As I mentioned in my prior comments, I had watched parts of most of the U18 Girls State Cup matches at UMASS last weekend while I was out there officiating Maple promotion and relegation games. Watching those games I was able to watch several players from the different teams that I had had the pleasure working with as a clinician when many of them were once on the same team. Of the two U18 Girl semi-final games today, I decided to go watch the CRU vs. MPS-H game at Framingham State. I thought that would be the more competitive of the two games. The game was very close and each team had several quality chances today. However in the second overtime period MPS found the back of the net for the win. The key to MPS's win was once again their impressive defensive team effort from the back four. Last weekend I thought they had displayed the best defensive play and ball work of all the teams , but I did not think they had played teams the quality of CRU and that they would not hold up to the more intense pressure CRU woud generate. I was right on one point and wrong on another. I was right that MPS had not played a team as good, intense, and technically sound as CRU. I was wrong that MPS would not be able to stand up to the pressure from CRU. And that pressure was intense. Clearly CRU was the stronger team in the midfield position as MPS could not handle the skill and physical advantages of the CRU midfielders. This left the MPS defenders to have to either win the one-on-one battles or clear the ball from pressure. Usually when MPS would clear the ball though, the CRU midfielders and defenders were first to the ball and the pressure was right back in the MPS defensive end. MPS's best chances for control and any offensive thrust came from winning the one-on-one battles by the back four and leading out a counter-attack. Distribution around the back and runs down the sides and covering for one another was what kept MPS competitive. Eventually the counter-attacking became effective as the CRU defenders began to tire and eventually led to a nice isolation for one of the MPS forward on the right side and ultimately a perfectly placed ball into the net for the win. In fact the second key to MPS's win may be that they appeared on the whole to be more physically fit from an endurance point of view. The game was clearly one that featured two really impressive defensive units. The CRU defense was also stellar and also possessed many of the same attributes and contributions as the MPS team. Both keepers were also very impressive. Physically and technically they were equal, but the MPS keeper maybe gets the edge for her communication. She was in charge and constantly provided excellent direction and suggestions, while the CRU keeper was more on the shy side. Probably the weakest position on the field combined for both teams were the forward positions. Probably some of the worst first touches to be seen at this level of play and compounded by holding the ball too long in some instances as well. By the way, both coaches should be very proud of their teams. Both teams play the game the way it was meant to be played and both left it all out on the field with excellent sportsmanship. This is the reason I enjoy the girls game at this age instead of the boys. The boys games at this age seem to have much more whining, acting, and cheapshots. All in all a pleasure to watch today and I was looking forward to watching either one of these teams take on Fuller Hamlets. However word from the Framingham State field was that up at UMASS-Lowell, the Aztecs had pulled off a huge upset and has moved on to the finals. I hope to take in several of the games tomorrow. Good luck to all on Sunday.