Western New York Flash

January 6, 2017July 27, 2019

I Don’t Want To Talk About It

Matthew's drone over marsh on Hoffman Road in Rochester, New York — Matthew’s drone over marsh on Hoffman Road in Rochester, New York

The news that the Flash, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions, have been sold and are leaving Rochester is totally depressing. I don’t want to talk about it.

Our nephew was in town with his family and we suggested he put his drone up above the marsh on Hoffman Road. He put it way up and grabbed some dramatic shots of our house, high resolution shots that included the city skycap in the distance.

We stopped in the Memorial Art Gallery to see the M. C. Escher show. His prints were so popular back in the day, especially the ones that inverted gravity, and they still look good today even without the smoke. Escher travelled to Spain in 1922 and 1936 and nothing had a greater impact on his work than the Alhambra in Granada where he was captivated by the interlocking Moorish designs of tile work on the floors and walls. I like this quote of his. “I know of no greater pleasure than to wander over hills and through vales, from village to village, feeling the effects of unspoiled nature and enjoying the unexpected and unlooked for…”

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August 14, 2014August 8, 2019

Go Red

Red pick up truck near the Public Market in Rochester, New York

We felt a little guilty watching the Flash play their last match of the season on ESPN2 last night. We could easily have been downtown watching the game in person but it was a real treat to see our favorite players up close. And the Flash Mob drum section sounded especially good on tv.

The Flash lost but it was a good match with the lead changing hands a few times before it was over. All three of the Spanish Flash players were on the pitch at the same time with Adriana scoring on a cross from Wambach and Sonia Bermúdez putting a wild long shot in the upper right corner. Brittany Taylor, Zerboni Samantha Kerr were all in top form and it is always great to see Jasmine Spencer come on late in the match. I hope they’re all back next year.

Number Nine

Boston's Heather O'Reilly playing WNY Flash in Rochester — Boston’s Heather O’Reilly playing WNY Flash in Rochester

Abby Wambach was sitting out last night’s game with a possible concussion and Carly Lloyd, the other US national team member playing for the Flash, was sidelined with a knee injury. If you wonder how much of a difference a few great players make to a team’s performance I’m hear to tell you it must mean a lot. The Flash could not move the ball from one end of the field to the other. They continually booted it and hoped for he best. Boston’s two national team members, Sydney Larraux and Heather O’Reilly were clearly playing on another level but their team was supportive and able to continually move the ball in small steps toward the goal.

Here’s my old man analysis. Lereaux seems too shapely to play the game but she’s deceptively quick and can out finesse the best. O’Reilly’s a tomboy with more energy and enthusiasm then anyone on the field but she is also a strategic player who feels the flow of the game and positions herself accordingly at all times. It was delight cheering for her as she scored two goals to defeat the home team.

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