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Dear Parents & Players
2012 USA MetroGirls Tour; Thursday 19th July to 3rd August 2012
The third training session is Sunday, 20th May 2012, 10.00am till 4.00pm @ Stockport Cricket Club, Beech Road, Cale Green. Please arrive to be ready to start at 10.00am. We look forward to seeing all of the tour squad together for a full training day.
Players MUST bring with them to ALL the team building, training and game days the following items: Stick(s), gloves (if worn), gum guard, both trainers & cleats/boots, sports underwear, two training shirts & shorts, two extra pairs of socks; Sweat top & pants, water proof jacket, a complete change of travelling home clothes, towel, and a large plastic bin liner capable of holding all your kit and kit bag. A large water bottle, plus an additional 1 litre bottle of water; lunch with carbohydrates, & energy snacks. Please use this as a check list prior to each session.
The other training dates, as given previously are:
• Sunday 27th May 2012 Training; Stockport Cricket Club 10.00am – 4.00pm
• Sunday 10th June 2012, Training, Brooklands Sports Club, 11.00am – 5.00pm **
• Sunday 24th June 2012 Training; Brooklands Sports Club, 11.00am – 5.00pm **
• Sunday 8thth July 2012, Final Training, Alumni Game, Parents Meeting and Kit hand-out @ Mellor Lacrosse Club, Longhurst Lane, Mellor, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Tour Payments: Thank you for the balance of your duaghters tour payment. We confirm that the full cost of the flights has been paid, including the increase tax/fuel. Also to to date the travel/sports insurance, Host Family gifts and water battles have been purchased; and T shirts, game-day tops, hoddies, travel shirt, kit bags and back packs are on order.
Player Medical Consent: Please can parents complete the poseted ‘medical consent’ form and return it to us at the next training session. Included on the form is the scope of the insurance that we have with Sports Guard. If you have any questions please telephone us to discuss.
Player’s Spending Money: We recommend that it is deposited with MetroGirls for internet transfer to the States’, thus saving on tourist exchange rates and commission charges; and avoiding the risk of loss in carrying large sums of money with us. Your daughter will be then be able to draw their money from us when they need, or receive it on three pre-arrange dates during the tour. We propose that player’s spending money is received by MetroGirls before or latest by Sunday 1st July 2012 for banking and transfer prior to the tour departure on the 19th July 2010. Once in the USA we propose to return the girls money by $20 on arrival in Philadelphia, a third of the remainder on the morning of the next day (at training), half of the remainder on 24th July (Washington Day), and the balance prior to the free weekend (Friday 27th) However, if your daughter requires differing amounts, this will be accommodated. Please make cheques payable to ‘MetroGirls Lacrosse’ or send Bank bill payments to HSBC MetroGirls Lacrosse, please contact us for bank account details if required.
If you have any questions at this stage please contact us.
Michelle & Tony
The 2012 team building day is underway. The sun is out but it’s still a little chilly, let the games begin!
And its not just the girls getting involved!
And your name is?
And now to the more serious matter of a game with the Wirral…
Dear Parents & Players
2012 USA MetroGirls Tour; Thursday 19th July to 3rd August 2012
First training session is next Sunday, 15th April 2012, 10.00am till 4.00pm @ Oxton Cricket Club, Oxton, Wirral. Please arrive to be ready to start at 10.00am. We look forward to seeing all of the tour squad together for a combined team building day and a scrimmage training game against Oxton Lacrosse Club team.
Players MUST bring with them to ALL the team building, training and game days the following items: Stick(s), gloves (if worn), gum guard, both trainers & cleats/boots, sports underwear, two training shirts & shorts, two extra pairs of socks; Sweat top & pants, water proof jacket, a complete change of travelling home clothes, towel, and a large plastic bin liner capable of holding all your kit and kit bag. A large water bottle, plus an additional 1 litre bottle of water; lunch with carbohydrates, & energy snacks. Please use this as a check list prior to each session.
Included during the day will be team building activities, trying on items of our playing and travelling kit for sizing prior to ordering, and photographs of all tour members.
