A team’s “quality” can be measured in many ways, but one metric that speaks to team character always sits pre-eminent on a coach’s list – How does this team respond to adversity and even crushing let-down?

 

The SF Seals new U15 boys team – the SF Seals Pyros – showed their collective spirit and grit by rebounding from a drubbing in their first game of the Stanford Memorial Day Shootout tournament to fight and scrap their way back to a well-earned 3rd place medal.

 

The U15 Seals team took the pitch for their 8AM 1st game like they were still in their PJ’s and looking for the morning paper, and suffered a 5-1 loss to a good Dixon team that the Pyros made look even better.

 

After such a first-round KO, were these Pyros just going to pack it up mentally and look to going home? Rather, their response was to steel up and mark their territory defensively against an attack-minded Juventus FC squad. Then forward Johnny Klyver lasered a winning goal from the right-corner of the 18-yard box in the 2nd half to claim a 1-goal clean sheet win.

 

The next-day’s competition opened with another 8AM start against Ravenswood. But this time a revitalized Pyros team answered the wake-up call, coming out shooting. Forward Alex Voorhees added to his all competitions goal tally and midfielder Will Simpson drilled home a free kick through the wall, but a hard-fighting Ravenswood managed to equalize after each Pyros goal – saving a draw for themselves.

The Pyros again faced the Juventus squad in the oppressive heat of that same afternoon – now with Third Place as the prize. Seeking quick revenge for their first loss to the Pyros, Juventus stunned the SF Seals eleven, scoring within minutes of the start, and stubbornly held that score into the second half. Dehydrated and exhausted, it would have been easy to write off a decent tournament and just play out the half … but the young SF Seals squad again dug deep and repeatedly attacked the Juventus ‘D” along the flanks, spreading the field and attacking from the corners. The strategy and rekindled hunger to win created an acrobatic Jack Bragagnolo tap-in off a corner kick followed by a precision Johnny Klyver winning goal to snatch victory away from the out-hustled Juventus boys.

 

Twice down - after a 1st game loss and again on the ropes late in the playoff for Third Place - these SF Seals Pyros showed their gut-checking worth and come-back ability. Joy of the game takes form as a desire to excel. And a first tournament to be proud of.

 

The SF Seals Pyros are coached by Shani Simpson and Anthony Navarro. Try-outs are held on a rolling basis.
 

Interested players please contact Dave Nugent: davenug@comcast.net

 

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