United States Power Soccer Association

As the calendar switched to 2010, the Arizona Heat looked to build on a great 2009 by qualifying again for the National Tournament during the Western Regional in San Jose, Ca.  Along with a new season, 2010 also brought several changes to the Heat squad, including two new members. Athletes Katie Dickey and Ginny Munson joined the squad this season after moving to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. Once they joined the team, many hoped that they would bring their winning ways with them from their former squad in Indiana.

And they didn’t disappoint.

By Ben Carpenter

From Friday, March 5th to Saturday March 6th, the Atlanta teams, the Tigers and the Synergy, hosted the South Eastern Regional Tournament for 2010.  In pool play, each team played all of the other teams, which brought back some old rivalries, like the one between the Tampa Thunder and the Tampa Bay Crossfire.  Throughout all but one of the games, the Synergy clearly dominated in goals scored, while the opposing teams couldn't seem to get past the Synergy defense to score.  The Tidewater Piranahs were, in fact, the only team to score against the Synergy, but it still wasn't enough to win the game.  The Synergy scored seven goals, and the Piranhas scored twice on the Synergy.

This years Midwest Regional D2 tournament was held in a beautiful facility in the Monticello High School Field House. It provided nice seating for the fans. Good planning and hard working volunteers made it a good experience for everyone. We enjoyed great food, good company, and had fun seeing old friends and making new ones. We were lucky to have reasonable temperatures and NO SNOW STORM! Next time we should have the banquet on Saturday night so all can attend.

The theme of the games seemed to be rules, rules, rules, and more rules. The referees were very consistent and strict. Several people failed the post game speed tests. One person even failed the 1 hour recheck! I saw more red and yellow cards than I have ever seen before. Also more “2 on 1” and “3 in the box” calls than I have ever seen in a long time. There were many corrections by the refs in the goal area. Goalies and their back-up player were reminded where they could sit based on the goal line. Reminders of the rules by the refs were ongoing. They sometimes seemed more like coaches than refs. This was really good for new players.

I liked almost all parts of the refereeing – except the part where I got my first red card! I got it because I forgot a simple rule – I crossed the goal line and stopped a goal. Sorry DASA!! I disappointed myself and I let down my team. The game I was excluded from was expected to be our hardest one (Fearless Flyers). The points scored against my team in that game left us to play for 7th/8th place. The Courage Blizzards had a hard time getting it back together. To my teammates, I apologize for putting you in that situation. I broke the rules and my teammates suffered. I suggest every player and coach review all of the rules. I know that I will be doing that!

I am proud to say that my fellow team from the Courage Center, the Courage Thunder, took first place. The Turnstone Fearless Flyers took second. We will all be rooting for them at Nationals in Indianapolis in June.

The 2009 Eastern Regional Qualifier in Atlanta were the most fun that I have had in a long time. The teams that played in the event came from all over the Eastern United States, from New York to Florida. As if that wasn’t enough, it turned out that referees from all over the globe came to learn more about Power Soccer. The referees came from many countries: three from Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, two from Denmark, and one from Portugal. That was one aspect of this tournament that truly made it unique, that there were international referees of Power Soccer not only in attendance, but actually refereeing the games! I know it must have been a great experience for them.

The first day of the tournament, the Chattanooga Speeders were scheduled for only one game: against the Shepherd Strikers.The Strikers really played as a team, the way they passed to each other and the way their defense held against the Speeders’ offenses. That first game was rough, as each team held its own against the other, unable to score a single goal the first half. In the beginning of the last half, the Strikers continued to hold their own against the Speeders, but then Cameron Watkins (#1) of the Speeders got a goal by way of offensive kick right between the Strikers’ goalie and the goal post. That made the score 1-0 in the final moments of the second half. The Strikers did really well, but try as they might, they could not break through the Speeders’ defense to score a goal in order to tie the game. As a matter of fact, Rick Davis (#21) of the Speeders blocked many kicks from the offense from going over the goal line. The first game for the Chattanooga Speeders ended in victory against the Shepherd Strikers, 1-0.