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Sunday, October 25, 2009

SECTIONAL CHAMPS...NOW ON TO DISTRICTS!



Lady Monarchs capture sectional soccer title with emotional shootout win over Cardinals
By TIM MILLER, Journal-Tribune

After 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play, Marysville High School girls soccer coach Joe McSwords was left pondering another number .... five.

“We hadn’t practiced it (a shootout) since two-a-days,” said McSwords. “I really wasn’t even sure which five players I wanted to put up for shots.”

That was McSwords’ situation Thursday evening after two full halves and a pair of overtime sessions left the Lady Monarchs and Thomas Worthington stalemated at 0-0 in a Division I sectional final game. While McSwords and his captains were meeting with the officials at center field in Worthington, assistant coaches Neal Shaffer, Allen Hinderer and Katie Tracey were writing down some names.

“Those were the ones I thought,” said McSwords after seeing Taylor Spears, Sam Fisher, Casidy Jaggers, Ashley Wilson and KyLee Tuchfarber on a list of shooters.

That quintet came through in big fashion, as the Lady Monarchs outscored the Cardinals, 4-3, in the shootout to advance to Tuesday’s district semifinal game at Upper Arlington. After regulation play and overtime sessions that featured both teams missing on scoring opportunities, the season basically came down to which shooting lineup and which keeper would persevere. Somebody was going to win and somebody was going to end the campaign empty-handed. Soccer games can finish in ties during the regular season but not so during tournament competition. If two, 15-minute OTs are exhausted and the deadlock still stands, teams go to a shoot-out format. Both teams name five shooters who line up against the opposing keeper. Teams alternate shots. The Cardinals took the first opportunity and Hailey Reeb gave her team a 1-0 lead against MHS keeper Hannah Zacharias.

“It’s definitely a pressure situation,” said Zacharias. “It’s tough when you have to face so many kicking styles.”

Spears lined up her shot against TW keeper Rachel Chizever and tied the game at 1-1.

Rebecca Sheldon ripped the ball in for a 2-1 Cardinal lead and Fisher followed suit to make it a 2-all battle. With tension mounting, Zacharias came up with perhaps one of the biggest plays of the season. Meagan Endsley rifled the ball toward the upper part of the goal but Zacharias swiftly got an arm up to block the offering.

“I felt on top of the world after that,” Zacharias said.

Jaggers’ shot failed to hit the mark, leaving the game tied. Nikki Appel put the Cards ahead 3-2 but Wilson scored for yet another tie. Kristen Taylor was the final Worthington shooter and her effort failed to hit the mark. It appeared as though a second set of shooters would be needed when Tuchfarber’s shot went wide to the left. A whistle blew, though, and an official signaled that Chizever crossed the white line before Tuchfarber took the shot. That’s a no-no in soccer and it gave Tuchfarber another opportunity.

“On my second chance, I felt I had to get the ball to the back of the net,” she said. “I wanted to work it to the back corner on the ground.”

Tuchfarber’s mowing job was better than a Lawnboy and when the ball skipped past Chizever, the Lady Monarchs (9-5-4) had claimed an emotional sectional title.

“This was a huge win,” said McSwords as his eyes watered and his voice cracked. “For the past four years, we’ve been working to put this program on the map and I think this win may do that. The girls worked very hard to win this game.”

Monday, October 12, 2009

MONDAY MOSAIC

Something new ~ words, thoughts, quotes, pics ~ all around an idea or theme floating through my mind today ~ let's see how it goes...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." ~ Andre Gide


kipepeo ~ If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies" - Anonymous

"Where there is great love, there are always miracles." - Willa Cather





Friday, October 9, 2009

Yummy Oatmeal & Friends Across the World

First, let me say that when I logged in today I found the most wonderful comment waiting to be moderated. It was from a former Peace Corps volunteer who had served with Andrew at the neighboring village -- and who had been his best friend and "his sis" for many, many months until she returned stateside this past late spring. She told me that she had been trying unsuccessfully to reach Drew for over a month (he has a new cell phone due to an "incident" in Dar a while back, lol! and she also didn't have his current email addy) and was hoping I would be able to connect them. She found my blog through the spectacular world of internet search and left her email address for me (so, no, Jessica, I won't post your comment, lol!). I'm so very excited to re-connect the old friends, the "brother and sister" back together as I know how much Drew has missed "talking" with her and they have much to catch up on!

Now, on a completely different note....weather has changed here, heading us directly into a chilly fall and the perfect time for this great recipe I just received for "Baked Oatmeal" - a perfect dish to prep the night before and mix together and bake in the morning (and, if you're a "small" crowd, eat off all week long!)

Baked Oatmeal

3/4 c. brown sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
3 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats

2 c. milk
1/2 c. oil (can use all olive oil, all canola, or 1/2 & 1/2)
2 eggs beaten
1/2 c. applesauce
1 t. vanilla

1 fresh apple chopped
1/4 c. chopped dried fruit (cranberries, etc.)
1/2 c. ch. nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)

Preheat oven to 375 (350 for glass pan). Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir well. Add fruit and nuts. Pour into greased 9 X 13 inch pan. Bake 25 minutes.

Some more TIPS for this yummy oatmeal:

* Night before prep dry ingredients, wet ingredients (refrigerate), and chopped fruit/nuts except apple (wait til morning to chop apple to prevent turning brown).
* I have tried this with all olive oil and it is good, but a little "heavy" - I'm probably going to do the 1/2 & 1/2 next time.
* An easy way to do the applesauce is if you have snack packs - they are 1/2 c. each :)
* Might be interesting/healthy to try this with egg whites/egg substitutes, too.
* I've been told this can be made with Splenda instead of the brown sugar.
* Makes a great breakfast...as well as a simple supper later in the week, lol!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY





Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Birthday Girl

27 years ago this morning, my oldest daughter, Sarah Elizabeth was born...Goodness, where have the years gone? Years of smiles and laughter, tears and traumas, drama and joy, celebrations and challenges, moments and milestones...it goes so quickly.

Sarah is now a first-time mother herself ~ and a wonderful one, of course, to Abigail Elizabeth, enjoying every blessing and at the same time in awe at how quickly the months are passing. Ah, yes, they do slip by days, months, years...and a little girl now has her own little girl :)

Happy birthday, my dear Sarah! Love, Mom

Monday, October 5, 2009

It's time! The stunning OCEAN THEME bracelet, "Sea of Hope," will be auctioned off beginning MONDAY, October 5th! Bids can be placed - frequently! - in the comments section of the Artisan Beaders blog.

Bidding will continue for two weeks through Friday, October 16th so be sure to check often (and bid again!). This beautiful sterling silver (and more!) creation has been handcrafted by the members of the Artisan Beaders team. All monies raised through this auction are being donated to RAINN. Details of the bidding process are posted at the ABSTEAM blog.

RAINN's Mission Statement: "The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline's free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice."