off a very well struck free kick. Nice stuff Flames!!
October 3 vs FC Alliance '99 Black 1: 2-2. I didn't like the way we ended our Ocoee Cup run, we missed a week due to rain, and we came out today clearly in the middle of an offensive slump. Waaaaay too much individual play and just not looking like the team we've shown we can be. Great stuff from a strong FC Alliance team... We were lucky to come away with a tie. Both goals from Jolen. How soon can we shake this off Flames?
September 20 Ocoee Cup vs KFC '98 Premier: 2-4. Well, this was definitely one of those games... We played this team (minus a few of their key players) earlier in the season and won 6-0. I knew they would be stronger, but was confident we would rise to the challenge. Again, we found ourselves staring at a 0-2 deficit early in the first half and while we got some GREAT looks at their goal, we saw shot after shot miss wide. Graham gave us a spark midway through the half with a nice left-footed blast into the corner of the net, but if we had connected on just 50% of our open looks we would have been up by several goals instead of playing from behind. KFC opened the second half with another tally, but Graham came through again, this time on a beautiful shot from a set piece outside their box. Trailing 2-3 and still getting quality looks at their goal I was still confident we would equalize, but our finishing was anything but, and when they netted #4 with only a few minutes to go it was over. Not a great feeling from this one... We probably had 20 clear scoring opportunities in this game and couldn't convert, while KFC really didn't pressure our keeper, they just were extremely efficient with the chances they had. In the end, those who score win, and we didn't! Hat's off to KFC, they always seem to find a way to win. Hopefully some motivating factors for some of the boys to improve some shooting skills? We'll see.
September 19 Ocoee Cup vs BUSC Hammers '98 and KFC '98 Select: 2-3, 11-1. Welcome to the Ocoee Cup with rain, more rain, and finally some serious competition!! We have always played tough, competitive games against the Hammers so I knew what was coming in this one. We came out playing pretty well I thought, but soon found ourselves staring at a 0-2 deficit that we took into halftime. We had some serious conversations during the half about believing in ourselves and it wasn't long before we were! Our fist tally came off a great crossed ball to the feet of Jacob, who calmly first-timed it into the back of the net like he'd been doing it for years (as opposed to playing goalie where he had been for the past few seasons). Not long after, Bill pushed down the right flank and then dropped the ball back to Chandler who lofted a long ball into the upper corner to tie us up at 2-2. From there is was "game on" and the play was fast and furious. The Hammers found a way though, and drilled the game winner into the corner of the net with little time remaining. There were still a few intense minutes to play and we pressured their side, but couldn't penetrate their defense for a good look. Our fist loss of the season, but a quality game and nothing to feel bad about.
Game 2 was not the sort of game we need to be playing... Much like the Coyotes game, we had our way all over the field to the tune of 11 goals, but gave up one (and the associated shut-out point) and generally looked sloppy in a lopsided win. Goals came from Jolen (3), Grant (2), Caleb (2), Bill. Chris, Chandler, and Jacob, but somehow this one didn't feel like a good way to prepare for a tough morning game against KFC Premier. In this type of game it is too easy to become complacent and think that the little mistakes don't matter...
September 12 vs KMSL Coyotes '98: 5-0. I think the Coyotes are a relatively new team on the scene, though we did play them last season as well. Not a lot of positives to report from this game except the score I suppose. Strangely dimensioned fields, no restroom facilities, no linesmen, U-10 sized goals, and a lackluster performance from us against a team that we obviously could have our way with. Goals came from Bill (3), Jolen, and Graham, but we had waaaay too many chances that were squandered to make me feel remotely good about this one. Need to finish well, regardless of the opponent. We'll take the league win though. Kick into gear Flames!!
August 31 vs East Ridge Express '99: 4-0. We set up this scrimmage because the East Ridge team was looking for some tough competition in preparation for the Atlanta Cup. Yes, another '99 team, but very different than Saturday.... In the first 10 minutes they had us on our heels and were lucky to avoid a couple of scoring opportunities right in front of our goal. As we slowly settled into the game, our defense tightened up and things began to turn our way. Both teams had some good scoring opportunities in the half, including a great header from Caleb off a cross from Bill, but it was 0-0 at half-time and East Ridge had to be feeling pretty good. The second half started with two quick goals from Bill and after that we had the momentum the rest of the way. We seemed to have opportunity after opportunity to score, but our finishing was clearly off. The final two goals came from Graham and Caleb. We had a slightly different look in this game with all three guys that have ever given us time at keeper (Andrew, Jacob, and Grant) all out sick! Jolen stepped up and gave us the minutes in the net that we needed, but the East Ridge team was lacking at least three of their players too... Thats one tough U11 team and not one to be underestimated even on a day that they weren't at full strength. From the Flames to East Ridge "Good luck in Atlanta guys!"
August 29th vs FC Alliance Gold '99 and FC Alliance Gold '98: 10-0, 4-0. I'm not sure what the organizers of the play-date were thinking when they matched us up with the '99 gold squad. I put on our application that we were an above average team that would like to play strong competition. It was immediately obvious that we were going to overpower this team as we scored on our first run at their goal. After that I was trying to hold the score down by only playing our stronger players in the back, if at all, yet we still scored seemingly at will. Goals in this game came from Jacob (3), Graham (2), Chandler (2), Jay (2), and Andrew (1)... 4 goals from our keepers?! Interesting....
Game two was a MUCH better match and not as much in our favor as the score may indicate. The FCA '98 squad played with heart and definitely gave us a run for the money. We were up 2-0 at the half with goals from Bill and Caleb, and then finished them off in the second with additional tallies from Grant and Jay. Great effort in the second game and a good sign of things to come. Go Flames!
August 8th vs KFC'98 A and B teams: 6-0, 8-2. We tried to schedule this team several times last season only to see rain-outs. KFC Blue was ranked 4th in the state at the end of last season, but the squad they brought down today was not of that caliber. We had our way with their "A" group and easily beat the "B" group with many of our more powerful scorers on the bench. Goal tallies for the day were Bill (5), Caleb (2), Grant (2), and Jolen, Graham, Chris, Jacob, and Brandon each with one score apiece. 14 goals is certainly a good way to build confidence at the beginning of the season. No complaints here!
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