Trying to Catch Up

Both girls had games last Wednesday September 7th.  Madeline's was in Bettendorf, IA at 2:00 and Meredith's was in Fayette at 5:00.

I had a couple of parents texting me with Iowa Central's game up dates and I was passing them on via Twitter and texting to parents I knew couldn't attend.  I will just post the college write up of the game instead of boring you with a recount of the communications.  It did have a favorable outcome and Madeline scored one of the goals.  Read about it here.

We were able to go to Central Methodist's game and it also turned out successful although Meredith did not play. Here is the game account.

The Hurrier I Go the Behinder I Get

It was a whirlwind Labor Day weekend.  Madeline was in a tournament in Minnesota with 3 matches and Meredith had two matches at home in Fayette.  Madeline's first match was against DCTC the host of the tournament on Thursday night under the lights.  Here is the article about the game from the college web site.  DCTC vs ICCC

The team had Friday off and spent the day at the Mall of America which was about 10 minutes away from the hotel.

Debra and I left Chillicothe about 3:30 on Friday afternoon and arrived at the hotel about 9:40.  Madeline's game was at 8:30 am on Saturday against Illinois Central.  I thought it was well played and close.  Iowa Central lost 0-1 but the outcome was in doubt until the very last seconds.  I will update this entry with the official article when it is posted.   Both Games

They played Sunday morning at 10:30 against Bismark State College from South Dakota.  It was about 60 degrees, drizzling rain, and 15 mph gusty winds out of the north at game time.  It certainly was not what we had read in the forecast but shortly after the start the rain quit and the sun came out and it was fairly pleasant.    Bismark was hampered by a short roster and several injuries but played a tough game.  The score line was 2-0 in Iowa Central's favor by half.  The second half Coach McGowan used all players in many different positions so the machine did not look as well-oiled but our offense kept them on their back heels but could not put a goal into the net.  Our defense held tight and the game ended 2-0.  Again I will post the college article here when it is up.

Central Methodist also had a game on Saturday in Fayette.  I was able to watch on my laptop at the hotel via DakStats.  Here is the game article Missouri Baptist game and the Box Score .  Unfortunately Meredith did not get to play in this game.

Central Methodist also had a game Sunday and through the miracle of technology we were able to watch what was happening while we were driving back on Debra's smartphone.  Meredith did start and played the entire game.  Here is the game article and Box score

Both girls play today, Iowa Central vs Scott County in Bettendorf, IA  and Central Methodist in Fayette against  Iowa Wesleyan College.  A couple of IC parents will keep me updated by cell phone on Madeline's game and Debra and I will be driving to Fayette to watch Meredith's game.  More details later.

A Busy Soccer Weekend

Iowa Central played their first official game of the season on the 26th at home against Anoka Ramsey and had a favorable 4-0 result. Madeline started and played all but the last 15 minutes or so.  Here is what was written on the team's Facebook page. 

"See the news got out...IC beat Anoka Ramsey 4-0 in the season opener. Goals by Andrea Bailey, Kami Paulsen, Maddie Brick, and Jessie Glasgow were enough to see off the Rams. Two assists by Jordan Walgren, Bailey, and Bri Miller. Shutout shared by Hilary van Praag and Shelby Curry. 1 down, 16 to go!!"

Debra and I celebrated our 28th anniversary on Saturday by watching my sister Nancy granddaughters, Allison and Emma play their first matches of the season at Green Hills Soccer Club.  They both played very well and I believe that each of their teams won, it is difficult to tell without keeping a written tally.  What was obvious was that they were having fun.

Right after their game we moved to Danner Park to watch the home opener of the high school boys.  They were playing a tough seasoned team from Fulton.  I was very impressed with the improvement in the CHS team and although they lost 1-3, I believe that they will have a great season.  Just a couple of defensive miscues prevented them from notching their first win of the season.

I was starving by games end so we went to get something to eat and returned to watch the junior varsity win their first game.  The numbers of players are up so there will be a complete schedule of JV games which is a first for CHS and I know will improve the overall quality of play.

