If I told you how this went down you wouldn’t believe me. 
 

But you know I’ll try, stay tuned either tomorrow or Monday morning for write up.

Good night! Go Birds!!!

BIRDS TAKE THE 9TH IN A CRAZY DRAMATIC GAME

What an absolutely beautiful early evening for a soccer game.  The sun was nice and shiny there was a little bit of a breeze but nothing to make this game any different than it should be.  Let's play!!!

Right from the get go I felt really good about the possession that Highlands was having in the opening minutes.  Unfortunately, things can turn on a dime how fast these girls play. Just under 4 minutes into the game the Pandas were able to knock a thru ball right up the middle, the Birds backline was holding down the fort right at midfield.  There was a Panda in an offside position just past one of our Center Backs.  Listen closely because this is where it can get very confusing.  One of the Birds Center backs attempts to stop the thru ball stabbing at the ball with their foot.  Unfortunately, the attempt wasn't a clean one and the ball sort of bounced/skidded off her foot but continued to go towards the Birds goal where the ball ends up at the Panda attackers foot for a sprint to the goal......To make matters more complicated the AR on the side had his flag up for an Offside call, but the Center Ref being only a few yards from the play noticed that the ball had touched the Birds defender which negates the Offside penalty.  The Center Ref quickly motions that we are playing on and off to the races the Pandas attacker runs towards the goal and pops the ball into the back of the net.  Pandas 1 Birds 0.

All craziness breaks loose, we got parents screaming about the Offside flag being held up, you have Norris trying to push Assistant Coach Andy away from midfield screaming at the ref regarding the non-call.  Surprisingly I felt like Norris handled this outcome the best out of everyone.  I feel like Norris a month ago probably would have been heading to his car but this new Norris stayed composed and was ready to pick up the team and move on.  THANK GOODNESS!!!

• This takes me to coaching moment #1:  I realize also that their was a lot of disgruntled people talking about the fact that the AR raised his flag for the offside penalty.  I would like to insert the football cliché statement always used, "YOU PLAY UNTIL YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE".  This is the same in soccer, DO NOT give up on a play just because you see the AR raise their flag.  It isn't until the Center Ref acknowledges and AGREES with that flag will he blow the whistle THEN and ONLY THEN should you stop playing soccer. 

The next thing during the game that was critical on the Birds personnel is that around 15 minutes into the game Reese Wilkens (Fr) who was playing up top I believe at the time, takes a hard foul from behind causing her to get escorted off the field and unfortunately never returns to the game.  Based on how Norris managed the Dixie game with his personnel the departure of Reese just made it a little more interesting with usable bodies that Norris typically uses in a tight game.  (I.e. I believe in the Dixie game he went 2 deep based on the KHSAA scoreboard stats).

The rest of the half was a pretty evenly matched game with a few chances here and there for both teams but I would say no one was lopsidedly dominant on the attacks and chances.  It truly was a fun, competitive half, with one unfortunate goal by the Pandas.  Both teams had to leave the field feeling very confident that this game could be theirs.

OK, here comes the 2nd half

It took around 10 minutes into the 2nd half for Ava Meyer to find Claire Cavacheeni (its Cavacini) but the announcer kept on pronouncing her last name Cavacheeni which got a chuckle from the parents everytime.  She dropped like a 30 yard bullet bomb that sailed over the keepers fingers to find the back of the net to TIE THE GAME UP!!!!  Birds 1 Panda 1

Again some nice possessions for both teams for the next 15 minutes then the Pandas had a really nice opportunity on a 1 v 1 against Nat that sailed just right, I think that was the one that ricocheted just off the outside of the right post, so close!!!

The Birds then marched the ball down the field and was able to get a corner kick rewarded for them.  Lindsey Stein I believe was the kicker who put it so nicely into the box. The Pandas defended it well and was able to knock it out of the box, BUT there waiting and anticipating a weak clear was Ava Meyer who kept her head down and stayed over the ball so she wouldn't pop it up 30 feet over the goal, instead she made a laser strike that flew past everyone that was still in the box and the ball found the inside right part of the net.  Birds 2 Pandas 1

I mean the Birds Nation was going NUTS!!!!!!  The players on the sidelines was floating on air, jumping up and down, cheering.  It was rocking on Dixie Hwy!!!

Unfortunately, like clockwork it felt like the Birds sort of let off the gas and played a little prevent defense, which I know all my football friends HATE, bad things happen when you play prevent in a game where 1 mistake could make this a game again!!

