
Our Masters team took the Gold at the University of Arizona Men's Open Tournament. The guys won all their games: Bracket play: University of Arizona "B" team beat this team by at least 10 goals, half of our goals came from counter attacks, the others coming from set offense and 6 on 5. Our 2nd game on Sat was against Arizona State University, this win was from Good defense and a balanced offensive effort. Our last game in the Bracket was on Sunday AM against KAOS (this is the team that tied us at our tournament and we won the shootout to advance to the Gold Medal Game)... again this winner of this game would go onto the Gold Medal game and the loser to the Bronze Game. We won the game: but it should have been by more goals, we made some passes others were not expect. This was a good thing: Instead of our team taking a shot because we could shot the ball, this time we looked like shooters and then passed off to the next open player (who wasn't really ready for the ball, think the person with the ball would shoot the ball). Great win for the team!!!
Before going onto the the Gold Medal game I want to point out a great lesson we learned from KAOS - we played great two meter defense and their sets could not get set so they began to kick off, push off, grab too high and the ref's turned the ball over.... KAOS thought the refs were making bad calls... KAOS never thought about how to correct the turnovers... maybe the should have posted up, maybe they should have moved the ball quickly to the deep wings and then into set, but instead they just kept blaming the ref's and they lost the game from not making the adjustments.
Gold Medal Game: We played the home team: University of Arizona "A", they guys are all young, quick, fast and in shape. In the 1st 3 quarters we pretty much stopped their counter attack and had a few of our own counter attacks. In the 2nd quarter the University of Arizona score table did not put up one of our goals. Going into the 4th quarter the score was 10-5 (TVH) at the end of the game the score was 10-9. We played the fourth quarter so we would not lose, when we should have play the 4th to win. But again another great lesson.
Having 2 goalies and 6 subbing set with speed was awesome to have. Before the tournament I sent everyone team and players goals - as a team we did a good job on our goals. Players also stepped up and did their job out there. Here are just a few of the great jobs the guys did in Arizona.
Rob: Last game Rob really stepped up and made some great blocks. As always such a great help to the players -I remember Rob telling Ryan to shoot the ball, the goalies are not respecting you... the next quarter Ryan scores an outside shot... this is just one example of what Rob does for the team.
Marcus: Wow great job, blocking and passes out!!! One time Marcus made 3 blocks on shots from inside of 4 meters, he would block the ball and the ball would rebound out so KAOS took another shot, block again, rebound and Marcus blocks it again!!!
Jake: was up on counters, had some nice drives, got open and made some great quick shot!!! He played Big, and once with two hands - lol. Great job Jake, wait till you get to Air Force you will fit right in!!
Magee: Every time from offensive and defensive Magee counters and did not go under the water and them pop back and and swim 50% down the pool!!!! Magee had a few of his famous backhands. Your best tournament without a doubt!!
Ryan: When Ryan played with the big guys he played them strong did not try to hide but stepped up at both ends of the pool. Had some great shots and made some great assists. Beginning to use his speed!! Good Tournament Ryan!!!
Jacint: The best he has played in a tournament, did not hide out there but was a big part of the game. Jacint did not play the games so he would not fail but this time Jacint played to succeed.
Mike: When Mike got in her tore up the pool, with his counters, he had great wet shots and played a great defensive game. We are all now thinking "Peter who"
Dandy: Wow played awesome! Dandy does something in the water to get the other players mad at him - he had at least 2 double ejections and got one guy on KAOS got so mad they gamed him and we got a 5 meter. (Tony said this guy was one of the ref's who did our last 12 under game in San Diego - remember the ref that call every little tick tac on us and no foul for the other team) So big Thanks Dandy. Dandy played every position both end of the pool and Dandy is fast/quick and a smart player.
Edwin: Edwin had on of his best tournaments, he was all over the place, countering, driving, set picks, fronting two meters, pressing on the wings, making assists.. great tournament. Edwin plays best when he does not get too hyper before the game!!
Thor: What a great job Thor did at set, he held his own, score in about every game from set. One time when Thor was out I explained that he needed to dip the left shoulder and turn for inside water... the next time in he did exactly that and once he scored and once he drew the kickout!!! Thor has some nice outside shoots (not counting the one that was just a few inches off - more like 8 feet off lol). Good job Thor.
Robert: Had some nice counter attacks and even more helping back on counters. Robert learned how to and how not to take 5 meters. All in all Robert had a very good tournament - a real team player. Robert also took on in the neck for the team.. in the KAOS game.
Joe: We missed Joe in the final game (he had to ref that game because the other ref had to get a flight home) we missed his calmness, Joe settles the team down, help the team work the ball instead of just taking any shot. Joe was great at fronting two meters!!! We found another role for Joe!!
Tony: As always played a great all around game - what ever the team needed Tony did it.... released at the proper time, made great assists, played great two meters defense from behind.... our 1st goal in the gold medal game Tony drew the kick out at set - passed the ball, the ball got tipped by the defense back to Tony and Tony score the goal... pretty funny - draws the kick out, makes his own assist and scores the goal!!
Louie: I am sure you have all noticed all the weight Louie has lost over 50 pounds and he does not get winded as quickly. Louie worked his butt getting up and down the pool, make a great goal on 6/5 (a 6 to 3 goal). Louie was even setting and made the defense drop on him and we scored from the outside... as Louie put is he was a pretty good decoy at set. Oh yeah and Louie thanks for helping the club raise money by selling the See's Candy.
What I enjoyed the most is watching all you guys having fun in and out of the water. Also watching each of you improve your game which in returns helps the team!! I had a great weekend - Thanks Guys!!!
2 comments:
Good job guys!!!
Great trip/tourney all around. I had a fun time with all - countless card games (Jacint's "peripheral vision"), dinner at Thor's home, watching a not-so-great movie, and of course, some awesome polo games together. Can't wait until the next one. Thanks Sandy for being our coach!
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