We came home to watch Central Methodist play their first game of the season vs. Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas through the miracles of modern technology on the internet.  CMU won easily 5-0.  Meredith only got to play the last 15 minutes and notched 1 save.  Here is a link to the box score.       Box score against Tabor College.   I finished off the day by watching Sporting Kansas City lose in a ugly match 3-2 to FC Dallas.

Debra and I decided to go watch the CMU match against Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.  We left Chillicothe about 7:30 and arrived in North Newton about 12:00.  We talked to Meredith a bit and then had lunch and was at the stadium about 1:30 for the 2:00 start.  The temperature at the start was 100 degrees and they were playing on a turf field.  We found seats in the shade and at the top of the stadium so there was a breeze.   CMU played very well against a determined Bethel team and ended up a 1-0 winner with the only goal scored very late into the first half.  The only bad part was that Meredith did not get to play.  Here is the link to the box score.  Box score.   We left shortly after the game and got home about 9:20.

Meredith has two home games this next weekend, however we will be going to Rosemount, MN to watch Madeline play in a tournament there.  So I expect to make a long post after next weekend.

Let the Real Season Begin

The Iowa Central team played their last pre-season match today at Simpson College and came away a 1-0 winner.  Madeline said after the game that the defense played well and thought they had only allowed 1 shot on goal.   She also said the coach was happy and it is evident with what he wrote on the team FaceBook page.  (Two of the three preseason wins were against 4 year programs.)

What a difference a week makes. Excellent job today ladies. Simpson tested us all the way but our defensive shape was solid and we took our chance when it came. Paulsen on the goal and Mayberry on the assist. Congrats, we went 3-0 in preseason games!!! Now the real season starts Friday!! Go Tritons!

An Interesting Soccer Story and Proof That It Can Be Done

We are Back!!!!!!!

The fall soccer season has started at My View of the Pitch with a whirlwind day.  I woke up at 6:30 this morning to watch the Arsenal vs Liverpool match that was starting at 6:45.  I had just got the TV on when I got a call from the boys high school coach to request to use my field for a scrimmage.  The high school field was unplayable because of last nights rain and the GHSC's fields were unavailable due to a soccer camp.  I had talked to the coach on Thursday evening and offered my field for the Saturday scrimmage when I saw the 3 day weather forecast but he thought that he would not need it.   The inter squad scrimmage with a breakfast afterword is a relatively new tradition, and the team and parents really enjoy it and it is very good for team bonding and introduction of new players parents.  There are 26 out for soccer this year and the season looks very promising.  There is level of excitement in this team that has never been there in the previous 4 years.  The scrimmage started about 7:45 and ended about 9:15 and the players and parents went to Danner Park shelter house for breakfast after.   

Madeline's first team scrimmage against a college team for this season was scheduled for 2:00 in Ft. Dodge against Waldorf College.  I don't have many details but one of her team mates parents texted me as Debra and I were on the way to Fayette to take the rest of the "stuff" that Meredith needed and to watch her first scrimmage against a Columbia Pride U-19 team.

The text said that Madeline had scored the first goal off a corner with a nice volley shot into the net.  I didn't receive any additional texts, so I sent one about 2 hours after the scheduled start of the game and found out that Iowa Central had won 3 to 2.  Here is what the coach posted on the facebook page about the game: 

"Good outing today vs Waldorf. Gave a good account of ourselves and held the majority of play. Goals scored by Brick, Bailey, and Paulsen and Van Praag and Zulk both had shutouts. Overall, a good day. Starting to get things to gel and ball movement was good at times. Coach is happy!!"

Debra and I are hitting the road again about 7:00 in the morning to meet Madeline in Des Moines to deliver her "stuff" and to eat breakfast, so I will have more details about the game later. 


Meredith's team has made several changes and improvements with new personal.  Everyone is anticipating a better season this year.  Because it was a scrimmage they played 3 thirty minute periods to allow for additional coaching instruction, and CMU won 3 to 1.  The goal keepers split the time between the posts and the lone goal was scored against Meredith with a penalty kick when one of Columbia's players was taken down in the box.


