It was supposed by the 10th, it’s the 15th, this is life.

Recap

Griz Biz

I’m certainly not interested in a trip to Moscow (either Russia or Idaho) but Delanely Lou Schorr handled the Big Sky match with such grace and success maybe she could handle the Kremlin too (2-0).

On their return to the South Campus Stadium, the Griz kept the same determined focus. With Ashlyn Dvorak saving a penalty, Abby Gearheart, Sydney Haustein and Maddie Ditta finding the net and a welcome return for defender Ally Henricksen to notch wins against Weber State (2-1) and Idaho State (1-0)

But the real test came on the road with a visit to reigning conference champions Northern Arizona, and Northern Colorado. The NAU game did not disappoint, with the other top team in the Big Sky hitting the net within 15 minutes to take the lead. But the Griz answered with a sterling individual run from Skyleigh Thompson and a tremendous connection between Ava Samuelson and Delaney Lou Schorr before big time goalkeeping from Ashlyn Dvorak sealed the win (2-1). While the trip to Colorado could have been anti-climactic with a winless team trapping overconfident favorites, the Griz didn’t blink against their fellow Ursine warriors beating Northern Colorado handily (3-0)

Up next: v. Sacramento State, v. Portland State

Punjab Zindabad

Our favorite team in North India (who for some reason is playing in Delhi…NOT Punjab) is still yet to get a point in the highest level of subcontinent soccer. The defense left too many gaps and got punished by Goa (1-0). On their return “home” the Warriors had a great individual moment when goalie Ravi Kumar saved a penalty, only to see Northeast United scramble the ball in. But Punjab did not wilt and Juan Mera’s assist in the second half found defender Melroy Assissi to get the goal, and get the Shers their first Superleague point (1-1).

Up Next: @ Jamshedpur, @ Chennayin FC

What’s in Store at Rosenborg?

The women were able to grind out a win against Asane thanks to a goal from Camila Linberg in only her 5th start since joining the team from Italian side FCF Como 2000 (1-0). That win put the Trolljenta at the top of the Eliteserien. But that lofty perch was almost immediately at risk when the women dropped points for the first time since June, as Stabaek had them on the back foot from the start en route to a 1-1 draw.

The Midsummer boost for the men is fully forgotten as they gave up 5 goals to two players against Sarpsborg. Oh, defensive lapses, why must you lapse! (L 5-2)

Next: The Menn face Valerenga; the Kvinner face Brann

Minnesota a la Mode…ah

Hasani Dotson opened the game against LAFC with a shock goal that followed a shock playoff victory for another Minnesota Sports team (the Twins). But that was the last bit of good news the Loons got en route to a 5-1 shellacking (with Miguel Tapias netting a rare own goal).

The Loons responded to this hardship with something I honestly wasn’t sure they’d ever do. They fired manager Adrian Heath. Frankly, I don’t root for people to lose jobs, but my sympathy really only extended to Heath here. I think the players, club, and fans will all be well served with someone else in charge, as evidenced by the 5-2 smackdown executed by Teemu Puuki against the other LA team in the first match without Heath.

Up Next: @ Sporting Kansas City (Season finale…unless there’s some miracle playoff game)

Grenoble’s Games

It’s four in a row for the women with a 3-0 win over As Lattes including another goal from Candice Charbonnier, and then the biggest result so far, as Melanie Chabrier and wily veteran Claudia Fabre hit the net to beat rivals Clermont Foot 2-0 and take sole possession of first place in Poule B. Rather than rest there, they went back out and hit Marignier for a mercy rule (10-0) to move on to the 4th round of the League Cup

Meanwhile, Jessy Benet continued his resurgence with a goal against Guigngamp, in a 2-2 draw that required a fortunate bounce off of a Guingamp defender to rescue a point for the men and keep them as the only unbeaten side in Ligue 2 (though they do have fewer points than teams who have been beaten)

Next: Valenciennes and Pau for les hommes; Olympique Valence for les femmes

Live from Legon!

Nicholas Mensah stepped up again to help ground the defense against Aduana Stars, and score a goal to help them to a 2-1 win, and the defense held up for a draw against new foes Nations FC, before a couple of red cards and a Frank Antwi showcase got the same result against Bechem United (1-1).