The other training dates, as given previously are:
• Sunday 22nd April 2012 Training @ Stockport Cricket Club, Cale Green, Stockport
• Sunday 20th May 2012, Training & Game @ Stockport Lacrosse Club
• Sunday 27th May 2012 Training;
• Sunday 10th June 2012, Training
• Sunday 24th June 2012 Training;
• Sunday 8thth July 2012, Final Training, Alumni Game, Parents Meeting and Kit hand-out @ Mellor Lacrosse Club, Longhurst Lane, Mellor
Government Airline Tax Increase: There has been a tax increase of £13.00 per person and this increases the tour cost from £1450 to £1463 per person. We are not protected against further tax or fuel surcharges until the tickets are issued mid May 2012.
Tour Payments: Thank you for February’s interim payment. Your daughter’s tour balance, including the additional 13 tax is required by 31st April 2012 at the latest. Earlier payment would be appreciated as the airline has brought forward our payment date and it may be necessary for MetroGirls to pay a balance by a personal credit card. Your assistance in this matter would be appreciated. Please make cheques payable to ‘MetroGirls Lacrosse’ or send Bank bill payments to HSBC MetroGirls Lacrosse, please contact us if you require bank account details.
With regard to your daughters spending money, we offer (and recommend) that it is deposited with MetroGirls for internet transfer to the States’, thus saving on tourist exchange rates and commission charges; and avoiding the risk of loss in carrying large sums of money with us. Your daughter will be then are able to draw their money from us when they need it or alternatively receive it on three pre-arrange dates during the tour.
If you have any questions at this stage please contact us.
Michelle & Tony
Dear Parents & Players
2012 USA MetroGirls Tour; Thursday 19th July to 3rd August 2012
With MetroGirls first training date on Sunday 15th April 2012, we are looking forward to commencing regular contact with the players in the months leading up to the tour departure date.
In recent weeks have been busy organising insurance, host gifts and travel bags, and researching clothing items. The group travel and sports insurance has been taken out with SportsGuard, underwritten by Lloyds. The host family gift we have sourced, is a pair of official Olympic mugs in a presentation gift box, particularly appropriate we feel, as the London Games will be underway when we arrive in the ‘States’. The Travel bags comprise of a large bag, to provide for the US Airline’s allowance of one 23kg bag weight per person, (goalkeepers kit excluded), and a back pack capable of the carry-on weight allowance of 18kgs, both sourced from a former MetroGirl’s parent, Andy Smith and his company, William Turners Ltd of Stockport. The bags will have the girls playing number and initials respectively.
MetroGirls Training: The 2012 pre-tour training is to be a compact number of all-day Sunday sessions, 10.00am to 4.00pm, and players are expected to attend all the scheduled sessions, with no exceptions, (save for pre-agreed circumstances) as these dates have been set since the February Newsletter. The dates being: –
Sunday 15th April 2012, Team Building & Game
Sunday 22nd April 2012 Training
Sunday 20th May 2012, Training & Game; Sunday 27th May 2012 Training;
Sunday 10th June 2012, Training; Sunday 24th June 2012 Training;
Sunday 8thth July 2012, Final Training, Alumni Game, Parents Meeting and Kit hand-out
Players MUST bring with them to the team building, training and game days the following items:
Stick(s), gloves(if worn), gum guard, both trainers & cleats/boots, sports underwear, two training shirts & shorts, two extra pairs of socks; Sweat top & pants, water proof jacket, a complete change of travelling home clothes, towel, and a large plastic bin liner capable of holding all your kit and kit bag. Large Water bottle, plus an additional 1 litre bottle of water; lunch with carbohydrates, & energy snacks. Please use this as a check list prior to each session.
Player Fitness: We are outstanding a number of MetroGirls ‘typical weekly’ sports fitness/activity diaries, and these need to be emailed to Tony, copying Michelle (see addresses below) and also coping in your parent(s), listing your current weekly school, club and individual sports activities.
