Ajax entered the Virginian looking to improve on her devastating gold division semifinal penalty kick shoot-out departure from last year's event.  The girls found themselves in scintillating form in a 5-0 opener with Seneca Hornets.  Ava opened matters with a blast into the top corner and Emily chipped in with 2 goals and 2 assists.  Ajax then faced another MD team in FC Frederick Academy where a 3-1 victory courtesy of a double from Abby put Ajax in a position to return to the semifinals.  Sunday morning served as a quarterfinal because the winner would claim the group and advance to the semifinal.  SASA Fusion Blue proved a tough test, but Ajax found goals from Mary, Abby, and Sydney to cement a perfect record and the group.  A late goal also allowed the Fusion to advance.  In the semi, Ajax found themselves against defending champion FASA Impact White.  Only minutes into that game, Ajax had the chance to improve on the previous year's stalemate, but were very unlucky to push wide from the penalty spot.  Ajax would take a lead from slightly further back as Mary cracked in a direct free kick from just outside the area.  Only moments from taking a deserved lead into the break, FASA's high pressure paid off by bundling in after a defensive lapse when Ajax did not properly handle a free kick.  FASA took advantage early in the second half when the referee did not recognize the ball having been kicked from the Arlington goalkeeper's hands.  Ajax did have their chances to equalize, but some tremendous goalkeeping, some hard luck, and a post kept the Ajax attack in check and earned Impact another trip to the final.

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WAGS Division C

May 18, 2008

Fresh off of the frustration of dropping two points at home, Ajax travelled to Bull Run to face neighboring McLean Challengers White.  Against a determined opponent, Ajax spurned a handful of chances to take an early lead.  The Challenger keeper bravely defended her area, highlighted by a perfectly-timed rush to force an Ajax striker to push wide on the breakaway.  And though the half held scoreless, surely the goals would come for somebody.  That somebody was Grace, who gracefully slammed home the rebound after Karen made the best of Ava’s service to create a chance in a challenge with the goalkeeper.  Ajax doubled their lead in extraordinary fashion when Cori won a ball just onto the Arlington side of midfield and began to carry forward.  Finding no challenge, she suddenly found herself beyond the center back with only the goalkeeper to beat.  That goalkeeper courageously parried Cori’s ensuing pile-driver, which popped high into the air for Emily to race onto and head into the beckoning goal.  Ajax finished matters with a spirited run from Abby who undid the defense before generously setting the table for Sydney to score a memorable goal that she dedicated to her dad.  Ajax now prepare for the local Virginian Memorial Day tournament next weekend in Manassas .

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WAGS Division C

May 17, 2008

After yet more rain, Ajax welcomed Vienna Storm to the Ben.  The home side took a little while to get rolling and nearly fell behind as the speedy Storm winger stung the Arlington keeper’s hands on one effort and then the underside of the bar on another.  And while Danica was called into action in the Arlington goal, it was the visiting keeper who seemed to have the lion’s share of the work as Ajax made a habit of testing her.  With the net-minders thus introduced, it was apropos that the halftime score was 0-0.  The second half saw Ajax get into their groove and consistently create chances.  On several occasions, the Arlington strikers found a way behind only to be stopped at the last moment until Mary came forward to take Audrey’s pinpoint through pass and rifle it in to give her side the lead.  It was then with less than two minutes remaining that a seemingly safe three points were allowed to slip away as a Storm side who never gave up took advantage of an Arlington miscommunication to breach Ajax for only the second time this Spring from the run of play.

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WAGS Division C

May 4, 2008

Ajax returned to the Ben to host Chantilly Panthers White late on Sunday evening.  Against the run of play, the Panthers were gifted an opener when a striker near the edge of the area went down under a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge.  The spot kick was subsequently driven off the bottom of the crossbar, straight down and then back up into the goalkeeper’s hands only to be awarded.  The goal did not create too much commotion as the home side had attacked rather freely and expected to continue to do so.  They did, but as the teams returned for the second half, the visitors made every effort to make their goal stand.  Playing now against 3 backs and a sweeper, Ajax crafted chance after chance only to be shunned at the doorstep.  When Karen undid the opposition with a devastating through pass for Ava to rifle past the keeper, Ajax were sure of at least a point, but claiming the other two were too much to ask on the day.  Bicycle!  Weather permitting, Ajax play two next weekend - first on the road to SASA White then back to the Ben to host FASA White.

