Youth soccer at Ft. Nugent Park

The Oak Harbor Sports Report went to see two youth soccer game held at a wet Ft. Nugent Park this past Saturday, Sept. 20th. There were 15 games in total Saturday morning, ranging from 6 to 10 years old.

The first game covered was a Boys U-8 game between the Blue Bullets and a team sponsored by Martin Electric. At that age, the game is played on a short field, and only 3 players on each side, plus goalies. From my viewpoint, the Blue Bullets were in control of the game, making shot after shot on the Martin Electric goal. However, due to the extraordinary efforts of the Martin Electric goalie, most of the shots did not get into the goal. After the game, I talked with coach Eric Johnston of the Blue Bullets. He said his boys "hustled hard and had good passing", and that there was great improvement from the beginning of the season.
34 photos of the two teams are posted HERE

The other game was a U-6 girls game featuring the Bluebirds and the Red Roses, sponsored by Best Friends Veterinary Clinic and Jane Koetje of Re/Max Real Estate. At the U-6 level, both teams have only 3 players on the field and there is no goalie, but that is countered by a smaller goal net. This game was also fun to watch as you could easily see that not only were the girls working hard, but having fun. Coaches Edgar and Crystal Nunez of the Red Roses said his team "did an awesome job", and "played as a team". Coach Sean Merrill of the Blubirds said that "everyone played better", and it was "great watching the girls grow". I got the distinct impression that all the coaches were very proud of their girls.

32 photos of the Bluebirds-Red Roses game are posted HERE