2001 ODP International Tournament Finalists
Cal-North Team 1
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Friday, 5/25: Cal-North defeats NFC Tabagators, 1-0
As game time rolls around, refs are waiting, as are coaches, parents and the other team, but no CA players.
The bus finally rolls in 10 mins after game time. With little time to warm up, CA starts ragged and slow;
going with the wind and a slight downhill slant on a fast surface, the ball moves too fast for our
"bus-lagged" players. The surprisingly good Nevada team mounts some credible counterattacks.
The 2nd half is different - going into wind the ball is slowed, just enough for the road-weary
CA players to work their passing. CA now plays much more aggressively than Nevada
is prepared for, but the inadequate warmup shows in somewhat sloppy play and numerous fouls.
Lone goal comes on corner kick in 1st half - Chioma's kick into an angling wind is weak and rolls
short, but onrushing Dana redirects ball to Bunny, who chips over keeper to far upper corner.
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Saturday, 5/26: Cal-South II defeats Cal-North, 3-0
Looking like they still haven't recovered from long bus ride, North plays lackluster game. South
is a touch quicker and sharper and force several uncharacteristic errors. In 11th min defensive
miscommunication allows 15-yd ground shot to go in. Two more goals come when attackers beat North
defenders and then keepers in 1v1's. North has several chances. Whitney beats keeper but can't thread
shot into goal from sharp angle near end line, and 1 min later diving keeper deflects Whitney's
15-yd rifle shot. In 2nd half, keeper blocks Rose's point-blank shot and Wieger lobs far-post shot
that just goes over crossbar. Most inspiring play comes in 1st half when South attacker beats
charging keeper and sends easy 12-yd pass toward center of open goal, but Erica comes from behind
and clears ball only 1 yd from the goal!
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Saturday, 5/26: Cal-North defeats Flyers, 6-0
The Flyers from San Bernardino rely on the offside trap as their primary defensive weapon. CA spends
most of the first half adjusting to the trap. Those who live by the trap, die by the trap, and soon
CA starts getting regular breakaways and going 1v1 against the keeper. The keeper makes several
excellent saves to stop Wieger, Whitney, Natalie and Erica. CA finally gets on the board with a corner
kick, Whitney relays, Wieger finishes, 1-0. 1 min into 2nd half Natalie sends cross, Lizzy heads in, 2-0.
Flyer keeper leaves, injured, and floodgates open. Natalie thru-pass breaks Bunny wide open, sidesteps
new keeper, 3-0. Keeper deflects another shot, Kira follows up with 12-yd chip to far upper corner, 4-0.
Chioma outmuscles two defenders, finishes with shot under diving keeper, 5-0. On last play of the game,
Bunny intercepts bad defensive pass at midfield, drives upfield and evades keeper, 6-0.
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Sunday, 5/27: Cal-North defeats Cal-South I, 2-0
Chastened by the loss to South II, North comes out better prepared and mentally focused. Going with the
everpresent wind, North is more aggressive, beating South to the ball and earning the early shots. Midfield and
defense is keeping South from getting any quality opportunities. 7 mins in Chioma sends a cross from the far
right side all the way to Natalie on the left side, who sets up and rifles a 25-yd ground shot that gets by the
keeper to the far post, 1-0. In the 2nd half South comes out strong, getting several good opportunities early,
but superb North defense holds. 22 mins in, Wieger receives the ball at midfield, dips and drives through 2
defenders all the way into the box, passes square-right to opposite post, Whitney's shot goes thru keeper's
hands, 2-0. 3 mins later Val keeps the game out of South's reach when she stops a South penalty kick!
Psyched by Val's save, midfield and defense shuts down South for the rest of the game.
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Sunday, 5/27: Cal-North defeats SC Blues, 3-1
As windy as the weekend has been, it now gets windier. Playing balls in the air is next to impossible.
Dana's maneuvering thru midfield is highlight of first half and almost more than Blues can handle. Going
into the wind first, the Blues do a good job holding on and biding their time, waiting for the 2nd half, when
they figure the wind will help them. In 2nd half, though, CA makes wind adjustments better, working in close
and avoiding long shots into gale-force wind. 7 mins in, Whitney sends thru-pass to Kira, who fights off
defender, fights thru keeper and puts ball in the net, 1-0. 14 mins later, Bunny sends pass to Chioma at
midfield, who beats defender and charges all the way to the keeper, sidesteps, finishes, 2-0. Blues make it
2-1 on lucky 40-yd shot that catches the wind. Just before end, Bunny and Dana team up on 2v1, easily move
ball upfield, Dana easily fakes keeper and puts ball in for easy goal, 3-1.
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