This event has been canceled due to weather conditions
Puma Cup
TOURNAMENT TIME
Battling the weather and other unexpected hurdles, the Dynamos worked overtime to prepare for this weekend’s Puma Cup, dealing with loss of fields and changes in venues and times. With some 175 teams in the fold, there was still a scramble for more volunteers—parents, students, and other fans--to make sure this ninth edition of the Puma Cup runs smoothly.
Campus Corner
STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED
Former Dynamos players Lindsey Fitz and Gregg Gutierrez of Schreiner University were among 16 members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll to be saluted at the recent annual convention of the NCAA in Indianapolis. When the SCAC announced its Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll recently, Southwestern University led the way with 63 men and women, including former Dynamos' player Christian Lopez and 22 others from the men's soccer team. Twenty-two players from the women’s soccer team also made the list. Also making the list from Southwestern was Ryan Benner, son of David Benner, a frequent guest trainer at Dynamos goalkeeper camps. . .Late last year, Dynamos alumnus Jake Swonke of Southwestern was named to the SCAC’s All-Sportsmanship team for 2017. Swonke, a junior, was the Pirates’ leading goal scorer last season.
LOOKING BACK
1999—Coach Mike Dearing’s Dynamos girls won the under-17 title at the Capital Area Youth Soccer Association tournament in Austin, capitalizing on Jill Epperly’s first-half goal in a 1-0 win over Challenge Blitz in the title game, after beating Corpus Christi Express by the same score in the semifinal on Sarah Dearing’s goal. Others contributing to the title run were Lauren Crane, Katie Dixon, Toni Edwards, Robin Farmer, Christine Grabowski, Ashley King, Michelle Kovar, Ashley Lewis, Joy McKenzie, Alison O’Brian, Erin Poyner, Jamie Ranly, and Lindsey Vicory. Injured players Jill Tuch and Debra Robbins also made the trip to lend support.
2011--When’s he’s not coaching the Dynamos Under-13 boys gold and under-10 girls gold teams, James Beaty is a dental expert. On Monday, the day after he coached his Dynamos under-13 boys team to a second-place finish in the Puma Cup, Dr. Beaty welcomed to his chair a distinguished patient, Dynamos Director of Training Olivier Finidori. Despite knowing in his heart that he was in the extremely capable hands, the French Firecracker, who shows little hesitation in opening his mouth to drill his players, approached the dental appointment with clenched teeth and a weakening spirit. “I will be in a dentist chair until about noon,” he announced, with a quivering chin, “James swore he would be gentle with me. However, if you have not heard from me by 1pm today, PLEASE COME GET ME!” Postscript: While the French Firecracker was aghast at the size of tools utilized in a root canal, he recovered from his ordeal with help--“James and his staff were great, they took good care of me,” he admitted--and promised his bark will have returned when training resumes.
THE BUZZ
Condolences to the Gbandi family--Sandy Sr., Chris, Sandy Jr., and Sanmai--on the death of mother Mai Gbandi, for whom services were held Feb. 10. The Gbandi family was very active with the Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club and Dynamos during the 1990s. Chris is currently the head men's soccer coach at Northeastern University in Boston. . .Dynamos goalkeepers, the very young and older boys and girls, are urged to take advantage of the regular training provided by veteran ex-pro keepers Roland Sikinger and Eddie Bloise on a weekly basis throughout the spring. Roli meets with Junior Keepers on Mondays at 5:30pm and with Seniors (14 and older) on Thursdays at 8pm, while Eddie plays host to Intermediates (11-13 years) on Thursdays at 6:30pm. Check out the Keeper information elsewhere on this website. . .Still need lists from the U17 and 18 teams, both boys and girls, of their players who are on high school varsity and junior varsity rosters. Please email names of players and their respective teams to jwalker332@aol.com. . .If you have items for The Buzz or the Coaches Memo, email to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com.
QUOTABLE
“Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”-- Vince Lombardi quote contributed by John Lee Davis
THOUGHT ON COACHING
Dynamos 01G player Ayden Bridges kicked off Cy-Creek junior varsity district play with four goals and an assist against Cy-Springs. Next up was Cy-Lakes, who came in with a plan to stop Ayden, assigning three defenders to limit her shots on goal. She immediately sought advice from trainer Victor Ruiz on how to beat a triple team in the future. His suggestion: "Be a decoy, make runs to the outside and drag the defenders with you to open up space for your team, or start outside and make runs back to the center to make your own space."
ANOTHER THOUGHT
"Tell me how to get on in life," said the kettle.
"Take panes," said the window.
"Never be led," said the pencil.
"Do a driving business," said the hammer.
"Aspire to great things," said the nutmeg grater.
"Make light of everything," said the fire.
"Make much of small things," said the microscope.
"Never do anything offhand," said the glove.
"Just reflect," said the mirror.
"Be sharp," said the knife
"Find a good thing and stick to it," said the glue.
And that's why the kettle sings as she works, and works as she sings.
And why the Dynamos work while they play, and play while they work, and keep on keepin’ on.
IT’S ONLY FAIR
I hate to advocate stealing ideas from other coaches, remarked Coach Cy Fair, but it’s always worked for me. If you flip “Me” upside down, Coach Flo pointed out to her players, it becomes “We.”