F.C. Torpedoes Drown Aquagirls to Claim U10 Bracket 3 Title

Dateline: November 8, 2009, Lindbergh Park North Field.  F.C. Torpedoes capped a successful season this afternoon on Lindbergh North field, beating Aquagirls 1-0 and claiming the OPAYSO U10 Womens' Bracket 3 Championship.

The teams, which sported similar records coming into the final game, were evenly matched.  Although Torpedoes played exceptional defense and passed well, keeping the ball mostly in Aquagirls' end for the first half, there was no score through three quarters.  Emma Nikolai was not tested much, but stopped all shots, which fullbacks Sarah "Go San" Steadman and Kelsey Burress played stout defense.  The real star of the first three quarters was midfielder Lauren Flowers, who played both offense and defense and was all over the field.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Torpedoes finally broke the match open.  Flowers made a beautiful pass through traffic to Center-Forward Braley Failor, who turned the ball and kicked hard for the goal.  The ball smashed hard to the Aqua goalie's face; Failor watched her crumple, offered her a hand, and then tipped the rebound into the corner of the goal.

The Aquagirls' goalie, daughter of their coach, lay on the pitch for a full five minutes.  "She's not hurt," said the coach, "but I'm sure she's upset about that goal."  Indeed she was, pleading her case with the referee that she had possession of the ball when Failor kicked it.  To no avail -- "good goal," pronounced the Ref.  And the score was 1-0.

The Aquagirls mounted a ferocious rally after that, desperately trying to get a tying goal, but the Torpedoes' defense held stout.  As the clock ticked off the final seconds, goalie Emma Nikolai made a terrific save to hold the one-goal lead, and the whistle blew ending the match.

After the match, Coach Nikolai held an impromptu awards ceremony, giving each Torpedo a first-place trophy.  Coach Nikolai and Assistant Coach Steadman were each photographed with their daughter and a big smile.

Torpedoes Eat Flaming Tacos To Advance To Bracket Championship Game

Dateline: November 7, 2009, Elmwood Park High School.  Playing under the lights after dark, on the main stage, Torpedoes F.C. defeated the red-jersey Flaming Tacos F.C. to win the semifinals and advance to the Bracket 3 final game.  With goals from Helen Leboe, Braley Failor, and Lauren Flowers, and shut-out defense, Torpedoes looked great doing it.  "We will win tomorrow," predicted fullback Sarah "Go-San" Steadman.  "They better watch out."

Coach Nikolai was almost as effusive: "What and exciting game last evening!  We played great, passing, beating the other team to the ball and playing together as a team.  Wow!"

Torpedoes Bite Green Snakes 3-0 In First Round of Playoffs

Dateline: November 7, 2009.  Torpedoes F.C. regained their offensive momentum this afternoon, shutting out Green Snakes to advance to the semifinals of the Group Three U10 Womens AYSO Bracket this afternoon on a powerful offensive set and hammering defensive play.

Green Snakes had earlier defeated Firebolts F.C. in a play-in match to earn the right to face Torpedoes.  Torpedoes, although seeded number 1, came into the tournament on something of an offensive slide and needing a rally to get to their former solid play.  "We need a boost," admitted fullback Sarah "Go-San" Steadman.  "But I like our chances here."

On a resplendent Chicago November day, with 65 degree sunshine and a dry pitch, the crowd was at fever pitch from the beginning.  "Goooooooo Toooorrpeeeeedooooes" was the howling refrain just before kickoff. This was the first month in over six weeks for the Torpedoes not played in mud and cold, and the women looked ready to play their hearts out.

The first half featured excellent defensive play for the Torpedoes.  The ball got into the Torpedoes' end only three times and goalie Emma Nikolai never even touched ball.  Fullbacks Steadman and Kelsey Burress refused to let the ball across the midline.  Despite keeping the ball in the Snakes' end for nearly  90 percent of the time, however, Torpedoes failed to score in the first half due to outstanding goalie play by Snakes' number 7, who repeatedly charged the offsensive attack to steal the ball and run it away.

