2nd Annual O'Hara Invite - Girls Division
The second day of the O'Hara Invite was slated for the Girls Tournament. This year, expanded to 8 teams, 4 from Philly, 4 from VA, NJ, and NY. We hope to continue to build up this tournament to become a premier venue in the Girls HS Ultimate scene. The tournament featured 2 Eastern's teams, 2 Amherst Invite teams, and some growing and developing teams.
Columbia
O'Hara last matched up with Columbia at Eastern's, losing 9 - 5. Back then, GirlSquad was never really in the game. This time, O'Hara started out with a 3 - 1 lead before giving up a Callahan goal. O'Hara managed to hold it together, with Columbia eventually taking half, 7 - 6. Unfortunately, after half, it was all Columbia, as they took the game, 12 - 8. O'Hara's defense was not able to stay on Columbia's disc movement. The zone caused problems, but the confidence and experience of Sparkle Motion proved too much for GirlSquad.
Haverford
Having lost the first game, O'Hara was playing for 5th place and some pride. The second game brought Haverford, fresh off a 13 - 1 loss to YHB. The game featured some of the longest points in a game that I have ever witnessed. The score was 2 - 1 almost an hour into the game. GirlSquad would score a quick point, then proceed to have a very long point following that. It was a matter of getting tired, then trying to force the disc, or come up with a big huck. That would usually result in a turnover, followed by tough defense, which was immediately followed up by a hurried offense, a bad choice, or a huck. On a day as hot as Sunday, temperatures in the 90's, the long points wore down O'Hara, but GirlSquad held on for the 6 - 2 win.
Beacon
A rematch of the semi-final game from Green Eggs, both teams were tired, but Beacon had some left in the tank. A number of the O'Hara girls were suffering from dehydration, exhaustion, and the heat in general. That being said, adverse conditions bring out the best in competitors. For most of the beginning of the game, it seemed many of the girls had checked out, at one point, a pull hit one of the girls in the leg, resulting in a easy score, and Beacon took a 7 - 4 lead as the soft cap went on. With the pressure on, O'Hara started a comeback. O'Hara ran off a string of 3 solid points, to tie the game, just as the time cap sounded. Universe point, with O'Hara pulling upwind. This point would last 25 minutes. Both teams had a ton of chances, moving the disc back and forth, up and down the field. O'Hara had the disc on the goal line, at least once, and another time, was able to call a time out just 5 or 6 yards from the winning score. Both times, O'Hara failed to convert. It was at the end of the game, Beacon scoring the winning goal, 8 - 7.
It was obvious that O'Hara did not lose the games due to lack of skill. GirlSquad is playing extremely well and the skill level is there. The biggest problem is lack of experience playing together and working as a team. That is a major issue that needs to be addressed with more practice, and more games. Experience is the biggest factor, and this tournament added a ton of experience to a very young roster.
Columbia
O'Hara last matched up with Columbia at Eastern's, losing 9 - 5. Back then, GirlSquad was never really in the game. This time, O'Hara started out with a 3 - 1 lead before giving up a Callahan goal. O'Hara managed to hold it together, with Columbia eventually taking half, 7 - 6. Unfortunately, after half, it was all Columbia, as they took the game, 12 - 8. O'Hara's defense was not able to stay on Columbia's disc movement. The zone caused problems, but the confidence and experience of Sparkle Motion proved too much for GirlSquad.
Haverford
Having lost the first game, O'Hara was playing for 5th place and some pride. The second game brought Haverford, fresh off a 13 - 1 loss to YHB. The game featured some of the longest points in a game that I have ever witnessed. The score was 2 - 1 almost an hour into the game. GirlSquad would score a quick point, then proceed to have a very long point following that. It was a matter of getting tired, then trying to force the disc, or come up with a big huck. That would usually result in a turnover, followed by tough defense, which was immediately followed up by a hurried offense, a bad choice, or a huck. On a day as hot as Sunday, temperatures in the 90's, the long points wore down O'Hara, but GirlSquad held on for the 6 - 2 win.
Beacon
A rematch of the semi-final game from Green Eggs, both teams were tired, but Beacon had some left in the tank. A number of the O'Hara girls were suffering from dehydration, exhaustion, and the heat in general. That being said, adverse conditions bring out the best in competitors. For most of the beginning of the game, it seemed many of the girls had checked out, at one point, a pull hit one of the girls in the leg, resulting in a easy score, and Beacon took a 7 - 4 lead as the soft cap went on. With the pressure on, O'Hara started a comeback. O'Hara ran off a string of 3 solid points, to tie the game, just as the time cap sounded. Universe point, with O'Hara pulling upwind. This point would last 25 minutes. Both teams had a ton of chances, moving the disc back and forth, up and down the field. O'Hara had the disc on the goal line, at least once, and another time, was able to call a time out just 5 or 6 yards from the winning score. Both times, O'Hara failed to convert. It was at the end of the game, Beacon scoring the winning goal, 8 - 7.
It was obvious that O'Hara did not lose the games due to lack of skill. GirlSquad is playing extremely well and the skill level is there. The biggest problem is lack of experience playing together and working as a team. That is a major issue that needs to be addressed with more practice, and more games. Experience is the biggest factor, and this tournament added a ton of experience to a very young roster.
posted by Tom Cook at
12:25 PM
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