Next @ Nsoatreman, v. Dreams FC

Take a Sec with Emelec

We have another champion in the year 2023! While Las Electricas were not able to beat 9 de Octubre during the regular season, there was one more match for the championship, and that’s the one they won (2-1) with Alison Ocho and Cinthia Bone finding the net, and total jubiliation surrounding your 2023 Guayas Region Champions!

The men managed to score not once, not twice, but THREE WHOLE TIMES against Cumbaya! The outburst almost doubled their goals for the season and grabbed them a much needed win (3-0). It’s not quite as cool as a trophy over your rivals, but…it’s not shabby.

Next: high profile Ecuador sides LDU Quito and Universidad Catolica are next for men, (The ladies should be bound for a playoff to make the women’s Premier Liga, but no word on timing for that yet).

What’s the Word in ol’ Freiburg?

Freiburg hasn’t quite been as fluid or high flying as recent season starts, but a comfortable and effective win against Augsburg (2-0) can go a long way. Vincenzo Grifo and Phillip Lienhart led the way and Lienhart’s defensive unit was back in form again.

Or it was until they had to run the gauntlet of Europa League Champions West Ham (losing 2-1), and perennial spoilsports Bayern Munich (losing 3-0). The team wrapped up a hectic week with a friendly against FC Basel…but they’re hopping right back in the frying pan next week.

Meanwhile Die Frauen will feel disappointed in giving up a very late equalizer to Duisburg (2-2), but should feel great about capitalizing on a few errors by Werder Bremen to snag 3 points (2-1)…and then can return to ruing their performances after a 3-0 thumping against Bayer Leverkusen

Next: Men v. VfL Bochum, (Europa League v. Serbia’s Backa Topola) and v. Leverkusen; Women v. Nurnburg

County’s Bounty

Actually there wasn’t any because lousy weather cancelled their game against Dundee. But at least they get to play St. Mirren, Dundee and Motherwell in a one week span.

Next: (See above…ooof boy this is gonna be a doozy)

Gotta see this, Alebrijes!

The Oaxacans were pumped up before their game against Atletico Morelia which made the draw (0-0) a little disappointing. But it’s worth remembering that the draw was only possible thanks to a stellar kick save by Octavio Paz on a Morelia penalty. So…as ever, thanks Octavio!

Unfortunately Octavio wasn’t able to hold down the fort against Cancun the very next match, with five goals pouring in and the Oxacans getting cited for 7 yellow cards (0-5). So, the frustrating dance of a step forward and three back remains

Next v. Tepatitalan and then Halloween special v. Atlante

What’s the haps at Vozdovac?

The dragons have been maddeningly inconsistent this year, but the inconsistency pays off when they follow lackluster defeats with solid wins. That was the result when Bogdan Vastsuk got the goal to beat Novi Pazar (1-0). The dragons followed that up with a valuable point on the raod against regular challengers Cukaricki (1-1) with Borisav Burmaz doing the honors.

Next: v. Backa Topolo (softening them up for Freiburg, I hope), v Partizan Belgrade (hopefully beating more facists)

News & Notes

Alex the Blackhawk

One of the biggest downsides to this rush of a new work life I have is that I didn’t get to talk much about Alex’s new soccer season with his first club team: the St. Paul Blackhawks. It was our first experience playing with MANY much bigger kids, and well, 2017 born kids are not all the same. (Our end of November kid was a little dwarfed by early January kids, which made for some mis-matches, some frustrating moments and more than a few tears).

But hard as it was to see those moments, it was great to see Alex get back up and try again. To watch him celebrate and cheer when teammates played well, and it was very nice to hear coaches take a beat to comfort him when he needed it. (As long as he’s having fun, I’m good)

Players Of the Month (so far)

It’s all too common to get sucked up in the thrill of scoring goals and forget that stopping them is a huge part of the game too. So with much sympathy to Teemu Puuki’s hat trick plus, we’re going with Griz goalie (fake gasp) Ashlyn Dvorak and Legon’s defender Nicholas Mensah.

Standings

Minnesota may be our first team to wrap up for the year unless they get some miraculous news this next weekend, but the drama is still building on our own table. The Griz are close to running away with their second title in four years, and Rosenborg has moved up into second place as Punjab falters in the Super League….add to that, a couple wins by the Loons and continued good runs by Grenoble might make North India’s finest slip all the way from first to the mid-table.