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WAGS Division C

April 27, 2008

Ajax welcomed the VISTA Platinum to the Ben today for the first meeting between the two sides.  Platinum bring a physical presence to the pitch and the two teams proceeded to create an intense match.  Ava opened the scoring from the home side by rasping an inch perfect cross from Karen past the stranded VISTA keeper.  Ajax went close again as Kayla struck the bar with a thunderbolt only to blast the rebound off of the post as she followed the initial effort.  After the break, Cori submitted a goal-of-the-year effort to double the Arlington lead.  Winning the ball near midfield, the mercurial winger played a ball through to Abby, who held possession well before laying the ball back to Cori who first-timed a laser beam that was still rising when it landed in the far top corner of the goal to send the crowd into rapture.  Kayla and Sydney combined for the shutout.  Ajax welcome Chantilly Panthers White to the Ben next weekend.

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WAGS Division C

April 26, 2008

Ajax opened its home WAGS campaign with a visit from ODFC South Riding Storm.  Having not played a match in a few weeks, Storm found an Ajax side desperate for some football. Ava opened the scoring for the home side, lashing in a rebound from Sydney ’s shot from the top of the area.  Eleanor than strode though to pick up a neat double – first coolly knocking in after a one-two with Cori and then taking a pass from Mary before running right through the middle of the Storm to fire the ball under the goalkeeper.  Lexi blasted in after doing well to follow a rebound from Ava before Sydney rounded out the half taking a nice layoff from Abby and stroking in from distance.  Sydney picked things up straight away in the second, taking a slide-rule pass from Abby and pushing it past the keeper at the far post.  Karen added a tremendous volley after Emily knocked a cross back across the area.  Audrey slid in to tally after a well-taken corner from Sydney , and Abby finished the day blasting in after a fine cross from Ava.  Lexi and Emily combined to keep the Arlington goal clean.  Ajax hosts VISTA tomorrow afternoon…weather permitting.

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WAGS Division C

April 13, 2008

For the second season in a row, Ajax started their WAGS season on the road at NVSC.  On the field for the first time since that character-building match in Richmond, Ajax were sharp in creating several early chances and broke through when Abby’s work on the wing made for a clinical finish for Kayla.  Ajax doubled this lead as Abby claimed a goal off of a rebound from Catie’s shot.  Catie then scored the goal of this young season when she took Audrey’s flighted service first time with a tremendous volley into the far upper corner.  Abby soon put a thunderbolt into the other corner to firmly establish the Arlington side at the break.  The Majestics came out strong in the second half and claimed one back through after several one-touch passes ended with a scoring shot.  But Ajax claimed the final goal of the day when Abby took a perfect through pass from Sydney , raced into the NVSC box, and drove a left footer in for her hat-trick.     

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Jefferson Cup

March 29-30, 2008

Ajax became the first Arlington side in more than a decade to compete in back-to-back Jefferson Cups and came within a shout of the title game with scintilating performances on Saturday.  In spite of struggling to find the net, Ajax were all class in dominating possession against Loudoun Black and Richmond Strikers.  Ajax opened the proceedings by sharing the spoils  with a Loudoun side who held on just long enough to equalize Kayla’s sparkler in the last 90 seconds of the match.  It was perhaps Celtic’s only legitimate chance of the match, and the reward was made to equal the effort.  The second match was highlighted by possession and ball movement from the Arlington side and fearless goalkeeping from the hosts.  In a match where the ball rarely crossed midfield, Ajax spent considerable time in the Richmond area only to be turned away by the goalkeeper(s) on several breakaways and even from the penalty spot.  Ajax finally took a deserved lead through Abby’s run and shoot, and Danica’s clean slate allowed Ajax to claim all three points.  Alas, this was enough to come into Sunday morning with a chance at the title; a chance that looked promising even after Ava’s near miss header left Ajax level at 0-0 with European power Eintract of Bethesda.  The remainder of the match was a blur as the composure and confidence of the Ajax side gave way to hesitation and uncertainty.  The Germans cruised to the final at Ajax ’ expense leaving the Dutch to wonder how such a tremendous opportunity was allowed to slip away.

