Game Three Play-by-Play by Ashley Killinder

For those of you who didn't make it out to Game #3, it was a bad one to miss. I’m telling you elbows were flying, words were spoken, and Krissi almost broke her face when a close range shot was directed towards head. Oh yes, the fury is coming out of Code Blue. We’re sick of losing and we’re going to let you know about it! So COME ON!

How to Sound like an Expert - Soccer Lingo
The keeper: also called the “keep” the “goalie”, or that huge guy standing in front of the goal. The keeper is unique in that they are the only player on the field that can use their hands, as long as they are inside their box.

The box, called the “penalty box” is the small area marked around the goal. Keepers can also use their feet, their head, or any other part of their body.

Also, you will all be happy to know that I schooled someone with a “Meg” in Game #3. (For those of you who don’t know what a “meg” is, please refer to last week’s blog.) And as a result, the man has brought shame unto his family name…Sucker!!!

Most Valuable Player: Krissi “the Krusher” Pavel
Pavel played an amazing game on Tuesday. She has been awarded MVP because she carried the team in both defense and offense. During the first half, Pavel got slammed in the face at close range. It was so hard, the ball knocked her straight off her feet. She was down, but not out. Minutes later she was asking Coach Tennessee when she could go back in. What a winner! Pavel also gets MVP for her composure on the field. In the 45th minute of the game, a feisty girl on the other team was all over Pavel’s back. Pavel maintained cool aloofness, shielded the ball, and then took that girl to school!


Soccer: Not Just a Physical Game
Unfortunately, composure is not one of my (Ashley's) strongest characteristics. On Tuesday night, I fell victim to the tight grips that soccer sometimes takes on individuals. (Keep in mind, people, that I was trained in college by the roughest coach in the Mid-East. Attitude on the field is ingrained into my blood.) During the 37th minute of the game, while humbly minding my own business, this wildebeest of a man comes barreling into me. So I say, “Chill out, man.” Being a wildebeest, this man comes back with some erroneous comments. As I was saying, I am the victim here…but I said a couple back. All the while, being encouraged by Chad in the crowd, “YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, ASH!!!”. Fear not! After the game we both apologized and shook hands. This just goes to show, people…soccer is physical, emotional, and out-of-control sometimes.

Injury Report
Code Blue has a growing number of players added to the Injured List. Myron, John, Sarah M., and Mindy were all unable to play in Tuesday’s game. Half-way into the game both Susan and Katie also jumped onto the injured list. Susan tried to convince us she could still play but her limp gave her away. Coach T promptly pulled her off the field. Hopefully we’ll all rest up and ice those injuries. Next week’s game will call for 100% from each player. Code Blue continues to improve in team work, leadership, and communication on the field. At this rate, I suspect a win in the near future.

How to Stay off the Injury List:
Coach T here. My injured players cause me concern. So, we sought out the expert advise of the fellow PT students on the increasing size of our injury list due to pulled muscles. Since they are in clinicals this summer and have studied muscle injuries this past month, they offered up this bit of expert opinion:

1) Warm up a few minutes BEFORE stretches (jog a few laps, do a few jumping jacks).
2) Eat protein after hard workout to repair muscles.

Get better so you can feel good out on the field!

Game Two Against Hurricanes by Ashley Killinder

Wicked Soccer Slang
For those of you who are tuning into the blog for educational purposes, here is some terminology to help you understand the game of soccer a little easier.

Sniper: when someone trips on the field with no one around them and nothing to trip over. Usually it looks like someone has been hit by a sniper from the rafters.

Nutmeg: Otherwise known as a “Meg”. Oh no folks, it is not a spice. It is, however, one of the most insulting things you can do to your opponent on the field. This happens when the opponent approaches a player, and the player kicks the ball through their legs. Trust me. I have fell victim to this trick on numerous occasions…and every time I feel like a total ass.

Game 2 MVP: Adam-Paul Langlinais
It may seem out of the ordinary to see this 6’3’’, 215 lb. golf-pro out on the soccer field, but Langlinais is no stranger to el futbol. Langlinais played soccer through grade school. Once high school started, Langlinais opted for a sport that allowed him to drink beer while playing. The best option was golf. Excelling in everything he does, Langlinais went on to become Louisiana’s State Champion in Golf. Langlinais comes to Code Blue with little experience in goal, but lots of experience with balls flying at his face. He has already proven himself to the team in Game 2. Coach Tennessee plans on playing Langlinais in goal for the remainder of the summer season.

Play by Play
Game 2 was an impressive display of teamwork by UK’s Code Blue. Our first game left us a little discouraged, a little sore (some more than others) and with several things to work on. A number of team members got together over lunch to discuss some strategies for game two. After some quick pre-game coaching, Code Blue went into game #2 passing excellently, getting back on defense, and making some hard sticks against the other team.

New to game #2 are three players we missed last week. “Boozen” Susan Parker, Adam-Paul Langlinais, and Mike Helm all contributed to another game well played. Parker joins the team with experience from her youth. She is a strong player both defensively and offensively. Parker will provide the team with strengths in scoring, passing, and out-drinking anyone on the team. Langlinais also joins the team with previous experience. Langlinais is also very versatile in his positions, but we expect that he will be a big asset to the team in goal. Helm is one of our newcomers on the team. However, we expect his endurance and dedication to pay off for Code Blue. Helm excels in basketball, tennis, and ping-pong. We expect nothing less for him than to master soccer as well.

As a rule of thumb, I really don’t count how many goals the other team scores. As for Code Blue, we scored three. Two goals went to Mr. Ryan Hill, a National City Financial Consultant working with John Killinder. Our third goal went to a newcomer to soccer, Sarah Rentz. After an aggressive 3 v 3 up the field, Sarah received a pass from the far left, just to shoot it right past the goalie’s hands. Well done, Sarah.

Don't Sarah, Tara and Mindy look sexy in soccer socks and shin guards?

Say what?

I'm gonna be all over you like butter on toast!

First Game Against Tony Roma's by Ashley Killinder

As expected, I was thoroughly impressed with the level of play of each person on the team. We seem to be a mish-mash of experience and non-experience, but you couldn't tell. Basically, we're all equally out of shape, so everyone is hurting together. And hey, that's how teams work! We suffer TOGETHER!

Myron, also known as the Bloody Bandit, did an amazing job in goal. Our weakness in the defensive end caused a lot of shots to be taken against our goal, but I think we were just trying to give Myron a little warm-up. At one point, his glasses went flying off in the other direction. Another time, the referree warned him that, "If you don't clean up that blood, you're going to have to leave the field." That is what I call dedication, people!!!

Also, during the second half, Mindy took a hard hit in the stomach when a guy kicked the ball directly towards her linea alba. (Unintentionally, of course.) In talking to Mindy after the game, she stated, "I didn't mind. I like playing rough"...and getting the ball kicked at my stomach from short range. Thankful, Mindy is ok and plans on being at Tuesdays game.

In other news, Code Blue has regretfully lost a player, but gained a coach. Jessica Larson, also known as Tennessee Jess, will be the new coach of the coed indoor team. She plans on calling practices with lots of suicides, sprints, and long-distance running. (That was a joke!) Jessica applied for the position as coach after she was diagnosed with a cankle. (For those of you not familiar with the term, a cankle is where your calf runs together with your ankle, making it one big blob of swollen tissue.) Well, that and I begged her to be our coach. Her assets include being encouraging, knowing all the players names, and performing as the beer winch at several poker parties. I think she'll do great!

Ash