Date

Day

Opponent

Location

Time

Result

Division I Qualifying Tournament
August 10-11, 2002 - Montgomery, AL

     It was a good opening game of the tournament and a good result as T. J. knocked home a goal to give United a 1-0 victory and 8 points. Decatur had plenty of other chances but failed to capitalize on a couple of easy finishes.

     In the first ten minutes of the game the Kicks dominated play and threatened to run away with the game as they kept the ball in Decatur's end and kept Derrick busy fending off shot after shot.  At the five minute mark they succeeded in scoring the game's first goal.  It was all they needed.  Around the ten to twelve minute mark Decatur was able to solve the problem of pressuring the Kicks fullbacks and not allowing them to set up at midfield and the game changed.  From that point on it was a very even game with both teams getting a few chances but failing to finish.  Decatur's players had to feel good even after the loss because they had shown the ability to recognize and adjust to an opponent's game plan.

      A very good game between two fairly even teams.  Both teams had many chances but couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.  The Kicks had an excellent chance when a cross to former United player, Justin Owensby, went off his foot just over the crossbar.  This game should be a good preview of several games to come later this season.  

     Decatur went into the final game with 11 points and needed a victory to be sure of admittance (without evaluation) into Division I. This was a game in which Decatur appeared to be more skilled but which Mountain Brook was the victor. The Grasshoppers capitalized using their speed on several breakaways and one Mt. Brook player unleashed a rocket of a shot from about 20 yards out to score the first goal. It was all the Mountain Brook team would need as their excellent goalkeeper kept Decatur off balance by punting 60 plus yards on his punts. Even after the second goal Decatur didn't quit. While it wasn't the result Decatur wanted, they had to feel good about the tournament and their chances of making Division I since they had lost only to older U18 teams while going 1-0-1 against U17 teams.

State League Games

TNFC Fall Classic
Franklin, TN

http://www.tnfc.org

The Decatur United U17 Soccer team finished as the runners-up in the TNFC Fall Class in Franklin, Tennessee this weekend. The team is sponsored by American Legion Post 15 is comprised of 14, 15 and 16 year old players from Austin, Decatur, Hartselle and Cullman High Schools. They defeated three  teams from Tennessee – Club Azules U18, Middle Tennessee Futbol Club U18 and Columbia Hurricanes U17 to reach the finals where they lost to the Brentwood Rage. Players on the team are: Trey Barnes, Landon Brown, Michael Claborn, Michael Cole, Sage Copeland, Lee Fanning, Jackson Gamble, Zach Gillette, Chris Hawk, Chase Hollingsworth, Derek Humphries, Julian Pline, Jeff Pool, T. J. Rees, Lyle Schneider, Chad Witherspoon and Ben Wyker. They are coached by Mike Pline.

Trussville Sports Complex, Field 1

Kicks Invitational Tournament
Huntsville, AL

      With their 2-0 win over the Hewitt Huskies in their first game on Sunday the Decatur United team assured themselves on a place in the Final Four of the Alabama State Cup to be held December 7th and 8th at the John Hunt Complex in Huntsville.  They become the first ever Decatur based team to play in the State Cup.