Well like clockwork just under 4 minutes to go the Birds got a goal kick to execute.  Like a lot of times than not GK Nat kicks a roller to her right side to her CB Graves.  Unfortunately, the kick wasn't to Graves feet it was more around 5 yards in front of her like a lead pass.  An NDA attacker looked like they were anticipating the Birds playing it short but when it was also a pass they could potentially beat the defender to they jumped on it hard and the NDA player beat Graves to the ball.  Once that occurred and Graves was just a hair late, that's when the wind was taken from our sails when Graves just clips the Panda attacker causing a PK to be rewarded.  NDA puts it in the net.  Birds 2 Pandas 2

• Coaching moment #2:  It must be something in the water in Fort Thomas because watching both the boys and girls soccer teams this past year we must be the BIGGEST users of that short pass as a Goal Kick philosophy.  I HATE IT!!!!  I have seen both programs have minor snafus with that technique that has ruined games this season.  I put this philosophy on the coaches shoulders not Nats or the defenders.  It is something they do a ton of.  If the coaches didn't approve this style of play we wouldn't do it.  BUT I DIGRESS.... LOL

No one was able to have any good chances for the last few minutes of regulation.  So we are going to OT.  Even though the Birds probably felt deflated by coming so close to winning this game in regulation they had to feel confident that they could do this in OT like they did on Wednesday.  Like they say, they have been here before.

Well I won't bore you with any commentary in the OT 5 minute periods because nothing really happened.  Both teams had possession evenly in my opinion no real threats that I remember.

The drums are warming up b/c we are going into the most gut wrenching part of how you end a soccer game.  after 90 minutes of a 2-2 score, the game will be decided by 5 girls having an opportunity to shoot at point blank range against the opponents goalkeeper.

The coin flip was made and the flow will be the NDA kicks first and then HHS kicker kicks 2nd each round.

Round 1:  Pandas Kick is good, Birds (L Smith) just gets under it and sails high

Result after Round 1:  NDA 1, BIRDS 0

Round 2:  Pandas kick goes to right side on ground Nat dives right and secures the ball for a save, Birds (C Cavacheeni) put it in the back of the net...

Results after Round 2:  NDA 1, BIRDS 1.....ALL EVENED UP!!!

Round 3:  Pandas kick is good, Birds (K Graves) put it in.

Results after Round 3:  NDA 2, BIRDS 2....STILL EVEN

Round 4:  Pandas kick goes left just inches past a nice dive by Nat who almost had it but it goes in, Birds (K Jamie) puts it in the back of the net

Results after Round 4:  NDA 3, BIRDS 3....STILL EVEN

Round 5:  Pandas kicker just gets under it to sail over the goal NO GOOD!  You can't write a better Hollywood script for the Birds here comes Senior Captain Anna Melson with the chance to kick the Birds right into the State Tournament.  She lines up the ball and blasts it into the right side of the net for a GAME WINNER!!!! 

Results after Round 5:  BIRDS 4, NDA 3

Bird Pile on the field happens these girls did the improbable by beating the NDA Pandas!!!!

WOW WOW WOW!!!!

In summary:  This game was awesome in my opinion a very hard fought battle between 2 VERY VERY skilled and talented teams that in my opinion RESPECT one another immensely.  I know I do!!!  At the end of the day between the 2 games the Birds and Pandas played each other I think the better team on each of those nights won.  I truly think the Regular season the Pandas did play better and deserved to win that match.  Whereas, I think this past Saturday the Birds I think were the better of the 2 teams on that given night.   

Also, it can't be said enough how HUGE Nat Hinegardner has played not only on Saturday but this whole season.  Here is a player who NEVER played goalie in her prior years of soccer.  Was selected and challenged to be the Birds Goalkeeper this year and is ONLY a FRESHMEN!!!!  Then on a Region Final game gets caught up in a play that could have just emotionally crushed the normal teenage girl to create a NDA PK opportunity that tied the game with under 4 minutes to go.  Then go out there with the composure that she had during the PK shootout and to save 1 and ALMOST get her fingers on another was absolutely AMAZING!!!!  James Weber with the Cincinnati.com had an absolutely amazing article about this game and the interaction Norris had with Nat after OT before the shootout is priceless to read.  Don't know if we can copy and paste that article or link but if someone can or is allowed that would be awesome.

Here is the 9th All Tournament team: