Norway Cup 2008

Letters from Norway

August 1, 2008

Letter from Santa Barbara United Coach

Norway Cup Trophy After a week of home stay and prep in Lillehammer, SB United team played 6 days of tournament games and won the Norway Cup in the (born in) '95 age group. We started out in a very strong pool and had some very tough competition from a Swedish team yesterday in the semi-finals who couldn't match us on skill, so they resorted to an incredibly “physical” game which resulted in a foul that Michelle Goss took the direct kick on, and placed a perfect shot from about 30 yds. out to the top corner. We had control of the ball for about 75% of the game.

Today, in the finals, we played a very strong Norwegian team that challenged us on a several occasions but our back line held strong and allowed our attack to continue relentlessly. Tiana Bonn (proud dad here) started the rally with a classic breakaway, picking up a through pass, beating two defenders that tried to “sandwich” her and placed a perfect ground shot to the far corner, midway into the first half. In the second half Michelle Goss took a direct kick (again from about 25-30 yds out) and “bent” a bullet shot high into the near corner.

Our record was very solid thanks to an amazing back line that didn't allow a single goal in 7 tournament games, and three friendly's.

The tournament scores were 4-0, 3-0, 2-0, 8-0, 2-0, 1-0, 2-0.

Norway Cup Trophy Needless to say we have some very happy, confident young ladies returning to Santa Barbara this weekend, excited to get back onto their teams and continue the game.

Thanks for all the support and help that you gave us early on to put this team together that resulted in the great experience they all had.

Best regards,
Coach Edward Bonn

August 1, 2008

Norway Cup Trophy Dear all,
Mission is completed, and we have said goodbye to the girls and the parents, not without tears. But the adventure has come to an end, and the mission that started last year is now finished. Just wait till you see the cup, it's HUGE! You have such great girls, not only on the soccer field, and we will miss both them and their parents (to you back home; the nine parents are exhausted, so I'm afraid they will need at least a week of vacation when they come back…)

I am sorry to hear that the live streaming didn't work out for you. We have now just seen it, and it was only two small newsflashes with the team. When I am back from Italy, I will make a YouTube version of it. Our captain (and great player) Caroline is being interviewed, while the other girls are staying around her, and they are saying something like this:

The reporter: The game is just finished, and Santa Barbara United from the U.S has just won the Norway Cup, and team Captain Caroline Vance; what are you feeling now?

Caroline: I am really excited because this was our team's dream overall, we've been preparing for months just to get here and we've done it, so it's a big accomplishment for all of us, and we are gonna bring the trofe back to Santa Barbara and bring the U.S the pride.

(All the girls cheering in the background)

The reporter: How are you going to celebrate now?

Caroline: I'm not sure. I think we are having a big ice cream party back at the apartments and we're gonna just be happy for all that we have done together as a team

The reporter (to all): Are we happy for winning the Norway Cup?

(All the girls cheering)

As Daniel already has showd us, there's a long news story about the team on the Norway Cup's Norwegian's site. Hopefully it will be translated very soon to English, but here is a link to the Norwegian version: http://live.Norway Cup.no/. It's late, and we am leaving for Italy in just a few hours, so unfortuntely I don't have time to translate it now. But the start goes like this:

Winners from the USA
Santa Barbara United from the USA played good soccer in the final in the T class, and run away with the victory after an even played finale.

Not the first time
Santa Barbara United participated also in 2007, and has the last year arranged both garage sale, car washing and also received incomes from sponsors to be able to go to Norway. The team has “charged up” on Lillehammer a week before the tournament, and played friendly games against both Zimbabwe and Kenya.

I am sure James soon has a video ready, as well :-).

So long,
we miss you already -

Love from Une, Ida, Åge and Brit :-)

August 1, 2008

Good morning, families friends and supporters in California!

I have just talked with the TV2 Norway Cup editors. Unfortunately, due to their capacity and the fact that our game is so late in the afternoon, it will not be streamed over the Internet (while Saturdays' finals will). However, they plan a live broadcast newsflash (National TV and Internet) at 6.48 PM Norwegian time (which should be 9.48 AM Pacific time, but there could be changes) from the field as a part of their daily news program from Norway Cup. Hopefully, you will then watch the girls having just won the Norway Cup 2008, and they also plan to do a short interview with one of them. If the game is delayed and not finished, they will just tell the score.

The link is http://webtv.tv2.no/webtv/sumo/?progId=255608. (This link should take you directly to the right page. If not, choose today's broadcast from Norway Cup (starting 18.30 Norwegian time, which is 9:30 AM PT) and not the Norway Cup - Finaler link, which is tomorrow's program).

Usually, there are restrictions for other countries, but it should not be on this particular program. Tomorrow afternoon glimpses from the game will be shown as well.

So, stay tuned :-).

Brit :-)

July 31, 2008

Hi!

As I guess you all now have heard, United will play the final tomorrow Friday at 6pm Norwegian time (9am pacific time). There is a chance that the game will be streamed realtime on Internet by the national Norwegian broadcaster TV2.

It was really hard for the girls to score in the semi-finale today, but in the second half Adaezia made the game's only goal…!

The girls were so happy!!! I guess they all knew that the mission was not completed unless they got to play the final :-).

Brit :-)

July 31, 2008

I just uploaded video of our Quarterfinal match against Sweden played this morning at 9am. A great game against our toughest opponent yet! Santa Barbara United won 1-0.

Semifinal match today at 3:30 (6:30am SB time)

— James Read

July 30, 2008

I've just uploaded the latest video, this one of our first day in Oslo including a scrimmage with Zimbabwe and the parade.

The girls played well yesterday in a solid 2-0 win over Asane from Bergen, Norway. A couple of great saves by Hannah, solid defense, and a well executed passing offense….

After going unbeaten (and unscored upon!) in three games of pool play, the playoffs start today at 2:30. A huge thunderstorm last night cooled things off and there is a chance of rain for the game. If we win today, there are quarter and semifinals tomorrow, with the finals to be played at 6PM Friday.

— James Read

July 28, 2008

Just uploaded video of our last day in Lillehammer. You'll love the farewell barbecue…

Our girls were not at their best today, but easily beat an overmatched Norwegian team. We hope the 11AM game tomorrow will allow them to play their best, as it is still really hot here….

*********
Be sure to check out the story on us at Noozhawk.com posted today
*********

— James Read

July 26, 2008

Glimpses from the last days in Lillehammer

Dear all,
Madonna sings “time passes by so quickly,” and that's so true. The week in Lillehammer is already history. But it has been a great and eventful week, even if the heat wave made us slow down a bit…

Here are more photos from these days, and hopefully they will be complemented by others soon :-).

The team bus left Lillehammer 9.30 AM this morning, and had a friendly game (0-0) and lunch with Zimbabwe in the heat. Tomorrow the pool play start. You can follow the pool play here: Link to T05.

So long,
Brit :-)

July 23, 2008

First days in Lillehammer

After three weeks of rain and rather cold weather, we now have sunny days and temperatures over 80 F. Six of the parents (Lori, Melinda, Myriam, James, Gabe and Dave) left Lillehammer this morning for the Nutshell travel, and I know that the boys actually ended todays trip by walking/hiking 20 km (12.4 miles). All of us left in Lillehammer have also been hiking today, up to Nevelfjell (1089 m.a.s.l). Without implying anything, I just noticed that the coaches were left behind, but the girls were kind enough to wait at the top :-). Link to photos.

Santa Barbara United Santa Barbara United arrives in Lillehammer, Norway on July 20, 2008.

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