10/21/12: Stampede strong in a five game weekend!

The Stampede played five close games over the weekend resulting in two wins, two ties and one loss.  The first was a league game with BOCA of Sacramento at the the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex, Friday Night Lights style.  Down 0-2 in the second half, Jordan Davis was able to knock in a ball  bobbled by the opposing keeper.  Davis then drilled in the equalizer from 25 yards late for a final score of 2-2.  Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to the annual OctoBOOfest tournament hosted by Sacramento United at Granite Park.  In their first match, the Stampede faced a San Juan Spirits team that at times seemed to be better prepared for American football than for the European version.  Despite the bruises, neither team was able to score and time ran out to produce the Stampede's second tie in just 18 hours.  The locals then met the ACC Mavericks Dynamite in the tournament's second game and their third in 24 hours.  Understandably fatigued, the Stampede could not catch their opponent this time.  Down 0-2, Anne Ayotte was able to clean up Yasmeen Dmeiri's long shot attempt with a close range goal to make it 1-2.  But the game would end there.  A good night's sleep and the fresh taste of defeat seemed to motivate the locals Sunday.  They met FC Elk Grove in the morning, the toughest team in their bracket and outplayed them with sound, elegant soccer.  Dmeiri drilled in the game's only goal on a free kick from 30 yards out.  The Stampede then beat American River Freedom to win the bronze, 1-0.  It was a fitting way to end the weekend, as Ayotte netted the final tally on a cross from Davis, Barcelona style.  Tough midfield and backfield defense from Emily Speakman, Grace Carlson and Sydney Moore kept the Stampede close all weekend long.

10/14/12: Stampede still unbeaten this fall

The Stampede continued their unbeaten streak for the fall season with two weekend shutouts at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex.  They bested Sac United 2-0 Saturday morning in Norcal league play.  The two goals came from athletic plays by Jordan Davis in the first half and Lily Byrne in the second.  The locals then beat the Cal Cougars of Stockton 2-0 in a preliminary round State Cup match on Sunday.  Anne Ayotte scored twice, first off an assist from Byrne and then, in the second half, when she overpowered the Cougar keeper with a low heater from the 18.  Tremendous defensive play came from Sophie Karperos, Skye Schaffer, Grace Barger, Yasmeen Dmeiri and keepers McKenna Lutzker and Alex Hanna, who kept the opponents from scoring all weekend. 

10/7/12: One win, one tie over the weekend

The Stampede faced Placer United and Loomis in two matches over the weekend at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex.  The locals easily got past Placer 4-0 Saturday in a regular Norcal league game.  Anne Ayotte scored first on a Jordan Davis assist and Ayotte returned the favor to Davis for the second goal. Two second half goals come on Skye Schaffer's long range blast followed by a close range tally by Davis on a corner kick from Jasmeen Dmeiri.  The Stampede faced a tougher Loomis team Sunday in first round State Cup play.  Down 0-1 after an early surprise goal from the opponent, the locals fought back all game to finally find the equalizer late in the second half on a close range shot by Davis, producing a final score of 1-1.

9/15/12: Stampede sneak by San Juan

The Stampede eked out a 2-1 victory over the San Juan Spirits last Saturday at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex.  Despite a couple of opportunities in the first half, it took the locals until about midway through the second to score their first goal which came from Grace Barger when she knocked in a ricocheting ball inside the six.  However, San Juan found the equalizer soon after. The hard fought contest remained knotted at 1 until late when an unmarked Anne Ayotte intercepted the now tiring defense's attempt to clear the ball, unleashing a left-footed blast from 25 yards out for the game winner.

09/09/12: Stampede victorious in weekend matches

The locals started off a winning weekend Saturday afternoon by beating Sacramento's Capital Athletic Soccer Club Boca 4-3 in their first Norcal fall league game.  Jordan Davis scored two goals, one on an assist from Lily Byrne and the other on a second half breakaway.  Anne Ayotte netted another off a hard cross from Davis, and Byrne scored on a body shot off an artful corner kick by Yasmeen Dmeiri.  The girls traveled to Fairfield Sunday morning and bested the North Bay Elite in a qualifying round of the State Cup, 3-1.  Davis again netted two, the first assisted by Ayotte.  Adeline Umphress scored the third on a left-footer from inside the penalty area.

8/19/12: Stampede Take Silver at Super Clásico

The Stampede opened the Davis Legacy Super Clásico tournament Saturday morning with a solid 4-1 win over Elk Grove, with goals coming two each from Jordan Davis and Grace Barger.  Things turned ugly for the locals in Game 2, as the El Dorado Stars shut them out 6-0.  Despite the stomping, the Stampede emerged supercharged Sunday morning to crush Orangevale 11-1. Goals came from Jordan Davis (4), Lily Byrne (3), Barger (2), Alex Hanna (1) and Skye Schaffer (1).  Key assists came from Anne Ayotte (3), Sophie Karperos, Yasmeen Dmeiri and Byrne.  The two convincing wins put the locals in the tournament final Sunday afternoon, once again to face the dominant Stars.  This time, however, the Stampede showed tremendous toughness and heart.  Late in the first half, they drew first blood on a free kick as Lily Byrne received and buried Yasmeen Dmeiri's superb cross from far beyond the 18 on the opposite side of the field.  The second half witnessed even tougher play as the locals held off an ever advancing El Dorado offensive.  Incredible team defense kept the Stampede close all the way to the end.  Goal keeper McKenna Lutzer made countless saves while Karperos, Byrne, Dmeiri, Schaffer, Ayotte, Barger, Sydney Moore and Grace Carlson stymied their frustrated opponents again and again until the Stars finally broke through, eventually scoring three goals to win the tournament.

7/15/12: Smooth sailing at Santa Rosa

It was Davis 3, opponents 0 at Norcal's Play Date #7 in Santa Rosa.  In a tough Game 1, the locals beat  the Modesto Ajax's U10 team 2-1.  Anne Ayotte scored almost immediately after the opening whistle when she stole the kickoff pass and netted a hard grounder before the befuddled defense knew what hit them.  Modesto played solid soccer throughout and found an equalizer late in the game. However, on a goalkeeper miscue, both Ayotte and teammate Skye Schaffer were able to knock in the game winner amidst a goal line scrum.  Game 2 was all Davis as they punished Santa Rosa's U10 team 3-0.  Goals came from Ayotte assisted by Emily Speakman, Kaitlyn McElhern assisted by Skye Schaffer and from Alex Hanna.  The locals' dominance continued in Game 3 as they beat Sonoma County Alliance 5-1. Yasmeen Dmeiri opened the scoring with a free kick from beyond the 18. The next four came from Lily Byrne, McElhern, Ayotte and Hanna.