Our Day Off!

I'd like to start by saying thank you for all the comments that you've left on the blog! I'm thrilled to hear that you are all enjoying our updates!

Today was considered a day off for all the teams in the tournament, so Team USA took the opportunity to do some sightseeing.  They started the day with some soccer tennis, in order to keep their focus on why we're here and to have some bonding time.  Afterwards, we all met in the lobby and hopped on the shuttle to Avenida Central, in the center of San Jose and where there is tons of shopping!  Biz (our nickname for our guide, Bismark) directed us through blocks of central San Jose.  There was even an area where they'll give you corn to feed the pigeons and let me tell you, those pigeons are not shy!  You'll understand when you see the pictures below!  Our tour ended with a local market, where the guys got to browse and pick up souvenirs for themselves and their families.  The market was awesome.  It was a tight walkthrough, but wasn't crowded.  Each little store was filled with dresses, beautiful painted feathers, magnets, coffee products, and anything Costa Rican you could think of.  The guys loved it and were able to go off on their own and explore at their leisure because the set up was perfect for coaches and staff to keep an eye on everyone.  I fell in love with one item I couldn't take with me!  A stray kitten that was insanely adorable.  (What can I say, I have a very soft spot for animals! See picture below.)  Once everyone got some shopping it, Biz took us across the street to an amazing Costa Rican restaurant, where we had one of the best meals I've had this whole trip!  Seasoned chicken with rice and beans, along with fried plantains and followed with rice pudding.  (Great restaurant, Bismark!)  Once we got back to the hotel, the guys were directed to relax and meet for dinner at 7.  Tomorrow, we begin the second round of the tournament and we play Portugal , which I believe is ranked third.  (I will have to confirm that.)  Make sure to send good vibes down for the team, it will be a challenging match, but our boys have proven that they have the skills, talent, and the heart to play along side every one of the teams down here! Go Team USA!!!

(Pictures are slightly out of order.  Some are from my iPhone and others are from Norm's camera.)

Soccer Tennis

 

Walking through town

 

 Beautiful local flowers

 

 Norm and I with some local K9 officers

 

The Biz! 

Andrew and Levi

 

Ali, Norm, and Levi

 

Jowell's sister with the pigeons! (Told you they weren't shy!)

 

Peace with the pigeons

 

Now it's Ali's turn!

 

Norm and Jowell

 

Brian with Jowell and his grandmother

 

At the amazing restaurant

 

Jowell and Ali

 

 

 

The stray kitten that I wanted to take with me so bad! (We got her some chicken to eat.)

 

The inside of the restaurant

Biz and Norm with Biz's friend who worked at the restaurant

 

Our amazing food!

 

 

 The coaches ordered coffee and this is how it's served! Brewed right in front of you. Scott said it was amazing.

 

USA ranks 4th!

Team USA ranks 4th in the tournament! Awesome news! We'll be playing Portugal tomorrow at 11:00 am, CR Time!

After our match yesterday, we all piled into the bus and traveled to Jaco beach, on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. On the way, we stopped and walked across a bridge, where meters below us, there were the largest crocodiles I've ever seen! Apparently, the crocs stick around because tourists throw food down to them. They were very fun to watch when raw meat (which they sell on the road there) was tossed down.

Crocs

(The pictures don't do their size justice!)

About 20 minutes after the croc bridge, we arrived at the Best Western in Jaco Beach, where Bismarck (or Biz, as we've nicknamed him) had arranged it so we could use their facilities while we were there.  The boys had a blast playing in the ocean for hours!  We even got surfboards and boogie boards for them to play with.  Even with the overcast, the air was warm and the ocean was warmer! 

The ride back was quite, with all the guys wiped out from swimming.  Dinner awaited them, followed promptly by bed! It was a good day! 

USA v Honduras

9:07 CR - Team USA is at the stadium early. Match starts at 11 CR time.  Honduras is also undefeated and has been running up the scores on their matches (9-0 & 13-0)! But our keeper, RJ, is spot on, so I have faith! It'll be a tough match, but our boys are ready! Levi got some much needed rest yesterday and will be getting a massage before the match. We're fairly positive he'll be ready to play today.  Stay tuned for match updates.

Levi getting checked out by Scott

10:44 CR - Team USA on the pitch, warming up!  (They've been warming up, but I had to make a Walmart run for food! 16 teenage boys eat a LOT!) 

11:00 CR - Kickoff. Starting 11: Jowell  (12 - Forward), Christian Freitas (9 - Forward), Levi Arthur (7 - Mid), Miles Sanchez (16 - Mid), Kasey French (34 - Mid), Dionte McGrew (3 - Mid), Ali Hilowli (5 - Defense), Ivory Randle IV (21 - Defense), John Emmitt (6 - Defense), and Captain Peace Drevitch (4 - Defense).

11:00 CR - Early penalty kick for Miles Sanchez, blocked by Honduras' keeper. 

