August 22 & 23rd, 2009

Walnut Creek, CA

Somebody call 911!

The Division 1 U13 ARYSL Folsom Fire are back, proving that the jump from Div.3 in the off-season was meant to be. Never falling short of a semi-finals appearance in four tournaments this season, the girls of Fire had yet to close the deal. Most recently the girls gave the competition the third degree at the Sacramento United Suntan Classic taking home the 2nd place medal but the girls were still hungry to taste the fire of old.

What would it take to burn that ring of fire into the heart of the competition? To find out the girls would have to Let It Rock.

The 19th ranked Fire girls packed up the matches and gasoline and headed to Walnut Creek for the 2009 WCSC Summerfest. They would begin their Nero-esque attack against the Mill Valley Rockers. Folsom established their presence with a quick punch to the gut in the first couple of minutes of play taking the lead 1-0. AR Folsom Fire continued to control the tempo for the majority of the half but Mill Valley was clearly not there to take a grilling from just anyone. With less than 10 minutes left in the half the Rockers ripped one into the back of the net reminding the Fire that it takes more than one cook to run the mice out of the kitchen. The second half would serve up more of the same. ARYSL Folsom relit the burners and scored less than 2 minutes into the half but Mill Valley immediately returned the favor. Not to be outshined the Fire came right back just minutes later to take the lead for good, flambéing the Rockers 3-2.

The 2nd game of day one would be against ACC Mavericks Fury. Folsom was feeling good; well-fed, well-rested and ready-to-rumble. The Mavericks through off the gloves early and after 20 minutes into the half the Fire were down 2-0. The 2nd half was more of the same. The ACC Mavericks goalie made save after save and so an ill-advised penalty in the Mavericks box would be the only light of day the Fire would see. With the successful penalty shot the girls saved the shutout ending the match 1-3. At the end of the day, despite the loss, ARYSL Folsom Fire were in 2nd position in their bracket but their hopes of a finals or even a consolation match on Sunday looked bleak.

Sunday morning had brought with it good news. Saturday’s late match between Walnut Creek Dynamos and Mill Valley Rockers ended in a 0-0 tie. Sunday morning’s meeting of ACC Mavericks and Mill Valley ended with the latter winning 2-0, putting the Fire completely in control of their own destiny to overthrow the then one-seed Walnut Creek SC Dynamos in the standings. However, with the level of competition being so intense in their bracket, Folsom had one of two options: win and on to the finals; lose and go home. There would be no consolation round for the Fire. Their next opponent would be their toughest competition in the tournament yet.

Injured and coming off a discouraging loss the night before, ARYSL Folsom Fire would have to regroup and dig deep into the embers to emblaze what was kindling beneath. To honor a fallen comrade the team resurrected an old standard of their own creation as their kickoff cheer: Let It Rock. It seems this was just what the doctor ordered. The Fire immediately took the lead branding the Walnut Creek SC Dynamos 1-0. The Dynamos held their ground for the remainder of the half but were unable to convert their efforts to points. The halftime break proved to be fruitful for Walnut Creek and the second half began with a bruise to the back of the net tying the score 1-1. Their spirits far from doused, AR Folsom Fire blazed a trail back down the pitch just a minute later and engulfed the Dynamo goalie in the back draft taking the lead for good, 2-1.

For the 2nd straight tournament the Fire were back in the finals facing a 2008 NorCal State Cup finals rematch between Folsom and the Diablo FC Shockwave. The last meeting ended in penalty kicks that resulted in a heart-breaking loss for the Fire. Could the girls avenge 2008 the season ending loss to the Shockwave? Both teams started where they left off last year. The action was fierce and the shots came hard and often. Good hard play and strong team defense continued to keep the game scoreless and after 70 minutes of play that’s how it would stand; 0-0. Neither side would yield, so once again these two powerhouses would go to golden goal overtime. 10 more minutes of play; still no score and so as if it were a reenactment of last year’s NorCal finals the Fire and the Shockwave would decide their fate with penalty kicks. The scoring edge ebbed and flowed. A block for a block and a goal for a goal; on and on. There were no more nails left to bite for this one. To thicken the air controversy struck when a Folsom penalty shot careened high off the top bar straight up to come straight down and eventually trickle into the back of the net long after the center ref had turned his back and the Diablo goalie had left the box. No signal from the ref ever came as he called up the next shooter. The base line referees met with the center ref but could not dissuade his ruling. Fire coaches were ablaze with disbelief as they demanded a definitive ruling from the ref. The call: no goal. A shot that would have declared a winner to this now 90+ minute affair went without recognition. It would not be until the 24th shot in P.K.s that the game would be decided. The shot was taken by Folsom and like the rockets' red glare it flared past the Shockwave keeper and the ARYSL Folsom Fire were declared tournament champions.

It was an amazing end to an unbelievable rematch and a glorious ending to a hard fought weekend.

Congratulations girls.