Soccer Season

 This was a tough soccer season for Erik. Last season they played "up" at a lower level, but since they did so well, they played "up" at a higher level this season. Our opponents were usually a lot bigger kids with more advanced skills. Erik, being one of the youngest on our team and not being a very big kid, often looked tiny compared to some of those guys! So, while they played their hearts out, they lost all of their games and tied one, though that's debatable because Erik insists they won that game. Most of the losses weren't blow-outs though, and there were a few that we should have won, because we had dominated on the opposing team's side, but we just didn't score much and the other team was able to sneak a few goals in.

Erik still played goalkeeper for many of the games for one of the halves, though his size compared to the others and the size of the net made it harder for him to be as successful since he just couldn't get high enough to block some of the balls. He took a goalkeeper training class this season as well. What he really continued to excel in was his defensive skills. As usual, he had no fear and always held his ground, even when the guys were twice his size. He could sprint fast enough to keep up with most of them and at least get in their way. 

Unfortunately, at his last game, he made a super good defensive move to stop a player, but must have gotten kicked in the foot or the ball kicked into his for, he's not sure, and he collapsed to the ground. He writhed in pain a bit before his coaches carried him off the field. He sat out for a while, then tried to get back in, only to realize his foot still hurt and he couldn't play well enough. 

That last game was also the last game for the Sharks to play together. Coach Matt's retiring from coaching soccer because his son is going to play football in the fall. Matt has coached (it's a volunteer job) for about 8 years. Erik's been on his team for about 4 or 5 of those years with some of his friends from his previous team. With most of the team going into 8th grade, they're preparing for high school, so a lot of them are going to try the travel team or just a different sport. We finally decided that Erik would try out for the travel team in Plymouth. The friend he has played soccer with the longest, Shabeg, also tried out. Hopefully, they're on the same team together. Erik tried out on Saturday, Shabeg did the make-up tryout yesterday, so I haven't heard yet about him. Erik made the team, even with his injured foot!! We're so happy for him since soccer is the only thing he has really been involved in consistently. It's going to be a lot of fun!

At this point, his foot only hurts when he kicks a ball, so hopefully, it will heal with him not playing soccer over the summer. Tomorrow is the last day of school!

The size difference is definitely apparent with this team!

He's goalkeeper here.

He did enjoy his year trying out the trombone and has played well, so it looks like he has another interest!

Last team photo. He's kind of hiding in this pic in the mid-front.