USA ‘ESTA’ Immigration ‘on-line Visa Waiver’: A number of these are outstanding also. Please visit www.usembassy.org.uk and follow the Site’s instructions; Note the US Airline flight number is US735 and you are not required to fill in the ‘where you are staying’ section. When you have registered your daughter, please email us a copy of their acceptance reference code page.
Tour Payments: Thank you for the interim payment which was due 29th February 2012. Your daughter’s tour balance is required by 31st April 2012 in order for us to be able to pay the balance on the flight costs, and the USA bus and tour activities. Please make cheques payable to ‘MetroGirls Lacrosse’ or send Bank bill payments to HSBC MetroGirls Lacrosse, please contact us for the account details.
With regard to your daughters spending money, we offer (and recommend) that it is deposited with MetroGirls for internet transfer to the States’, thus saving on commercial exchange rates and commission charges; and avoiding the risk of loss in carrying large sums of money with us. Your daughters are then are able to draw their money from us when they need it or alternatively receive it on three pre-arrange dates during the tour
If you have any questions at this stage please contact us.
Michelle & Tony
2011 UK HOSTING of ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY ’CROSSEOVER’ LACROSSE GROUP
Now that we have all returned to our ‘normal’ lives we wish to thank you all for welcoming an Anne Arundel tour member into your home for the two weeks of their visit to Cheshire.
The MetroGirls Tour Management, Coaches & Trustees all appreciate the effort you and your family made to ensure that the Anne Arundel squad thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We hope you all enjoyed the experience, and made new friends in the process
Steve Willett, the Anne Arundel ‘Crosseover’ Lacrosse Tour Leader wishes to express his, the Coaches and girls gratitude to all of the Host Families. Already their feed back from the girls and families is that they all had such a good time, and consider the tour a great success, in all aspects.
As declared at the final tour night reception, Anne Arundel County ‘Crosseover’ group have invited MetroGirls to visit Anne Arundel County, Maryland next year.
For those girls who hosted this year and have yet to tour, details of the 2012 tour proposals and costs will be sent out at the beginning of September.
However the tentative period within which we will tour for 15 days are from Wednesday 18th July to Saturday 4th August 2012, subject to and confirmation from Steve Willett and of course available flights.
To those girls who have both hosted and toured, thank you for your commitment and well done; we look forward to seeing you playing for your Club and also at the Cheshire County trials in September. Contact your Club Manager/Coach for the actual dates.
Once again, thank you for hosting, and enjoy the remainder of your summer.
Photos from the 2011 tour are available on the photos page
Only one day to go before Anne Arundel County arrive in Manchester. Everyone is really excited about this years tour and looking forwarding to meeting the team. Hopefully the flight will arrive on time but if there are any delays then check below:
Flight arrived at 08:35
If the live flight information is not showing then please check on the Manchester Airport Website.
2011 ANNE ARUNDEL ‘CROSSOVER’ TOUR: 21st JULY – 4th AUGUST
Second training session is this coming Sunday, commencing 10.00am until 4.00pm, Sunday 12th June 2010 @ Stockport Lacrosse Club, Beech Road, Cale Green, Stockport.
We look forward to seeing all of the tour squad together again for a full training day.
Players Kit: Players must bring with them to all the training and game day sessions, the following:-
– Stick(s), gloves, gum guard, both – trainers & boots, sports underwear, extra pairs of socks
– Sweat top & pants, water proof jacket, change of clothes, towel, & large plastic bin liner.
– Water bottle, large + full of still water, lunch & energy foods,
The other remaining training dates are as previously given, being:-
• 26th June #3 Training/Game @ Stockport Cricket Club, 10.00am till 4.00pm
• 10th July #4 Training/Alumni Game, Mellor Sports Club, 10.00am till 4.00pm
Team Building Day: Thank you for your support for the Team Building day at Wirral, it was great to see all this years girls together for the first and we enjoyed their commitment, interaction, spontaneity and contribution to the tasks given to them throughout the day. Also thank you Wirral Parents in providing the post game refreshment and our thanks to Oxton Sports Club for use and access to the club house and grounds.
