SOCCER GAME...THEM 8 -US 0

Well, our Eagles didn't exactly "soar" this morning. They played a team that has not had a goal scored against them through the first 3 games...I figured out "why" pretty quickly.

I am actually starting to appreciate this odd game of soccer (even though I hate to admit it). Even though our Eagles got whipped 8-0, I am learning a thing or two. I can honestly say that this was the best soccer game I have ever watched in all of my two weeks of watching soccer.

I can also say that I was "frustrated" for the first time with this soccer stuff. In a 48-minute game of soccer, our Eagles controlled the ball for about 40 of those minutes. Our boys did great. Most of the game was spent in our opponents half of the field. Our boys were obviously much more talented than the team that they played against (except for 3 boys on the opposing team).

The defense (and the coach) of this other team knew what they were doing. They had an alignment of players on defense that I haven't seen before. It was like a three and one in basketball. And no matter which way our boys tried to penetrate, it was just fruitless! The few times that we broke though that defense, their goalkeeper played like a "pro." I'll tell y'all, that boy is good...he's going to college on a soccer scholarship...I guarantee!"

Then, they had two big boys...I mean big! My son Paul is the tallest on his team. But these boys were at least 6 inches taller than him (I have my doubts that they are 9 to 11 years old)...and fast, and obviously have played some soccer before. All it took was just one little blip by our defense, and those boys were off running like scalded dogs.

Our poor goalkeeper was defenseless. Truthfully, I'm surprised it only ended up 8-0.

There were some good things about the game for our Eagles. Our opposition hadn't been scored on yet this season, but two of our boys hit the goal post with shots...a foot to the left would have ruined that for those other boys.

Paul did okay. He is still kind of afraid to rush in there and mix it up for the ball (but he didn't cost us any of the goals). And, it was a gorgeous Saturday morning in Northwest Louisiana...about 65 degrees at game-time...clear blue sky...light wind from the Southwest...

I'm starting to appreciate this odd kind of football. It's kind of like baseball...alot more fun to play than to watch I think.

But not at all like golf...definitely alot more fun to watch than to play.