Over halftime, Coach David Nikolai emphasized the attack, urging his players to finish shots and get the ball behind the Snakes' defense.

In the third quarter, forward Katie Bodlak finally got the ball behind the goalie on a loose ball, following a shot by Lauren Flowers, dribbling the ball past the goalie and in for the Torpedoes' first goal.  The players celebrated briefly, then settled in to defend their 1-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter, center Braley Failor netted a hard goal past the Snakes' goalie for their second goal.

During the third quarter break, Burress' mother lobbied for an alignment shakeup.  "Did she say she didn't want to play offense?  Because she should be playing some forward in this game."  Coach Nikolai responded, moving Burress to forward.  "Nooooooooo!" cried Burress in response.  Meanwhile, center-forward Helen Laboe was tired, and lobbied to be put in the backfield.  So Coach Nikolai switched goalie Emma Nikolai and Laboe, moving Nikolia to center and Laboe to goal.

The new alignment worked perfectly.  Midway through the fourth period, forward Lauren Flowers hammered in a hard goal with strong kick in traffic off a beautiful passing assist from Emma Nikolai.

The Torpedoes won, 3-0, their goalies combining to stop only three shots from the Snakes all match.

Next up, a game under the lights at 7pm at Elmwood Park High School, against F.C. Flaming Tacos for the right to play in the Championship.

Shorthanded Torpedoes Drop Match to Red Retrievers; Forward Erin Sullivan Out for Season

Dateline: October 21, 2009.  F.C. Torpedoes' rescheduled match against Red Retrievers did not go well this evening, as the Blue side lost 4-1 in the damp.  Torpedoes were forced to play shorthanded as four girls were unable to make the lineup.  "That meant no substitutions or rest at all, and we had one fewer player for the entire second half than they did," explained defenseman Sarah "Go-San" Steadman.

One of the absent Torpedoes was forward Erin Sullivan, whose mother had put her on the injured list the day before with a foot injury.  The latest reports from inside Torpedoes headquarters is that the injury is sufficiently serious that it will keep Sullivan out for the remainder of the season.  "Erin does have a broken foot.  It’s a right 5th metatarsal fracture, and it happened doing a backward-running relay before swim team practice last week (of all things…).  So her soccer season is over, unfortunately."

"Swimming?  SWIMMING????  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" exclaimed Steadman.  "What is she doing SWIMMING?  This is frickin' football season!  She can't be swimming during football season.  It's insane!  Now, if she had been injured playing hockey, I could understand. I mean, I play hockey, and it's a rough sport.  But swimming?  Sheesh."

Torpedoes and Volcanoes Rained Out

Dateline October 17, 2009.  Due to heavy rain in the Chicago area this week, scheduled matches for both Torpedoes F.C. and F.C. Volcanoes were canceled this weekend.  Torpedoes' match will be made up at a time to be determined, but Volcanoes' match will not.  "Darn it," said Volcanoes' forward William Steadman.  "My fans were really looking forward to trying out my new nickname, 'Hot Wheels Steadman.'"

"No they weren't," responded Sarah "Go-San" Steadman.  "You have an overactive imagination."

Torpedoes rally from loss but cannot overcome Yellowjacket Thunderfoot

Dateline: October 10, 2009.  Playing with a full complement for the first time in several weeks, things looked good for Torpedoes this morning despite less-than-ideal conditions.  With a 2-2 record, Torpedoes opponent was evenly-matched with an identical 2-2 record.  But the muddy conditions slowed Torpedoes natural speed advantage and tipped the match to the team with the better defense.

Center Helen Leboe, absent last week, started the match off right with a goal in the first minute.  Goalie Emma Nikolai had a number of nice blocks on high kicks to the corner.  The Yellowjackets retaliated with their own goal, just before halftime, and the match was knotted at one each.

