Better to get all the bad games out of your system while it still doesn’t mean anything beyond statistical window dressing.

“Last winter we finished second and then beat the Misfits in the playoffs,” explains Rafales’ coach Jean-Jacques Francoeur, downplaying the current six-point gap standing between them and their arch rivals halfway through their second winter in Totalcampo.

A 5-3 win against Ital-Ellas means les Rafales will continue to occupy the FB1 Division’s runner-up position, thanks to a pair of uninspired losses to the undefeated Misfits and the third-seed Red Socks.

Francoeur doesn’t seem phased by these regular-season hiccups. “Our goal now is to win the championship. And our girls are playing inspired soccer.”

POTG: “Although a lot of our girls are playing well, Véronique Dupont has been the real standout throughout the first half of this season. She’s got a great attitude and delivers quality soccer game in and game out, which explains why she leads the team in scoring.”

Have a good soccer story to share with the league? Write me at robert_scalia@hotmail.com or tweet me @gracebythegun