So, my HS team had to go play at the best team in our association yesterday. Important note: our league plays NFHS rules where the mercy rule is invoked on a 10 goal lead. However, we have our own rule where only a five goal max is counted for the margin of victory for goal differential purposes in order to discourage running up the score against weak teams.

Them: a team loaded with German kids on scholarship who get free attendance to the expensive private school because their parents work at the nearby Mercedes plant. A team with about 25 boys on the roster but the coach only would do normal game substitutions of his first three off the bench no matter the score. A team with basically all club players who only play the single sport year round. A team that has been intentionally 10 goaling opponents including us for several years now.

Us: a small town, small private school that only exists because sadly the local public schools are abysmal. A small town with minimal to little to no youth soccer. A team composed of old school multi-sport athletes who aren't great athletes, but they each play 2-3 team sports to keep teams going. A team of 12 total where our best 2-3 boys could start for anyone in our league (including them) but the 11th starter is an unathletic junior with Aspergers and the sub is an even less athletic 8th grader who's never played any team sports before this school year. In our first three games, we won 5-0, lost 4-0, and lost 2-1 on a 78th minute goal, so we're not terrible either. My boys have pride and respect bit are realistic too.

6-0 at half and they got 2 more in the first 3 minutes of the second half. Their coach hasn't even shown the first inclination to clear his bench. We proceeded to intentionally OG ourselves on two straight kickoffs to deny them the arrogant glory of scoring ten on another opponent. He calls the next day to coaches coordinator to complain about us.

I appreciate your thoughts.