Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
2006-2007 Season In Review
The Coquitlam Metro-Ford Barça '96 team's season was a roller coaster to say the least. An adventure that had some real peaks and valleys but was also a season that demonstrated determination, perseverance, hard work and grit that ended with an unbelievable high!
If one was to look at the league season results of the 5 District U12 Gold 2 division (GP9 2W 2T 5L) one would see a team that was mediocre but when you consider that Barça was playing one year up - select and playing much better than their record would indicate, one would see a excellent and dangerous team that, with a bit of luck, would really do some damage. During the Coastal 'A' Cup, damage and shock was exactly right!
Coastal 'A' Cup:
After making club and cup history, it would be only natural that any younger team would relax and let the 'dream' go - but not this group! Barça found themselves again facing another tough and difficult North Shore team in Mount Seymour Royals '95 who were also on a roll knocking off some top teams along the way. In front of a packed stand at Charles Best turf and playing after CMF Sparta '95 incredible overtime win, Barça came out with the bit between their teeth and didn't give an inch as they gave as good as they got. Determination, desire to win and perseverance was on total display as Barça took the older, much bigger Royals team to overtime. As Barça took the field for the overtime, they were determined to end it quickly and they did just that by totally out playing the Royals team and won 2-0 to incredibly move on to the semifinals and one win away from going to the Provincial Cup.
In the semi's, Barça met the eventual Coastal 'A' Cup Champions in Surrey Youth FC Pegasus '95 who were second to only Chilliwack Attack '95 in 5 district league and Conference Cup play. Pegasus met Barça on a good day as Barça came out flat and tired in the second half giving up 3 second half goals. They played their guts out but size and strength finally won out ending Barça's roller coaster season.
Pacific Coast Challenge International Tournament:
If one was to look at the league season results of the 5 District U12 Gold 2 division (GP9 2W 2T 5L) one would see a team that was mediocre but when you consider that Barça was playing one year up - select and playing much better than their record would indicate, one would see a excellent and dangerous team that, with a bit of luck, would really do some damage. During the Coastal 'A' Cup, damage and shock was exactly right!
Through their style, work rate and playing ability, Barça was asked to join the elite side of U12 Gold 1 at the beginning of the season (before it was tiered - Barça played 3 teams that ended up in the Gold 1 side and sported a 1W 1T 2L record in 4GP) because of all the coaches on that side that the Barça boys impressed early on. This included a 1-0 loss to U12 Gold 1 Champions and Conference Cup Champions Chilliwack Attack '95 - one of the best '95 teams in the province. They would continue to impress as the season went on.
CMF Barça '96 finished the 2006/07 season as:
- 3rd Pitt Meadows Invitational Tournament
- Sportstown Christmas Tournament Runners-Up
- Semi Finalist in the Coastal 'A' Cup.
For a year younger team, not bad... not bad at all!
League Results:Barça finished 8th in the league but played much better than their
record would indicate. There were many games, especially against the best teams in the division, where the other coaches from the other teams would admit that their teams were played off the park and still can't figure out how they ended up winning in the end. It became a common theme for most of the season.
The end of the season turned around with a couple of great games and an important win to start the roll towards the important Coastal 'A' Cup. It's not how you start the race but how you finish!
Conference Cup:
Barça had a very poor Conference Cup run in which they went 3 and out (0-3). This was one of the valleys that took place during the season. Results were as follows: 1-2 vs Coquitlam Metro-Ford Bayern '95, 0-4 vs. Surrey Pegasus All stars '95, 0-3 vs. Surrey United Roma '95.
Barça's first Coastal Cup experience was suppose to be a quick one as younger teams don't usually last more than the first game or so. Barça was drawn against Little Mountain Kennsington Vipers '95 from Vancouver in the first round. After watching the older, much vaunted, CMF Ajax '94 team lose their Coastal Cup match, the Barça boys were determined to not let it happen to them. From the start the boys played inspiring football and won the game 9-0!
Barça next game was against another Vancouver team in which they have never played in North Vancouver Lions Gate Burrards '95. Barça set the tone once again and ran out 4-1 winners and started making fans including club mates, other teams parents, referees and passersby's. The ball was rolling and Barca found themselves in the quarterfinals - the farthest any younger U12 team in Coastal Cup history.
There is no shame in losing to a team of Surrey's pedigree and Barca proved to everyone that this team is a team to reckon with in the near future. The bar is now raised much higher but with the kind of effort and work rate that was shown in training and games over the last 1/4 of the season, anything is possible for this team.
Pacific Coast Challenge International Tournament:
Barça went into the Pacific Coast Challenge International Tournament in Bellingham, Washington knowing that they were entering a tough Aug '94 age group with most of the players from the American teams being one and a half years older than our boys (in some cases, two years older!). The Barça boys played extremely well in a very tough group losing to tournament runner-ups Crossfire McCormack '94 2-1, 3-0 vs. Westsound FC '94, 1-0 vs. traditional powerhouse Washington Premier FC '94. Great results considering the age difference.
Sportstown Indoor Tournament:
Barça finished runners up at the indoor tournament over the Christmas break losing to the host academy team who collectively has a lower mainland all star team. This was the start of the awakening of the Barça run.
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