December 2017

DECEMBER TRAINING SCHEDULE
Regular keeper training continues at Dyess Park in December as follows:
4—Junior Keepers with Roland, 5:30pm, Field #6
5—Intermediates with Eddie, 6:45pm, Field #4
7—Seniors with Roland, 8pm, Field #1
11—Juniors with Roland, 5:30pm, Field #6
12—Intermediates with Eddie, 6:45pm, Field #4
14—All Keepers meet for training (5pm) and party (6pm) at Far Pavilion
NO TRAINING UNTIL JANUARY, 2018

KEEPERS, LET’S PARTY
The Keeper Club’s annual Christmas party will be held Thurs., Dec. 14, at the Dyess Park north concession building, featuring keeper camaraderie, food, contests and the annual Krazy Keeper gift exchange. There will be a brisk training session for keepers of all ages at 5 o’clock, followed at 6pm by pizza and other goodies, and the gift exchange. Admission to the party is a wrapped gift, something for $10 or less, or something around the house you’d rather be in someone else’s hands, for the exchange of presents. Donations of cookies, candy and other Christmas treats will be graciously accepted. It must be noted that all keepers who attended last year’s party survived both the training and the gift exchange!

PRO KEEPERS HONORED
Brad Guzan’s stop of a close-range shot by New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips earned the Atlanta keeper 2017 MLS Save of the Year honors. Guzan with one hand managed to deflect the ball over the crossbar. The award is chosen by fans’ online voting. But it was Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia who was voted Major League Soccer’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Melia put together his strongest season in 2017, leading the league with a 0.78 goals-against average and 78.4 save percentage among goalkeepers who made at least 15 regular-season appearances. His 10 shutouts also ranked second in the league. Voted the 2017 National Women's Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year was Portland Thorns FC's Adrianna Franch, who set a new NWSL record with 11 clean sheets in the regular season. The award was voted on by club officials, players, media, and fans.

BUFFON BOWS OUT
"It's a shame my last official game coincided with failure to qualify for the World Cup. Blame is shared equally between everyone. There can't be scapegoats."--Tearful goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, apologizing when Italy was eliminated Monday from the 2018 World Cup after a 0-0 tie with Sweden. Italy lost the series, marking the end of the 39-year-old Buffon's international career with 175 caps, and the first time since 1958 the national team will not compete in the World Cup. (RAI Sport via BBC Sport)

LOOKING BACK
1992—Goalkeepers are banned from handling passes from the feet of their teammates.
2004—Despite a strong effort by Dynamos alumnus Joy McKenzie, Florida State University bowed out of the NCAA playoffs in their opening game in a shootout loss to Boston College. Regulation and two overtimes ended in a scoreless tie as Joy, a senior, came up with big saves, but BC prevailed on penalty kicks.
2010--"Tonight was bittersweet in that I am so happy that we are national champions, but I'm so sad it is over. I couldn't have asked for a better experience or a better group of girls to end my career with."--Keeper Club alumnus Kristi Koudelka, after helping record-setting Lee University to its third consecutive NAIA national title and the Lady Flames’ 15th consecutive national tournament victory, a 3-0 win over Hastings College (Neb.). Keeper Koudelka was selected as the tournament's top defensive player.

KeeperTalk
Don’t forget to say “Thank You” to Keeper trainers Roland Sikinger and Eddie Bloise for a quality job of care and training for Dynamos goalkeepers, young and old. . .Amber Zlatich and Samantha Nichols played “Keeper Shuffle” in early November when each tended goal for a half in both the U14 Silver game at Dyess and the U17 match at Zube. Sam covered the first half of the 10 o’clock match at Dyess, warmed up Amber who played the second, then left to travel to Zube to warm up for the noon game. When the first game ended, Amber hurried over to Zube to relieve Sam. . .What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?” the precocious keeper asked Coach Jim. “Don’t know,” replied the trainer. “A carrot!” laughed the netminder before doing 10 pushups. . .This month's drawing will be made from those who respond to this question: Who is your favorite goalkeeper? Simply email your answer tojwalker332@aol.com and the drawing from those who answer will be made at the Christmas party, for a gift card or other prize.

KEEPER LOG
Goalkeepers who attended Keeper Club training during November 2017:
2—Samantha Nichols, Payton Salinas, Kaedon Johnson, Casey Jones, Bryant Brooks
6—Jillian Soliah, Elise Bienvenu, and Kieran DeSai
7—Montse Mendez, Amber Zlatich, Samantha Nichols, Veronica Finidori, Zac Cannon, Andy Garcia, Elmer Rosas, Derek Staiger
9—Kaedon Johnson, Bryant Brooks, Claire Juenke, Payton Salinas, Samantha Nichols
13—Jillian Soliah, Caleb Shiery, Elise Bienvenu
14—Zac Cannon, Andy Garcia, Derek Staiger, Mason Blais, Elmer Rosas, Samantha Nichols, Montse Mendez, Alli Thompson
16--Sophie Pettus, Payton Salinas, Casey Jones, Bryant Brooks, Kate Nguyen
20—Caleb Shiery
21—Dynamo Diesel
23—Thomas Turkey, Cran Berry, Priscilla Pumpkin
28—Zac Cannon, Andy Garcia, Samantha Nichols, Alli Thompson, Montse Mendez, Amber Zlatich, Elmer Rosas, Derek Staiger, Victoria Finidori
30--Steven Franke, Bryant Brooks

QUOTABLE
“Luck is not chance—it’s toil—fortune’s expensive smile is earned.”—Emily Dickinson, unknown whether she ever played in goal, but she surely wrote many saveable poems.

TIP OF THE MONTH
"Better to suffer in practice than to suffer in the game"—Contributed by David Benner, who said: “I’ve always remembered that quote I heard from someone regarding keeper training.”

KEEPING SECRETS
A good time to evaluate and analyze opponents, study areas for distribution, and learn more about your own teammates is when there is no pressure.

DO YOUR BEST!