Coyotes Drop One, Win One

Last Friday night saw severe storms hit the Middle Tennessee area, dumping lots of rain and dropping the temperatures into the low 50's by Saturday morning.  As a result, the NYSA cancelled all games for last Saturday.

The make up game was scheduled and played on Thursday night against a very good Sharks team.  The Coyotes were shorthanded, with only 4 players showing up:  Rebekah, Kendal, Gavin, and Nick.  Hats off to these Coyotes....they were called on to have to play the whole game, and did so with enthusiasm.

The Sharks were also short handed, but they had 6 players show up, so they were able to do some subbing, keeping their players relatively fresh throughout the game.

Team Coyote struggled from the outset with the Sharks, and fell behind almost immediately.  They just did not have an answer to stop the Shark attack, and the big fish had the Coyotes out of their element as they ran (or swam) up and down the field scoring at will.  The Coyotes had 3 or 4 shots on goal that went wide, but the ball never found the net for the 'Yotes all through the game.  When the final whistle blew, the Coyotes were on the losing end of a thrashing:  12-0.  You might say it was "Coyote Ugly", as the 'Yotes would have chewed off their own paws to escape the trap that the Sharks had laid out for them!

The loss dropped the Coyotes to a season record of 3-2 at the midway point of the season.

But, typical of the Coyotes, they did not stay down long.  They went home, licked their wounds, and came out snapping and yapping today as they faced another good team.  This time, however, the 'Yotes were at full strength, and they were all over the Gold and Black team like a pack of coyotes on a deer hunt.

With the hairs raised on their backs, the Coyotes took the opening kickoff today and immediatley scored.  That set the tone in the game, as the Team refused to relinquish the lead as they jumped out to a 3-0 score in the first quarter.

As the second quarter got underway, the Coyotes kept up the attack, and scored another goal before the Gold team could finally find the goal.
Gavin took control of the ball, dribbling downfield and scoring, breaking through the pack several times.  He received the benefit of some great passing from Cole and Nick as he put the ball into the net.  At halftime, the 'Yotes were up 4-1.

The second half started off with the Gold team threatening a comeback, as they scored quickly, closing the gap.  But the Coyotes were having none of it....they scored 2 more goals to pad the lead going into the 4th quarter.

The Gold team wasn't done....you have to give them credit....they kept fighting back, and got within 2 points of the Coyotes by the time the final whistle blew.  Team Coyote emerged victorious by a 6-4 score, to improve their overall season record to 4-2 on the year.  Great job Coyotes!

I was pleased to see some great defense and downfield kicks from Nick, Kendal, Rebekah and Jonas.  Akil and Devin showed great speed in breaking downfield on defense and breaking up several goal shots taken by the other team, while Gavin and Cole provided the offensive fireworks, scoring goals and providing some good assists and passes.

Keep up the good work Coyotes!  I see great improvement overall in our play, and there is no doubt in my mind that we can play with any U5 team out there!  Enjoy the following video....keep working on your skills, and one day, YOU will be doing this:

 

Overheated Coyotes Suffer First Loss

Team Coyote Smiles for the Camera

On a day that started out partly cloudy but warm, the Coyotes assembled for the team and individual photos. The 'Yotes had their tails all combed out and groomed, their canine teeth polished and gleeming in the Spring sunlight, and their coats brushed out and clean as they smiled and howled at the camera.  It was a sight to behold!

But Coach, it's too HOT!

But by the time the team photos were done and game time approached, the sun broke through the clouds and quickly heated up the fields....and the Coyotes.
With temperatures climbing into the high 80's by game time, the "Get up and go" of the team seem to have "got up and left" as the team seemed sluggish and slow as the game got under way.

The Coyotes kicked off, and scored the first goal of the game, but the opposing team quickly answered with a goal of their own.  Again, the Coyotes took the next kick off and scored, but that would be the last time they would see the lead in the game.

The 'Yotes seemed tired and sluggish and were lacking the usual enthusiasm and fire that they typically display on the field, both offensively and defensively.  Meanwhile, the other team seemed fresh and full of energy as they steadily worked both sides of the ball, and slowly built up an insurmountable lead that the Coyotes could not overcome. 



This guy is FAST!

 The Coyotes kept within range of a comeback the entire first quarter, but by halftime, their tongues were hanging out, their tails drooping, and their ears were sagging along with their spirits.  By the end of the 3rd quarter, the other team had begun to pull away for good, as they marched up and down the field scoring at will.  The Coyotes seemed incapable of stopping the attack, and even seemed a bit intimidated  and didn't want to challenge the other team for the ball.  The result was the 1st lost of season (losing by a score of 7-3) for the 'Yotes, as they dropped their season record to 3-1.

