SAN RAMON - The Crystals faced off against the Pearls this afternoon at Quail Run Park. The Crystals got their first goal of the game when Jillian Weber got a pass from Joy Tuteja in front of the goal and then shot it over the goalie’s head. Jillian got her second goal a couple of minutes later after splitting a couple of Pearls defenders and then poked in a shot with her left foot.

Grace Platts took a throw-in from Jillian and drove towards the goal and slipped the ball past the goalie for the third and final goal for the first half.

Jillian was placed in as goalie for the second half again and had some spectacular moments back there. Early in the second half, Jillian came out of the box to get the ball and decided to just keep going. She dribbled all the way down to the Pearls’ goal box and shot it just over the goal. I had challenged her to try this and Jillian gave it a valiant effort. I figured she would try it once and that would be it. Well, Joy scored a goal as a very aggressive defender (a defender waiting in the Pearls’ goal box???) and then Sarah did a nice job of scoring as well, so the score was 5-0 and the game all but over. Well, Jillian was still in at goal keeper and the Pearls made the mistake of getting the ball down to her. Jillian had apparently decided she was going to get that goal as a goal keeper, so she sprinted past everyone up the left hand side of the field, did a move on the Pearls’ goalie so that she actually fell to the ground and then Jillian tapped the ball in with her left foot. It was a spectacular play, but the Pearls coaches were going ballistic. They were not appreciative of it and thought that I was showing up their team. I honestly didn’t think Jillian was going to go off again, but then again, I didn’t tell her not to do it, so I do have to take responsibility for that.

Regardless, because of the reaction of the Pearls coaches, it is not likely that we will see Jillian score as a goalie again, even if she is probably capable of it.

All in all, it was another great game for the girls. This next game will be against the Garnets and I think they will pose a much better challenge than the last two games.


End of Game Awards
victory patch: the Crystals
goal patch: Jillian Weber, Grace Platts, Joy Tuteja, Sarah Chi
defender of the game patch: Sarah Chi
lightning hustle patch: Jillian Weber
star of the game patch: Alicia Seronio

Game Stats:

Goals:
Jillian Weber 3
Grace Platts 1
Joy Tuteja 1
Sarah Chi 1

Assists:
Joy Tuteja 1
Jillian Weber 1

Season Stats:

Goals:
Jillian Weber 5
Grace Platts 2
Brittany Jimena 1
Zoe Papadopolous 1
Alicia Seronio 1
Joy Tuteja 1
Sarah Chi 1

Crystals 12
Opponents 1

Assists:
Joy Tuteja 2
Jillian Weber 2