More importantly, it was a sad evening for AC/FC. The Athletic Club Football Club lost its semi-final game this evening, after a first-round by resulting from the the forfeit of our opponents who couldn’t field a team.  The game started out strong, but we seemed to have lost our steam mid-way through the game.  There were a lot of substitutions tonight, so with a short 30-minute game, the team was constantly subbing which seemed to really affect our game.  With so many substitutions, it is difficult to get into a grove with the players around you.  Learning a player’s style and trying to anticipate their movement is difficult enough, let alone when the players are constantly subbing into different positions.  Although, it could be the fact that it was Canada Day and many teammates had participated in the festivities with at least some level of alcohol in their bloodstream before the game.

We lost our semi-final game with a 3-1 loss.  It wasn’t a big surprise and our goalie completely saved our a$$es.  Our regular goalie was back and he made some pretty big saves.  The carnage could have been far more bloody without him in net.  Unfortunately, I think he suffered a pretty serious wrist injury; I hope he doesn’t live on a computer for his day job.

The plan for the evening was to enjoy a celebratory drink or two after the game before heading to the fireworks.  Instead, we drowned our sorrows both on the field and then off the field, without a care for any celebratory fireworks popping in the air.  I guess we’ll have to make more of an effort next season.  Our regular season was successful with a 7-1-0 record, but I think we have to move up a division now that we finished at the top.  From my understanding, we had been slaughtered in the upper division previous to this season, hence being pushed down to this division.  However, since it is quite common to play at the level of your opponent, perhaps playing up a division will motivate us on the field.

On a side note, anyone who knows me, or at least has shared a beverage with me, knows that I can hardly stomach the taste of beer.  I really detest it.  I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always struggled with the flavour.  However, it seems that after a game, a cold beer tastes much better.  I don’t mind the flavour so much on the sidelines.  Perhaps my tastebuds are maturing.  Perhaps adrenaline mixes well with it.  Perhaps I’m just so dehydrated that even a diuretic is appealing.  In any case, it seems it is the only time I can enjoy the malt beverage.  Bizarre.