The Jackets scored another goal late in the third quarter, and that was the end of the scoring.  Team Mothers faced a lot of muddy laundry, but there would be no rally for the Torpedoes.

But the story of the match was Mary "Thunderfoot," an oversize Yellowjacket defenseman that blocked shot after shot, rally after rally, barely allowing the ball into the Jacket end for three full quarters.  She hammered the ball with every kick, breaking up breakaways and keeping the ball away from the much-faster Torpedo forward.  "She was always in the right place," said Coach Nikolai.  "She was everywhere," said Laboe.

Nikolai is looking to Coach Paul Steadman for help next week, as he travels out of state and leaves the team to Steadman.  "Last time you got us our first loss," he told Steadman.  "Try to do better this time, or you're fired."

Torpedoes F.C. fall 0-8 to Pink

Dateline: October 3, 2009.  Playing in the cold driving rain and down three players (Sarah Steadman, Helen Leboe, and Taylor Leibig), Torpedoes F.C. had no substitutes this week, and clearly lacked something in an 0-8 loss to Team Pink.  This reporter was unable to attend the game, but in an interview with coaches after the match was told that there would be some "work to do" in practice this week.

Reached at home, Defenseman Sarah Steadman expressed regret that she could not help the team but promised to bring heart and muscle to next week's game.  "I'll personally carry the team if I have to," she said.

Torpedoes sink Firebolts F.C. to improve record to 2-1; Hat tricks by Leboe and Failor cue scoring eruption as Torpedoes open up offense.

Dateline: September 26, 2009, Lindberg Park. Helen Leboe and the Torpedoes' offense proved unstoppable this morning, while the defense held the ball almost entirely in Firebolts' end, providing the blue-jersey fans with an exciting morning of scoring and the first shut-out of the season. Torpedoes beat Firebolts 10-0 in a wild match on a wet pitch to improve their record to 2-1. It was never close.

The outlook started cautious for the ladies, as overnight rain threatened a cancellation and notable absences left the squad a bit shorthanded. Lauren Flowers and Erin Sullivan were absent, so every lady was forced to play harder and coach Nikolai was left with fewer options for substitutions. "I need everyone's best effort, and I need our team first to the ball," he coached them before the match. He got both.

In the first quarter alone, Helen Leboe accounted for a 2-0 lead notching two goals. The first came on a brilliant pass from Jada Harris in the backfield, over the Firebolts, to Leboe at midfield. Leboe strutted down the pitch to score easily. The second goal was perhaps more impressive, coming on a long kick from the top of the goalie box through traffic and past the goalie. Emma Nikolai, playing goalie for the Torpedoes, saw little action as Brailey Failor and Kelsey Buress played stout defense backed up by Sarah Steadman and Harris midfield.

The second quarter was more of a scrum. Failor had several shots on goal, as did Taylor Leibig, but the Torpedoes could not quite find the net. Other players showed promise, however, including Maura Reilly who really clicked the aggressiveness up a few notches and managed some stout defense of her own from the midfielder position.

The Torpedoes erupted in the third quarter, collecting four goals. Leboe hammered the first into the net on a powerful play, perfecting her first hat trick. Then Failor got in on the action after picking up the rebound from an Emma Nikolai shot that was blocked by the red-side goalie. Now it was Harris' turn, dribbling in a first goal off the goalie's leg and shooting a second one past the goalie playing 20 yards out. Harris' father was ecstatic. "I told her, you are fast, you can kill them if you just take the ball and get aggressive," he said. "Looks like she was listening!"

Meanwhile, on defense, the ladies looked a little bored. Coach Nikolai had re-vamped the formation, putting defenders Failor, Buress, and Steadman on the pitch to help out rookie goalie Maura Reilly. But they barely saw the ball, lining up across the midfield and arching the ball back into the Firebolts' side any time it came close.