Tour Itinerary: Below is the current schedule, being unchanged except for the Stockport game now being held on the evening of Friday 22nd, following the Crosseover training and welcome presentations
DATE ACTIVITY DATE ACTIVITY
Thu 21 Jul AAC arrive MIA 8.30; rest of day free Fri 29 Game v Cheshire U16, 7.00 face, followed by refreshment
Fri 22 AAC training & welcome presentations 16.00-18.00 (1) Sat 30 Free weekend with host family (5)
Sat 23 Free day with host family Sun 31 Free weekend with host family
Sun 24 Free day with host family Mon 1 Aug Game v North U16 @ Wirral 7.00 face, followed by refreshments
Mon 25 Game 7.00 face, followed by refreshments (3) Tue 2 Joint AAC & Metrogirls visit to Alton Towers (6)
Tue 26 AAC (only) day out to London (2) We 3 Friendship game AAC v MetroGirls 6.30pm at Stockport followed end of tour reception (7)
Wed 27 Game v Wirral, 7.00 face, followed by refreshments
Thu 28 AAC (only) day out at Warwick Castle & Stratford upon Avon (4) Thu 4 AAC Depart MIA, (early)
(1) For all drop-0ffs and pick-up we encourage host families to car-pool to enable parents to balance commitments. Contact details will be provided. (2) Following the games we are asking the Clubs to provide access to their club house and provide refreshments for the players, although this usually also is extended to include the host families and guests. (3) For AAC London trip early start we will arrange for the Wirral hosted girls to stay overnight with a Mellor or Stockport hosting family following the Mellor game. Details of who will stay with who will be provided in advance. (4) For the ACC Warwick/Stratford trip their coach will collect/drop both at the the Stockport Lacrosse Club and at the Windmill Inn at the A556/M6 junction 19. (5) For families planning to spend a night away from home with their guest please tell us where you will be and confirm contact details. (6) For the AAC & MG Alton Towers trip the collect/drop both at Stockport Cricket Club and at the Windmill Inn at the A556/M6 junction 19. Also this will be an addition cost for the Metrogirls. The AA Crosseover Girls cost will be provide by them, prepaid to their tour leaders. (7) For the end of tour reception we ask each host families to provide food.
Newsletters: will continue throughout the period leading up Anne Arundel ‘CrosseOver’ group arriving on 21st July; We also have a web site onto which the newsletters are posted, www.metrogirlslacrosse.org , plus all last summer’s USA tour reports and photographs are available.
If you have any questions at this stage please contact us. We will
Thank you for your on-going support
2011 ANNE ARUNDEL ‘CROSSOVER’ TOUR: 21st JULY – 4th AUGUST
First training session is this coming Sunday, commencing 10.00am until 4.00pm, Sunday 18th April 2010 @ Wirral Lacrosse Club, Oxton Cricket Club, Townfield Lane, Oxton.
We look forward to seeing all of the tour squad together for a combined team building day and training game, against a Wirral Lacrosse Club team.
Players MUST bring with them to all the team building, training and game day sessions, the following:-
– Stick(s), gloves, gum guard, both – trainers & boots, sports underwear, extra pairs of socks
– Sweat top & pants, water proof jacket, change of clothes, towel, & large plastic bin liner.
– Water bottle, large + full of still water, lunch & energy foods,
Included during the day will be Photographs of all tour members.
The other training dates are as previously given, being:-
• 12th June #2 Training @ Stockport Cricket Club, 10.00am till 4.00pm
• 26th June #3 Training/Game @ Stockport Cricket Club, 10.00am till 4.00pm
• 10th July #4 Training/Alumni Game, Mellor Sports Club, 10.00am till 4.00pm
Player Fitness: We are still outstanding a number of MetroGirls sports fitness/activity diaries, and these need to be emailed to Tony, copying Michelle (see addresses below) and also coping your parent(s), listing all your current weekly school, club and individual sports and fitness activities. Please note that your diary can just be a single sheet showing your regular weekly activities.
