We just returned from the 2006 Ina K Soccer Tournament where Althea and Galen both had good results. Althea is now playing up three years with the U-19 Eclipse, who shut out all three opponents in their bracket before losing 2:0 in the semi-finals. Considering this squad’s previous, more lop-sided losses to the same opponent– and the fact that we had our chances– this wasn’t a bad result.

Galen and the ‘92 Eclipse Phoenix came to the tournament missing two key players with injuries, while several more of our starters were nursing ailments of various kinds. Still, we made it to the semi-finals where we lost to the current state champion Mat-Valley team in a very physical contest that resulted in one of our players knocked out (literally) with a concussion, and a few others injured less seriously. Galen had a stellar tournament and won the Ina K award, making it a pair in the house (Althea won the same award a few years ago).

I can’t help but think of what an amazing difference a a few years makes. The photo above was taken a few days ago… and here’s a photo of the kids two summers ago– Galen’s team had just won State Cup while Althea had just returned from the Regional Tournament in Spokane: