Governors Cup

May 10-11 2008

Teams entered in the Boys U16 Competitive Division:

BV Predators Liverpool Overland Park KS

KC Blaze Inferno Prairie Village, KS

Topeka Select Galaxy Topeka, KS

CSC Fusion Kansas City , MO

NWA Lightning Bentonville, AR

Northland Soccer Academy Kansas City, MO

Kansas Wolves 91/92 Topeka, KS

92 WFC Celtic Wichita, KS

92 Magia Wichita, KS

LASC Fire Manhattan, KS

Tulsa Thunder 92 Greece Tulsa, OK

Futura Juventus Kansas City, MO

All American Arsenal 92 Topeka, KS

KC Legends World Class I Olathe, KS

Tournament Record:

1 - 0 - 2

Game Results:

Game 1: Predators Liverpool 1 WFC Celtic 0

This was great game for us to kick off the tournament. WFC Celtic were finalists in the Champions Cup Tournament and had easily won all their pool games in that tournament so we knew we were in for a real test.

Missing four regular starters we added guest players Nathan Lawson for Hays and Braden Ward from Ottawa.

We really showed how we can play in this match. Our defense was solid all day, midfielders moved the ball well and our forwards kept pressure on the Celtic creating several opportunities to score.

The most impressive aspects of this game was how we worked together as a team, supported each other and brought teammates into the game.

Our only score, which was the match winner, came from a penalty. Drake and Ty Goff lined up to take the kick. Drake did a great step-over which had a couple of defenders bite and Tyler made a great shot past the goalie.

This was a super team effort against top competition... a well deserved win and possibly our best team performance of the year.

Game 2: Kansas Wolves 1 Predators Liverpool 0

Just as we started to warm up for our game against Kansas Wolves a storm moved in and flooded the fields. Our game was finally called and rescheduled for 7am Sunday morning.

Getting up around 4:30 to drive to Topeka for an early game took its toll on some players. We were sluggish during warm-ups and some guys were not psyched and ready for action. Kansas Wolves, on the other hand, are a top Topeka team, and were fresh and well rested.

To make up lost time games were limited to 20 minute halves.

We did not play well during the first half while we were attacking into a strong breeze. Most guys looked tired, were not moving to the ball, contesting 50/50s, or playing aggressively. Nathan Lawson and our defenders played tough and limited Wolves scoring opportunities.

In shortened games we knew that the game could be decided by one breakdown. Unfortunately a missed assignment at midfield left Wolves attackers open and pulled our defenders out of position for a few seconds resulting in the goal that ended up winning the match.

We played much better in the second half and had a few opportunities to tie and even win this game but Wolves defense held tough.

Despite a rather sluggish performance we held Topeka's top U16 team to one goal. Had we played like we did Saturday we certainly would have won.

We learned that even when we do not play at our best we can still push top teams in the region.

Game 3: Tulsa Thunder Greece 1 Predators Liverpool 0

Our final pool match up had us up against Tulsa Thunder Greece, the State Champions from Oklahoma.

This was a tough assignment after the early game against Kansas Wolves but the guys lifted their play and gave Tulsa a hell of a game.

Another split second breakdown on defense led to a goal. A valuable lesson learned when we did not set our wall fast enough for a Tulsa penalty outside the box or buy some time by moving way within 10 yards of the kicker so the ref would have to move us back. This allowed the Tulsa striker to take a hurried kick into the corner that we may have stopped if properly set.

We played much better in this game, had a few opportunities to score and get back into the game but hurried our shots.

Another respectable effort considering the team we were playing.

Tournament Stats

Goals:

Tyler Goff (1)

Keepers:

Player - Games - Goals Allowed - GAA - W-L-T - Shutouts

Derek Wilson - 3 - 2 - 0.67 - 1-2-0 - 1

Tournament MVPs (Players Vote):

Nathan Lawson

Derek Wilson

Tyler McGough

Ethan Baxter

Tournament Players:

* AJ Barbosa

* Luigi Basalo

* Ethan Baxter

* Drake Clemow

* Taylor Cook

* Tyler Goff

* Heath Lilek

* Huohuo Liu

* Daniel Muccino

* Tyler McGough

* Derek Wilson

* Jason Wood

* Tyler Zaborny

* Chandler Hansen

* Milan Naster

* Kyle Ptacek

Guest Players:

* Nathan Lawson (Hays KS)

* Braden Ward (Ottawa KS)