Closing Ceremonies

Wow. That's all I can really say. Wow. The Closing Ceremonies were awesome! There were multiple speeches and awards were presented. Team USA placed 6th in the tournament. Much higher than I think many anticipated we'd rank, since soccer seems to be a newer sport to the states. (At least, compared to the other countries that were there.)  Our own RJ Noll was presented with a Best Unified Partner award, which was well deserved and he should be immensely proud of it! There was tons of confetti when the 1st place winners, Ecuador, were presented with their medals and trophies.  Afterwards, a Latin band played and there was TONS of dancing! All the players had an amazing time! After the ceremonies, Biz took us a an awesome Costa Rican restaurant, overlooking the city. It was beautiful and the food was so good!  Then it was off to the hotel for a mass swag swap! The Sounders kits were a HIT! Everyone from every team was trying to swap for our gear! It was insane! 

Team USA at the Closing Ceremonies

Our view from the restaurant.

Daniel, from Guatemala. We gave him a full kit because he had the biggest smile and biggest heart out of everyone at the tournament.

Team Honduras, signing a shirt for Scott to bring back to Mario Martinez. 

USA v. El Salvador

8:06 CR Time- Team USA is at a new stadium today, Cuty Monge.  Match starts at 9:00 am, Costa Rica time. :) (8 am, Pacific Time)

Team USA starting 11: RJ Noll (38 - Keeper), Christian Freitas (9 - Forward), Levi Arthur (7 - Defense), John Emmitt (6 - Defense), Dionte McGrew (3 - Mid), Jowell Figueras (12 - Mid), Joe Hill (8 - Forward), Kasey French (34 - Mid), Ivory Randle IV (21 - Defense), Daniel Espeleta (32 - Mid), and Alex Ptachik (18 - Defense).

9:00 CR - Kickoff!

9:08 CR - GOOOOOOOAALLLLL!!! Kasey French heads one in over the El Salvador goalie! 

9:28 CR - Yellow card for Ivory Randle IV.

9:33 CR - Halftime whistle. USA ahead 1-0.

9:47 CR - 2nd half starting. Final 30 minutes of the tournament! If USA wins, we take 5th place out of 11 teams. Much higher than I'm sure we were anticipated.

9:50 CR - El Saladpr makes a couple subs during half.

9:50 CR - 2 awesome back-to-back goal attempts made by Kasey French. Both saved by El Salvador.

9:53 CR - Great goal attempt by Joe Hill, but it ends up slightly wide.

9:55 CR - Goal by El Salvador. 1-1.

9:55 CR - El Salvador substitution.

10:01 CR - Team USA substitution: Miles Sanchez (16 - Mid) for Daniel Espeleta.

10:07 CR - Penalty kick given to El Salvador.  They score, making it 1-2.

10:09 CR - Cody Peterson (10 - Defense) going in for Levi Arthur.

10:14 CR - Peace Drevitch (4 - Forward) going in for Kasey French.

10:18 CR - El Salvador scores but its called offsides and taken back. Score still 1-2, El Salvador.

10:22 CR - Final whistle. El Salvador takes it, 1-2. Team USA ends the tournament in 6th place.

Team USA after the final match! (And me!) 

More Pictures!!!

Make sure to check out the picassa album with more pictures on it! The wifi is slow at the hotel, so I'll be loading a lot more once I get home. :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/102413731066139473509/CostaRicaTournament?authuser=0&feat=directlink

USA v Nicaragua, Part Two!

9:04 CR Time - Team USA heading to Colleya Fonseca for our 11:00 a.m. CR time match against Nicaragua. 

10:30 CR - Team USA on the pitch and warming up! 

Team USA Starting 11: RJ Noll (38 - Keeper), Christian Freitas (9 - Forward), Dionte McGrew (3 - Forward), Cody Peterson (10 - Mid), Kasey French (34 - Mid),  Miles Sanchez (16 - Mid), Jowell Figueras (12 - Mid), Captain Peace Drevitch (4 - Defense), Levi Arthur (7 - Defense), Alex Ptachick (18 - Defense), and Ali Hilowli (5 - Mid)

11:01 CR - GOOOOOOALLLLL! Peace Drevitch with USA's first goal of the match!

From the sidelines:

11:12 CR - Free kick for Miles Sanchez ends up just barely over the net. Great try though! 

11:19 CR - Substitution for Nicaragua.

11:20 CR - Great shot attempt for Cody Peterson, but it's caught by the keeper.

11:20 CR - Yellow card for Dionte McGrew. 

11:28 CR - Halftime. USA up 1-0!

11:33 CR - Halftime pep talk from Coach Dennis.

11:45 CR - 2nd half starts!

11:56 CR - USA substitution: Daniel Espeleta (34 - Mid) in for Kasey French.

12:05 CR - USA substitutions: John Emmott (6 - Mid) in for Jowell Figueras,  Ivory Randle IV (21 - Mid) in for Miles Sanchez, and Joe Hill (8 - Forward) in for Christian Freitas.

12:20 CR - Final whistle! Team USA takes it! 1-0!

USA v Paraguay

10:57 CR Time - Kickoff! Starting 11: Dionte McGrew (3 - Forward), Levi Arthur (7 - Forward), Jowell Figueras (12 - Mid), Cody Peterson (10 - Mid), Kasey French (34 - Mid), Miles Sanchez (16 - Mid), John Emmitt (6 - Defense), Captain Peace Drevitch (4 - Defense) Ivory Randle IV (21 - Defense), Ali Hilowli (5 - Defense) RJ Noll (38 - Keeper)

11:04 CR - Yellow card to Peace Drevitch.

11:14 CR - Paraguay shoots and RJ Noll makes a great save!

11:16 CR - Paraguay clips Dionte McGrew at the ankle and he goes down.  After a minute, he's back up and in the game.

11:23 CR - Paraguay given a free kick and misses. Score still 0-0. Halftime coming soon!

11:27 CR - With less than a minute left before halftime, Paraguay scores! 0-1.

11:42 CR - 2nd half begins! Paraguay makes a keeper substitution.

11:47 CR - Paraguay scores again. 0-2.

11:52 CR - USA's first substitution: Christian Freitas (9 -Forward ) in for Jowell Figueras.

11:54 CR - Second substitution for Team USA: Jaeger Skifstad (11 - Mid) in for Miles Sanchez.

11:58 CR - Third substitution for Team USA: Alex Ptachik (18- Mid) going in for Kasey French. 

11:59 CR - 2 amazing back to back saves by RJ Noll! 

12:03 CR - Paraguay substitution.

12:05 CR - Paraguay is making a lot of shot attempts, but most have been high or wide. Team USA is fighting hard!

12:08 CR - RJ goes for a wide block, ball bounces off and back to Paraguay. They shoot and it's SAVED by Alex Ptachik! 

12:12 CR - Paraguay scores their third goal and promptly gets a yellow for excessive celebration. (Pulling his shirt up.) 0-3.

12:13 CR - Paraguay scored their fourth. 0-4.

12:15 CR - Paraguay scores a 5th.

12:16 CR - Final whistle. Paraguay wins 0-5. Team USA played hard though and should be very proud!