After the game, Coach Art took the game ball in for some closer scrutiny, as the ball just did not seem to bounce the right way for Team Coyote yesterday.  It just seemed odd that the ball could not find it's way into the goal for the 'Yotes, while just about every shot the other team took (a couple from about mid-field) seemed to find the net.  After analysis, the Soccer Doc and Coach Art came to the conclusion that the only thing wrong with the ball yesterday was that it was not finding the goal for the Coyotes....or, the Coyotes were not finding the goal for the ball.

But, this coach knows that you can't win them all, and there are going to be days like yesterday.  Now, we just need to regroup, and come out next week like our old regular selves, and we will be fine!  No need in crying over spilled milk...instead, it is time to lick our wounds and heal up....next week is another game, and another chance and opportunity for Team Coyote to play up to their potential.  We shall return!

We will work on some things in practice this week to try to get our aggressiveness back and our heads on straight again. 

One other observation...not an excuse...just an observation:  We had a ref yesterday that seemed a little whistle happy, and seemed to penalize Team Coyote for some things (like throwing the ball in) that the ref apparently thought that the kids should have had mastered at this age level, which I thought was a little unreasonable.  As often as he stopped the game and took the ball away from the Coyotes, it seemed that that took away any momentum the team was trying to build.  Again, not an excuse.  Just an observation.

Enough.  It is what it is.  Tomorrow is another day, and next Saturday is another game!  Until then, enjoy Wiley E. Coyote (Super Genius) and Bugs Bunny...that waskily wabbit!

'Yotes Mount a Comeback Victory

Coyotes vs Pumas

It seems that whenever Team Coyote comes up against a team named after any type of cat, there is a rock 'em, sock' em, backyard brawl!  Last season, the Coyotes came up against a team called the Pumas, and after a tough fought dog fight, the 'Yotes came up on the losing end of a tight game by a score of 8-7.

Yesterday, the Coyotes came up against another feline team calling themselves the Tigers (even though they had silver and green uniforms...go figure!?!), and once again, a dog fight broke out!

The Tigers took early command of the game, and scored 2 goals in the first quarter, and another in the second quarter to take a 3-0 lead in the game.  The big cats also played some tough defense, frustrating the 'Yotes by breaking up any scoring opportunity and keeping them out of the goal. 



Nick and Devin display tough Coyote Defense

 At halftime, the Coyotes had their tongues hanging out, but their tails were still wagging.  Coach Art gave the team the "Let's get out there and win one for the Old Coyote" speech, encouraging them not to give up and to get more aggressive on offense while keeping up the pressure on defense.  Thanks to that Coyote defense, led by Nick and Devin running down field throughout the first half breaking up several breakaways by the Tigers and blocking several shots on goal, the team kept the Tigers from scoring any more goals, which would have made any comeback nearly impossible.  Good job Nick and Devin!

When the third quarter got started, the Coyotes came out like a Pack on a hunt!  Cole, Devin, and Akil began to start winning control of the ball, and breaking away and putting the rock in the net.  Meanwhile, Nick, Rebekah, and Jonas kept up the pressure on defense, keeping the Tigers out of the goal.  By the end of the quarter, the 'Yotes had fought back and peeled off 5 unanswered points to take the lead 5-3.



Tigers tried to Comeback

 But the Tigers weren't done either.  As the 4th quarter got underway, the Tigers tried to mount their own comeback, and managed to claw their way back to a 5-5 tie with literally one minute left in the game.

The Coyotes did a gut check, and played some tough defense, blocking the go ahead shot by one of the Tigers.  Cole caught the rebound on the blocked shot on the run and broke away.  There were merely seconds left in the game.  Cole got the ball down close to the Coyote goal, and the Tigers tried to steal the ball one more time, but the 'Yotes weren't having any of it....Cole regained control and took a shot....the ball sailed into the net, and the Coyotes were ahead once again, 6-5.

The teams hustled back to center field for the ensuing kickoff, but before the ball could be put back in play, the ref sounded the final whistle, and Team Coyote emerged battered, bruised, and tired...but... with the win, improving their overall season record to 3-0!  Great job Team!



Team Coyote celebrates the Comeback

 This coach could not be any more proud of our team!  They did not give up when it would have been easy to do so when they found themselves down 3-0 at halftime, but they fought back, kept up the pressure, and mounted one of the best comebacks I have ever seen at this level in coaching!  GREAT JOB COYOTES!!!!  You ALL played a great game and deserve a pat on the back (and an extra helping of roasted Sage Chicken for dinner)!

Team Coyote put on a clinic yesterday!  They displayed great poise as they mounted their big comeback over a feisty Tiger team.  Who knows?  One day, one or more of the players on our Coyote team might play for Team USA!  It could happen!  I found a little clip that I thought the kids might enjoy that shows some great soccer skills.  Keep it up Coyotes...one day..this could be YOU!