ANNA MARIA – Thursday night heated up as the adult fall soccer league started with five back-to-back games. With two more teams this season, the schedule is compressed to let roughly 100 Island-area men and women hit the pitch for the nine weeks of games leading to the playoffs in late November.
Veteran player and team captain Greg Ross led his team to victory over team Bubble Binz with a score of 4-2. Ross played alongside his twin sons, Andrew and Jake Ross, on the Ross Built Custom Homes squad.
While not credited for a goal, G. Ross struck hard and struck often, finding his sweet spot on the field. Jake and Andrew each had a goal, adding to the two points put up by Jack Gibson.
In an uncharacteristic position at goal, Kevin Roman made five important stops off the boots of the Bubble Binz offense. Osvaldo Cabello protected the goal for team Bubble Binz, making six saves after two halves of soccer action.
Cabello’s teammates James Knowles and Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos scored the goals for Bubble Binz, helping to keep the team in the first game of the season.
AMI Dolphin Tours and Language Services Associates took to the pitch next. Ending in a 3-3 draw, each team recorded seven saves after 40 minutes of regulation play.
Making the saves was Julian Bejarano for team Language Services. AMI Dolphin Tours split the duty between Tyler Bekkerus, with three big stops, and Aaron Frech, with four stops. Frech took over in goal after Bekkerus left the field with an injury.
Scoring for AMI Dolphin Tours were Robert Fellowes, Erica Nielsen and Frech. On the other side of the field, Luis Martinez, Alex Quintero and Juan Rodriguez put the points on the scoreboard.
Team Pool America dominated in the third game of the night against Gulf Drive Café. Pool America’s Chris Klotz and Gulf Drive’s Charles “Tuna” McCracken each had 10 saves in the game.
Four all-important goals got past McCracken for his team’s 5-1 loss. McCracken is credited with the assist on Gulf Drive Café’s only point, scored by Javier Rivera.
On the other side of the field, Murat Akay and Lucas Wilson each put two past McCracken, while Dean Hinterstoisser had a solo goal in the team’s win.
The Sato Real Estate goalies Josh and Ben Sato were kept busy making eight and nine saves, respectively. Their counterpart, Steve Oelfke, made five recorded stops in his team’s three-goal win.
Offensively and defensively strong, the Hampton Painting team held Sato Real Estate to two goals by Logan O’Brien and team captain J. Sato. Hampton’s captain, Daniel Hampton, scored two goals, along with Tim Holly. Their teammate Ethan Hampton scored his first goal of the season against the Sato defense.
Ending the night with a big win, Solid Rock Construction beat the Moss Builders team 5-2. Ryan Moss’ eight saves, in addition to goalie efforts by Karri Stephens with two stops, just was not enough against Keith Mahoney’s team.
Led by James Roadman, the Moss Builders team managed to score two goals against Solid Rock with strikes by Stephen Adair and Alexis Bellamy.
Playing in her second game of the night, Nielsen scored another goal. Julio Cantu got one by the Moss Builders’ keeper.
With the only hat trick of the game, Mahoney scored three of the team’s five points to close out week one of adult soccer on the Island.
SUN SCOREBOARD
SEPT. 19
ADULT CO-ED SOCCER
Ross Built Custom Homes 4
Bubble Binz 2
AMI Dolphin Tours 3
Language Services Associates 3
Pool America 5
Gulf Drive Café 1
Hampton Paintings 5
Sato Real Estate 2
Solid Rock Construction 5
Moss Builders 2
