GOALS OF THE MONTH - September 2009

No games this weekend but the Blog goes on! With no games to highlight and the end of September upon us, I thought it was time to take a look back. There were 8 goals in September for the Nike Boys. Some were pretty spectacular. Lets take a look back.

Some great goals and a good month. Vote for your favorite goal this month in the poll to your right.

Goal scorers usually get all the attention but not on this Blog. Big saves and hard tackles can be just as spectacular as goals. Check back this week for video clips of saves and tackles of the month. Be sure to keep up with the U-15 VA Rush Nike Blog. You never know what is coming up next.

2009 VCCL Standings - Week 3

After three weeks of the VCCL season the VA Rush Nike boys are in second place trailing Beach FC by only 1 point. One more travel weekend for us before we return to the complex. We travel to Richmond one more time this season on Sunday to play Roanoke. After this weekend we have three straight home games at the complex against Beach FC, Virginia Legacy and FC Richmond to end the fall VCCL season. Here is the table as of 9-21-09:

Beach FC - 7 points
VA Rush - 6 points
Kickers - 6 points
FC Richmond - 4 points
SOCA - 4 points
VA Legacy - 4 points
Strikers - 3 points
Roanoke - 0 points

VA Rush Nike v SOCA

VA Rush Nike - 2
SOCA - 3

This one got away!

Some games you look back on and just shake your head. This is going to be one of those games. After a huge State Cup win on Saturday the Nike boys woke up early to make the 3 plus hour drive to the SOCA home fields in Charlottesville. It is always tough to get up for two games in a row, particularly after a big win in a close fought contest the day before. Maybe a little tired or still riding the wave of the State Cup win, the Nike boys came out a little flat and conceded a goal in the 11th minute for a quick 1-0 SOCA lead. The SOCA goal seemed to wake the boys up. In the 19th minute a pass from Josh with a lay off from Kerby found Wes making a penetrating run towards the SOCA goal. A nice touch by Wes as he was falling sent the ball into the right lower corner of the SOCA goal. All level at 1-1.

In the 30th minute theNike boys were awarded a free kick to the left of the SOCA goal. Josh sent the ball into the box and Brett sent it back towards the SOCA goal but it bounced off the crossbar. As the ball fell Ben was onto the ball and tapped the rebound into the net. It was Ben's first goal for the Nike Boys. The first half ended with the Nike boys in control of the game and on top 2-1.

The second half was the story of missed opportunities. The Nike boys created numerous scoring chances in the second half but could not finish on their opportunities. SOCA kept pushing forward. In the 61st minute the Nike boys conceded the first of two SOCA goals in a space of 10 minutes. SOCA - 3 Nike - 2. The Nike boys mounted a furious attack as time ticked away but could not find the back of the SOCA net. Final score SOCA - 3 Rush Nike - 2.

The Nike boys VCCL record goes to 2-1-0.

2009 STATE CUP - 1st Round

It was a typical fall day, overcast, windy and cool for the first round of the 2009 Virginia State Cup at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex. The VA Rush Nike boys were taking on the Sterling FC. The Nike Boys jumped out to a quick lead in the 15th minute when they were awarded a free kick. Josh sent the ball into the box where a leaping Kerby headed it back. Brett was there to send the ball hard into the back of the net. Nike Boys - 1 Sterling FC - 0. The Nike boys kept pushing forward but the first half ended 1-0.

The second half was a different story as the Nike boys came out a little flat. Sterling FC had the best of play for the initial minutes of the second half when they were awarded a free kick in the 49th minute. The Sterling FC player launched a bending ball just past the hands of Lally and into the Nike net. All even at 1-1. Before the Nike boys could regain their shape, defensive confusion gave Sterling FC another attacking opportunity and they sent the ball past the outstretched hands of Lally into the Nike net for the second time in less than one minute. Sterling FC - 2 Rush Nike -1. It did not take the Nike boys long to respond. in the 55th minute Wes drew the foul and won a free kick. Robert sent a curling ball into the box and Brett headed it into the Sterling FC goal for his second of the game. All level at 2-2.

The game went back and forth for the next few minutes as the ball went up and down the field and the tackles came in quick and hard. When it looked as if regulation time would end at 2-2, the ball fell to Wes in the 80th minute and he sent it low and hard just under the Sterling keeper and into the net. Nike boys pull out a last minute goal to win 3-2 and move to the next round of the State Cup.

VA Rush Nike v. Richmond Strikers

VA Rush Nike - 1
Richmond Strikers - 0

It's in the net!

VA Rush Nike boys sweep the Kickers and the Strikers on the opening weekend of the VCCL season. The Nike boys take a win in the second game in two days in Richmond, beating the Strikers 1-0!


On another beautiful day the Nike boys took to the pitch at Striker Park in Richmond for a 3:00 pm kickoff with the Richmond Strikers. The two teams had played each other just a week ago at the Nike Friendlies here at Striker Park with the game ending 0-0. It would be a different result on this day.

Both team came out hard with each side creating opportunities in the early minutes of the game. Still the score remained 0-0 until the 23rd minute. A Richmond Striker foul on Kerby gave the Nike boys a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Wes stepped up to take the kick and sent the ball over the Striker's wall and into the upper right corner of the goal. Nike boys 1 - Strikers 0.

The first half ended with the score 1-0 and the Nike boys in firm control of the game. The first half was littered with questionable officiating and the second half found more of the same. The Nike boys continued to build up a steady attack on the Strikers goal while the defense repelled everything the Strikers could throw at it. The Strikers mounted a furious effort to grab the equalizer in the fading minutes of the second half. Even with a gift of an extra 3 minutes added to the second half, the defense stood it's ground and the Nike boys finished the game with a 1-0 win. They finished the weekend with a two game sweep of the Kickers and Strikers.

