The Impact U18 and U16 teams were in Dallas last week to play the first round of the USSDA playoffs. The round includes the 32 teams that qualified on 74 teams, divided in eight groups of four teams each. Only the team at the top of its group, after playing three games, reaches the next round.
The Impact U18 lost 1-0 in its first game against PDA, playing most of the game with nine men against 11 with two ejections, but giving the goal at the end of the game. The team won its second game 5-1 against Chicago Magic PSG, keeping its hopes alive to finish first in the group. David Choinière scored a brace, as Bradeddine Boulajoul, Santiago Gonzalez and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère scored one. Everything was still possible in the last game against Arsenal FC, but the Impact had to win, combined with a loss or tie from PDA against Chicago. Unfortunately the Impact tied 0-0 despite numerous chances in the end of the game, including a penalty in stoppage time.
Head coach Yoann Damet shared his comments on the week:
Q – What’s your summary of these three playoff games?
A – We know the competition at this level is at the top, there are no smaller teams. The individual and collective performances throughout the week were good, the players did what we asked and represented the club proudly by showing character and commitment while applying our playing identity. We are all competitors and it’s a deception as a team not to qualify for the quarterfinals with this cruel scenario. We paid for little details that cost us on the whole week. For example, two red cards in the first game and a goal in the 90th minute when, playing with nine men, we controlled the second half. But it’s also on game facts in the last game. We lost two guys on injury in the first half, which shook us a little bit and this penalty in the end of the game.
We need to come out stronger from this experience, building on this defeat for future successes. We saw again that when we follow our values and principles of play, we can perform at the highest level. It’s for us to keep getting more mature to deal better with game facts to link our good performances to good results.
Q – What did the players learn from this USSDA playoff round?
A – For the players, each day is a chance to learn, to question yourself and to keep going forward. For some, it was their first playoffs, while others were coming back for the second or third time. The learning phase is different for everyone. This experience helps to give tools to the player in a high-level competition with three games in five days in terms of the collective and individual preparation. Playing every two days forces you to question yourself quickly to learn and optimize the performance of every player in the team for the next game. Winning or losing shouldn’t distract the player from his next goal; it should make him stronger. The tactical learning is also really important. With the video analysis on the opponent and the game plans, players will have more tools to face problems on the field.
Finally, I hope that this experience will make our playing identity stronger as we showed quality, but also strengthen the competitive spirit of the players and their will to win.
The team will be back in training one last week before going on vacation. Players will be back at the beginning of August to prepare for the 2016-17 USSDA season.
