The much-anticipated championship co-ed soccer game for the adults was finally played as the adult flag football season kicked off Thursday night at The Center of Anna Maria Island. After the final whistle of the first football game of the season blew, the gridiron turned into a pitch for the seven-on-seven soccer action.
Josh Sato brought his team out onto the field ready to defend their title. Kris Yavalar’s team went into the game ready to play hard, looking for the second title for Yavalar.
Sato Real Estate took the first shot, which went just left of the post. Zackary Lieb, for Team Lancaster Design, came back from the holidays ready to play, making strikes early in the game.
Goalkeeper Scott Bear prevented the goals finishing the game with 11 saves.
In the early defensive battle, Lancaster Design’s Cemal Duzgan’s first shot of the night was blocked by Sato. Yavalar’s follow-up shot went wide left of the post.
After eight minutes of play, Sato Real Estate’s Eric Pullen attempted to score with a header that went just over the crossbar.
Pullen’s tough offensive play gave him another scoring opportunity a minute later. His shot found the net, giving Sato Real Estate the first of five goals in the night.
Near midfield, Sato Real Estate’s Matthew Staggs made a quick strike that gave the ball to Francisco Oliviera. Trey Horne made the save for Team Lancaster Design.
Lancaster Design’s Nick Bouchard scored his team’s first goal after shot attempts from both teams. The goal that resulted from a great pass by Lieb to Sumiko Chipman, who made the assist, tied the game that would finally bring the season to an end.
The start of the second half of play brought about a shooting match. Lieb scored his second point of the night, kicking the ball between the two Sato Real Estate defenders Alta Bujarski and Nate Welch.
Welch once again tied up the matchup with a missile strike four minutes into the half. Sato Real Estate went ahead soon after, taking the score to 3-2.
Getting his second goal of the night, Welch put two points between Sato Real Estate and Lancaster Design.
Ryan Hogan answered back with less than seven minutes on the clock for Lancaster Design.
Oliviera put the final Sato Real Estate goal on the scoreboard for his team after 42 minutes of play.
Lancaster Design fought hard for the last four minutes of the game hoping to score two quick ones but to no avail. The Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup was to be for only one team: Sato Real Estate.
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