Adair Barraza, Allan Barraza, Jake Evans, Jacob Hoffman, Sebastian Dickens, Randall Raush, Gabriel Meyer, Sean McDarby, Guillermo Dominguez and Anthony Poliza provided for a magical season that ended Saturday based on simple mathematics–not scoring enough points.
Apparently, according to American Youth Soccer Organization rules, “If a team in the playoffs has not put up enough points, their season is over.”
Adair Barraza, Allan Barraza, Jake Evans, Jacob Hoffman, Sebastian Dickens, Randall Raush, Gabriel Meyer, Sean McDarby, Guillermo Dominguez and Anthony Poliza provided for a magical season that ended Saturday based on simple mathematics–not scoring enough points.
Apparently, according to American Youth Soccer Organization rules, “If a team in the playoffs has not put up enough points, their season is over.”
This came as a shock after The North Pole put on one of their best performances of the year against the Outlaws of La Mesa region. The entire squad played almost flawless. The North Pole players were discussing the size and the toughness they saw before kickoff, looking quite intimidated.
The North Pole quickly took charge of the game, scoring almost right away by forward Evans, with a beautiful assist by teammate Barraza. Defensively, there were some key saves from the “Goalmeister,” Meyer, who was solid throughout the playoffs, allowing only four goals in three playoff games. Also contributing were key defenders in the backfield, defensive leader Hoffman and his counterparts, Dickens and Barraza.
Defensively the team has been very stingy, and in their final game against the Outlaws this Saturday, allowed only one goal at the very end of regulation. Barraza and Evans kept the ball at midfield or in Outlaw territory almost the entire first half. Evans led the offensive strike with three goals on the day, and speedster, Barraza ended the contest with two goals and a pair of assists.
The North Pole concluded their magical season with only two losses on the season, and a 2-1 record in the playoffs after their journey ended in the quarterfinals this Saturday. Players also recognized for their much improved play in the postseason, Poliza, who had his best defensive play of the year on Saturday, and Raush and Dominguez made some spectacular offensive kicks when needed.
This group of undersized 8-10 year-olds played with the utmost passion and heart, and should do well in their future sports endeavors. Congratulations North Pole on a spectacular season.
