On the road to the championship game

Division III (8-to-10-year-olds)

Feature Youth Game of the Week

Monday night found the four remaining teams in Division III youth soccer go head-to-head at the Anna Maria Island Community Center in the semi-finals. The night’s first game was a showdown between the second place season finishers, Bowes Imaging Center, and the third seed team, Miller Electric.

In goal to start the game for Miller Electric was Nicholas Yatros, with the other goal covered by Tres Maddox. With solid defensive play by Luke Bowes and Mariella Ferrari, Bowes Imaging was able to hold Miller Electric to just one goal after one half of regulation play. Twenty minutes into the game found Connor Allan and Gavin Johnston down by Bowes Imaging’s goal. Allan’s assist to Johnston’s goal brought the half to an end with the score of 0-1. The half saw defensive prowless by Aubrey Barkley, Juliet Greene and Kylie Huffman, accompanied by huge stops made by Ozzy Lonzo.

The second half of the game continued the defensive battle. Max Higgins had an amazing stop in the goal for Miller Electric four minutes into the half, as well as continued defensive efforts by Connor. In the 15th minute of play in the second half, Kiera Johnston carried ball down the field to score the second goal for Miller Electric. The second half saw outstanding offensive play by Jayden and Byron Law and continued support by Jack Love and Mikaela Culhane for Bowes Imaging.

With Yatros in goal, Cole Pearson came from mid-field to score a goal for Bowes Imaging just before the 19th minute of the second half. Bowes Imaging had its chance to tie up the game when the goalie Yatros dropped the ball in the box and picked it up again causing a handball penalty. Despite a valiant effort, Bowes Imaging missed the penalty shot and the game ended with a 1-2 score.

Miller Electric moved on to the Division III finals to face the #1 seed AMI Donuts which won its semifinal game against Tyler’s Ice Cream the #5 seed 4-2. Both goals for Tyler’s were scored by Ava Alderson, with a pair of goals for Anthony Monetti and Thomas Heckler for AMI Donuts. The winner of the game on Monday, Nov. 10 will be named the champion for the youngest age group in the Center’s non-instructional recreational league.

Division I (14-to-17-year-olds)

Divison I soccer finished out its regular season Monday, Nov. 3 with a 4-4 tie between AMI Fitness and Wash Family Construction. Nico Calleja had three goals, and Cortini Wash had a single goal for team Wash Family Construction. Both Lucan Heffernan and Tyler Pearson had two goals in the game for AMI Fitness.

These two teams played one last time in their championship game on Monday, Nov. 10.