Team Sato Real Estate leads the pack

The rain last week took the game of the week from the youth soccer championships to the adult co-ed league on a cool Thursday night. After two weeks of play, three teams remain on top and undefeated: Sato Real Estate, Anna Maria CrossFit and Lancaster Design.

Sato Real Estate saw the return of Kevin Roman, who showed that despite an ankle injury that kept him off the field in the first game of the season, he could still take control of the game for his team. Team captain Josh Sato and his team had an easy time of it against Eric Pullen's Team Acqua Aveda.

With only six players on the field, Acqua Aveda kept itself in the game for the entire first half, but with no substitute players and playing a man down was finally too much during the last 23 minutes of play.

Missing its goalie, Scott Rudacille, Pullen's team put veteran player Ed Moss in a penny to protect the net. Moss was credited with four saves in the game, but he was able to make incredible stops during the game.

Pullen was a shooting machine, but could not get one to go between the posts. His first shot of the night resulted in a corner kick tapped in by brother Tyler Pullen, who finished the game with two goals in the night.

Down by a goal, Moss stopped the first shot on goal, but could not save the next shot by Sato Real Estate's Jake Parsons, coming out from the net just a bit too far.

The game-tying goal was followed by another shot by E. Pullen and a powerful throw in by Sato to Adam Mott sitting in front of the post. Mott's header went just to the left of the post.

Roman's throw in was met by the rocket launching foot of Sato, sending the ball hard into the side of the net. Sato Real Estate goalie Jordan Demers stopped the shot by Acqua Aveda's Scott Eason. Eason zoomed another shot right at Demers, keeping him alert and in the game.

The defensive battle continued for the next 10 minutes of the half, including an incredible save by Moss, showing his nerves of steel coming away from the net using his body to shield the soccer ball.

With six minutes left on the scoreboard, Mott finally got one by Moss through a crowd of players taking the score to 2-1 for Team Sato Real Estate.

Looking to tie the score, Eason passed the soccer ball to E. Pullen just out of his reach, giving the ball to Sato Real Estate. Chelsea Hoffner found Sato open at the sideline. With a perfect crossing pass to Roman, Sato Real Estate went up by two points in the game.

Lyn Clark put on the defensive pressure against E. Pullen, forcing him to take the shot. The shot went wide, but stayed in bounds giving Eason a crack at the goal. The soccer ball catapulted right into the arms of Demers.

Back on the Acqua Aveda side of the field, a sliding save by Moss stopped the shot attempt by Chris Klotz.

The first half of the game ended with a header-scoring attempt by Mott after a strong throw in by Sato. The ball once again was stopped by Moss to close out the first 23 minutes of play in the first game of the night. Mott's second score of the game and Roman's second goal ended the first half of the game with the score of 5-1.

To start the second half of the game, Roman quickly landed the ball in the net, advancing the score to 6-1. An own goal by James Lynch resulted in a six-point lead for Team Sato Real Estate.

Parsons put the pressure on Lynch, trying to get points on the board for his team. Lynch sailed the soccer ball just over the crossbar after breaking away from the defense.

Acqua Aveda changed up the look on the field by taking Moss out of the goal with 12 minutes left in the game. With Eason holding down the goalkeeper position, Roman took a midfield shot. The goal was denied by Eason, putting the ball back at his teammate's feet.

After a goal attempt by Parsons, the Pullen brothers' perfect passes gave Jenn Sayko a scoring opportunity. Sayko, known for her perfect positioning on the field, closed the scoring gap with a clean shot.

The unsuccessful shot by Hoffner was followed by Lynch stealing the ball from Klotz. Lynch's shot nearly cleared the roof of the community center building.

Eason's long punt directly to the feet of T. Pullen enabled him to place the ball low and right in to the right corner of the goal.

With very little time left on the clock, Parsons snuck one by Eason taking the score to 8-3.

Team Acqua Aveda showed signs of running out of steam. The soft header by E. Pullen right to the arms of Demers proved the importance of having a full squad in a game.

Mott slammed a shot past Eason with three minutes left in the game for Team Sato Real Estate. Never quitting and always running, E. Pullen took a hopeful shot that went just wide.

With no time left on the game clock, the referee took over the time. Punching out one last effort, Lynch nailed the last shot of the game, marking the fourth and final goal for Acqua Aveda, closing out the score 9-4.

Anna Maria CrossFit's Angela Wiles was the MVP for the second game of the night with her three goals in her team's win against Team Ross Built. Wiles put the ball in the goal four times, with one goal called for dangerous play with a beautiful bicycle kick between two Ross Built defenders.

Game three found Slim's Place battle against Mulock Flynn Law. Team captain Sean Flynn flew in and out of the goalkeeper position to keep the game close. With goals by Aaron Parkin and Nate Welch, PJ Smargisso's team narrowly defeated Team Mulock Flynn Law.

The final game of the night ended with a hat trick by Moss Builder's Lexi Sato and three saves by brother-in-law Ben Sato for Team Lancaster Design. Frank Agnelli's team got the win, keeping Lancaster Design undefeated.

Sun Scoreboard
Monday, May 22

Youth Soccer: 11- to 14-Year-Old League

Signarama 5
Salty Printing 7

Tuesday, May 23

Youth Soccer: 8- to 10-Year-Old League

#3 Slim's Place 3
#2 Progressive Cabinetry 8

#1 Truly Nolen 7
#4 Wash Family Construction 2

Thursday, May 25

Adult Co-Ed Soccer

#1 Sato Real Estate 9
#7 Acqua Aveda 3

#2 Anna Maria CrossFit 5
#4 Ross Built Construction 1

#5 Slim's Place 2
#6 Mulock Flynn Law 1

#3 Lancaster Design 6
#8 Moss Builders 3

Saturday, May 27

Youth Soccer: 8- to 10-Year-Old League

#3 Slim's Place 5
#2 Progressive Cabinetry 3

#1 Truly Nolen 4
#4 Wash Family Construction 4