A Soccer Game ~ A Fabulous Birthday Gift

The card reads .... "Our Little Piscean Wild Child" I received this card with a bevy of skin supplements from my sister Sabrina and Helen.And mom and Ken gave me the fifty bill .Certainly one couldn't forget ones age they were celebrating that day...ha!

A Soccer Game ~ A Fabulous Birthday Gift

Last week we had joked how great it would be if Ty could make his goal of top scorer this year. It would be extra special in that it would be his last year as a youth in indoor soccer and his last game played on the same day of mom’s fiftieth birthday! If he accomplished this feat it would be spectacular and a memory for all and of course a great birthday gift for the old gal; who especially wasn’t too fond of turning into a ½ century old ancient icon. Ty and Stan would be ending the long soccer run with a big bang!

I’ve been a good, actually a great mom who attended probably 98% of all Ty’s games both in hockey, soccer and basketball. Ty’s had the time of his life in sports; a big thanks deservingly goes to his dad. If dad wasn’t there beside him, games wouldn’t have been played as they were. Stan has always been the fairest coach you could ever have or ask for and proof has been demonstrated throughout his years of volunteering with kids specifically writing on their forms requesting for him. Or kids leaving the summer finale game last year with a one loss for the cup shrugging it off and saying “yes we lost but he played us fairly, played everyone …evenly and the team was fun. The other coach on the opposing team didn’t even play his girls. Stan has been the BEST!” When you hear that you feel good, your kids feel good and dear old dad feels more passionate of his efforts in coaching. The pay- it- forward has been dealt!


But of course there are variables to think about. Nothing is ever a guarantee…or a for sure thing and with it comes anticipation, anxiety, exhilarating feeling of what if…maybe he can do it, just maybe. There is that little flicker of hope and you want your kid to experience the happiest moment of his life with his dad coaching by his side. Along the
way hopeful your blood pressure stays in check….haha! All along keeping secret of the plan the three of us had and if it came to two goals away Stan would ask the team to help out Ty have a bit more time on the court to make it happen; stressing that they would have their share doubly if Ty was successful.

But there were some issues to think about. For one, Ty was hurt three weeks back with a sprained ankle in hockey and still very much bothering him. And last weekend he didn’t score. The opposing striker scored three goals and two of our players were off this weekend on a trip to Spain. Would his teammates buy into the game to give Ty some more needed time to rack up some very precious goals? The game would have to be played differently and the other looming question was …How many would the opponent score today? How many would Tyler have to score to stay in the race to win or to tie????

The mystery of wondering if there even was a chance was too strong and so Stan and Ty decided to check out the opposing strikers’ game to see how well he would do. With every cross bar and post the kid hit we flinched, oohed and awed and wondering if it was his first, second, third or forth goal; If there was really any chance at all of dreaming for it to happen! The referee blew the whistle and Stan approached the ref to inquire what he had scored. The final score was 7 all and he had scored three goals.
The final total magic number Ty would have to meet to tie was 6 goals. Maybe even a seventh to win would be nice.

Seemed so undefeatable but Stan pressed on and said “you can do it… remember in the past you scored eight goals just in one game. This is your last chance and it can be done!
At that time I felt I was viewing a Mighty Duck video; so much pressure and expectations and the poor kid thrust into making mom happy on her big 50th. Of course I had to say something and my usual quotes were “Never say never! Where there’s a will there’s a way”! Tried to recite Saint Francis but I couldn’t recall the exact words but knew the message. The impossible can be overcome! And of course what a gift for little old me!!!

The second game started and the wait was long for me and I thought for the skinny kid – my son, what a feat he had to accomplish… for sure that he would be harboring some butterflies fluttering in his stomach turning his innards upside down at this moment. Could he fulfill his objective?

