Bjerringbro FH for the win! 13-9

We had our first 'practice match' as Bjerringbro FH U16 Team 2, and it went quite well. With the help of the Team 1 goalie and right back, we pulled ourselves together in the second half to pull aherad in a close game. Due to personal conflicts for Jennie Bergsma and Chanel Turner, and lack of a goalie, we borrowed from Team 1 to field the minimum 7 players needed for a game (6 field players-1 goalie.) It was a rough first half personally, as there was some adaption needed-I'm so used to playing a team my size! Our team had a small problem with 2-minute suspensions, two players-including myself-rounding up two in the first half. The second half, however was much better. The 'first game jitters' seemed to calm down and I was able to settle into my game, despite lack of substitutes. I managed to score 3 or 4 goals, drew two 7-meter penalty shots and definitely felt an improvement in my game. I found myself moving or "peevotting"(Julio!) much quicker, and my positioning in the circle (Stregspiller) was much better. My favorite moments of the game we probably catching the ball with my left hand, spinning while transitioning to my right, and shooting (it went in, but was wrongfully called a turnover,) and a few 'American-on-American' plays between Amber Turner and I.

The Danish game is much different from what both Amber & I were used to, as Danes tend to prefer setting up a play than looking for a fast break, and offensive & defensive play was much less aggressive. On the offensive side, it is much less likely for a Danish U16 player to come past the 7 meter line to hit you or wrap you up, if at all. My Danish mother explained that the younger players focus much more on the technical skills, and the physical aggresiveness comes later on. Defense, on the other hand, had many more similarities to the play we were used to, differing mostly in the speed of attack and not moving much past the 7 meter, if straying from the 6 at all. We did learn a LOT in our game, though, and overall it was a success-especially the second half, when it all seemed to come together.

Now, it's time to relax the swollen knees & elbows (and NOT SWOLLEN ankles, I love modern medical braces!) and watch Norway play Romania in the GF World Cup final. NORGE! NORGE! NORGE!