The Walnut Midnight Express reached the final round, in the Garden Grove’s Freedom Cup with little impediments. They steam rolled the opponents during the pool play with an avarage of 3 goals/game. The superiority of the locals at this stage of the tournament made everyone expect that the 10th gold is on hand. The 4th of July came and went with all the celebrations around the city kept everyone content. Moreso, the fact that the US Soccer team advance to the final round in the expense of the Brazilians, was as welcome of a news as the knowledge of playing the Freedom Cup final the following day. The game with the Riverside (pool B) came with less anticipation of the making of a hard earned victory. The Inland Empire team battled Walnut with much courage defending their turf and penetrating the defense of the locals. The game went on until the 4th quarter where an alert and ever ready Andrea (#9) tapped the ball which recochet down from the top bar. The heroic goal from Andrea didn’t come without hard work. It was the fruit of her perseverance and tenacity in playing her position with the team.

The final game with Cerritos (the old nemesis of the Aftershocks of 1998) was a Deja Vu for both of the opposing coaches and players. With the Midnight Express, winner of their last meeting in Irvine, lulled by the previous day’s celebrations-approached the game as one of the numerous routine matches of the past. Cerritos has shown all the brunt of a wounded warrior from the start of the game scoring a quick goal from a decisive attack from the right side. The girls in red (Cerritos) didn’t stop as they kept on pounding through the defense of the locals. Tiffany managed to squeeze one goal before the half’s over with the opponents leading 3-1. No one has scored this much against the Midnight Express-Cerritos is for real and determined to even