@Kongzilla has already said as much and admitted that the game plan was to do the one thing that stifles Surf and that's ramp it up, press, knock them off the ball and win the game with athleticism. If you saw Surf play Blues Kale this past season it was very similar.
Did Surf play pretty? Not really, but have to give Arsenal the credit for that, they didn't let them. But if you look at what MAP is speaking to, it's the long term goal and attempt to see, collect, analyze, and execute with proficiency that sets these two teams apart. Yes Arsenal wins National Cup and so many other trophies but what does it say that Surf is doing the same but playing a style that is both competitive and technical, allowing their kids to collect the tools in a robust toolbox for when the time comes they achieve the long terms goals to play at the highest level and / or get the best college education they can with little to no cost.
I know plenty of the Arsenal kids and the families are "energetic and rowdy" and they're good people that eventually all come around to having to admit they went along for a ride and bought into some stuff they regret later. RB is a heck of a recruiter and from a training aspect he pushes the kids very much like a football coach and squeezes everything out of them. He can build a motor into a kid like you never imagined. And even though the kids practice the skills, when it comes game time it seems like the "game plan" they had against Surf is the "game plan" they have against everyone. I would respect their coaches a bit more if it truly was a game plan but when it's your M.O., it makes one respect the way Surf plays even more so.
I have no doubt Arsenal will go on and represent CalSouth and get results at FWR and the 04 girls will go back to the 03 ECNL squad and will continue to be competitive but like so many other Arsenal girls before them, after Kooimans left, these kids will move on to other programs where coaches will clean more than few things up and plenty of these kids will get into college and live out their dreams. It's just painful having to watch them during the Arsenal days if I'm being honest because they have more to offer than just winning with the "game plan".