Trey Harrington’s team met their perennial rival Real Colorado Red (who defeated our girls last year) and kept the other upper hand this time but not without an incredible effort that took two over time periods and a penalty shootout. Trey’s team had put in extra hours rehearsing their penalty shots and saves (as Lauren, the goalie would point out).

The game remained tied at 0:0 during regulation. Real scored a goal in the first overtime period and were getting ready to celebrate. With three minutes left in the second overtime period Ingrid Alvarez, a member of the Mexican National Youth Team Program, tied the game with a wicked curling shot to the far post. Each team generated a few more desperate attacks in the final minutes but to no avail. When the referees signaled to get ready for the impending shootout, our players were relieved and appeared confident, buoyed by the knowledge that they had prepared well and had an outstanding goalkeeper on their side. Sure enough, Lauren saved three of the four Real shots while Emma Gaytan, Madison Yawger and Mikayla Mergerson all converted their penalty kicks for Fusion. The final result of 3:1 left the referees unimpressed … they had miscounted and wanted to continue the shootout until our sideline pointed out to them that the game was over. The team’s celebrations suffered a slight delay but were all the more enthusiastic.

The players will now have to wait until next June (12-17) 2012 before they can represent Colorado in the Region IV President’s Cup Tournament to be held in Denver. Best of luck!