August 2006

PAGE 13

25 WSYSA Teams Compete in Far West Regional Championships

would likely win the bracket to face a second place

But the rewards are great. As Ashton added, Regionals

(continued from previous page)

team in the quarterfinals. Nevada came into this game

were "by far the best soccer experience I ever had."

with a great deal of confidence knowing that they were

This was in spite of the disappointment of being so

the Hawaii defense and put in the game winning

ranked as one of the top teams in the country. The

close to advancing to the elimination round.

goal! Both sides played extremely well but unfortu-

ECFC girls really came to play and the game was never

Sometimes the most growth and improvement of a

nately only one of the two teams could advance to the

in doubt. ECFC ­ 4 / Nevada ­ 0

team comes out of the disappointment and lessons

semifinals! Next game is Saturday against the very

The next game against Hawaii was a great game.

learned from not advancing as far as they knew they

tough Southern California defending Regional champi-

They challenged every ball with a fire and passion that

could. Defender Coral Anderson, sums up the lessons

ons!

surprised us all. ECFC ­ 1 / Hawaii ­ 0

the team has learned this way, "First, that the game is an

In the semifinals, our boys were pitted against a tal-

The quarterfinal game matched us up with the sec-

entire 70 minutes. As a parent pointed out to me, we

ented and well-coached 18-member Southern California

ond place team from the A bracket, Colorado. The

scored 5 goals and let none in during the first halves of

squad. Unfortunately, the Eastside Regional tournament

teams we had played prior came at us with everything

our three games at Regionals, but scored no goals and let

run ended with a tough loss to the two-time Regional

they had and Colorado was no exception. As was the

three in the second halves. This really exemplifies how

champs. Down to just 12 healthy players after Jordan

case in the prior games, we had far more shots on goal

you have to work through the entire game, and don't

got hurt midway through the first half, the Eastside

than our opponent, but this game finished regulation

assume the outcome. Second of all, a large portion of the

team put up a gallant fight but on this day, the sun and

0-0. As the two teams squared off in the overtime, the

game is mental. The hustle and how well players per-

the S. Cal Valley United Blast got the best of them. It

fire to win burned strong for both teams. Where ECFC

form largely depends on their mentality and how bad

was a great learning experience for the young team as

dominated regulation, both overtimes had much more

they want to win. Thirdly, I've learned that our team can

they now know what it'll take to be the best in the

attack, counter-attack play. Both teams created danger-

play with anyone. We can play with just as much inten-

nation. No doubt they will move forward from the loss

ous opportunities, but at the end of two overtime peri-

sity and pace as other teams at Regionals, and we

to become an even stronger team! Well done Eastside

ods, the score remained 0-0. As the two teams squared

deserved to be there. As our coach, Tom Bialek remind-

FC 91 Red; you've done Washington State, your coach-

off for a shootout, the sidelines for Colorado seemed to

ed us, last year at Blues Cup we were happy to walk out

es and your parents proud!

gain some confidence. They won three shootouts in

of the quarterfinals losing 0-2 to Southern California

their State Cup to qualify for Regionals. This shootout

Blues. Now when we play good teams, we expect to

GU-14 - EYSA Eastside FC 91 Red

had ECFC behind after the second shooter. The fifth

win. Regionals were a good measuring tool for our

By Steve Maris, Parent

shooter for Colorado walked up to the mark knowing

improvement, and show us how far we have come."

that all she had to do was make this shot and they

Our trip to the Far West Regional tournament has

would win. As fate would have it, our keeper made the

created life-long memories and life-long lessons that

save and ECFC went on to win.

transcend the game of soccer. It's amazing how a sim-

Friday provided the girls with a much needed day

ple game can contribute to the development of young

off. It seems odd that four games in four days would be

players into confident and compassionate adults who

so exhausting, but the emotional and physical toll was

know how to work hard together as a team to achieve

very real. The parents were exhausted! A day at the

a common goal.

movies and mental preparation for Arizona in the

semi's.

GU-13 - SYSA Emerald City FC F92 White

It was nice to be playing on Saturday. Washington

had its best showing ever with ten teams playing in the

By Jon Scott, Parent

semifinals and T-shirts were half price. Arizona is anoth-

er team that we knew would be tough. Very talented

t the Far West Regionals, every day seemed like it's

A

and most of all, they had experience and confidence

own tournament. Imagine playing in (and winning)

having been here before. This was last year's Region IV

six competitive tournaments in six consecutive weeks.

ur team's most memorable experience during our

O

finalist. After a day of rest, ECFC came out strong and

Right now feels like the end of that sixth tournament

trip to the Far West Regional Championships did

dominated Arizona in almost every way but the score.

and we've just been crowned the champion of the

Regulation ended 0-0. Unlike the game against

not even happen on the soccer field, but it says a lot

toughest region in the country. I know it's often over

Colorado, our girls were still strong and remained dom-

about why this team was so successful this past season.

