Parker’s comments:
In most of these posts I have tried to tell the true story. Unfortunately, there is nothing to say about this game except, if Tavo would just freaking pass the ball we wouldn’t have lost 1-3. Yes, I am bitter. Maybe I’m overreacting but its true.
Well, the season is almost to an end. There is only two more games left. Eagle Pride Baby!!!
Ah- the beloved picture day. Smiles, soccer stances, and snap shots during a classic soccer Saturday. So how did the team do at its photo shoot? It was, “controlled chaos,” said Coach Donat. “The team waited for Benjamin who came to pictures late and nearly forfeited the game while the whole team was taking pictures. It was a close call,” says Coach Donat.
The first Saturday game of the season matched the game high of 5 goals. The Eagles to start the game had a command on offense. Conner, Seth and Raul all played tuff up front. Conner had three goals and made a huge impact to set the tone of the game. “I laugh every time Conner scores. Always without fail he’ll scream and do a Tiger woods type cheer. He is a great player and we need his intensity on this team,” said Donat.
Half was a uncomfortable 3-1 feeling.
The Golden Eagles coaching staff decided it was best to switch things up in the game to get some players experience with new positions. “I have a few players that position whine. It hard to say no but today I said yes,” said Donat.
The team played Bryian, Tavo, and Andrew as forwards. Tavo worked hard to every ball and the hard work paid off, barely getting a goal with three defenders on him. So did the great goal by Andrew- playing practically a perfect defensive and offensive game.
While some players played up some players played back. Raul subtititing in as goalie made the play of the day by saving a hard strike to the top right of the goal. The game ended 5-1 Eagles.
The Golden Eagles are 4-1 for the season and look to put another away this Saturday at Grandview.
Conner scored three goals – Andrew and Tavo also had their first goals.
The Eagles last Tuesday showed their defensive versatility by shutting out a team for the first time 3-0. The team played a all out fast paced game fighting for the lanes on offense. Defensively Benjamin, Tavo, and Andrew being aggressive by breaking up the plays.
The Eagles had two new additions to the team with Andreas and Gustavo who are a huge help to the team. Gustavo played goalie and Andreas played defender without any practice.
Coach Donat moved his team around giving players new positions. Trying Tavo and Andrew as forwards. During the game Tavo did whatever he wanted and disregarded any words by his three coaches, Donat, Baci, and Brandt.
The first goal of the game was by MVP candidate Raul with an unassisted athletic kick to the top right of the goal. “He is our Michael Jordan of our team. We count on him as a team and he performs every game for us because he works hard at practice,” says Coach Donat.
Conner also a likely candidate for MVP with the most goals on the team scored with a cross from Raul in the first half.
Among some of the changes in the game was moving Gustavo as goalie to forward who scored in the last few minutes of the game. “He impressed me. He was fast and smart with the ball. He is even the youngest player on the team at only seven years old.”
With some new players and team bonding this team is looking to be a force in the Provo Rec 4th grade boys soccer league. With only one loss at the start of the season the coaching staff has made huge improvements in developing not just great soccer players and to play as a team but they have helped great individuals to believe in themselves.
“That’s what coaching is. I don’t just coach soccer its about leaving a game or practice with the belief that anything you put your mind to you will accomplish and these boys are catching that idea. I love coaching with that in mind.”
Fresh cutt grass, orange slices and a hot summer sunset seemed to be the perfect summer relaxation vacation but not for the Golden Eagles. The Eagles were all buisness since they had to prove themselves after their first loss 2-1last week.
What could they prove? Coach Donat said, “We are winners if we just play as a team. Thats what I want for my boys. They can do it. They just need to show me.” And show him they did. To start the game the team made a obvious improvement from last game. Giving four shots on goal that nearly went in and passing around all the defenders.
Conner, seven years old made the first score for the team by dribbling in close and sending the ball in the top right of the net. Even the Golden Eagle Soccer team Nearly five minutes later Raul split the defense to assist Conner in yet another goal, which became the teams bread and butter play.
At half and three goals later the Eagles couldn’t be happier. Coach Donat was pleased but a bigger vision for the team. During half Coach D said, “Guys we’re doing great. Your passing to open guy and you’re doing what I’ve asked. What I want now is to get to 5 goals.” Tavo asked, “What happens when we get 5 goals?” “We get to play any position that you want but listen guys, the other team can’t score either,” said Coach Donat.
The teams spirits soared to reach Coach Donat’s challange. The team worked hard for every possession. The Forwards passed so well as they found the open person. Benjamin and Andrew played a great for mid-field. Rarely letting any players past mid field. Defence really didn’t play much. Which seems to be the missing fundamental for the team but as a team everyone wanted the fith goal.
The other team gave them some new obsticales to prevent from all the goals. Playing with four full backs to compensate for the Eagles fast forwards looked to be tough for the Eagles. Keeping in mind the Coaches challenge Raul scored with a long kick from the left corner of the goalie box to make it 4-0.
Finally, after two kick just wide of the goal Connor tapped one in for the team to reach 5 Goals!!!!!!! It was pure mayhem. The Eagles were so excited they didn’t know what to do. Tavo yelled to Coach, “Hey, we did it!!! We can choose our positions!!!”
