Last weekend Kevin's team played in the District 2 championship in San Jose.  This was an all weekend commitment for the whole family.  Kevin's team made their first three wins look easy as they coasted into the championship match Sunday afternoon.

They met a team from Campbell that didn't look particularly powerful, but this team played a good game.  They dominated control of the ball and spent the overwhelming majority of time playing on our side of the field (the wrong end).  The other team scored first.  Somehow we managed to tie it up in the first half with a deep shot that bounced over the head of the four foot something goalie. 

In the second half the Campbell team's dominance continued. Our goalie (certainly one of our stars) was able to block four or five shots on goal including a break away one on one.

With less than a minute to play in the game, Kevin's team was down by a goal (2 to 1).  The coaches on the far side of the field were getting increasingly animated.  "It's now or never!" was one of the cries from the sideline.

Kevin's team made its last effort to push toward their opponent's goal. In their final attack and final shot on goal one of the Campbell player's hand seemed to come in contact with the ball. Whistle blew. He was in the box. Penalty kick. We scored. They kicked off. Two seconds ticked by and the whistle blew. Tie game.

Soccer, being the miserable sport that it is, proceeds to decide the contest on penalty kicks. If this were a boxing match Campbell would have been declared the winner on all cards, but this is soccer.  Kevin's coach selects five players to represent his team. Some ask to not be included because they couldn't handle the pressure.

On our first four attempts we score two goals and their goalie blocked two.  On their first four attempts they score two goals and their goalie blocks two. Still a tie. Our final shot goes in and now the pressure is firmly placed on one young kid from Campbell. The left footer kicked a curved ball headed for the goal. Our goalie stretches to get a hand on the ball which only seems to slow it down. Time starts to move in slow motion as the ball is still heading for the goal. Our goalie takes another swipe at the ball and knocks it wide.  No goal.  Kevin's team wins the District Championship.

We collect our trophies, douse the coach with water to celebrate and high tail it out of there to the grumbles of the other team.  It was a tough loss for them.  Kevin fully acknowledges that his team was outplayed and that we really didn't deserve to win the final game.

Kevin's coaches, who love soccer, declared this a 'fairy tale victory."  The parent who hates soccer (me), declares the sport flawed.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.