My analysis of the game includes the following details.  Possession appeared to be better than last year but passing still needs a lot of improvement.  The first touch with many of the players is poor and the loss of possession was because of that instead of a intercepted pass. There was ton of square passes in the midfield that served no purpose but to lose possession.  The forwards do not push up to crowd the defenders and there is almost no movement by the forwards off the ball.  It appears to me as a matter of timing of the runs.  What I observed was the cross or the penetrating pass being made and then the attacking player making a run to the ball.  In my opinion, run should be started and the pass find the player.  The defense looked better and faster than last year, but was really not tested with this opponent.  The play in the center midfield was solid and I was impressed with the quality of new players.  The team is faster in all positions and the transitions from offense to defense is good.  There are several rough spots in the transition from defense to offense and I think with the new speed on the team they should occasionally attempt a long ball over the top to keep the defense guessing. 

I am certain that the coaches will be addressing most of these problems and with their practices this week and their road trip to Kansas next weekend the Eagles will be ready and primed for the season.

(P.S. Arsenal lost 2-0 to Liverpool and I will have to endure the taunts from Madeline's coach until the rematch on March 3rd.)  My Gunners look pretty disorganized and not ready to start the season.  It is my prediction that there will be a coaching change before season end. 

Live Stream for Central Methodist and Iowa Central Match

It is 11:46 on the 16th and the computer guru just left and was unable to solve the live stream problem. However, the game will be recorded and will be broadcast on this site as soon as possible. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Watch live streaming video from backacrefield at livestream.com

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Great Quotes From Great Leaders Movie: "Throughout history the words of great leaders have inspired, comforted, persuaded, and motivated us. Regardless of their fields of endeavor, they were all visionaries who led by example and whose actions transformed ideas into incredible results."

New Technology=Sharp Learning Curve

    The pitch is almost ready for April 16th.  All I have left to do is paint and mow.  We had .40 of an inch of rain today and more coming later tonight with a sharp warm up to the mid 80's for the weekend.  That should make the grass really grow.
    I have been working on the possibility of live streaming the match so that fans (parents) would be able to watch their daughters play.  It has been quite a mental challenge for me but I think I have most of the problems solved.  I am awaiting the arrival of a special cord to connect the video camera to the computer to complete the testing, and it should be here Monday or Tuesday of next week.
  To view the game you need to scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the test screen.  The site is currently offline but clicking on the arrow it should bring it up on your computer.  There will not be any audio with the live stream of the game but there will be a chat line.  I don't know if I will monitor it and chat or not but I will post scores.
    You should be able to click on the icon in the middle of the screen to display the game in full screen.  I would appreciate your help in testing this to see if everything works when you read this and let me know on the comment section that is on this blog post.  I will also ask for your help in testing when I get the camera hooked up to make sure that it works and what quality of video that you are getting.

April 16th Press Release

I have posted below the press release and coaches quotes for the game on April 16th.

Central Methodist University and Iowa Central Community College extend an invitation for anyone interested in watching a college soccer match in Chillicothe to join us on Saturday, April 16th.  The game will start at 1:00 pm at the soccer field behind the Brick’s house, 1 mile west of Highway 65 on Highway 190.  There is no charge to watch this game so bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon.

Both teams have local connections with Meredith Brick playing on the Central Methodist squad and Madeline Brick and Kathleen Vondera on the Iowa Central team.  The Brick twins were the first two female players from Chillicothe High School to receive an athletic scholarship to play college soccer and lettered all 4 years on the CHS soccer team.  Kathleen is from Davenport, Iowa  and was also a four-year letter-winner and team captain her senior year at North High School.  Kathleen’s grandparents are Red and Vicki Marrs of Chillicothe.

There will be a “meet the players and coaches” session at the tailgate party after the game.  Hy-Vee Catering will be available at the field for all spectators for the post-game tailgate meal for $7.00. 

**********

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our sport and to help with the overall development of soccer.  A big misconception about the collegiate level is that you must be from a big city and competed on a powerhouse high school or club team.  The reality is that if you are a good athlete and a hard working player you can make it onto a collegiate team.  We really recruit Missouri hard, since it has a good soccer reputation.
 
Central Methodist University is in partnership with the NAIA and competes in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.  (Heart of America Athletic Conference-HAAC).  In 2009 our women's soccer team completed the season with most wins in School history.”
 