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ASIST

March 6-8. 2008

Ajax again demonstrated the all-weather-ness of the Arlington Invitational by opening the Premier competition in freezing rain conditions under the lights on Friday night against Herndon.  Heat are a side against whom Ajax never seem to have had any luck and sadly, this episode was no different.  Ajax held a 1-0 lead at the break courtesy of a tremendous volley from Cori, but would rue other missed chances to build on that lead.  Heat came out strong in the second half and leveled terms when the right back stepped just over midfield to drive an otherwise innocuous chance over 40 yards and into the Ajax goal.  While the conditions did set the stage for some mistakes, Heat capitalized when Ajax did not and took all three points back to Herndon.  A frustrated Ajax side found themselves against fancied PWSI Courage Red the following morning and could have felt they had deserved better than the 1-1 draw at the break.  PWSI took the lead against the run of play on a dodgy penalty offering, which was clinically dispatched by the Courage central midfielder.  Ajax stormed back when Mia made the best of Karen’s reverse pass into space by spinning and stroking the ball past the keeper.  In spite of some decent second half chances, PWSI controlled the remainder and took the lead on a master-class as the tightly-marked forward allowed a throw-in to clear both heads before she turned and lashed a volley into the back panel.  Surprised not to have claimed a point over the first two matches, Ajax faced visitors Beach FC on Sunday morning.  Ajax were perhaps not the most gracious hosts as they raced to a three goal advantage.  Mia made the best of clinical diagonal passing from Abby, Karen, and Ava to claim the always crowd-pleasing ten minute hat-trick.  The third of these was particularly spectacular as the pacey winger cruised in from a wide position to deftly clip Abby’s diagonal service first time with the outside of her foot spinning around the keeper and then bending into the goal.  The second half brought another treble from Ajax as Karen, from deep inside her own half, recognized a flat opposition and set Audrey free on the goalkeeper.  Audrey faked to put the keeper down and then walked it ‘round before slotting into the empty goal.  Mia added a fourth when Mary did well to hold possession in the middle so that Mia could overlap.  Mary then pushed the ball perfectly into Mia’s path so that she could fire a missile into the back stanchion.  Emily closed out the scoring by battling to get onto the end of Cori’s corner kick, before Beach claimed a late consolation.  PWSI closed out the event that afternoon by holding mighty Loudoun Red to 1-1 before falling in penalty kicks.  In spite of the scores, Ajax can be proud to have played attractive football against its elite guests.  Thanks MB9!  Ajax now takes a brief break before heading to Richmond for the Jefferson Cup. 

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CMSSL March Mania

March 1-2, 2008

Ajax , like her sister Juventus, claimed a pair of victories in starting their season.  In the cold and driving wind of Columbia’s Covenant Park , Ajax overcame Bethesda Eintract courtesy of a double from Mary and Calvert Gold highlighted by a bomb from Sydney to start the event on the right foot.  A somewhat subdued Ajax side, who were already headed to the final, then entertained a defensive-minded FC Frederick side to a 0-0 draw on Sunday morning.  Such a performance earned them a final date with home side and powerhouse SAC United Premier.  In a difficult final, SAC took a 1-0 lead into the final moments of the first half when they doubled that lead with almost the last kick of the half.  The second half was all SAC, who took advantage of a hesitant Ajax side who struggled to find weaknesses against the supremely athletic Premier side.  Alas, a Finalist medal at the first time of asking and a proper warm-up for the elite competition at next week’s ASIST is a fair achievement for the weekend.  Thanks OF!