MetroGirls Leaders: For this years home tour they are, Michelle Malkin: Co-Director; Tony Malkin: Head Coach/Co-Director; Carina Eaton: Coach; Laura Callaghan: Coach; Helen Carlsson: Welfare; Martin Rees: Website, Photography, & Support.
Family Pets: Thank you for those of you who have already told us what family pets you have. If you are still to tell us, please let us know as soon as possible
Newsletters: will continue throughout the period leading up Anne Arundel ‘CrosseOver’ group arriving on 21st July; We also have a web site onto which the newsletters are posted, www.metrogirlslacrosse.org , plus all last summer’s USA tour reports and photographs are available.
If you have any questions at this stage please contact us. We will
Thank you for your on-going support
2011 ANNE ARUNDEL ‘CROSSOVER’ TOUR: 21st JULY – 4th AUGUST
Thank you for attending the parents meeting in February, it was good to meet you all, explain our proposals and provide answers to questions.
As mentioned at the parents & Players meeting, the Anne Arundel ‘Crosseover’ group have booked their flights and are currently confirming with us their preferences for the two day trips that they will take whilst here.. Steve Willett and the other CrosseOver leaders send their best wishes and look forward to seeing all of us in July.
During the last few weeks we have been seeking to firm up the itinerary including speaking to Clubs to be able to agree the days on which matches will take place and against whom. The draft itinerery provided at the parents & players meeting is unchanged except for a switch of game dates at the beginning of the tour and we provide a brief version below for ease of reference, plus some initial supporting information.
| DATE |
ACTIVITY |
| July Thu 21 |
AAC arrive Manchester Airtport 8.30; rest of day free |
| Fri 22 |
AAC training & welcome presentations 3.00pm, followed by game v Stockport 7.00pm draw and refreshments (2) |
| Sat 23 |
Free weekend with host family (5) |
| Sun 24 |
Free weekend with host family (5) |
| Mon 25 |
Game v Mellor 7.00 draw, followed by refreshments (2) |
| Tue 26 |
AAC (only) day out to London (3) |
| Wed 27 |
Game v Wirral, 7.00 draw, followed by refreshments (2) |
| Thu 28 |
AAC (only) day out at Warwick Castle & Stratford upon Avon (4) |
| Fri 29 |
Game v Cheshire U16, 7.00 draw, followed by refreshment |
| Sat 30 |
Free weekend with host family (5) |
| Sun 31 |
Free weekend with host family (5) |
| Aug Mon 1 |
Game v North U16 @ Wirral 7.00 draw, followed by refreshments |
| Tue 2 |
Joint AAC & Metrogirls visit to Alton Towers (6) |
| We 3 |
Friendship game AAC v MetroGirls 6.30pm draw at Stockport followed end of tour reception (7) |
| Thu 4 |
AAC Depart MIA, (early) |
(1) For all drop-0ffs and pick-up we encourage host families to car-pool to enable parents to balance commitments. Contact details will be provided.
(2) Following the games we are asking the Clubs to provide access to their club house and provide freshments for the players, although this usually also is extended to include the host families and guests. (3) For AAC London trip early start we will arrange for the Wirral hosted girls to stay overnight with a Mellor or Stockport hosting family following the Mellor game. Details of who will stay with whom will be provided in advance. (4) For the ACC Warwick/Stratford trip their coach will collect/drop both at the the StockportCricket Club and at the Windmill Inn at the A556/M6 junction 19. (5) For families planning to spend a night away from home with their guest please tell us where you will be and confirm contact details. (6) For the AAC & MG Alton Towers trip the collect/drop both at Stockport Cricket Club and at the Windmill Inn at the A556/M6 junction 19. Also this will be an addition cost for the Metrogirls. The AA Crosseove Girls cost will be provide by them, prepaid to their tour leaders. (7) For the end of tour reception we ask each host families to provide food; details to be provided nearer the time
With regard to the matching of guests to hosts, other than those girls who have already expressed their wish to host the girl they stayed with in July 2010, we will seek hosting profiles and photographs from all the MetroGirls, and coupled with simular information for the American girls, it is on this and information shared between the two sets of leaders that decisions will be made. We ask that you be patient as this process will not commence until late June with information to the families being ready by one to two weeks before they arrive.
