Sam Miesemer with possession. Last Saturday the U-11 Xtreme traveled to North Massapequa to play the Plainedge Dare Devils. A strong wind combined with a dry and dusty field, made the playing conditions very unfavorable. The Xtreme overcame the elements and rallied back from a 1-0 deficit to win the match, 2-1.

From the start of the match, the Xtreme were the dominant team. Quicker to the ball than the Dare Devils, the team had the majority of possessions. Moving the ball with precision and hitting their target players time after time, the Xtreme frequently had the Dare Devil's back line under pressure. The Xtreme midfielders did an excellent job of staying wide and carrying the ball into the Plainedge defensive area. The back line repeatedly denied the Dare Devils from clearing the ball out of their defensive end by taking the ball out of the air and playing it back to their forwards. Plainedge did get the only goal of the half at the 17-minute mark, but it would be their only score of the match.

At the start of the second half, the Xtreme increased the amount of pressure on the Dare Devils, hoping their defense would break. At the 10:30 mark in the second half, it finally happened. Isabel McKeown took a pass from her back line and found Lauren Miesemer making a diagonal run at the top of the 18 yard box. Lauren put a touch on the ball and then drove it into the lower left hand corner of the goal to tie the match. At this point the team was relieved and energized. The determined players continuously won the battle for possession. With 9 minutes remaining in the match, Isabel pushed a through ball past the Plainedge back line. Lauren sprinted onto the ball and again beat the keeper with another well struck drive. In the remaining minutes, the defense rose to the challenge of holding off their opponents as they pushed everyone forward in the remaining minutes.

Colette Seel maneuvers on the touch line. The Xtreme look forward to their home match this Saturday against the Levittown Panthers.

Isabel McKeown goes past the defender. Katie Roscoe plays the long ball. Deanna DiPierro takes a goal kick. Cara Adams dribbles out of pressure.