At that point, the Firebolts' defense collapsed. The fourth quarter featured four more goals for the blue-siders. With Nikolai, Harris and Failor playing offense, and Leboe moved to defense to hold the score, the ball stayed persistently in the Firebolts' end and generally in the back of the net. Failor scored the first goal of the fourth period, then Nikolai followed with a nice shot, rebound, and shot to score another. Failor scored again for her first hat trick. Finally, Katie Bodlak scored to bring the Torpedoes' total to 10. With 20 seconds left, the pesky Firebolts finally managed a shot on Reilly, but she blocked it and time expired with the ball in her hands.

"I told the girls to stop scoring and save some goals for the next match," said Coach Nikolai after the match, "but they just couldn't help themselves."

"That was easy," said Sarah Go-San Steadman. "Be careful," responded her father, Assistant Coach Paul Steadman. "Football is never easy. Don't get overconfident. We'll get all we want from the other side next week I'm sure. If we take them for granted, we'll be on the wrong side of the next lopsided score."

F.C. Greyhounds edge Torpedoes F.C. by a nose

Dateline: September 19, 2009, Lindberg Park. Fresh off their opening win against Cool Blue, Torpedoes F.C. entered today's match with high expectations and even higher hopes. The squad arrived fresh and energetic, ready for a footrace with F.C. Greyhounds.

Coach Nikolai, the team's constant, was unavoidably absent, so the team was warmed up by Coach Drew and Coach Steadman. When the league referee did not show up, Coach Drew was forced into his alternative role as League Referee, and Coach Steadman took the team's helm for gametime.

Coach Steadman began with a conservative lineup, fielding veteran goalie Emma Nikolai, Kelsey Buress and Sarah "Go-san" Steadman on Defense, Maura Reilly and Katie Bodlak in midfield, and Jada Harris, Erin Sullivan and Braley Failor up front. Coach Steadman intentionally rested scoring threat Helen Leboe to let the Greyhounds wear down in the heat before facing a fresh Leboe in the second quarter. Both teams hammered away in the first period, but there was no scoring. Having drilled on passing all week, Torpedoes showed increased skills in that department -- a harbinger of things to come.

In the second quarter, Nikolai stayed in goal, Steadman and Failor stayed back to help her, Taylor Leibig and Lauren Flowers held the midfield, while Harris, Katie Bodlak, and Leboe moved upfront to provide some scoring. Steadman put up stout defense, which did not go unnoticed by the Torpedoes faithful. Harris had a shot on goal almost immediately after the kickoff, which was blocked by the Greyhounds' goalie. Leboe followed with her own shot. Then Leboe made a brilliant pass to Flowers, splitting defenders, for a breakaway. Flowers passed back to Leboe in front of the goal, and Leboe hammered the ball into the corner in a perfect shot. Coach Steadman went nuts, pumping his fist in the air, and the score was Torpedoes 1, Greyhounds 0 into halftime. Coach Steadman and Assistant Coach Brian Reilly agreed that on a hot day in a defensive contest, they were happy to have the first goal.

Over halftime, Referee Nikolai had to reprimand Coach Steadman for his abundant and energetic running of the sidelines, instructing him to stay on his side of mid-field or there would be a yellow card.

After a short halftime, Coach Steadman set up his team for offense. Sullivan volunteered to hold the goal, while Buress and Flowers assisted on defense, Reilly held midfield, and Harris, Leibig, Nikolia played forward, and Leboe held the center position. Reilly showed off substantial new skills, playing the best game of her career and earning massing praise from Coach Steadman. Flowers made an outstanding steal and back pass. Steadman's configuration paid off almost immediately, as Leboe had a shot on goal. But the heat took a toll on both teams and there was no further scoring. Buress anchored the defense with massing, booming kicks downfield and the Greyhounds simply could not make headway. At the end of three periods, Torpedoes still led by a goal.

