The final game of the final chapter. Oh boy! It's taken me quite a while to write this review as I have agonized over it. What do I say? How do I say it? I did start this on Saturday night. But it just never sounded right. Good thing I don't have a deadline to publish huh?
Well, four years of Brooks School Boys Varsity Soccer has almost completed. 60 regular season games. 59 regular season starts for Zach. Obviously there were additional pre-season games and 6 post season games over the first three years. I remember each and every one of them quite vividly. I've recorded official thoughts and my own thoughts into the cloud where they will live forever. Zach will be able to read them to his grand kids some day. It's nice in a way to think about that. Sad in another. I've also gone back to record the first years prior to finding blogging into the blog. I've added pictures and videos too. If you're curious just look at brookssoccer2009.blogspot.com (or 2010, 2011 or 2012). They are all there now.
As for the St. Paul's game, it followed the pattern. Brooks pressed quite hard and controlled play. Unfortunately, they had difficulty finding the net. Zach played possessed. The rest of the team played very well as well. But St. Paul's did not quit. They fought. They fought hard. It took 55 minutes for the ice to be broken. A great pass from Sam sent Alex in. 1-0 Brooks!! About 15 minutes later Zach sprung Bruno in and the security blanket goal was in hand. At exactly the same moment of the celebration of the second goal, I spotted Dusty running out onto the field screaming something. I commented, asking who was that guy? It's been 4 full years and I've seen animation from Dusty, but NOTHING like that!! It took me a minute, but I realized he had just received a call from the Rivers coach letting him know that Rivers had lost!! He was letting the guys know they had 20 minutes to go to secure a co championship! WOW!!!! What timing!! Tears from some of the guys and some of the parents too! It was a fantastic feeling to say the least.
The final 20 minutes saw Brooks defending very hard. Not caring at all about the offensive side of the ball. Zach was pulled back to mid field (He is a good defender and ball handler as well). He and all the guys played very smart. Bringing the ball back out of pressure. Playing to the open man. Eating the clock.
At the final whistle, the team, the coaches, the fans and the parents all swarmed the field. The guys all piled on top of Matty. We were all worried he may not survive the pig pile to play another day!! He did! They all did. Hugs all around. This was the first Championship for Brooks since 2003 and Charlie Davies!! The team gathered once more before breaking to find parents and friends. The surrounded Zach and chanted his name!! Zach! Zach, Zach, Zach!!! Evidently there was a little teasing in there because Zach had recorded his first assist of the season on the Bruno goal. It was fun to watch and listen to!!
After things settled a bit Zach found and hugged his mom and his sister and brother. He hugged his cousins Jason & Gloria who had come up to watch along with Little Cody. He then turned to me and ran to me. I caught him. He was almost in tears saying "We did it Dad!! We did it!! We are Champions in my senior year!!" He almost knocked me over when he ran to me. He almost had me in tears! It was the most fantastic feeling for sure. Slowly, the celebration settled and the talk of the tournament began. Something to look forward to. More games. At least one more at home in North Andover!! The official seeding watch began. Obviously I posted the seedings before completing this. I've even posted the official score from today's first round win. We know there is at least 1 more game. And we know who the opponent will be as well. Rivers! The Revenge!! (hopefully!!).
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