It was a big night for Octopi Vancouver. After a disappointing tie game the week before, the team was raring to snatch back some momentum. Indeed, Octopi’s Facebook page said it all: attendees were there to win, not tie. With that it mind, it wasn’t surprising to see the team’s amped up enthusiasm on full display at Thunderbird Stadium last Wednesday.
Despite missing its promised calisthenics pre-warm up warm up, the team wasn’t rusty at the start. After loosing the rock-paper-scissors game for the ball due to misplaced confidence in “rock”, the team settle back to defend where possible. Though Keggers was missing a woman and playing short handed, the Octopi squad decided not to show mercy. Like a terminator, they’d be going in for the kill.
The game was quick paced, but relatively clean. It quickly became clear to both sides that owing to impressive skills, strong team cohesion and superior team espirt de corp, Octopi’s would be dominating. The passes were crisp and the flow of the game favoured the good guys (ie. us). Here are a few highlights:
- A gorgeous header by striker Erin Loxam from a long ball from the left wing by striker John Horn. The play has been labelled henceforth as “Cobra”. Urban Rec teams beware.
- Fantastic goal-tending by stand-in Obi, who had some terrific saves during both halfs and did a fine job of standing in for all-star Octopi keeper David Willinsky (sources close to the keeper say he’s likely to be back on the pitch next Wednesday)
- Terrific defensive play by Matt Kieltyka, Brenton Walters and Roger Hosking. Their strong play on the back line ensured loose balls (or loose balls with players attached) were quickly shut down and cleared well out of bounds (sometimes so well that Kegger players had to go rooting through bushes).
- Fantastic pressure by Octopi left winger Kyla Kieltyka and new winger Nicole Seguin on the opposing team. The persistent pressure and constant play-making helped shore up the midfield and keep the ball distribution from defense to offense steady.
- Great ball distribution by mid-fielder/defenseman/forward Stew Burgess. His moves were, at times, Pele-esque.
Unlike the previous game, communications among Octopi’s squad continued throughout the game and the end result meant lots of back pats and laughter when the final whistle was blow. The win puts Octopi solidly in the middle of the pack and within striking distance of the top couple spots.
Analysts say that as the team increasingly starts to gel, amazing things will likely start to happen on the pitch – if not during this season, certainly the next one when the team will move to a new league and new challenge at Trillium field.