Effort there, amount of players not

It was only a matter of time before the numbers game haunted the 8th grade soccer team.

With Marissa out with bum knees and Sebastian and Miguel unable to play due to other commitments with their club soccer team, the 8th graders (plus Hartman) only had 9 players on the field for today's contest.

They played a really good first quarter and trailed only 1-0 on one of the most bizarre calls in the history of soccer officiating. Goalie Mark picked up a ball which was kicked by his teammate, a penalty in soccer, which set up a free kick from basically the front of the net. Why the referee didn't award a penalty kick instead is baffling. That led to a very peculiar first goal.

But as time went on, the flood gates opened. When you are at a two man disadvantage it's only a matter of time before the uphill climb gets steeper.

The players battled and gave it their best but there was nothing much they could do at such a disadvantage.

Unfortunately that's how it is these days when you have players in the 7th and 8th grade who should play, but don't -- or their parents don't let.

Great effort by the ones who are playing and we should be proud of them for weathering the storm.