Half way through the game I noticed the opposing strikers coach sit across from us with his goalie watching the game in progress. I nudged my husband and said “Why is he still here?” Stan and Ty bounced questions and answers back and forth as to his motive for being there. Was it the playing teams’ standings that he was interested in or the goalie standings or maybe was it the next kid with the highest goals scored that would be of interest to him? Could it be it was Tyler he was staying back to watch and see if he would tie or win over his striker????? No couldn’t be! Were not that vain but then again we did the same .We came early to see what Ty’s chances were but he’s our son. Definitely not!

The game ended but the adamant coach sat with his goalie not moving an inch waiting for our game to begin. The reason had to be Ty what else would it be? All the other options were canceled.
Here it was! The time had finally come and the next few minutes would tell the story of what would unfold. Time trickled by and when I least expected it our team scored. But it wasn’t Ty. Another goal scored again and again it wasn’t Ty. On the third goal …he scored. Soon he had accumulated four goals and it wasn’t even fifteen into the game. During all this happening I’m sure the strikers coach must have been replaying the flinches, the oohs and awes like we had done an hour earlier.

Stan called game out. Ty knew, I knew and the leading striker coach knew the reason behind the call. Stan said “Look guys this is it for Ty! He has a chance at the trophy for top scorer and needs two more goals to tie but I need you guys to give him more time and passes. You will get more of your share I promise once he accomplishes it.”
The team bought in and even Jamie after returning to the court and scoring a goal on Ty’s pass apologized for doing it but really it’s kind of hard when you have a golden moment in front of the net. Sometimes you can’t stop fate!!!



Ty’s impossible dream was over… in a very good way. He accomplished his goal even before half time with two more goals. He had come a long ways from being down 6 points and effortlessly acquiring his 6 needed goals for a tie. Our team had scored ten while the opposing team had no goals. Ty could not continue but he had successfully and happily tied with his opponent. Stan looked up at the stands…his eyes met with the opposing coach. They each knew what the other was thinking…..

At that point the adamant coach got up called the ref over and asked him questions. One could feel a Monty Python moment watching after each game each one of the coaches approach the ref; each of them checking on the other ones standings. This was better than t.v; real live theatre! And very funny! You had to feel sorry for the poor ref. He sure earned his money for the day! Anyways, one can only guess and assume what the coach was asking. But almost certainly it must have been along the lines of “What did number 9 get in goals, reaffirming the refs’ tally on the game and making sure there was no miss count on Ty’s goals or that the ref was well aware of the ten goal rule; Tys’ goals couldn’t be counted after ten goals against the opposing team without them having any score”.
The conversation between the coach and ref was over. Stan looked towards him and said in a friendly coyly way… “Nice try”! He smiled back, waved and left.

Tyler exchanged places with the goalie who at this time wanted time out from goals. He put on a funny show for us and his team mates but still played a fabulous game…definitely not his position or a genuine goalie at that.
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I remember him saying to Stan before the game “If I stop at five, boy I’ll never forgive myself.”But he didn’t have to forgive himself; he had made it! A real gifted striker, my son who gave 6 beautiful goals for his old mom on her very special birthday!! Thanks Ty for all of the great fun! Luv mom xxoooxxooxxoo.

Oh, I almost forgot! The boys and Em bought me a dozen red red roses for my birthday and brought me out for an Italian supper. Now that’s a birthday!
Sunday I was surprised with a visit from little sister Sabrina and her mate Helen, mom and Ken bringing more flowers, ice-cream and strawberry rhubarb crisp from Farm Boy…my favorite.
Bestowing me with a bevy of material gifts; I received a Victorian iron warmer trivet, a bag of spa goodies and a crisp new fifty dollar bill. We stopped exchanging a few years back and I asked them why now? Answer……..you don’t always turn fifty!!!!!!
Now I ask “How’s an old gal like me suppose to forget her age with all the facial creams and a big fifty staring at my face…haha?”


N.B. I will be posting a revised version of this story. Unfortunately I'm not much of a sports writer and I'll await my hubby's return to give a more detailed account of the ensuing climax that took place when he and Ty were well aware of their goal limitations in the minutes before his last two scores.