BFS GIRLS
On Saturday, November 9th our BFS MS futsal teams participated in the Southern Korean Activities Conference Finals Tournament. After going 3-1 in the SKAC Divisional tournament held last month our girls came into the Finals tournament as the clear #2 seed.
At the Finals, in their first match of the day the girls shut out HIS by a score of 3-0. In their second match, they fell behind 2-0 early in the match but battled back with 5 unanswered goals to beat ISK 5-2. With this result, our girls held a 5-1 match record and held onto their #2 seeding.
Up next was a rematch with the #3 seed (HIS) in the semi-finals. This match was much closer than the match played earlier in the morning. BFS went up 2-0 then HIS scored to bring the match to 2-1. BFS scored again to go up 3-1 before HIS rallied to close the gap once again at 3-2. BFS went up again with a goal pushing their lead to 4-2 before HIS scored again to make the score 4-3 late in the match. It was an intense match, but BFS finally broke through again with a fifth and final goal to secure the victory 5-3, moving them onto the 2019 SKAC championship match.
In the 2019 SKAC Championship Match, the Lady Sharks faced the #1 seed (DIS) who was unbeaten and sitting on 6 wins against 0 losses on the season. Our Sharks really had their work cut out for them if they were going to triumph. Last month in the first match of the Divisional tournament our Lady Sharks fell to the Jets from DIS by a score of 0-6. That first match was much closer than the final score as DIS scored 4 of those goals late in the match after BFS substituted players to allow all team members to see some action. On this day, the outcome looked to be eerily similar to the first match as the Jets went up with a first-half goal and led at halftime 1-0. In the second half the Sharks were playing much better but midway through the second half the Jets notched another goal to go up 2-0 with about 10 minutes remaining in the championship match. That is right where they were in the first meeting last month so it was looking like deja-vu for our beloved Sharks!
Not to be denied, our girls rallied together and kept the pressure on finally breaking onto the scoreboard when Angie found the back of the net with about 7 minutes remaining in the match. We kept this momentum going and with about 2 minutes remaining Angie sent a left-footed corner kick spiraling and curving toward the upper left post and the goalkeeper wasn’t able to secure it and ball slipped through ………tying the match up at 2 goals apiece with very little time left! The excitement and intensity was gripping the entire complex as the seconds ticked off the clock, then the final whistle blew and the score remained tied 2-2! Here we go……..onto a penalty shootout to decide this year’s champion!
Each team designated 5 players to take the kicks and we began the shootout. Amber struck first for the Sharks and BFS held a 1-0 lead after 3 kicks apiece. Onto the 4th kick…… and DIS tied it up at 1-1. On the fifth penalty shootout attempt for DIS Gaetane blocked the attempt and we had one last opportunity with our 5th and final chance. That’s when Maria stepped up and pounded the winning goal into the upper left side and into the back of the net. SHARKS win the title in dramatic fashion 2-1 in a penalty shootout making the final score 4-3!!
Special recognition goes to our girl’s defensive effort with Hadassah (in goal) and the rest of the team focused on stopping the high scoring Jets.
The Sharks allowed just two goals in the championship match when DIS was averaging 7 goals per match throughout the season.
SKAC Finals Results
BFS 3 — 0 HIS Goals: Angie (1), Gaetane (1), Amber (1)
BFS 5 — 2 ISK Goals: Angie (2), Gaetane (1), Amber (2)
Semi Final
BFS 5 — 3 HIS Goals: Angie (3), Gaetane (1), Amber (1)
Championship Match
BFS 2 — 2 DIS Goals: Angie (2)
Penalty Shootout
BFS 2 — 1 DIS Goals: Amber (1), Maria (1)
Congratulations to coach Yang and all the girls on a fantastic season
Miriam, Keegan, Isabel, Chloe, Sophie, Hadassah, Maria, Amber, Angie, Gaetane
BFS BOYS
The boys, with a whopping 18 players, were split into two teams: A and B.
In their first game against ISK, the A team battled back from an early 0-2 deficit to tie up the game 2-2. An unfortunate last goal by ISK put them in the lead just before the game was over, and they won 3-2.
In the next match, the A team faced DIS—the team that would go on to win the entire tournament (beating the second-place team 10-0). The A team held their own in the first half, tying up the match at 2-2, but couldn’t keep up with DIS’ relentless pressure and ended the match 3-7, a still impressive margin considering DIS’ performance in the final match.
In the quarterfinals (having been guaranteed a spot by their strong performance at the divisional), the boys faced off against ISK. ISK got two early goals, and much of the rest of the match was a stalemate. Late in the second half, BFS got one back, but couldn’t manage to get the crucial last goal to tie up the game.
B team faced a much more arduous journey, and still managed to persevere all the way to the quarter-finals. The B team faced some very large opponents and held their ground well. It was a fun season to watch the B team boys develop and continue to grow and get better each and every time out. The future looks bright with these guys as they play hard and work to improve.