Groin Groan

I came out of our second soccer game today with a very sore groin...which decided to pull on me during our warm up before the game even started. Consequently, I was rather slow on the field. FUBAR being a player short, the rest of us had to play all 90 minutes without substitutes. Our opponents, the aptly named SNAFU, had several substitutes but suffered a number of injuries and ended up having to play with only ten players against our ten. But by that time, they were up about 4 or 5 goals to our 1. We finally scored another goal late in the game but we were all too winded and hurt to really put up much of a resistance at that point and they continued to pound us. Our goal keeper tore his thigh and banged his ankle so had to kick with his weak leg. All in all, our showing was not bad considering our disadvantage in player numbers. So far we are 0 - 2 on the season but both times we put up a good fight and have scored a total of 6 goals in 2 games. Of course we've allowed 11 goals and we can't keep doing that and expect to win games. We can't keep tearing groins and thighs and so on either if we plan to win. I know I will get stronger in the coming weeks as my body gets more used to sprinting and twisting and kicking. At 35, I don't accelerate and stay fast nearly as long as I did in my 20s. But one of our older guys went all out and scored a goal today, so I should have no excuse. From what I know so far, all four teams in the league, if all players are on the field, are fairly evenly matched. It should be a good season. Meanwhile, I took a walk about 3/4 of a mile around the neighborhood to keep from tightening up this afternoon. I'm drinking a lot of cold water and stretching. I'll keep the moaning and groaning to a minimum this week. Besides, for the first time in my life I have soccer shoes that actually fit. No blisters. That alone makes 90 minutes each week worthwhile.