I struggle to come up with sentences that accurately describe the 2020 Girls’ SAISA Soccer tournament. Please accept my poor attempt and be aware that I write this post with the constant knowledge that nothing I come up with will convey excitement, pride, and bittersweet pleasure in a way that is representative of everything that took place in Muscat last week. But here goes…
Photo courtesy of TAISM
Our opening game was against the host school: the American International School of Muscat. We went into this game determined to not let their home-court advantage get the best of us. Despite what was at the point our best team performance of the season, we came up 1 point short. All we could do was learn and play on. Our first celebration came after our 5:0 win against Karachi American School. Although we can all admit that the skill level we displayed in this game was a little bit of a disgrace, the win was just what our team needed to fuel us for the next day. At home with our host family, Disara, Clara, Taneishq and I strategized and reflected as we lay on the beach.
With renewed motivation, we all returned the next day ready for our match against the American Community School. In the past years, OSC had struggled to outperform them but this year we were prepared. To our disappointment, miscommunication led to a goal by ACS within the first 5 minutes. Reminding the team that we needed to play like the score was 0:0, I watched as we kicked off again. It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that the fight Turner had desperately been trying to stir up among us came out. In a whirl of events, the score ended 2:1. If you ask any gecko there, this was our turning point. It was then that we realized that we could win and we were determined more than ever to make it as far as possible. The next game against Bombay tested our aggression but coasting on the high from the ACS game, we pulled through yet again with a 3:0 win. Another win for the geckos.
Photo courtesy of Rosie Cragun
Our next game was against Karachi American School, we scored 5 and conceded none. This was our first celebration of tournament and although we all admit that we displayed a poor skill level, coming out on top was exactly what our team needed to fuel us for day 2. This game was especially important to me because 2 of the 5 goals were my shots.
From there, it all went uphill. We started clicking and passing and anticipating. I wouldn’t be entirely wrong in saying this was one of the most united team performances OSC has displayed in a long time. The next day we started off with a win against Dhaka and then it was on to the finals!! It all happened so fast. In our final performance of the year against TAISM yet again, we ended the first half 2 up. Unfortunately, we let their best player through our defense enough for her to score 3 by full time.
I wouldn’t say our final outcome was disappointing…Of course I wish we would’ve kept our 2:0 lead but in the end, the pride I felt for my team for all the fighting we did throughout the tournament surpassed the disappointment I felt. Disregarding the cliché phrase, I am 100% sure that all 16 girls contributed to the win this year. Every single girl took a touch on the ball that eventually resulted in the ball flying past the goalie and our little crowd of parents erupting in celebration. Having such a talented team is so rare and so special that I doubt I will ever experience it again. So much love for my SAISA Girls’ Soccer Team!!