Linked to hosting is a request for information regarding pets, please will you email Michelle or myself telling us what pets you have.
Concerning photographs, as you are aware we took some photographs at the parents & players meeting for our own leader & coaches reference purposes. When training starts we will take a photograph of your daughter which will be forwarded to the American girls family, plus there will be phographs taken during the tour; please contact us if you have any objections to our proposals.
As a reminder the MetroGirls squad training training dates are:. 22nd May #1 Team Building/Game @ Wirral; 12th June #2 Training @ Stockport; 26th June #3 Training/Game @ Stockport; 10th July #4 Training/Alumni Game, Mellor.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
2011 ANNE ARUNDEL ‘CROSSOVER’ TOUR: 21st JULY – 4th August 2011
Thank you for those of you who have sent us your daughter’s £75.00 payment, I confirm that this contributes towards squad team shirts, playing kit ground & room hire, gifts for the visiting players & coaches, and administration.
Parents & Players Meeting: We have arranged a parents and players meeting for Tuesday 1stth March 2011 7.45 for 8.00pm start, at Brooklands Sports Club, Whitehall Road, Sale M33 3NL and hope this date is convenient to you. The purpose of the meeting is for the MetroGirls Directors and Coaches to introduce themselves as well as an opportunity for you to meet the other families. Other family members are welcome to attend. The meeting finish prior to 9.00pm
The families who are hosting in 2011 are a mix those whose daughters are in their second year with MetroGirls and toured to the USA in the summer of 2010, and those whose daughters have joined MetroGirls starting their first year. The hosting families are all Cheshire based from the Mellor, Stockport, and Wirral lacrosse Clubs. The USA leaders travelling with the Anne Arundel Crossover squad will be hosted by Adult managers and coaches also from Cheshire Clubs. The total number of the touring group will be 30, of which 24 will be players.
Anne Arundel Tour Itinerary: The Anne Arundel tour director, Steve Willet has confirm that they have booked their outward and return flights, form Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, direct to Manchester Airport, scheduled to arrive around 8.30am on Thursday 21st July 2011; and departing with a 8.00am check-in for the return journey on Thursday 4th August 2011. The actual collection and drop off times at Manchester Airport will be determined nearer the time.
The activities between arrival and departure will be a mix of training, games, outings and family time, and by the parents meeting we hope to have been able to determined what will be happening on each day, giving you a draft schedule. For transportation during the tour we will encourage families to share the drop-offs and pick-ups of your guests, and we will talk more about this and other proposals at the Parents meeting.
Family & Player Details: Thank you those of you who have already returned completed forms to us.
Newsletters: will continue throughout the period between now and July,
Training: MetroGirls squad training is being proposed for the following dates, have been set to avoid Bank Holiday Weekends and school half terms; and we are hopeful that they avoid key exam periods.
• 22nd May #1 Team Building/Game @ Wirral
• 12th June #2 Training @ Stockport
• 26th June #3 Training/Game @ Stockport
• 10th July #4 Training/Alumni Game, Mellor
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to see you soon at the Parents Meeting.
2011 ANNE ARUNDEL ‘CROSSOVER’ TOUR: 21st July – 4thth August.
Thank you new Parents for your confirmation that you and your daughter have agreed to host an American lacrosse player next July/August as part of the MetroGirls and Anne Arundel County exchange programme. These families join those already in the programme for their second and hosting year.
Thank you also for those of you who have already sent us the MetroGirls 2010/11 membership payment which contributes towards hire of venues for meeting and training, squad playing kit, referee fees, gifts for our American guests and general administration. Please could the remainder forward payment, with cheques made payable to MetroGirls Lacrosse, or alternatively an internet payment, contact Michelle for details.
MetroGirls who travelled to the USA in July 2010 will be able to host the USA girl they stayed with if you wish to do so, and she is touring with the AAC squad
Throughout the period of the tour there will be scheduled games and activities, and set out below is a tentative itinerary, but please do not yet make any fixed arrangements.
