This past weekend the B team participated in the 14^th annual Greenwood Tournament  at the Greenwood School in Putney VT.  The tournament is for local middle schools including  Greenwood and Linden Hill.  This two day tournament is the culmination of the soccer season for Linden Hill.  The boys look forward to playing in it and always play well and hard.  This particular team did something no other LHS B team has done-gone to the finals!!!!

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The first day of the tournament is a set up day for the second day.  Each team plays each team once on the first day and then all teams get seeded for the second day’s games.   Linden Hill had the first game of the day on Saturday bright and early at 9am against Saxon River School.  LHS scored early in the first half to go up 2 – 0 at half time.  During the second half the team came out a little flat and ended up with a tie against Saxon River.  The team had 40 minutes off until their next game against Hill Top School from Vermont.  Linden Hill ended up winning this game 2 – 0. The team played strong and the boys worked well on the field and everything clicked for this game.  Then came the waiting game, LHS had a 3 hour wait until their next game against Putney Grammar School.  This school brought 22+ players to this tournament.  LHS played strong and hard but ended up on the losing end of this game, 2 – 0.  The three hour break really took the steam out of the team.  The boys finished the day playing the second to last game on Saturday against the Greenwood school.  The boys again left everything out on the field but fell short losing 2 – 0.    Linden Hill B team finished the first day with a record of 1-2-1 and in 4^th place out of 5 teams. 

Sunday morning came around and the weather was crisp and cool.  LHS found themselves having to play a consolation round game.  The winner moves on and the losing team goes home. LHS found themselves playing Hill Top School.  Even though the boys tied them on Saturday the boys ended up with a tie at the end of regulation.  This meant that LHS would play in a sudden death overtime game 6 v 6 with no goalies.  The first sudden death overtime ended in a tie and each team had to pick a new 6 players to put out on the field.  LHS got to start with the ball and Sora ended up dribbling down the length of the field and crossing the ball where Clancy and Max P. were able to nock the ball past the Hill Top players for the win. 

This meant that LHS was moving onto the semi – final game against the #1 team in the tournament the Putney Grammar school.    In the second game of the day for LHS the boys dug deep and played the #1 team to a tie at the end of regulation.  Once again for the second time of the day LHS found themselves in sudden death overtime.  Coach Mr. JP Sanieski picked his six kids to play this very exciting game and told them his plan!  Winner goes on to the finals losing team goes on to play for third or fourth place.   LHS won the toss and decided for the ball.  THE PLAN!  With Chris and Desmond on the front line Desmond passed the ball to Chris who passed it back to Juan Pablo.  While the pass was going back to Juan Pablo, Chris and Desmond were sprinting down the field to the goal.  Juan Pablo kicked the ball as hard as he could to try to score as there are no goalies.  The shot was a little to the left of the goal and Desmond and Chris needed to work really hard to gain control of the ball.  The ball was knocking around the box right outside of the goal and Chris was able to get a foot on it for the win!  Just 30 seconds into the sudden death overtime LHS found themselves headed to the Championship game. 

The Championship game was a rematch of the first game of the tournament between Saxon River and LHS.  The boys were so pumped for this experience not only were they in a soccer tournament but this was the first time the B  Team had ever made it to the finals of the tournament.   But as the last 2 games had gone LHS found themselves tied at the end of regulation 1 – 1.  Overtime sudden death was upon the team for the third time in three games.  This overtime did not end in LHS favor with Saxon River winning with a golden goal. 

The LHS B team played so strong not only in the tournament but all season long. Most of the time they play schools that are older, stronger, faster and have had more time to practice.  It just goes to show how much the team grew over the season.  Starting off the season more then half the boys had never played on a soccer team.  Then 8 short weeks later they find themselves in their first Championship game ever! They certainly have nothing to be ashamed of and even though the game ended in the other team's favor LHS can walk away from this experience their heads held high with pride and with no regrets! Thanks for a great season B team!

GREAT JOB LHS B TEAM!