The Generals began the 2005-2006 campaign with a new coach and several new players, but with the core of their roster in place. The two big questions were how would the team respond to their new coach, and how quickly would the come together? By the end of the spring season the answers to these questions were: quite well, and pretty quickly.

After a summer of spirited practices the Generals entered the 2005 August Cup. It’s fair to say that no one knew quite what to expect. The Generals played hard, and though their quality of play was mixed, the result was a tournament championship. With league play set to begin two weeks later, the boys would soon know how much of this result was due to the level of the competition and how much was due to their progress over the summer.

The Generals began fall 2005 league play with a win, a loss, and two draws, and it appeared at that point that they were in for some struggles, but things quickly turned around. The boys reeled off five consecutive victories, and earned promotion to division 4 of NCSL for the spring 2006 season.

Not content with a tournament championship and promotion, the Generals took their five match unbeaten streak to the MSCA Fall Classic tournament. The level of play in this tournament was beyond question, with three of their four opponents from higher divisions. Improbably, the Generals earned another championship by winning three matches and drawing one without a loss, for an altogether outstanding finish to the fall season.

With the successes of the first half of the year behind them, the Generals began winter training program to prepare for the spring. The Generals began the spring season by taking another step up in competition, this time in their inaugural home tournament. This time, however, the Generals found themselves a bit over their heads. No matter however, since the experience was well worth the disappointment.

The Generals played one more preseason tournament in the spring, the PWSI Icebreaker, and this time the result was better, but the disappointment was also greater. They reached the championship match, but lost to a quality side from Pennsylvania that they had beaten in group play.

League play began with the Generals were putting their five game league unbeaten on the line one flight up. It was clear, however, that unlike the fall, the Generals would begin the spring campaign in high gear. An early tie to their rival side from Braddock Road was the only blemish on their record after five matches, and despite Mother Nature’s best efforts, the Generals were undefeated and on their way to division 3 when the season ended. Two late season draws, one a quality result against the only team to beat them in league play this year, the Gunston Gunners, ran the Generals’ league unbeaten streak to thirteen games.

The Generals weren’t finished however. They capped the season with another championship, this one at the Virginian tournament.

For the year, the Generals recorded 26 wins against 5 losses, with 6 draws. They won three of five tournaments entered and finished runners up in another. In league play they earned promotion from division 5 to division 4 and from division 4 to division 3. The only disappointment during the year was one that the boys had no control over: the departure of their friend and teammate Eero.

Throughout the year, the Generals progressed as a team, developing their skills – tactical and technical – and most importantly they developed as a team. And they’ll need all of these skills in their 2006-2007campaign, because their successes have propelled them into a new level of competition for the coming year.

2005-2006 Highlights:

Generals Win the August Cup

Generals Earn Promotion to Division 4

Generals Win MCSA Fall Classic

Generals Battle, Bow Out of Arlington Invitational

Generals Reach Final, Falter in PWSI Icebreaker

Generals Win Spring 2006 Season Opener

Generals Earn Draw with BRYC Blackhawks

Generals Win, Lose Over the Weekend

Generals Double Their Pleasure

Generals Earn Promotion to Division 3

Generals Win Virginian

The Generals Say “Hyvästi” to a Teammate