For the Fourth Quarter, Coach Steadman changed strategy adopting a defensive posture in an attempt to hold the one-goal lead. Sullivan stayed in goal, with Failor and Bodlak on defense, Failor and Flowers in midfield, and Steadman, Nikolai and Leboe up front. Torpedoes played extremely hard, and Sullivan made a brilliant save on a hard kick. But Greyhounds picked up the rebound and dribbled the ball into the net on a lucky kick, evening the score at one goal apiece. Torpedoes dug in, but shortly Flowers was forced to block another shot. Greyhounds then hammered the ball - hard - to the upper corner of the goal in an indefensible shot.

With four minutes remaining, Torpedoes ramped up the energy trying to score a tying goal. In a brilliant display of passing and footwork, Failor and Leboe passed back and forth five times on a breakaway upfield. Leboe's shot missed just wide right, bouncing off the pole. The match ended, Torpedoes down one, and they absorbed their first loss.

After the game, U8 League Commissioner, Lee Leibig, had big words for Go-San Steadman. "I played defense on a state championship team," he said, "So I know defense. Steadman was outstanding today."

Steadman, for her part, took the loss personally. "It was all my fault," she said through teary eyes. "I'm still learning the forward position, and I just couldn't get a score." Coach Steadman thought otherwise. "You played great up there, Sarah. It wasn't your fault. The fact is, Greyounds were a terrific, fast team and they were just a little bit better than we were today. We'll get another chance at them in the Tournament, I'm sure."

One game note: Coach Steadman, also the team's official photographer, earned a rebuke from Sarah Go-San Steadman after the game. "I notice there are no photos of me this week," she said. "Try to do better next time, Dad."

Torpedoes sink Cool Blue in Season Opener

Dateline: September 12, 2009, Lindberg Park North. Returning to the league from his undefeated campaign with Inferno in 2008, Head Coach David Nikolai had high hopes for his new assignment this year. "Blue Torpedoes sport a number of veterans and will be tough to beat. The ladies have put in excellent practice so far, and look very determined. We have high hopes for the squad," he said before Saturday's opener.

Opening day in football is always celebratory affair -- every team has high hopes, and everyone starts undefeated. But Torpedoes opener was special even by these standards, because their first opponent was their St. Giles Cup rival, Cool Blue. Like Torpedoes, The Blue showcase seasoned veterans including last year's U8 League MVP Maggie VanErmen. "Mags is scary," says Torpedoes defender and best friend Sarah Steadman. "She's very quick, she's very determined, she's very loud, and she's everywhere."

On this glorious morning, with the sun breaking through and the heat index rising, Blue Torpedoes took the pitch looking as pressed and drilled as any EU Cup squad. The roster includes a number of battle-tested U10-ers, and some newly-promoted U10/veterans of the U8 league in 2008:

• Number 2, Maura Reilly, Midfielder
• Number 3, Emma Nikolai, Center/Forward and Goalie
• Number 4, Taylor Leibig, Midfielder and Utility Player
• Number 5, Sarah Steadman, Defense
• Number 6, Helen Leboe, Center/Forward
• Number 7, Katie Bodlak, Midfield
• Number 8, Jada Harris, Winger
• Number 9, Erin Sullivan, Winger and Goalie
• Number 10, Lauren Flowers, Winger
• Number 11, Kelsey Buress, Defense
• Number 12, Braley Failor, Winger/Midfielder
  

In the first quarter, Coach Nikolai arranged his team for scoring: Emma Nikolia in goal, Steadman and Buress on Defense, Flowers and Bodlak in the Midfield, and power scoring trio Leboe, Harris and Failor up front. Torpedoes did an excellent job of keeping the ball in Blue's side, repeatedly getting behind Blue with their superior speed. Leboe led the scoring with a brilliant breakaway goal, followed by breakaway goals from Sullivan and Harris to stake Coach Nikolai to a 3-0 lead. Torpedoes' defense was stout, with Burress and Steadman repeatedly hammering into the scrum to keep the ball in the offensive half. Though goalie Nikolai faced few shots, she was perfect and had a brilliant block to hold the shutout. As it turned out, there was plenty of football to go but the three-goal lead was all Coach Nikolai would need.