A great start to the VCCL season. Back to training next week and time to switch the focus to SOCA.

(**Listen closely to the video clip of Wes's goal. At the end someone yells out that Wes can keep his hair for another week. If you don't know there is a bet on the table that if Wes does not score 10 goals this season he will shave his head on the field. If Wes scores the 10 goals you will be able to see them all here. If he does not score 10 goals...I can assure you I will have my camcorder charged and ready and you will see the head shaving here on the Rush U-15 Nike Blog! No pressure Wes!)

Vote in the poll to the right!

VA Rush Nike v. Richmond Kickers

VA Rush Nike - 1
Richmond Kickers - 0

Opening day for the Fall 2009 VCCL season. The VA Rush Nike U-15 boys took on the Richmond Kickers at Ukrop Fields in Richmond. The weather was perfect as the teams kicked off and the Nike boys immediately put pressure on the Kickers. The Rush created a number of good scoring opportunities, controlled the midfield and kept the pressure off their defense and keeper. The Kickers had very few legitimate scoring opportunities and spent a good deal of the first half defending. Despite the Rush scoring opportunities the first half ended level, 0-0.
The stalemate continued in the second half until the 63rd minute when passes from Josh and Brian found Brett in the middle of the field. Unmarked and with acres of space, Brett dribbled a little closer to the Kickers goal and unleashed a shot from distance that struck the back of the Kickers net.
Rush Nike 1 - Kickers 0.




The Kickers began to push forward looking for the equalizer but the Nike boys hung tough. The Kickers best opportunity came in the 74th minute off a corner kick. The kick sailed into the box and was punched away by Lally. The ball fell to another Kicker who sent the ball back towards the Rush goal. As the ball fell towards the net, Ian headed the ball away from the goal mouth. The Rush Nike boys hold on to secure the victory and an excellent start to this VCCL campaign.




The VA Rush Nike boys are 1-0 to start the VCCL. The second game of our Richmond weekend double header is with the Richmond Strikers on Sunday, 9-13-09.

GO RUSH!

VCCL 2009 Fall Season is here!

The Sun Cup and Nike Friendlies are behind us and the VCCL season kicks off next Saturday! Of course we begin the season with our annual back to back...Saturday and Sunday...trips to...where else?...RICHMOND!

(Editors note - I'm not saying the VCCL has it in for us but...)

Another crack at the Strikers after the 0-0 game at the Friendlies. A really quick opportunity for the Nike boys to set that score right. They should have no trouble getting up for that game. The Kickers are another familiar opponent. The Friendlies were disappointing but leaving Richmond next Sunday with a 2-0 record against the Richmond teams would erase that bitter taste.

The daily updates from the Nike Friendlies are posted. Video highlights will be posted soon. On to...(where else)...RICHMOND!

2009 Nike Friendlies - Day 3

VA Rush Nike - 0
PWSI - 3

Day three started out cool and cloudy. The Nike boys started off strong again with several good opportunities on goal in the first 10 minutes. PWSI was also aggressive and had a few early opportunities. The story of this tournament for the Nike squad was missed chances. An early goal may have changed the nature of this game but it was not to be on this date. In the second half the wear and tear of the three day tournament began to show. The Nike boys have been beaten up with injuries during the early going of the season. The options on the bench were limited as the PWSI team moved in waves of fresh recruits and many of the Rush player logged a full 80 minutes. The Nike boys end the 2009 Friendlies with a record of 0-3-1.

2009 Nike Friendlies - Day 2

VA Rush Nike - 0
Legacy - 1

Heartbreak! That is the only way to describe this game. After having the better play, possession and having a sweet goal called off, the Nike boys end up losing 1-0 on a goal in the last two minutes of play. The legacy was on the defensive right from the beginning as the Nike boys was aggressive in the attack and kept pressure on the Legacy goal. The first half ended 0-0 but was dominated on by Rush.
The second half was the story of two plays. The first was a called back goal for the Nike boys. Brett sent a ball into the box where Wes headed the ball into the goal. The celebration began until everyone saw the flag was raised. The Nike boys continued to pressure the Legacy until the last few minutes of the game when the Legacy slipped a ball into the back of the Nike net. This was one that slipped away.

2009 Nike Friendlies - Day 1

VA Rush Nike - 1
Bethesda - 3

Day 1 of the Nike Friendlies saw the U-15 Rush Nike boys take on the Bethesda Maryland boys. The Bethesda team took the early lead 1 - 0, with a shot that just slipped under an outstretched Lally. The lead did not last for long. The equalizer came off of header by Kerby that found the back of the net. Two quick goals in succession by Bethesda made the score 3-1 at the half. The Nike boys came back with a strong effort and a scoreless second half. Final score Bethesda 3 - Rush Nike 1.

VA Rush Nike - 0
Richmond Strikers - 0

With the temperatures in the low 90's, the Nike boys took to the pitch for the second game of the day against a well known opponent, the Richmond Strikers. The Nike boys came out blazing with an early run down the touchline by Phil. A cross into the box skipped in front of the keeper straight to Brett on the back post. A shot on goal from a tight angle missed and after a rebound effort the Strikers cleared. Some good defensive play by both squads and lost scoring opportunities were the story of this match as the game ended Rush Nike 0 - Strikers 0. The Rush Nike boys ended the first of day of play at the Friendlies 0-1-1.

2009 Sun Cup - Final

VA Rush Nike - 0
Beach FC - 3

2009 Sun Cup - Game 3 Highlights

VA Rush Nike - 0
Beach FC - 0