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Soccer is more than a Game for the Ballard Lasers
by Paul Payton

Commitment. Best friends. Laughter. Together. Unforgettable family. These are some of the words that resonate with some young women soccer players on the Ballard Lasers.

On Saturday, December 17 - these players completed their youth soccer journey in style! After more than ten years and hundreds of games together, the Ballard Lasers won the Seattle Youth Soccer Association's Girls U-19 City Tournament on their third attempt. It was more than a charm; it was destiny.

With a core group of players intact from the original U9 team and led by parent and longtime coach, Jeff Otness, the Lasers overcame a lot, including a tough baptism to youth soccer in their first season, other sports, boyfriends and growing up! Through it all, soccer kept them together.

"Soccer has kept us from drifting apart," shared Natalie, one of the original Lasers. The team brought friends together, the girls relied on each other, and former teammates would come back to watch their friends play. It was more than friendship. It felt like a sisterhood, where they had each other's back. They were family.

The patriarch of the team, Jeff Otness balanced coaching three youth soccer teams including the Lasers, however, as the girls got older - the involvement of two-hour training sessions were interrupted. Yet, the overarching commitment was always there for their teammates and their coach.

Despite being unbeaten through to the Final, the Lasers were not taking anything for granted. Jeff only asked one thing from any of his players, "be the best they could be." On December 17, the girls responded in what several players felt their play came altogether. "When you play so long together, you know each other's tendencies and it helps," said Sarah, another original Lasers player. They completed their youth soccer careers with a 3-0 win and a City Championship!

One longtime Laser could not play in the final, so her teammates laid her jersey on their team bench, illustrating the togetherness and spirit of the Lasers.

While their youth soccer careers have ended and the girls look ahead to college and new endeavors, they know they can always rely on each other. After all, they are family.

Seattle City Tournament

Joining the Lasers as Ballard teams celebrating as 2011 SYSA City Tournament Champions were - Girls U13 Black Bears, Girls U14 Otter Pops and Boys U17 Rockets. As runner-up and playing great games in the final GU13 Dragons and BU13 360s. The 360s were awarded the BU13 Championship due to disqualification of their opponent. Congratulations to these Ballard Champions and all the teams that participated in the tournament!