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March 17 & 18 - 

After proving their talents in the lower division, the ladies of the United Quest U12 White ‘88 squad are on a tough learning curve in the "A" division. After three games, the girls have shown that they have the athletic talent that it takes to play with the experienced "A" teams, but have yet to put together their best match for a full 60 minutes. The result of their uneven play is a sobering 0-3 start that is an unforgiving reminder that there is always more work to do for this improving team.

On Saturday, March 17th, the girls took to the pitch at George Pierce Park and once again played a more experienced team right down to the wire. It took the Quest players almost the entire first half to find their most competitive emotions, and during the second half their opponents, the Lady Herricanes, knew they were in a fight. Standout defensive work, a developing Quest trademark, helped keep the game close, and the offense threatened to break out the entire second half. Nice saves from keeper Ana Trujillo, who is a weekly standout, were also a part of the game story, and a nice strike for a goal by Meagan Dilbeck helped keep this game tantalizingly close. The Herricanes found the back of the net twice, and several Quest attacks were stymied by a stubborn Herricane defense before the final whistle ended the game leaving the Quest White team on the short end of the 2-1 final score. The Quest squad played well throughout the entire second half, and are improving with each match. It is only a matter of time before they notch their first "A" division victory.

Sunday, March 18th saw the U12 Quest White team go head-to-head with clubmates, and "A" division rivals, the United Quest Red ‘88 squad. In the end, determination, experience, and stamina were the dividing factors as the White squad played the Red squad to a legitimate draw for almost the entire first half, but were unable to maintain their stellar effort for the entire game. The White defense conceded one goal just before the halftime whistle, and the 1-0 halftime score was indicative of the type of match that was being played. As the second half progressed, it became clear that the "A" level experience was paying off for the Red squad. Their passing game and sheer tenacity on and off the ball wore down the White team, eventually leading to a flurry of goals that resulted in the 4-0 Red team victory. The final score would have been even more gaudy had it not been for the fine work between the posts by Ana Trujillo, who once again made several very nice saves. The White offense had a tough time mounting consistent attacks against the aggressive and speedy defense of the Red team, but they did not give up until time had expired. With team speed not always their strength, the White offense is learning to play smart, and will no doubt soon begin to punish the cords consistently. With fine attacking throw-ins by Estela Negron-Flores setting the standard, the White team played well off of dead ball situations, but must still win more balls in the midfield. A little more experience at this level will help the Quest U12 White team to the positive side of the scoreboard soon.