Futbolistas upset Club Soda in IM soccer

The Futbolistas handily spilled Club Soda 3-0 in the
women’s intramural soccer championships Tuesday evening, but
they were anything but surprised by the upset win.

Playing a confident, calm game, the third-seeded Futbolistas
frustrated No. 1 Club Soda with teamwork and, more importantly, by
having fun.

“We were not passing the ball or moving,” Club
Soda’s Genevieve Painter said. “It was a frustrating,
frustrating game.”

The fun began for the Futbolistas when they scored on a booming
goal by their powerful striker, Carrie Phillips, just minutes into
the first half. Amy Pettit followed her lead just as the first half
came to a halt by scoring what proved to be the final two goals of
the game.

Her first, a commanding boot from the left side of the field,
easily sailed into the net. Her second score, a graceful,
undefended tap, was followed by a wide smile from Pettit ““
sizeable enough to be seen by all in attendance at Marshall
Field.

The Futbolistas dominated the first half, but fatigue became a
visible issue for both squads. Playing a six-on-six game with no
substitutions was reflected in the pace of the game.

Club Soda re-energized during the break and came out strong as
the second-half whistle sounded. Painter, a nimble ball handler,
gave her teammates plenty of golden opportunities to get on the
scoreboard with her accurate passing.

The closest Club Soda would come to a goal occurred on two
streaming shots that hit the post, much to the relief of the
Futbolistas.

“We are the luckiest team in the world,” Pettit said
after the second near-miss.

Club Soda’s chances for victory came to a painful halt
when Painter sustained a charlie horse in her shin. The wound
slowed her fast-paced game down and prevented Club Soda from
penetrating the Futbolistas’ defense.

Club Soda never seemed to feel completely comfortable, as
Painter was quick to point out: “You cannot win by standing
around or playing for yourself. You need to play a team
game.”

Painter, a freshman, blamed the apparent lack of team chemistry
to a few personnel changes that occurred before the start of the
game.

“Some of the girls switched teams prior the game,”
she said. “Both intramural teams play on the same UCLA club
team, but the changes really hurt us.”

The ever-smiling Pettit believed that the victory was, in part,
due to the fact that all participants in the game play on the same
club team.

“We did not feel like underdogs because we know each
other’s games from playing together for the past year,”
she said.

“The victory is fun. It’s exhilarating,” she
said.