2-1 Loss to Otsego

Boys,

Not our best performance tonight...by a long shot. Let it sting TEMPORARILY. Know that your coach STILL enjoys each and every day working with you (remember pre-game Wayland talk?). Yes, I'm a bit disappointed. But, yes, I KNOW we'll continue to get better...and better...and better!

See you tomorrow at 3 PM wearing gray. We have a date...to get better. :)

4-1 Win at Zeeland West

Feels good, don't it?! :) Proud of all of you!

Enjoy the evening, boys, BUT we have a LOT more to play for...continuing tomorrow vs. Otsego.

See below for a quick Otsego review/prep:

**Very physical play....
**Direct play offensively...through balls...will try to take outside backs 1 v. 1...
**Rotates two GK's...
**Back 4 plays high...attempts offside traps...through balls will be effective if we are aware of traps...
**We can have possession/overall success!

Keep this thing rollin', boys. See you tomorrow in my room by 3 PM. Take care!

5-0 Loss to H.C.

Boys,

Keep the faith...especially since last night was a positive overall step for us a group vs. a talented, state-ranked team. As I mentioned after the game, I was impressed with physical and mental contributions from the 16 available guys throughout the contest...and at a typically tough venue.

Now it's revenge time tomorrow at Zeeland West! Let's get 'em.....

Upcoming Week

Hello, everyone! Enjoying our first, beautiful fall weekend, I'm hoping?? Boys, preparing for school on Monday as well as a big game at H.C.?!!

Here goes with the upcoming week, all:

**Monday: game at H.C. (jv = 5:30 PM)...wear black jerseys to school...bus leaves at 4:30 PM...meet directly on bus...will eat team meal upon arrival at H.C....Ryan = meal/vid....gray warm-up t's.

Holland Christian prep...big, tall, fast, talented...Eggers = very strong up front...very good in the air (must challenge everything, Hamilton, including the second balls!)...possession team...good with set plays...adequate GK with mid-range goal kicks (let's test him!)....very bouncy, fast turf...

**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Wednesday: game at Z.W. (jv = 5 PM)...REVENGE TIME!...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my classroom at 3:30...bus at 4:15 PM...Caden= meal/vid...wear gray practice t's. DISTRICT DRAW TODAY.
**Thursday: home game vs.  non-conference Otsego...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...Brady/Henry = ball boys...Jack = meal/vid...wear black practice t's.
**Friday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.

Note: Congrats to Brady Gilbert for having been named by his peers late this past week as next week's alternate team captain. Nice job!

That's it for now, everyone. As you can imagine, a HUGE week of game experience as well as continued improvement in training sessions.

Let's get 'er back goin'! 

2-0 Loss to Byron Center

Gents!

As mentioned after the game today: NO LOVE LOST! You are STILL and ALWAYS valued...no matter what. Believe it!

Much better effort today compared to our last game...and WE KEEP GETTING BETTER STARTING TOMORROW IN PRACTICE!

See you soon...wearing gray :)

8-0 Loss to Holland

Hang in there, boys! All a part of the overall learning process...

Beat B.C. tomorrow!! 

Upcoming Week

Hello, everyone! Hope the last summer weekend (on the calendar) has been a great one for you and yours!

Let's get ready for another productive, full week of student-athlete life:

**Monday: game @ Holland (jv = 5 PM)...wear black uniform in school...black warm-up top otherwise...meet in my classroom at 3:30 P.M....Andrew = meal/vid...bus leaves at 4 PM...see Alicia if needed before then!

(Quick Holland team reminders: solid play throughout the lineup...will shoot from distance...good possession team...big Hispanic front-runner attacker with pace and skills...young overall team...up and down season for them...can be beaten...let's win the battle in our minds before we even step on the field!)

**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray
**Wednesday: home game vs. B.Center...what to wear to school = TBD...Henry/Ryan = ball boys...Mikah = meal/vid...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...black t's for warm-up.
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray
**Friday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black
**Near future: grade check! Take care of business in the classroom, gents! 

**Sundays: early PM skill training with Adam Mena on the practice field if interested?? See Brady for details/"sign-up".

Note: Congrats to Logan Hilldore for having been voted on Friday by his peers as the alternate captain coming up this week for his positive play as of late. Nice job!

Reminder: Will check in with you regarding "Purple Game" t-shirts ($10) if interested on Monday! Please ask permission, etc. No pressure though! This is optional. "Purple Game" football game is Friday, Oct. 2.

Let's get back to winning ways this week, guys! We have one half of the season remaining! And please get mentally and physically ready for a big day tomorrow in the classroom and on the soccer field...

5-0 Loss to Unity

Boys,

Time to get tougher....mostly physically...against every and all of our remaining opponents. I thought today we were mostly pups as opposed to sharks when it came to physical battles...especially on dead balls/set plays. We will get better with this! It's the difference between winning and losing in a lot of cases. Concerted effort on all our parts from here on out!

See you tomorrow for another chance to get better in practice. Wear black.

Take care!

1-0 OT Loss to Z.West

Gents,

Hang in there. All in the learning process, right? Next time (IF there is a next time), we stay composed in OT, continue to play our possession game, bury chances on net, and go home happy(ier).

See you tomorrow for 3-5 practice and the team dinner to follow at the Robinson household (52 W. 18th st. in Holland)! 

Take care and keep collective heads up.

Upcoming Week

Hi, boys soccer fam!

Hope all is well and that this very autumn-like weekend is treating you well. Go Green tonight...(MSU "green", that is)! :)

Please see below for the lineup for our first conference week of the season...an important one:

**Monday: home game vs. Z.West (minus Caden due to band performance...good luck, Caden!)...WEAR WHITE JERSEYS TO SCHOOL...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...Christian = meal/vid...SETH/DYLAN = BALL BOYS...gray practice t's for warm-ups.
**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black...TEAM DINNER @ ROBINSON'S (530-645 PM).
**Wednesday: home game vs. Unity Christian...Ray = meal/vid...Jared/Ross = ball boys...meet in my room by 3 PM...what to wear in school = TBD...gray practice t's for the game.
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Friday: 3-430 PM practice (with 7th/8th grade teams)...wear gray.

Note: Congratulations to Andrew Caswell for having been voted by his peers this past Friday as an alternate team captain for the coming week. He joins Ryan VanOss as the other alternate. Well done!!

Stay tuned for a separate email re: scouting report for Z.West (repeat of practice on Friday)! Boys, please remember the post-practice talk about Monday games and being mature/on point during the weekend in those cases.

Take care, all!

3-0 Win vs. Fennville

Boys,

Well done today in taking care of business vs. visiting regional rival Fennville. Loved that multiple players got in on the offensive action. Loved that the defense (with GK) cleaned house with a shutout. Loved that we continue our daily progress to bigger and better things.

And we keep moving forward! And forward! And forward!

See you tomorrow for 3 to 430 practice. Wear black. Take care!

5-0 Win at Hopkins

Gents,

As I mentioned after the game today, I'm impressed with your mental toughness in dealing with the first day of school (and all the stress that comes with that) and the weather issues while taking care of business vs. Hopkins.

I really thought that offensively, we looked like a cohesive unit overall today. And to come out defensively with a shutout--playing mostly safe and smart out of the back--is always a good thing.

Nice job...and let's keep building!

See you tomorrow for an important pre-game practice...wear black. :)

Upcoming Week

Happy holiday weekend, all! Hope it's an all-around great one for you and yours.

Please see below regarding the upcoming weekly schedule..."Back to School Week!"

**Monday (Labor Day): required practice 5-6:45 PM...wear black.
**Tuesday (first day of school!): varsity-only game @ Hopkins (4:30 PM)...meet in my room by 2:45 for team meal/meeting...bus leaves at 3:15...Riley = food/beverage...wear gray practice t's. What to wear in school = TBD.
**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.
**Thursday: home game vs. Fennville...meet in my room by 3 PM...Jack/Logan H. = ball boys...Dylan = food/beverage/vid....wear gray. What to wear in school = TBD.
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black

**Looking ahead to NEXT Tuesday: Varsity team dinner hosted by the Robinsons at 5:30 P.M. after practice that day! Just bring your hungry, thirsty selves, and we've got the rest!

