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STARLINGS FIGHT HARD BUT FALL TO FUTURA IN SEASON ENDER

Box Score

May. 16, 2012

Sunday, May 13 - The Freebird Starlings wrapped up a difficult season last Sunday with a 10-0 road loss to the undefeated Futura Scream Blue.  Though they scrapped and played hard until the final whistle, the Starlings were unable to match the speed of the Futura squad.  It's obviously been a long and hard season for the young Starlings, but the experience gained against the top A1 teams in the Northland will benefit them as they move forward into the future.

The Starlings made several good runs offensively against Futura; however, they just weren't able to get themselves any good shots on goal.  That in turn led to increased pressure on the Starlings defense, and ultimately, they just couldn't hold off the relentless pressure of Futura. 

Madison made several great saves in goal, as she has all season long.  Having never played goalie before, Madison did an excellent job stepping in this season and embracing the position change.

Mia A, a newcomer to the Starlings, displayed all-out effort every game this season, along with some improved skills and a stronger shot.  Another newcomer, Natalie J, did an awesome job defensively in her first season of competitive ball.  Coach Mike was thrilled to see her improve her kicking ability, allowing her to show off a strong leg with big shots upfield.

Haley and Avery continued their growth, with Haley showing excellent versatility (playing every position on the field), and Avery flashing her clever ball skills.

Though it was a bit of a herky-jerky season for them, Brianna and Kintzli continued to improve their play on the field.  Each of them showed improvement in both ball skill and confidence as the season rolled along.

Leah and Hannah S displayed great fight whenever they saw the field.  Leah, with her surprisingly strong leg, has shown steady improvement, while Hannah S (despite missing the first few games with an injury) displayed good work both on the field and in the goal.

Coach Mike knew it would be a very difficult season for the Starlings, having lost several players from last season's B1 division winner.  But playing with only 9 - and sometimes fewer - players all season long, against A1 competition, will no doubt help the Starlings as they move back into the B1 division next season.  They took their licks, but Coach Mike was proud that they kept fighting and scrapping till the end, never losing their confidence.  This bodes well for the future of this team...