ANNA MARIA – The spring adult co-ed soccer season on the Island started with 10 full teams of players young and not so young, traveling from Sarasota, Palmetto and beyond to hit the pitch for the last three months.
Last Thursday night, two teams faced off for the final game of the season and bragging rights as Island soccer champions.
After two halves of play, the exciting game ended in a tie. Tim Holly scored the first and only goal for the Ross Built Custom Home team in the first half of the big game. Leo Gonzalez scored the tying goal for Progressive Cabinetry after halftime.
The strong defensive efforts by both teams kept the scoring low and goalkeepers busy. Each team is known for their shooting and Progressive’s Tyler Bekkerus made eight saves in the team’s win.
On his side of the field, Ross Built’s main keeper, Max Gazzo, worked hard with a recorded 14 stops of his opponents’ strikes. Taking Gazzo’s place at the net, Eliza Faillace made two saves in the game.
The title of champion for the season came down to overtime play. Using Golden Goal overtime play, Progressive’s team captain, Keith Mahoney, was the first to strike and first to score in overtime, giving his team the big 2-1 win and championship title at The Center, and ending another great season of soccer on Anna Maria Island.