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NVSC Fall Classic 

November 17-18, 2007

Ajax  claimed their first trophy of the season at the NVSC Fall Classic.  It was nice to return to the scene of Ajax’ first travel tournament, where they had perhaps had the better of the play in defeat in overtime of the U9 title match, and capture the title in the U11 Gold Division.  A dodgy start against a determine Newport News side saw an Ajax side that conceded maybe only 1 shot on goal while taking a least a dozen and earning only a 2-2 draw as the visitor’s early strike were cancelled by goals from Cori and Kayla before the Arlington goalkeeper’s clearance unwittingly came off of the backside of the charging Spirit striker and ended up in the goal.  Facing an early departure, Ajax came to play in the second match with Reston Comets scoring three impressive first half goals - an indirect free kick from Karen, a long rebound from a corner from Audrey, and an outrageous scoop over the goalkeeper from the edge of the area by Emily.  In spite of a late consolation - and a tremendous effort on the part of the Comets coach to will his side (and possibly, ) to victory, Ajax took the group and earned a Sunday match with Great Falls Real Force.  The Force took a surprising lead against the run of play in the semifinal and did their best to make it stick.   Ajax created a timely equalizer at the end of the first half as Ava clipped Karen’s cross over the head of the keeper.  The second half completed the reversal as Ava got behind the defense to square a perfect ball for Cori to tuck home with her left foot and send Ajax to the final and a rematch with Reston .  It is very difficult to beat the same team twice in two days and Reston came very close to confirming this theory.  This time Reston were ready and beat Ajax to the punch with an early goal.  Ajax surged forward, but could not seem to unlock a side who were content to defend and counter.  It wasn’t until late in the second half where Ajax were finally rewarded for their attacking and possession prowess as Ava received a corner in the area and dropped it back to Audrey who smashed it high into the upper corner from outside the box to level the terms.  Amidst the banter from the sidelines, a referee who was willing to let them play, and voracious support from their sisters on both Juventus and Dynamo (both who were preparing to play a Final in their respective divisions), Ajax found themselves in added extra time of the Fall Classic again.  Unwilling to rely on the patience of two years ago, Ajax charged at the Reston goal from all angles.  In response to the several sensational efforts to deny the Arlington side, Ajax persevered and were justly rewarded as Abby pushed the ball through to Mary who flew in and hammered the tournament clinching shot past the goalkeeper.  Congratulations on a tremendous season Ajax !

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CASL Shootout 

November 10-11, 2007

Ajax took another chance at a premier event at the prestigious CASL Shootout in Raleigh, North Carolina .  Playing in the Elite (highest) bracket, Ajax  produced the form that has earned them acceptance into such premier events.  After a most inauspicious beginning that saw a Lady Twins White (NC) striker sweep a ball out from under the Arlington goalkeeper’s hands and into the goal for a score within 90 seconds of the start of the event, Ajax played even or better football than their opponents for the rest of the weekend.  Storming right back into that first match, Karen found herself on the wing after some neat inter-passing to whip a swerving cross in to Mary who blasted it in first time.  After Lady Twins took a second lead late into the half, Ajax came out strong only to be undone by an unfortunate own goal from which they could not recover despite a number of chances.  Little did Ajax know that they for decent stretches outplayed and created several chances against the eventual champion.  In the second match, Ajax played a very tough Carolina Select (NC).  Carolina took a shock lead against the flow of play and held it firmly through the break until they nearly doubled early in the second.  Taking advantage of a dubious penalty decision, the Carolina striker approached the spot and delivered a low drive towards the corner.  There it was met by a flying Danica who pushed it away and then dove to smother the loose ball.  This was just the spark Ajax needed and within minutes Mary was behind the Carolina defense and hauled down by two defenders as she tried to score.  Karen took responsibility for the spot kick as captain and buried it low into the corner to draw level.  Now surging, Ajax broke through again for Romina to fire a blast at the Carolina goal, which the talented goalkeeper did enough to stop, but not hold.  This allowed Ava to race in and crush her volley into the roof of the net for the match winner.  In the third match, Ajax faced the FC Richmond Mystx (VA) and both sides created chances despite the halftime draw.  But Ajax last 30 minutes in Raleigh were perhaps their finest.  Conceding hardly anything, Ajax moved the ball with efficiency and intent, and created a number of chances to break the deadlock.  When Kayla’s hard work forced a missed clearance from the Mystx keeper, Emma was there to pounce, spin on her defender, and play a perfect final pass across the top of the box.  Ava steamed in and took her chance first time, driving a low shot past the gasping keeper and in off of the far post for the lead.  Ava took a hand in the clinching goal as well, drawing her defender and pushing a ball through to Mary who finished clinically after beating the goalkeeper.  Congrats to all the Ajax girls and thanks to R&E on a tremendous weekend for football and roasting marshmallows!  Ajax wrap their fall campaign next weekend at the MCSA Fall Classic looking to improve on their Fall 2005 effort where they fell in double overtime in the championship game.

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