Craig Daily Press / Youth Soccer team playing competitive

Archive for Monday, May 8, 2000

May 8, 2000

Playing up a level has paid off for the Craig Storm, a 13-under girls soccer team.

Three weeks into the season, the Storm, the lone Craig Youth Soccer Association team playing in a competitive division, is sporting a 2-0-1 record.

But, the Storm's games haven't been cakewalks. The team has 1-0 wins over Basalt and Aspen and a 2-2 tie against Vail.

"We have found in this division that competition is much tougher," said coach Henry Stoffel. "The team skills are a lot higher compared to the development division."

According to Stoffel, the team is getting better and better each game.

"We have played three out of the eight games and the girls are progressing very well," said Stoffel. "Their skills are developing. Their passing and working as a team have improved. In this division, one person can't dominate the game. It takes 11 players to win. They have accepted that and are working together."

The Storm, made up of fifth and sixth graders, is using this season and the future seasons to get team members ready for high school soccer.

"These girls that they are facing right now will be the same ones they will face in high school," said Stoffel. "We want to continue working on the team skills and working more on other skills and continue to be competitive in our games.

The Storm will play two games on Saturday on the road against a pair of Grand Junction teams.

"Last year, Grand Junction won the league," said Stoffel. "They will be tough games. We will go down and play hard, and we will have an excellent opportunity to win."