On the Short End

Things have not been going so well on the soccer pitch lately. It's at that point in the season where the competition is at its peak, and only the best teams survive to play on in pursuit of a trophy.

First, my daughter's team, coached by her big brother, has lost a couple of games to very tough opponents, but still have a winning record with two more games to go in the playoffs. If they win one of those games they will have their first winning season ever. If they win both, they will be crowned as champions of their division.

In today's loss, they were down 0-2 at the half. I normally keep a distance from my son's halftime huddles but this time I stepped close enough to hear what he was telling them.

They were somewhat dispirited and also exhausted in what (for us) was the extreme heat of the day, which left me sunburned afterward.

What he told them was, "Go back out there, play hard, forget the score. To me, it's zero-zero. They are big and physical and they are hitting you guys. Hit them back."

In the second half, his players put on a great effort, dominating play and almost scoring numerous times, before giving up a back-breaking goal late in the game. Even then, they kept fighting back and one particular defender, the younger sister of the coach, played a particularly spirited and extremely physical half, at one point knocking a larger girl from the other team to the ground while stripping the ball away and preventing a shot on goal.

I think that was probably the best half of soccer she has ever played, albeit in a losing cause.

But that's how it is in team sports, and also, of course, in life. You can have a great day, do great things, and still end up on the losing side.

We'll see how what happened today affects what happens next Saturday and the one after. Somehow, I doubt this team will end up with a losing record, but who knows? Stay tuned.

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