11:08 CR - Honduras knocks Kasey French down in the box, giving USA a free penalty kick. Miles Sanchez takes the kick and scores! GOOOOOOALLLL!!!! Honduras gives up their first goal of the tournament!

11:12 CR - Honduras allowed a penalty kick and it's SAVED BY RJ NOLL!!!! 

11:18 CR - Honduras already making 2 substitutions. 

11:21 CR - Yellow card for Miles Sanchez.

11:22 CR - Another amazing save by RJ Noll! Followed quickly by ANOTHER one! RJ is really earning his keep! (Hehe, see what I did there?) :)

11:30 CR - Halftime. USA up 1-0 against a challenging team!

Halftime pep talk by Coach Dennis

11:45 CR - 3 substitutions for Team USA.  Jaeger Skifstad (11 - Mid) in for Miles Sanchez, Daniel Espeleta (32 - Mid) in for Kasey French, and Cody Peterson (10 - Forward) in for Christian Freitas.

11:45 CR - Penalty kick allowed for Hondurus. They score an equalizer. 1-1.  

11:52 CR - USA substitution. Alex Ptachik (18 - Defense) in for Ivory Randle IV.

12:02 CT - USA last substitution: Joe Hill (8 - Forward) in for Jowell Figueras. 

12:03 CT - Honduras scores to get ahead 1-2. 

12:06 CT - Honduras scores again to make it 1-3.

12:12 CT - Honduras scores again to make it 1-4, as Alex Ptachik picks up a yellow card.

12:20 CT - Final whistle. Honduras takes this match, 1-4.

Group photo with both teams

USA v Guatemala

9:49 CR Time - USA plays Guatemala in a little over an hour. This should be a fun match. Guatemala's team has been beyond inviting and friendly since we met them the night we arrived. Stay tuned for match updates on this blog post! :) 

10:41 CR Time - Team USA is on the pitch warming up. Match time in 20 minutes! 

10:57 CR Time - Minutes from kickoff!

Starting 11: RJ (38 - Keeper), Christian Freitas (9 - Forward), Joe Hill (8 - Forward), Jaeger Skifstad (11 - Mid), Levi Arthur (7 - Mid), Dionte McGrew (3 - Mid), Ali Hilowli (5 - Defense), John Emmett (6 - Defense), Daniel Espeleta (32 - Mid), Alex Ptachik (18 - Defense), & Captain Peace Drevitch (4 - Defense). (Sorry they're out of order!)

11:24 CR Time - Hard challenge, studs up to Peace's shin area, leads to a no hesitation yellow card for Guatemala. 

11:29 CR Time - Half time. Score still 0-0.

11:44 CR Time - 2nd half starting. 3 subs for Team USA.  Miles Sanchez (16 - Mid) in for Jaeger Skifstad, Jowell Figueras (12 - Forward) in for Joe Hill, and Kasey French (34 - Mid) in for Daniel Espeleta.

11:57 CR Time - Medics on pitch for Guatemala  player. Looks like hamstring. Carried off pitch.

12:00 CR Time - GOOOOOALLLL!!! Kasey French with Team USA's first goal of the match! 1-0 USA!

12:03 CR Time - Yellow card to Guatemala. (I missed why. I was tweeting Kasey's goal!) :)

12:05 CR Time - 2 substitutions for Team USA.  Cody Peterson (10 - Forward) in for Christian Freitas and Ivory Randle IV (21 - Defense) in for Alex Ptachik.

12:08 CR Time - Levi Arthur on the ground. Looks like left glute. He's limped off the pitch. (Looks ok, just in a little pain. Will update as soon as I get more info.) Team USA out of subs and down to ten men on the pitch.

12:11 CR Time - GOOOOOOALLLLL!!! Miles Sanchez with Team USA's second goal (his second of the tournament)! 2-0, USA!!!

12:17 CR Time - Final whistle! Team USA takes their second win! 2-0, USA!!! :)

Update for Levi - Groin pull. He's getting iced and checked out, but seems to be ok. How he's feeling later will determine I he plays tomorrow or rests. 

Day 2

Our day started this morning at 8:45 a.m., when the team met downstairs and Skyped in to the Special Olympics Washington Breakfast of Champions.  Kasey Keller made the call from the stadium and Team USA responded with a rousing "Hola from Costa Rica!"  Afterward, they ran to the bus and jetted off to Estadio Colleya Fonseca, where Team USA took their first win in their first match against Nicaragua.  Miles Sanchez scored the first goal in the first half and Jaeger Skifstad followed up with the team's second goal in the second half.  Nicaragua answered back with a goal, following Jaeger's goal, but it wasn't enough to beat Team USA!  The competition was fierce and our boys played their hearts out.  We should all be very proud of them! After the match, we headed back to the hotel, where the guys scarfed down lunch and went back to their rooms to shower and relax.  The rest of the day was given to them to rest and hang out, since tomorrow is another match!

 

Team USA Skyping in to the Breakfast of Champions

Team USA before their first match!

Our Starting 11, unified and ready to win!

 

Team USA and Team Nicaragua