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| Bobcat results are now available from the photos tab only. we welcome a talented writer to capture the essence of the game and put pen to paper for all to enjoy. Any takers? |
October 21, 2006 |
october 7, 2006 Before taking the field against Cal Rush Nike, the Bobcats knew they would have a challenging match. Wounds from the previous week were not healed. The roster was two light and of those remaining, many sported braces or limps. As the game unfolded it was clear the Rush had both a formidable offense and defense. Their defensive center was near impenetrable and their offense relentlessly probed the Cats' defense in the hope of exploiting any weakness. Even under the best of circumstances, no team can continually withstand pressure without cracks developing. Cracks were found but Kaci stood tall in the goal, robbing the Rush of their scoring opportunities. So ended the first half at a 0-0 stalemate. As the second half opened, both teams armed with their halftime adjustments again collided. The Rush quickly exploited a crack in the Bobcat defense and went 1 up. The Cats regrouped and found their offense in the familiar numbers worn by Veronica, Julie and Yolanda. Serena and Allie worked the wings hard with continual challenges to the Rush defense. Our new Bobcat, Kody, kicked in her afterburner to spread fear in the Rush defense. However, the offence just could not find the back of the net against the Rush. As the time remaining eroded away, the Rush again found the Cats' net. The record book shows a 0-2 loss but does not reflect the outstanding play by the Bobcats. In true Bobcat spirit, heads did not hang low. The Cats simply found something different to celebrate. Happy B-day to Julie and Cierra!!
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November 12, 2005 Placer Rolls The Placer United Gold came to town last Staurday riding high in first place. This undefeated team plays a tough game of soccer and a month ago in Sacramento literally ran over the Bobcats for a 1-0 victory. But this was a different game on the 'Cats home turf. And on a beautiful autumn day the Bobcat contingent was treated to a fabulous game of soccer!! The ' Cats came out swinging and took the pace to Placer. Ten minutes in, Crystal sent Yolanda free down the center, but Yo's blistering shot sailed just high of the bar! Placer's keeper played very tough and eventually the Gold broke free down the middle of the 'Cats defense and netted a nifty far poster. Five minutes before halftime they tallied again as the 'Cats failed to clear a corner kick. In the second half, the 'Cats dug in! Veronica and Crystal combined to find Yo at the top right of the box and she "fished" the keeper to make it 2-1. The rest of the game was a slug-fest with good chances at both ends! But again, it was Placer's day. Certainly nothing
to hang our heads about as we approach State Cup. This was truly one
of the most exciting games I've seen in a long time! It's great to
be a Bobcat!!! |
October 28 - 29, 2005 Lodi Tournament - Tournament Champions Never Shake a Bobcat Last year the Bobcats were sent home early from the Lodi Fall Classic after failing to qualify for the playoffs by a single point goal differential. The result stung pretty good, as the 'Cats had actually played well and had only lost one game (2-1 to eventual tournament champs Mt. Diablo Velocity)! This year the 'Cats learned ahead of time that we would face the Velocity again as our opening match. Coach Rick and I have become good friends with their coaches, so we e-mailed them to say "it looks like we'll be playing the final on opening day"!! Made us look like prophets, as the two teams battled mightily to a 0-0 draw. A most exciting, competitive, and entertaining game! Thank you Velocity!! But now the 'Cats would have to buckle down if they hoped to advance to the playoffs. And then the claws came out! The girls hammered the El Dorado Eclipse 6-1 on a hat trick by Julie, 2 goals from Yolanda, and one from Kiley. Corinne provided two assists and Yo, Audry, and Serena notched one apiece. On Sunday the 'Cats hooked into the Hayward CyberRays and bested them 4-1. This time Yo achieved the hat trick single handedly while Julie scored the fourth on a nice assist from Veronica. Now, mercifully, the single goal differential worked in the 'Cats favor. By this narrowist of margins the girls were awarded the championship game against the Bay Oaks Bombers. Claws and teeth out for this one. Serena and Julie combined for the first goal to give the 'Cats a 1-0 halftime lead. In the second, Julie gave a sweet ball to Serena who scorched the net for 2-0 and Julia got her first Bobcat goal as she redirected a cross from Yo. Gold medal to the ' Cats for a stunning 3-0 victory! Congratulations girls!! It's great to be a Bobcat!!! P.S. Our friendship with the Velocity continues to grow and we congratulate them for their 4-1 victory over the North Valley Dragons in the consolation match! Our hope is to host the Velocity girls and their families in Chico this spring for a "friendly" and a Bobcat home-cookin' BBQ! More on this as plans develop! |
October 22 - 23, 2005 Bobcats @ Elk Grove 1 - Elk Grove Photos San Juan 2 @ Bobcats - San Juan 2 Photos 48 Hours Night and Day. Hot and Cold. North and South. Yin and Yang. Yes, I'm trying to come up with ways to describe my brief stint as head coach! And to juxtapose these two games which were such unequivocal diametric contradictions!! The first game in question came against Elk Grove United on their home pitch. The Bobcats looked pretty sharp from the opening kick-off, manuevered well through United's defense, and then took several shots that gave the impression that the ball was actually a fluffy pillow! Oh well, regroup, play outstanding defense, work the ball forward and hit some shots that present the illusion that the soccer ball is actually a bowling ball!!! OK....take a 0-0 score to halftime, encourage the 'Cats to create more chances from the wings, smile as the first shot of the half appears to be