From there on out the team played horrible, bee-hive soccer at best. It looked exactly like the first game. The other team also happened to score making it 5-1 but still being no contest. Some of the parents got upset. After the game Coach Donat said, “They chose their positions after getting to five because I said they could. It was funny to see my unorganized team trying to play. But it will be a learning lesson here on out for them to listen to me.” Noticing the parents disaproval Coach added, “Yes, the parents were a little peeved about the coaos. But we as a team need to learn how to play together and the only way is to do that is to let them see what happens when they don’t play as a team.”
The final score 5-1 left the Eagles on top making it the Eagles first win of the season in hopes to making it two next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Grandview.
Last Tuesday the Golden Eagles set foot on fresh cut grass to get their season underway. The Eagles came ready to play and were all smiles.
The coaching staff were all about the fun and didn’t want to be too serious. Coach Donat says he’s just wants to see what his team can do. He said, “We’re a lethargic team. We’re slow and there’s nothing we can do to immediately change that. Today we are going to just have fun and play hard.”
The game commenced late since the other team only had 7 players and no coach. Good thing the great Golden Eagles came prepared with three coaches. Also a big help to the team was Coach Brandt. Doing warm ups before the game the Eagles seemed a little anxious and excited for their fist game. Half of the players were more interested in the end of game snacks (I don’t blame them).
Beginning the game the Eagles played a fast break type of soccer. Raul led the Eagles with shots on goal with three pole hitting shots that didn’t connect with the back of the net. Late first half Raul skillfully dribbled past the line of defenders and his some of his own teammates then blasted a kick in the top right corner of the goal. Making giving the Eagles the first GOALASO of the season. GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!! Ending half 1-0 in the Eagles favor.
Mid second half the battle of the midfield was well fought by Andrew who met the team for the first time. Andrew gave the Eagles an advantage by running the field and listening to his father Jim who yelled the whole time, “Run Andrew!!!! RUN!!!!!!”
Benjamin who played a great game defensively kicked at least three different players down and forced one penalty.
Unfortunately with 10 minutes of regulation left the Eagles ran out of gas giving them their fist taste of disappointment. The Eagles lost this one 2-1. Coach Donat seemed to be positive giving all his team high fives. “Yeah, I am so proud of my team. They had a tough time with whining and position grubbing but those are things we can work on at practice. The most important thing is we had fun.” Donat says, “We should have beat those guys. It was partly my fault playing a over focused offensive game but we are getting somewhere.”
The Eagles play their next game Tuesday at Grandview at 6:00 p.m.
Tonight was the second practice for the Champion contenders Golden Eagles who looked good for the most part. Not all the players attended practice at Grandview Elementary said Coach Donat, “I finally have eight players that came to practice. Well, least thats better than not enough players. Eight is a full team ya know.” With four players not at practiced it seemed a little disappointing but that didn’t stop the coaches from having a good practice .
Coach Baci had warm up drills to make the evening fun and light hearted. During practice there were a few surprises. Coach Donat’s father who is the considered the God Father of soccer came to watch to and support the team. On occasion Coach Donat ran off the field to talk with his father while Coach Baci coached to receive some well needed guidance. Coach Baci appears to be admired by all the kids.
Raul Calvillo was a pleasant surprise to the team coming for the first time to practice today. He showed some great talent and skills. “Raul looked like the best player today. He seemed to have a good knowledge of the game,” said Coach Donat. The team continued to work on passing and spacing which is what the coaches seem to push throughout the evening.
During the later part of practice while running to the fence and back Zack who has asthma stopped running to yell to Coach Donat, “Coach!!! I have asthma!!!!!” Coach played Zack as goalie the rest of practice. Also Benjamin got hit in the face during the Gauntlet drill and started crying. “It was like five balls smashing into my face. They did it deliberately!!!” Benjamin pouted the rest of practice.
Overall it was an eventful day for the Golden Eagles. Practice ended with a scrimmage against the fun loving coaches and the traditional cheer by the team, GO GOLDEN EAGLES!!!! The Eagles take flight with their first game this Tuesday August 19th at Grandview Elementary at 6:00 pm.
Tuesday August 12th at Kawanis Park the newly named Golden Eagles held their first practice under the direction of Coach Donat and Coach Baci. Both Coach Donat and Coach Baci are new to coaching but proved to have fun while getting down to business.
Their practice started out with warming up and ball drills. The practice was centered mostly of the idea of passing to space. Though the little Eagles didn’t understand or have much interest in the idea they got well acquainted with each other and had a lot of fun. The coaches held competitions such as longest kick, fastest runner, and closest to the coach kick to see who their best players were.
Finishing the end of practice the team took a rest to figure out a team name. An closed eyed, no peeking vote changed the name of Farrer/Franklin/Timpanogos into the new name of the “Golden Eagles.” As the practice came to a close after shooting goals the Eagles gave a cheer Go GOLDEN EAGLES!!!
The teams first game is August 19th. Due to only having seven players come to the first practice there will be another practice held Thursday at Grandview Elementary. Coach Donat says, “We need to keep working on passing and the goals will come.” Coach Donat and Coach Baci believe the season to be successful if they learn to play as a team and learn to have fun.
