Two Matches This Weekend

Our upcoming matches are :

Saturday May 30th at 5:30 against Chargers FC in Westchester
Map link: http://tinyurl.com/c2lntj
and
Sunday May 31st at 3:00 against American SC in Mt Prospect
Map link: http://tinyurl.com/c786jm

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Also we have training sessions set for Monday June 1st and Monday June 8th from 7:30 to 9:00pm at Olympia Park (6566 N Avondale in Chicago - Map link: http://tinyurl.com/puaxjx )

Mid Season Update - Memorial Day Weekend

No matches this Memorial Day weekend.

So, our upcoming matches are :

Saturday May 30th at 5:30 against Chargers FC in Westchester
Map link: http://tinyurl.com/c2lntj
and
Sunday May 31st at 3:00 against American SC in Mt Prospect
Map link: http://tinyurl.com/c786jm

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We're halfway through our season and I'm pleased with the way our season is progressing. With a few corrections, our team could easily be undefeated. More importantly, we are playing a good brand of football and seem to have developed a nice team spirit with a good attitude toward each other. Our players with previous Celtics experience are playing well and helping to bring the new players into our fold. The new and younger players are responding well, making great contributions to our team effort. All and all, it has been entertaining to watch our team come together.

From Sunday's game, I think it shows that our players have a "never give up" spirit in their make up. Down 3-0 in the second half with the team's number 1 keeper out injured, many teams would have quit - but not our players.

Staging a comeback that would remind some Liverpool fans of a match a few years ago in the Champions League Final, our U17 players fought back to draw even at 3-3 with about five minutes left in the match. Unfortunately, we couldn't hold the lead but our players still pressed for the equalizer - with only ten players - throughout the five minutes of added time.

It was an effort that underlines the fact that this is a very competitive division with very little separating one team from the other.

We can look forward to four more good matches starting next week with a rematch against Chargers FC.

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Finally, with the school year winding down, school sports seasons are coming to an end as well. So, I would like to schedule a few more training sessions so that our players get more work with professional trainers. I hope this will help them improve their overall game and help them to prepare for their Fall HS soccer season. Right now, we have two dates set up and more may follow if we get decent attendance.

They are: Monday June 1st and Monday June 8th from 7:30 to 9:00pm at Olympia Park.
If there are any changes to the location, I will post that to the website and via email.
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Thank you and have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Next Match vs. Chargers FC

Next match Sunday at St. Joseph HS against Chargers FC.

The match is at 4:00pm at 10900 W. Cermak Road in Westchester.

Map of location is at: http://tinyurl.com/c2lntj

Directions indicate the drive from Olympia Park in Chicago is about 25-30 minutes. Please allow enough time to arrive at field at 3:15. Upon arrival, immediately get shoes & shin guards on and start stretching.

Please remember, black shorts & black socks are part of our uniform.

If you know that you will not be able to attend the match, please notify me by Saturday afternoon.

2-0 Victory vs ALITHSA

We had a great team effort early this morning in Lake in the Hills resulting in a 2-0 victory for our U17 team. Our defense played well and our jovial goalkeeper kept a clean sheet dealing with tricky windy conditions. All our midfielders put in nice efforts to help the defenders and press our attack. Our forwards harried their defenders and forced them to give up the ball on several occasions. We had two nicely taken goals to seal the victory. All and all, it was a total team effort from start to finish. Very well played Celtics!

Happy Mother's Day to all moms and thank you for raising such good players and outstanding young men. You should be very proud of them and the teamwork & effort they display.

Our next match is currently scheduled for Saturday May 30th however we have a postponed match to reschedule. I'm working with the other coach to see if we could play that match next Sunday May 17th. Watch for more emails this week and check the blog website.

Hope you have a great remainder of the day.

Next Match at ALITHSA on Sunday May10th

The match will be at Le Roy Guy Park at Spencer Place and Lakewood Road in Lake in the Hills. The match will be played at 8:45am. Early start, so get plenty of rest on Saturday night.

Map of the location is at:
http://tinyurl.com/c8ftbv

Directions indicate the drive from Olympia Park in Chicago is about 50-55 minutes. Please allow enough time to arrive at field at 8:15. Upon arrival, immediately get shoes & shin guards on and start stretching.

Since we are not practicing during the week, it's important that everybody arrives early so we can discuss basic formation assignments, general team standards and so I can see who is available to play. We also want to be organized and ready to play with a purpose right from the opening kickoff.

Please remember, black shorts & black socks are part of our uniform.

If you know that you will not be able to attend the match, please notify me by Saturday evening.