ANNA MARIA – The pitch at the Island’s community center was warmed up and ready for the big championship game after three fun-filled pick-up games with current and former league members. As the spectators filled the bleachers and stands, the anticipation of the much-awaited final game of the season thickened.
At the conclusion of last week’s semi-final match-ups, it was clear that Danny Anderson’s Team Jiffy Lube was the team to beat. The eight-player squad moved like a well-oiled machine, making great passes and taking shots on goal challenging the opponents defense to the hilt.
Veterans in the goal, Jason Sato for Jiffy Lube and David Greene for Slim’s Place took their places in the box for 46 minutes of championship soccer. Matt Kretzmann and Damir Glavan started the game strong for Slim’s Place with solid ball movement down the field, but Sato’s fearless play kept the ball out of the net.
Jiffy Lube’s Eliza Faillace made her move only to have the Greene make the save. Ricky Anderson and Chis Klotz turned up the game with corner shots and strikes.
Greene showed his Ultimate Frisbee tenacity and agility saving goal shots by both Anderson brothers within seconds of each other.
The intensity of the game was apparent on the field. After 12 minutes of play, Klotz and Kretzmann tumbled with a yellow card handed out as a quick warning by the referees to keep the game under control.
Quick goals by Kretzmann and D. Anderson made it a 1-1 match and got the scoring going deep into the first half of the game.
The penalty called on Kretzmann and free shot by D. Anderson ignited Jiffy Lube’s energy level, moving the game to a whole different level of action.
Klotz found the net with his only goal of the game in the 20th minute of play. Chris Culhane scored his first goal 90 seconds later, giving Jiffy Lube a two point led.
With the scoreboard clock ticking down, Slim’s Place’s Greg DeMeuse tried to make something happen with a shot that went right of the post. The official time left two minutes in the first half of the game, but neither team could take advantage of the extra time on the pitch.
Second half play started with a rapid-fire shot and score by Angela Wiles for Slim’s Place, moving the score to 2-3. More than six minutes later after heavy defensive play by both teams, R. Anderson was denied his goal, but Culhane hit his second shot of the big game, once again giving Jiffy Lube a two point lead.
Brad Laudicina worked both ends of the field for Jiffy Lube, while Charles Buky and Lyn Clark aggressively worked the defensive end for Slim’s Place.
Kretzmann hit the net less than a minute later. D. Anderson answered back with a goal of his own taking the score to 3-5.
DeMeuse made a move of his own, only to have Sato make the stop.
The dynamic duo of Anderson and Anderson put another point up for Jiffy Lube with D. Anderson taking the ball down the field to find R. Anderson ready to finish.
Mike “Il Toro” Brusso was called in the 35th minute of play for a foul against Slim’s Place’s captain Kris Yavalar, who played strong with a nagging injury.
Kretzmann’s free kick took a curve right into the net. With the score 4-6 the battle continued with a DeMeuse shot, save after save by Greene and a dangerous play call for a high kick by Klotz.
Making outstanding saves of his own, Sato kept the soccer ball out of the net for the remaining minutes for Jiffy Lube, despite the many efforts by Team Slim’s Place.
With no time on the scoreboard clock and seconds of official time, Klotz scored the last point of the game with a beautiful free kick, finishing the game with the score 4-7. Jiffy Lube captured the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game with amazing teamwork and solid play all season.