someone kicking a jelly doughnut, and then frown as United's center midfielder runs through and hits a perfectly inflated soccer ball into the upper left corner to put us down 1-0! OK...now we're mad. Here's what the next 5 shots are gonna look like! Water balloon, wad of dirty socks, crumpled sheet of paper, warped rubber kick-ball, and bag of grapes! Final score Elk Grove 1 Bobcats 0. I believe it was Einstein who said, "for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction". Thanks Al. Sunday's game was played in the friendly confines of Chico High against the San Juan Red. May I please present my friend Mr. Yang. Kiley put the 'Cats on the board first by defying her coach and scoring with her left! foot, after controlling a beautiful cross from Julie with her right. Not to be out done, Cierra scored her first goal of the season by lofting a rainbow over the keeper's head from about 35 yards out. Serena added to the spectrum with an arc of her own from 25 and Veronica sealed the deal by redirecting another cross from Julie! Final score Bobcats 4 San Juan 0. Just another 48 hours under the watchful eyes of the Soccer Gods! I'll be glad when Coach Rick gets home!! It's great to be a Bobcat!!! |
October 15, 2005 Bobcats @ Capital Valley - Capital Valley Photos Bobcats Hit the Mother Lode The Bobcats traveled to the gold country last weekend for their first ever visit to the home field of the 49er Extreme. This is a revamped version of the 49er Golden Stars which bumped the 'Cats out of the quarter-finals of the State Cup earlier this year. This game the 'Cats made themselves right at home! Yolanda opened the scoring by taking a nice pass from Serena and drilling the ball past the low left post. The 'Cats then took momentum into the second half and shocked the 49ers with three more goals. Julie made no mistake with Serena's second assist and Yo continued her scoring streak by putting away a nice cross from Julie. Annie finished off the Extreme by one-timing a cross from Julie into the upper left hand corner!! In the afternoon, the 'Cats moved south past Sutter's Mill to face off against the Capital Valley Crossfire. The Crossfire play a fast paced style of soccer and gave the 'Cats fits on the outsides. The first ten minutes of the game was a flurry of Crossfire runs down the wings which resulted in several narrowly missed opportunities. But with 15 minutes gone in the first half Yolanda "took one for the team"! Veronica found Yo at the top of the box with a long range pass from midfield. Yo received the ball with her back to the goal and lifted a "sombrero" instinctfully towards the net. At the same moment the Crossfire keeper also greeted Yo with a knee to the kidney and Yo crumpled to the ground. She never saw the ball cross the line for a goal! As this was the end of Yo's day, the 'Cats rallied mightily to preserve a 1-0 victory and move the 'Cats into sole possession of second place! What a tough district!! What a great day to be a Bobcat!!! |
October 8, 2005 Bobcats (finally) derailed After a 3-0 victory
over the Elk Grove Orange with goals by Serena, Veronica, and
Yolanda, and assists by Yo and Kiley, the 'Cats traveled north
over the tracks to
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October
1, 2005 It was a little grey on Saturday.
Somewhere in between gloomy and dreary. The wind was coming from
the South. Somewhere in between gusty and drafty. And something
wasn't quite right in the Bobcat camp. Something in between over-confidence
and apprehension!
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September 24 & 25, 2005 David
vs. Goliath II Last
year David managed a couple of blows to the head of Goliath and earned
a Bronze Medal for the effort. This year Goliath went down for the
count!! |
September
17, 2005 - Double header Elk Grove 1 @ Bobcats - Elk
Grove Photos Good
to be Home After enduring
eleven tournament road games, a broken arm, heat exhaustion, patellofemoral
pain syndrome, and a bevy of bumps, bruises, knocks, and dings, the
Bobcats finally came home to |
September 10, 2005 - For
I'm a Jolly Good Fellow Occassionally,
people will indulge themselves on their own birthdays. Perhaps buy
themselves a little something or treat themselves to something special.
For example, I think I'll buy myself a Harley when I turn fifty! On
Saturday, September 10th, Yolanda treated herself to a little something
special on the soccer field!! On the positive
side, the "Cats did welcome Corrine and JoJo to new center positions by
controlling the midfield and the overall pace of the game. But
Then with 15 minutes gone in the second half,
Julie broke free on the right side and threaded a nifty pass to Audrey
just outside the box. The defense closed quickly and knocked Audrey
off the ball, awarding the "Cats a direct kick from twenty yards out!
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August 21, 2005 - A Goal Away From Greatness One lousy goal. Essentially the
difference between qualifying for the playoff round and going home. One
slippery ball skidding across the dew laden grass and squirting through
the hands of one of the best goalies in the league. One incredible display
of determination by the defensive lines to clamp down on one of the most
potent offenses in After
this wrenching early morning 1-0 loss, the die for our bracket had
pretty much been cast. The Bobcats battled the |
August
7, 2005 San Ramon,
circa 1968. Soccer is introduced to school boys in rural Equally awesome for me to bring our Butte United Bobcats to the place of my soccer birth. And the 'Cats would make me awfully proud! A 2-1 victory over host San Ramon Velocity in the morning and a 0-0 draw with Castro Valley Thunder in the afternoon put us in good position to move through our bracket on Sunday. And a 4-2 victory over our friends and rivals the Vacaville Thunderbirds moved us into the championship game Sunday afternoon!
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July
17, 2005 - California Cup For
those of you who like your Bobcat well-done, the California Cup in It's hot to be a Bobcat!!! |