The match slowed down for both sides in the second quarter. Coach Nikolai realigned his team, with Leboe in goal (trading positions with Nikolai), Burress and Failor on defense to hold the lead, Flowers and Sullivan in midfield, and Reilly and Leibig joining Nikolai up front. Both sides buckled down and traded blows, with The Blue tightening down to hold the match in place. There was no scoring but several nice shots and blocks, and after 25 minutes of football the match remained Torpedoes 3, Cool Blue 0.

During the short halftime, Torpedoes guzzled Gatorade and listened to Coach Nikolai's adjustments in strategy. He emphasized the Torpedoes' advantage in speed, and asked his team to try to stay behind The Blue defense. He then realigned the team again for the third quarter, resting Failor and Burress, and sending a smaller and quicker set to the pitch. Sullivan took the goal, with Steadman and Flowers on defense, Leibig and Reilly in midfield, and Bodlak, Nikolai and Harris up front.

The third quarter provided mixed results for Torpedoes. On the bright side, Leibig showed real spunk dashing around the pitch and tracking down the ball on both offense and defense. "Wow, she's fast," said Coach Nikolai. "She was the fasted player on the pitch in U8," echoed Assistant Coach Paul Steadman. Less positive was the score. The Blue fielded its biggest, fastest players on offense against Torpedoes smaller set, which ultimately yielded two quick goals by The Blue-and-white stripers, closing the match to Torpedoes 3, Cool Blue 2.

The sides now adopted the same strategy for the fourth and final quarter, each fielding stout defense while bolstering offensive firepower in the hopes of closing out the match. Coach Nikolai changed not only his lineup, but the formation as well. Sullivan remained in goal, Steadman, Burress and Bodlak were put on defense with instructions to stop whatever came their way, while Leboe, Harris and Failor were put on offence with instructions to blow the back out of the net. Leibig alone was assigned midfield with instructions to help both ends.

Early in the final quarter, The Blue had a controversial breakaway which ended with the ball in Torpedoes' net. "She's offsides!" screamed Torpedoes Coach Nikolai. The Referee agreed, waiving off the goal. The Blue's coach went out of his mind. "You can't call the match from the sidelines! The ball went off a Torpedo anyway. It wasn't offsides!" But it was all for naught as play resumed, the score still 3-2.

The remainder of the final quarter was a see-saw affair until Leboe scored a huge insurance goal midway through the period on a half-field breakaway with Failor that sunk The Blue. Torpedoes loyalists went mad with joy, and shortly thereafter the final whistle blew, ending the contest.


"We had a lot of energy today," said Assistant Coach Steadman after the match. "Our girls really came together as a unit and helped each other. They surprised me with their speed, and they beat Blue to the ball eight times out of ten." Coach Nikolai told the team: "We did a good job of getting to the ball first. You showed great effort. See you at practice on Tuesday."


Players for both sides gathered for a St. Giles Cup photo on the bloody pitch, friends again after a hard-fought match. But shortly thereafter, controversy flared. Maggie VanErmen, top talent for The Blue, had apparently spent the week at school declaring impending victory for her side -- only now, she had to hear it from the victorious Torpedoes. "We'll see you again in the tournament at the end of the season," she declared, "and don't look for any mercy from us then."

Meanwhile, Sarah Steadman had to adjust her nickname for her new jersey number. Known as "Roku" last season (Japanese for her jersey number 6 when she played with Penguins in U8), she now wears 5. "Henceforth, I shall be known to the press as 'Go-San' if you please," she declared, lecturing reporters on the Japanese translation for her new jersey number 5. "The word 'Go' fits me better in both English and Japanese anyway," she said. "I like to go. As in, go kick butt."















Game photos available here:

2009 09 12 Torpedoes sink Cool Blue in Season Opener