Thu 21 AACL Arrive early morning.
Tue 26 Evening game
Sun 31 Free day
Fri 22 AAYL Midday Training.
Wed 27 AACL only, day out
Mon 1 Evening Game
Sat 23 Morning Game
Thu 28 Evening game
Tue 2 Alton Towers AACL & MG’s
Sun 24 Free day with host family
Fri 29 Evening Game
Wed 3 Friendship Game
Mon 25 AACL only, London day out
Sat 30 Free day
Thu 4 AACL Depart early from MIA
MetroGirls squad training will take place 10am-4pm on five or six Sundays between May to July arranged around half terms and Bank Holidays.
We will be encouraging parents to ‘car pool’ for both training and host tour activities.
Newsletters will continue throughout the period leading up to next July; also we are planning a parents meeting early in 2011. We also have a web site onto which the newsletters are posted, www.metrogirlslacrosse.org plus, all last summers tour reports and photographs are available.
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to seeing you during the lacrosse season.
Please contact us if you require have any queries or wish to discuss any aspect of the tour.
Good Morning again!
Sorry to those of you who may have had a look at the website this morning. I was shattered last night so had to have a sleep before I attempted the last marathon match report!
So the opposition was Anne Arundel County host girls. The venue: Broadneck (where we played Monday’s game). The temp: 98 degrees and very humid.
About 30 mins before the game was about to start the Anne Arundel girls changed in to their kit. It was identical to ours!
We presumed that as they were well aware of the colour of the kit we were wearing they would make alternative arrangements. However, 5 mins before we were about to play they landed the bombshell that it would be us who would be wearing the bibs. Team tactics on their behalf to change our focus (very clever but a mistake). This was going to be a match which relied upon the girls’ mental as well as their physical strength. Game on.
We had a team talk with the girls prior to the game about determination and strength and if we were going to win any game then this would be the one. We fired our girls up and when the starting line up walked on the pitch I knew this would be amazing game.
  The game started and the excellent centre player who played in the last game was put in for the draw. We knew that when Liv W and Hayley took the draw the ball went high and deep into our defending half so we needed to switch the centre up. We put Charl in which knocked them off their game. We won the centre ran to goal, played it around the goal to Katy, Emily C, Keely and the jenni drove from behind to score our first. The ball went back to centre, we won again played the ball round the goal, it went to Jenni who fed a neat ball into Dori and our 2nd was scored! The ball went back to centre again, we subbed a few players into attack and midfield but struggled subbing the D as they had little to do! We won the next centre and the next and 2 goals from Charl made the score 4-0. They won the next centre and took the ball to our half. They had a shot on goal which was saved by Meg (1 of 4 excellent saves). We then transitioned well with Lizzie running the length of the pitch with support from Sarah H, Em S and the ball was fed to Sarah who passed it to Erin, it was passed to Fiona and Ellie G received the ball on the top of the 8 – took her player on and had a great shot on goal which easily bypassed the goalie. Great 5-0 up!
  They won the centre. The centre player took the ball straight to goal and despite to best efforts of our Defence who surrounded the ball (Lynchy, Bibby and Susie) somehow she got past them with some nifty stick work and scored their first. 5-1. We called a time out and asked our girls to keep doing what we were doing except we needed to tighten up our Defence. We reminded our players that the person with the ball was the most important player and push her out! No checks just steer her away from goal. We went back to centre Charl got the ball from the centre, passed to Zoe who then passed back to Charl who then shot on goal, it was saved and then there was a big kerfuffle (love that word!) and somehow the ball was in the back of the net. Well done Georgia who somehow picked it up and put it away! 6-1. Our game looked amazing, we could not have hoped for a start like this against such great opposition. I think our girls were probably thinking the same as me as our concentration lapsed and they got one back. Meg saved 2 more and made 2 great clears – one went to Erin who turned and passed to Liv W who had Hayley supporting her they both ran down the pitch together and Liv W had a shot, it was saved and then cleared right back to our Defending half. The other great clear went to Hayley where we then passed to Dori and a pass went astray. They gained possession and some excellent defending by Sarah Bibby and Lauren kept them in possession but out of any dangerous areas. They had possession for a good 5 minutes passing around the goal and trying to create an opportunity. Our Defence was tight but we could not win the ball back. They scored one more. 6-3. Right on the stroke of half time they came at us again and another fine save by Meg meant that the half time score was 6-3.