Note: Congrats to Seth Hukill for having been voted by his peers this past Friday as "mentally tough". He will be our alternate captain this week. Well deserved!

That's it for now, guys! Please keep in mind: starting on Tuesday, you are true STUDENT-athletes. Take care of the classroom from the outset as that is always your first priority!

4-2 Loss at Wayland

Gents,

As always, keep your collective heads up! This is all a learning process, and trust that we ARE getting better...despite what the scoreboard says at times.

As mentioned after the game: training/practice is EQUALLY important to actual games/matches, so get ready to get better tomorrow in 10-noon practice (wear gray) and get as HEALTHY as possible! We need all hands on deck!

See ya'll soon. Alicia available from 7:30 to 11:30 tomorrow AM!

5-3 Loss vs. Hudsonville

Proud of you, boys!!

But please keep in mind what I mentioned after the game: I fully plan on being MORE proud of you for future results this season, and "moral victories" are NOT in our vocabulary.  But all things considering today, it was a quality result against a quality opponent.

And, of course, we CAN and WILL get better!

See you all tomorrow for 3 to 5 PM practice. Wear gray. Take care!

Upcoming Week

Greetings, everyone! Hope you've been able to enjoy the weekend thus far despite the clouds and rain!!

Please see below regarding our full week's schedule coming up here:

**Monday: practice 10-12...wear gray...online apparel orders DUE by midnight.
**Tuesday: home game vs. Hudsonville (545 PM)...meet in my room by 315 PM...wear black practice t's...Seth/Caden = ball boys...Brady = food/vid.
**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM (due to teacher in-service meetings all day)...wear gray.
**Thursday: game at Wayland (445 PM)...wear black...bus leaves at 115 PM...meet on the bus by then...Henry = food (on the bus upon arrival to Wayland)/vid...all players required to ride the bus home.
**Friday: practice 10-12...watch MSU beat WMU in football later in the evening. Go Green! :)

Note: In addition to Jack Gilbert being honored as the team's first alternate captain this past week (communication skills), congrats also to Ryan VanOss and Mikah Sengmany being chosen by their peers this past Friday as current alternate captains for consistently displaying physical toughness. Nice job, all around, gentlemen!

That's it for now, all. Have a great, therapeutic remainder of the weekend!

8-0 Win at Saugatuck

Overall, well done today, boys, in taking care of business vs. a lesser opponent (at least in terms of soccer technique/ability). That's a team we SHOULD have taken care of, and after a lull to start the game, we certainly DID in the end. Should be a bit of a confidence booster, yes?!

See you all tomorrow for 9-noon practice. Meet outside and wear gray!

5-1 Loss to Allegan

Hey, guys!

Please keep your collective heads up as we proceed through this early, learning-oriented portion of the season. We ran into a pretty good team today while we're still putting together some positive pieces. We are not a polished product yet but continuing down that path!

Keep the faith.

See you tomorrow for immediate redemption vs. Saugatuck--our first away game of the season.

Take care!

Upcoming Week

Hi, all!

Please see below regarding this upcoming week's lineup-- week #2 of the season:

**Monday: practice 9-noon...meet in my room by 9 AM...wear black.
**Tuesday: home game vs. Allegan...meet in my room by 3:15 PM...wear gray. Riley/Mikah = ball boys...Jared = food/vid.
**Wednesday: game @ Saugatuck (1 PM...no JV)...meet in my room at 11:15 AM...Bryce = food...bus leaves at noon...wear black...must ride the bus home for all away games!
**Thursday: practice 9-noon...wear gray
**Friday: practice 9-noon...wear black

Note: check out hudl game footage when you can...study up on teammate info...review team goals!

Let's keep up this positive start, gentlemen! Looking forward to seeing you all again tomorrow AM.

2-2 Tie vs. Black River

Hey, all!

Positive first effort today vs. Black River in our first contest of the season. Keep your collective heads up! Obviously, a win is better than a tie, but we had a lot of good things happening today on the field. And we keep building!

Check out "game recaps" below and to the left for game highlights/specifics if you so choose.

Stay tuned later this weekend for next week's lineup.

Looking forward to seeing you all again!