Game #8:  Freedom Inferno vs. FREE Fire 95:   November 2       Final Score:  0 - 1

This game was so frustrating!  The calls definitely did not go our way this game.  At one point in the first half of the game, Chewey was running up the wing, a defender gave her a big shove, elbow in the air, Chewey did a tumble, and the ref didn't call it.  I don't know how he could have missed that, yet he saw the mystery hand ball in the box.  That call resulted in a penalty kick which cost us this game.  I think the refs let us down this time around.

But enough complaining.  The Inferno played great, despite the pushing and holding (check out some of the pictures!),  Our defense was in great form.  Olivia, Taylor, Millie, Phyllis, Jazz, and of course the dynamic duo of Maggie and Lauren kept our end clear.  Offensively, Brooke, Jenny, Chewey, Jackie, Nikki, Katie, Sydney and Zee worked together, passed, kicked and ran their butts off.

It's too bad this one had to come down to a questionable call, because the teams were evenly matched and it should have been a scoreless game.

Finally, a shout out to Emily Nava who showed up with an injured ankle to cheer on the team!  It was fun watching her hop around on one foot during warm-ups.  Great team spirit, Nava!

Game #7:  Freedom Inferno vs. BETH Legacy:   October 26        Final Score:  0 - 3

A sad day for the Inferno - our first loss.  It wasn't for lack of trying, but there didn't seem to be as much energy out on the field as usual.  Legacy beat us to the ball almost every time.

Unfortunately for us, Nava was injured during pre-game warm-ups and couldn't play.  Jackie played injured, and I have to say, she played really well!  We saw some great hustle from Olivia and from Katie, as well as some fantastic saves by Jazz (she keeps getting better and better!)  Lauren almost scored one for us on a penalty kick, but the goalie deflected the ball over the goal - it was a really nice save, but a bummer for us.  And, I saw Zee launch one from mid-field straight to a perfect scoring position, but unfortunately, no one got there in time.

Another good team effort, but unfortunately, we came up short this time.

Game #6:  Freedom Inferno vs. VYS Quest Black:   October 19        Final Score:  4 - 0

Another big win for the Inferno!  And what a great game it was.  Our defense is UNSTOPPABLE!  Millie and Olivia controlled the wings, and kept the ball on the offensive side of the field.  Taylor fed the midfielders on numerous runs, so that Jazz finally got a little bit of a break this game!

Offensively, we saw goals by Kenney, who put a penalty kick right into the corner of the net!  We had a deja-vu moment when Jenny crossed it to Chewey, who chest-trapped it into the goal, just like they did it back in September!  Then Jenny sent one to Nikki for a third!  Half-time score was 3 - 0.

In the second half we saw a lot of great passing by Sydney, as well as more great defense.  Our only goal was a breakaway by Jenny, straight to the goal!

Finally, I'd just like to mention that Jackie showed up at both games this weekend, despite the fact that she couldn't play due to a cracked collarbone.  She was all suited up, and supporting her team.  Way to show your team spirit, Jackie!

Game #5:  Freedom Inferno vs. ARL Arlington Blast:   October 5        Final Score:  5 - 2

This looked like Inferno's easiest win ever.  The girls played great, and scored two goals in the first few minutes of the game.  The first was pure Jenny, making it look easy, as usual.  The second goal, well, Jenny brought it down the wing, crossed it to center, it bounced off one of their defenders and went into the goal!  I don't know who gets credit for the goal, but Jenny had a very nice assist!  There was another goal which didn't count:  Jenny crossed the ball to Chewey, who scored, but the officials ruled that she was off-sides.  Jenny went on to score a third goal, followed by Nikki, who brought the ball up the middle and slammed it into the corner.  Finally, the Blast caught a break and scored, but it was 4 - 1 at the end of the first half.

In the second half the Blast scored another goal, but so did we - a beautiful breakaway and a shot into the corner by Sydney.

I should also mention great play, and lots of great footwork by Nava and Chewey, as well as Jackie, great defense, especially by Jazz who actually fell on the ball several times to stop it.  Finally, I'd like to point out that Phyllis played with a knee injury.  The only reason I know this (aside from the bandage) was that her dad told us when he dropped her off.  He wasn't sure if she'd be able to play.  She got in the game, and honestly, I couldn't tell she was injured (although I'm sure she could).  Great job, Phyllis!

Game #4 (Makeup):  Freedom Inferno vs. CSA Shock:   October 4         Final Score:  2 - 1

This was a makeup from last Sunday's rainout, but I wasn't able to be there, so this will be brief.  (Feel free to email me any details you'd like to see added here.)

This is what the parents told me about that game:  The Shock scored on us in the first half of the game, even though Inferno dominated the field.  Our team had almost 25 shots on goal, but couldn't seem to score until the last few minutes of the game when Katie found the net at last!  Once she landed one she must have remembered just how it was done, because she followed it with another goal, winning the game!

Game #1 (Makeup):  Freedom Inferno vs. SYA Arsenal Red:   September 27         Final Score:  2 - 0

It was an ugly day, but a great game for the Inferno.  I think I would have to give credit for this shutout to the Inferno's AWESOME defense, especially Maggie Griffin!  As I overheard one fan describe her, "She's a wall!  Nothing gets past her."  Great job, Maggie!

Our first goal came in the first half of the game.  We had the ball in front of the goal, with a cluster of defense and offense battling it out.  All of a sudden, the ball popped out,  Brooke moved in and launched it left-footed, right into the goal!

Second goal:  Jenny moved the ball down the left wing, defenders everywhere.  She crossed the ball, but Nikki didn't get there in time - I thought we'd missed our chance.  But no,  moving down the right wing was Chewey in the perfect place as the ball came across to her, and BAM!   She nailed it!

Final score:  Inferno - 2, Arsenal - zero

Game #3:  Freedom Inferno vs. ODFC Clash:   September 21         Final Score:  2 - 2

This was a hard-fought game.  We battled back and forth for a long time, until finally the break came.  Nikki got the ball on a good run toward the goal.  The goalie came out to meet her, Jenny called for the pass, Nikki crossed it to her and BAM - SCORE!

The Inferno held them at 1 - 0 until the half.

The second half of the game the Clash looked good.  They kept Jazz busy deflecting shots and finally scored on us.  Undaunted, our girls came back with a really cool play.  Nikki got the ball, passed it to Jenny who crossed it.   A defender headed it out, and Chewey scored a BEAUTIFUL chest trap goal!  I thought we'd have to carry her off the field!  It looked like we might have one for the victory column, but Clash put another goal in with only minutes left to play to tie it up.

Game #2:  Freedom Inferno vs. SYC Xplosion:   September 7         Final Score:  2 - 1

   Our Inferno came on strong in this game, scoring first with a beautiful cross by Jenny Litz to Sydney Hawes who nailed it!  We were ahead 1 - 0 at the half, but the Xplosion scored in the second half of the game, tying it up.  Our defense kept it together,  and held them off, but it was looking like a stalemate.  Finally, Jenny Litz brought the ball up the sidelines, their goalie came out, Jenny faked her out, got past her and scored!

And the fans went wild.

Game #1:  Freedom Inferno vs. SYA Arsenal:   September 2

   Game rained out.  Rescheduled for Saturday, September 27