HALF TIME
So into the next half we went. Our advice at half time was to stay strong and fight for every ball like we had never fought before. I for one really wanted to win and this game was clearly ours for the taking.
  Mary started the second half in goal. So from the centre again it went. We won centre and Liv W passed to Charl who took the ball in and scored our 7th. They got 2 back and from then on we knew that Anne Arundel were not going to let us win without a fight. 7-5. Charl lost the centre but an excellent double by Hayley and Lizzie on the ball won us back possession. We transitioned fast and some quick passing from Hayley to Georgie to Erin to Charl meant that there was another shot on and it was neatly put away by Charl. 8-5. Then they got 3 goals in a row. They were fighting for every ball and our attack did not see any possession for a while. The Defence were under a lot of pressure (see picture of Sarah H with 2 girls round her – in fact there were 2 more girls just out of shot pressuring her too!) However, it was only one or 2 of their girls who were causing any problems and somehow when they cut to goal they managed to sneak through. Mary made 2 great saves in this period keeping us in the game. 8-8.
The game was tense. We lost the centre but again good work from our D wing won us back possession. The ball was run down by Liv W who made a great pass to Jenni who scored to put us in the lead. They came right back at us from the centre and again the centre player ran past all our players and put the ball in the back of the net. 9-9. So there was 90 seconds left on the clock. The ball went to centre. Charl took it and won – it went to Dori, Em S, and Hayley and was then passed to Jenni. She bravely drove round goal to score a great goal. Sweetly placed in the bottom right hand corner. The ball went back to centre again. We lost but again great defence by Lizzie and Suzie meant that we won possession back. Sarah H ran the length of the field behind goal and we needed to keep hold of the ball. They were smart and pressured us but we kept passing nicely around goal and ran the clock down. Final score 10-9.
What a game! This was as intense as it gets! The girls rose to the challenge and we came out winners. The girls did us all proud.
So as always I like to give a player of the match and as always I am going to give it to more of the girls than just one! The first in Jenni. She had a strong match (3 goals and 1 assist) and scored the goal which put us in the lead when we were tied at 8-8 and then when they leveled things up again she scored the winning goal. The timing of these goals was invaluable and therefore she thoroughly deserves the award. The next is Meg. She made 4 excellent saves in the first half which gave us our lead of 3 goals when by the end of the half we could have easily been tied. He next is Charl. I know I have already given this award to her twice but I think I need to give credit where credit is due. She was man marked from the start making her game very difficult. Whenever she went in to shoot she had 4 girls surrounding her. I am therefore at a loss how she managed to score 4 goals. It takes a very intelligent player to change their game facing different opposition tactics and still have a big part to play in the game. The last person I would like to give the player of the match award to is Lizzie. Lizzie has only played defence for 1 season and has matured into a very strong player. She had an excellent game. She supported the ball in the attack, organized the defence and was on quite a few occasions left with 2 players to mark but dealt with the pressure brilliantly.
  At the end of the tour the Lynne Jones award is given out. For those of you that do not know what this is, the Lynne Jones was a Metro tour leader who was part of the tour even when I played. Not only a great person to be part of the tour, everyone loved her and she had made many friends over here in the States. Sadly she lost her battle with breast cancer and therefore an award is given in her name by both teams to the girl on the other team who epitomises the tour moto which is ‘friendship through lacrosse’. The Anne Arundel girls chose Jenni.
So the tour is over for another year! It has been great reading all the parents’ comments and Martin and I thoroughly enjoyed writing the reports. I think a big thank you needs to be sent to you guys for continually supporting you child, bringing them to practice and encouraging them to play lacrosse. I am sure the girls have made friends for life and have had experiences that they will never forget.
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