used, but our girls left everything on the field. They

inant in overtime, scoring a goal in each of the overtime

One of our players, Laura Frankland, has a congenital

gave everything they had. Just one ounce less and they

periods. ECFC ­ 2 / Arizona ­ 0

spinal condition called scoliosis which will require sur-

might have come up short. As a result, ECFC finished

Ok, it's not that we didn't think our girls would

gery later this summer. She knew that she would be

with a 6-0 record (17 Goals For and 0 Goals Allowed)

make it to the finals, but it's another thing to actually

playing in her last soccer tournament for a very long

against the "Best of the West" and claimed the title of

get there. With an early game on Sunday, Saturday was

time because such major surgery will mean a long

Region IV Champions.

an early night for everyone.

recovery period.

The first game I was on my cell phone non-stop giv-

So there we were, watching our girls play in the

Coincidently, Laura's doctor is located in Boise.

ing updates. But each day brought fewer calls and more

biggest game there is at this age. You didn't need a

The team decided they wanted to accompany Laura on

new arrivals. Some drove and some flew. At the end of

scouting report to know that the Mustangs (Cal North)

her orientation visit to the hospital to lend moral sup-

the quarterfinal game, I was so choked up I could bare-

are one of the best. Both teams battled for 70 minutes

port and to understand more of what she would be fac-

ly get the words out "WE WON!!!" The dad on the

and the game remained scoreless. Again ECFC went to

ing. As one of her teammates, defender Jami Shimada

other end of the call wanted details and I just couldn't

overtime and again the game headed to a shootout. It

said, "Taking a tour of the hospital and learning what

compose myself enough to say more than "WE WON!

was so intense that parents from both sides couldn't

the operation will be like taught me that you really

WHAT A GAME! WE WON!" Two days later, he packed

take it and headed just out of sight until the outcome

can't take anything for granted. It was very disappoint-

up the family and headed for Boise. "We had to come

had been determined. Although I'm sure they were just

ing not making it past bracket play, especially when I

for this (the finals)" he said. He told me the next day "It

as nervous as we were, the girls seemed poised and

thought we deserved to get through, but I realized how

was worth the drive!" By the time they arrived on

confident. This shootout favored ECFC from the first

lucky I am to have a chance to play at Regionals."

Saturday, I think most of us had already reached that

kick and never made it to the fifth kicker. ECFC Won!

The girls on this team are all about putting their

surreal mental state of.... Oh My Gosh, we're in the

When the final cheer went out, I looked through

teammates, and their team, ahead of individual egos. As

finals. The last ones to arrive drove all-night and made

my own tears of joy to see one of those parents that

Jami goes on to say, "Other teams that we have played

it just minutes before kick-off of the finals.

couldn't watch coming over the hill with arms reaching

are quick to get on each other, but Regionals showed

I thought one of the dads said it best. "I'm not an

for the sun and tears in his eyes.

me how our team is truly special. After the game in

emotional guy, but that puts tears in my eyes and goose

Best of all, ECFC '92 played with determination,

which we gave up a 2 goal lead, there were tears, but I

bumps on my arms". The funny part is, he told us that

courage, and honor. Every team we played came up to

also heard my teammates telling each other, `I love you

on Thursday. You should have seen him Sunday after

us afterwards and commented on what a great game

guys' or `We have such a great team.' I believe this is

we won the finals.

that was, wished our team luck and gave our girls gifts.

the reason why we won state this year; our unity and

Our first couple of days in Boise included a few

We also presented each team with a gift. Diadora gave

friendship is what has been the key to our success on

light training sessions and mental preparation for the

us ECFC shirts to hand out to some of the teams and the

the road to Regionals."

week ahead. Tournament play began on Monday. Even

parents prepared a gift bag with a Washington theme

though our games were in the evening, the team went

Another key to a successful season was "Work,

that included a WSYSA pin, smoked salmon, Aplets and

to the fields after breakfast to cheer for the '93 ECFC

work and more work," according to outside midfielder

Cotlets, Almond Roca, Zipfizz, and a Starbucks drink

girls and to do some shopping for tournament gear.

Ashton Griffen. Much preparation went into winning

card. One night at dinner, we saw girls from the Nevada

Our first game against Wyoming did not prove to be

the state championships in March and after a very brief

team wearing their new ECFC shirts and they were

much of a test, but it was a nice warm up for the big

break, the team was back practicing hard in mid-April

thrilled to have them.

game on Tuesday. ECFC-10 / Wyoming-0

to prepare for the trip to Boise in June. Coach Tom

Tuesday's game against Nevada was to be the big

Bialek has taught them that to succeed at this high level

(continued on page 15)

game in bracket, knowing that the winner of that game

of play, sacrifices and total commitment is required.