Barbe vs Caddo Magnet

[barbedad20]

Hey Caddo folks. Here is a link to some great action shots. Thought you might want to check it out.

[ftp]http://www.actionsportsphoto-la.com/order.html[/ftp]

[ShreveDad]

Are pictures #26 and #27 the first or second goal? I read in another thread that the Magnet keeper was blinded by a camera flash on the second goal. I can see how that happened after looking at that photo.

Just went back and read the playoff scores tread and barbedad wrote the first goal came off a corner kick and was scored in close. The second goal was on a shot from the 18. Thats photo #26. Give the assist to the photographer. Crummy luck for Annie and the Magnet team.

On another note, from the photos it looks like you have covered benches on your field. Nice touch.

[copakid14]

After taking a couple days to finally rest my brain, just a few comments about this game.

First of all, thanks to the Barbe parents and booster club for feeding our players after the game. While it isn't easy to eat after ending your season, I was proud of my girls for their attitudes and ability to pull themselves together. Great hospitality from the Barbe group.

Now to the game. I thought the field was in good shape considering the recent weather and the fact that the Barbe boys tore it up the week before. The ball however does not roll very smoothly and it took my girls some time to get comfortable with their first touch. I don't think playing our last several games at Indy helped us with this, you kind of get used to being able to perfectly judge every ball. My biggest suggestion for improvement would be to get brighter lights...the middle of the field was well lit but both goal areas looked very dark to me.

I won't comment on the flash photography thing because the game is over and I am not one to make excuses for a loss. We had several chances to tie and win the game regardless of the events of the 2nd goal for Barbe. I want my team to realize that they missed opportunities, not that the game was taken from them by something out of their control.

Insulting officials is not allowed on this forum so I will make a few general statements. I don't think the center ref determined the outcome of the game but the flow was greatly disrupted for both teams. There would be a train wreck with no call and then a touch foul while a player was shielding that would be called. The players for both teams didn't have any idea where the line was because it was all over the place. Also there were numerous times where advantage was not used in situations that would have created obvious scoring chances. The 4th official listened to my concerns about the first half and said "we want this ref to get some experience." Not in the second round of the playoffs with two fast, aggressive teams with so much on the line. The AR on the bench side should have been in the center.

This game was fun to watch because there were good matchups all over the field and two contrasting formations. It was interesting to watch the transition from offense to defense for both given magnets 3-4-3 and Barbe's ?-?-? (just kidding Lafayette, can't tell you that!) Both teams have a lot of speed and could counter quickly which made it exciting and nerve racking. Someone else posted that both teams played very clean and I would agree with that, I didn't see any cheap challenges or dirty fouls from either side. The game was played a little franticly from both sides and I think both are capable of a better ball control possession game.

Overall I thought this was a pretty even game with both teams having good chances. I will not go into details on player #'s etc because Barbe is still playing and I probably wouldn't get another hamburger if we end up there next year in the playoffs! I am very proud of my girls for a great first season as their head coach. We will all miss the great leadership and heart of our 6 graduating seniors. Magnet started 2 freshman, 2 sophmores, 4 juniors and 3 seniors so the future is still bright for this team.

Good luck to Barbe with Lafayette, it should be a great game.