Game 4

Don't ever get your laundry done in Europe.  No matter how long your trip is, bring enough clean clothes.  Prepare to do your laundry in the bath tub, wear your clothes in the shower, or make frequent trips to the pool.  Avoid european laundry mats at all costs.
After returning from the laundry mat with our arms full of clothes, and our wallets drained of euros we ecstatically boarded the bus for a trip across the country side.

Most of the guys took this opportunity as a Siesta.  Bodies were sprawled out covering all of the seats and most of the floor.  J-Baum summoned a sleep mask from somewhere in his gear bag and was out before the bus left the curb.  Two hours later it was time for the patented BMS Spain Trip Wake Up Call in which the closest person to the snorers shook them until they arose from their slumber.   A quick snack and the boys' were ready to rock n' roll.  Our fourth game was against C.F. Reus, a Spanish Second B Division team.  We arrived and were pleasantly surprised with a professional welcome, a great locker room, and a fantastic pitch.
As the kick-off approached a local crowd gathered in the stadium.  The field was sprayed and the water gave even more pace to an already flat and fast pitch.  Another moment for the super-seniors to shine, and what an opportunity it was...Some of them with professional aspirations, what better place to get a feel for the pro-game?
From the whistle we knew we were in for a real challenge.  However the group that was victorious against an Atletico side earlier in the week had no fear and stepped up confidently.  For the first twenty we had our moments, moving the ball well and finding a few opportunities on frame.   Rosa made his prescence known early on in the match narrowly missing the near post after beating the keeper.  A make shift back line battled valiantly throughout the first half to be down by only a goal in the closing minutes.  Josh "Weindog" Weiner made three top-class saves keeping us in the game.    However a miscommunication lead to a goal just before the half and we entered the locker room down 2-0.
The second half proved to be much like the first.  Reus was moving the ball quite well and switching it from side to side.  Manella lead the group and kept them organized through communicating the entire match but it just wasn't enough.  In the highlight of the second half: Mandel and Pops combined for a magnificent moment at the top of the box but the post turned the finishing shot aside.  By the end of the match the group was shattered, but also proud to put up a 90 minute fight against a full pro team.

The bus ride back was silent, a mixture of disappointment, shock, and exhaustion.  At dinner we showed our usual signs of bouncing back, it was a delicious meal of steak or chicken, the boys' dined like kings and were off to bed.