Hurricanes Soccer U12 CHAMPS!

March April and May, Saturday mornings are filled with Alyssa's soccer team.  Some of these girls she has played with since she was 5 years old.  Others are new friends.  The team has had a fantastic year, despite more than one coaching  change.  Fall season,  Coach Christy Mickle led the Huricanes to first place standing.  She stepped down for the spring season when she learned she was expecting.  After a bit of panic, thinking we had a Dad to coach, finding out they moved to Florida over the December break, the Wiggins family thought of a dear friend from church, Brittany Grider.  She took over and led the Hurricanes to the U12 Championship!  Ending the season with 5 win, 1 loss and 1 tie.

Alyssa herself has had an awesome year.  She has grown into a great defender and not much gets past her.  This accomplishment has come after many years of soccer games, enduring heat and cold, winter academy for two years, playing in ice and snow and arctic feeling conditions.  Her foot skills sometimes mimic dance as she takes the ball away from opponents.  She can clear a ball most the way down the field, but most impressive is how she can judge kicking the ball just far enough to make it land right where an offensive player can take it on down the field.

Picture above, preparing to kick the ball down field on a goal kick.

                                                                                                          Above, in deep thought, surveying the field.  Judging where the ball might go, so she doesn't have to run so far!

Game One of the playoffs.  Hurricanes (#1) played Tempest (#4).  Hurricanes won 3-0.  It was hot, 77 degrees, already at 1030am.  We only had 9 of 14 players show up!  So only one substitute the whole game.

This picture above made me laugh.  I take about 300 pics some games just to get a "good" shot.  But this one made me stop flipping thru the pictures and laugh heartily.  Look at the expressions and arm movements of Tempest girls.  And even our own midfiedler, Madison is unsure if that ball is coming at her.  No worries though, it went right to Madison's foot.  Madison had an awesome game, scoring her first goal of the season!

See the red State Farm pop up shade?  The girls were ever so thankful to the Porters for remembering to bring this to the game!

Between the games, we went to Subway and had a light lunch and enjoyed their wonderfully cool air conditioning!  Alyssa had constant questions about how she did, when she did it, what did we like? what could she improve? ...somehow we ended up telling her if her team won and she played her best, we would get fro-yo on the way home and her favorite calzone for dinner.....

Game 2 of the playoffs  Hurricanes (#1) played Lightning (#2)  130 pm.  Its still hot, about 88 degrees. We still have only one substitute.  But all the girls appear refreshed and the game starts with a hearty cheer..."lets go Hurricanes BOOM BOOM".....

Amy and I kind of joke because in some games Alyssa really doesn't RUN.  She will try to out think the ball.  This game....she ran.  FULL....OUT..... RUN.  and more than once!

                                                                                                            Yes, we parents still make a tunnel for the girls to run through at the end of the games!

The team with their first place medals!  From the left, Lauren Porter, Ainsley Jensen, Kirby, Ellie Oates, Alyssa and Coach Brittany

Other end of the team...Coach Wally Wiggins (filled in for Coach Brittany for 2 games)Tiffani, Maggie Chavis, Jocelyn Wiggins, Madison, Lauren Porter.  Missing players were Hanna and Jenna Burns, Juliette, McClendon and Caroline.

Coach Brittany and Alyssa.  She calls Alyssa solid and dependable!