Dan Schmidlin
Central Methodist University Head Soccer Coach
dschmidl@centralmethodist.edu
Office (660) 248-6350
Cell (937) 750-8062

“Iowa Central provides many opportunities for players to grow and develop their soccer, academic, and social skills.  We are a 2-year school which has the distinct feel of many 4-year colleges and universities.  Our facilities are excellent and with more than 950 student living on campus we have a strong and vibrant residence life department which oversees the apartment-style housing, student activities, intramural sports, and campus security. 

The program is affiliated with the NJCAA and competes at the Division I level.  The majority of our student athletes attend Iowa Central before looking to move on to the 4-year level.  We have the proud tradition of having placed every player who has wanted to move on and play while providing an environment conducive to being competitive and attaining academic excellence.  Iowa Central is currently going for it’s third straight National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators Cup which is given to the Community College with the best overall athletic program based off of national tournament appearances, national placing, and national rankings.”

Willie McGowan,  Head Women's Soccer Coach
 Iowa Central Community College
One Triton Circle
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-574-1351
http://www.iowacentral.edu/athletics/womens_soccer/index.asp

 

Some Catch-Up

Both Madeline & Meredith made the Dean's list last semester, during their soccer season which made Debra and I very proud.  I know it is more difficult in season to get good grades with the daily practices and travel for games and they had to really work hard to accomplish that. 

Madeline's team received a couple of post season honors that are notable.  One being The NSCAA Ethics Award and the other for Iowa Central to be named to the Academic All- Region Team. 

Meredith has made a move on campus and is now in the Honors Dorm and has a very nice spacious room (almost bigger than our first apartment).  She has 3 other suite mates, 2 which play soccer. 

Both girls are busy with their off season workouts with conditioning, speed and agility, weights and Futsal.  Each occurs at a different day and time and it is difficult to keep straight along with their academic schedule.  They both have clinical times, Madeline's is usually on Thursday and Friday's and sometimes on the weekend and is a 8 hour shift each day.  Meredith's clinical assignment is with Women's Varsity Basketball, and she attends practices and games as scheduled.

Both are also in a work study program and may work other college athletic events throughout the season.  They work directly under the Athletic Director or Assistant who schedules them and works around their school schedule. 

This weekend Debra and I are going to Columbia, MO to watch Meredith participate in a "Polar Plunge" for the Special Olympics.  This will be the third year that she has plunged.

Just around the Corner

Today may be the day that my soccer field shows itself after being under its blanket of snow most of the winter.  Currently it is about 46 degrees and may make it to 50 this afternoon and is forecasted to be in the mid 60's by Thursday.    I have a lot of spring maintenance work to do on the field and hope to get started on some of it this week.

I missed the weather window of opportunity last fall to over seed, so that has to be done early this spring, along with aerating and fertilization.  I need to remove the nets and repaint the goals and will have to remark and paint the lines on the field.  I plan to replace the corner flags and possibly the goal nets.

I also will need to make arrangements for some referees, extra parking, and portable toilets because in about two months (April 16) I have scheduled a scrimmage between Madeline's team, Iowa Central and Meredith's team, Central Methodist University.  Both coaches were glad to get a spring scrimmage against a team they had not played before and this worked out well for both.

I have also invited officials from North Central Missouri College in Trenton to come and watch.  I have planted a seed there in hope that they might start a soccer program.  Just as the local high school program has enhanced the recreational program,  a college soccer program at NCMC could really help  the CHS soccer program and could possibly kick start other high school programs in the area.

Debra and I will be hosting a post game meal for both teams, their coaches, and any parents who have traveled to watch the game. Central Methodist is only about 2 hours from Chillicothe and will be arriving Saturday morning and returning to Fayette after the game.  Iowa Central will also be arriving on Saturday morning but will be spending the night and has scheduled a scrimmage with Graceland University on Sunday on their way back to Ft. Dodge.

The game time is scheduled for 1:00 and we hope to have a large crowd here to see a good college match.  I have contacted the local high school coach and the CHS girls team will participate in some form, perhaps with a practice or just to watch to see what soccer is like at the next level.

I plan to have several press releases in local media and to invite everyone out to watch the match.  I know my excitement is building and will have to work like crazy to get everything done.  I will post again tomorrow to bring everyone up to date with Madeline and Meredith's soccer programs.