Champions of the pitch emerge

Another season of youth soccer was completed on November 10 and in the end, three teams were named division champions. Two of the three winners were at the top of the bracket all season long, but in Division I play, the underdog took the victory.

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

In the Division III battle, the number three seed Miller Electric fought a valiant battle against the first place finishers of the regular season, AMI Donuts. This age group’s male MVP, Anthony Monetti, scored two goals in the first half. With the second goal scored at the 20th minute of play, goalie Thomas Heckler was able to help AMI Donuts bring the half to an end with a score of 2-0. Despite the score, Nicholas Yatros, keeper for Miller Electric, and his defensive crew kept the game close to start the second half.

Coach David Johnston switched it up in goal with Kylie Huffman and Coach Shawn Wampole replaced Goalie of the Year Heckler with Michael Pears for AMI Donuts. At nearly the eighth minute of play, AMI Donuts had a handball in the goal giving Miller Electric the opportunity to put in its first goal of the game. The shot taken by Powerhouse Ozzy Lonzo ricocheted off of the post for the miss.

With another penalty kick opportunity only one minute later, Miller Electric’s Gavin Johnston kicked a missile into the goal taking the score to 2-1. Only moments later, goalie Pears had a phenomenal save to hold AMI Donut’s slight lead until the final whistle blew to end the first championship game of the night.

Division II (11-to-13-year-olds)

Once again, the regular season winners faced the third seed team in the battle royale. Smiledeep, sponsored by Fran Maxon Real Estate, finished the regular season undefeated going into the playoffs. Sugar Beach Digital found its way through the season defeating the number two seed to make its way to the final game.

Adams Carlson started in goal for Sugar Beach and Goalie of the Year Chris Snyder protected the Smiledeep goal. In an early handball in the box, Sugar Beach found itself defending the division’s male MVP, Zack Fernandez, who took the penalty kick for Smiledeep. His success at the line put Smiledeep up 1-0 after only five minutes of first half play.

Another penalty kick for Fernandez at the 10-minute mark strengthened Smiledeep’s lead. The first half of the game saw great defensive play by Sugar Beach’s Corbin Gregg. Smiledeep played all eight players in a defensive mode as Sugar Beach attempted to put one in the goal before the end of the half. Tyler Brewer and Daniel Sentman were not able to successfully penetrate the goal line for Sugar Beach and the half ended with the score 2-0.

The second half of the game was a hard fought battle. Fernandez added to his tally with a goal at the 11th minute against Ben Brashier in the goal. Sugar Beach found a second wind and began a rally back in the second half. With less than five minutes to play, Sentman scored the lone goal for Sugar Beach. Smiledeep captured victory ending with a score of 3-1.

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

Week after week, AMI Fitness hit the pitch against Wash Family Construction. Each week, Wash Family Construction searched for its first on the field victory against AMI Fitness. The championship game was its final chance. With each team only playing with four players and a goalie, good passing and long carries down the field were the recipe for victory for the underdog Wash Family Construction.

The game started quickly by Wash Family Construction with a quick goal by Nico Calleja less than a minute after the initial kickoff. Before the fifth minute of play, Cortini Wash made a solid goal, extending the team’s lead to 0-2. Strong defense by Willow Cooper and Edward Cullinan kept AMI Fitness scoreless until the sixth minute of play with a goal by the division’s male MVP Tyler Pearson.

Calleja widened the gap with a successful penalty kick at the 13th minute, followed by Pearson’s second goal at the 14th minute keeping the score tight at 2-3. The rapid scoring continued with the hat trick by Pearson at the 16th minute and a follow-up goal at the 18th minute, putting AMI Fitness in the lead for the first time in the championship game.

With the championship on the line, players for both teams stepped up their games. For AMI Fitness, Lucan Heffernan, Leo Tilelli, Julia Ware, the division’s receipient of the sportsmanship award, and female MVP Paige Charron worked the field in their come from behind effort. In addition to the defensive strength of Cullinan and Cooper, Skylar Sculco helped to keep Wash Family Construction in the game.

The second half saw the scoreboard light up and the goalies diving, jumping and catching rocket balls from both sides. Wash Family Construction’s goalie Cooper Hardy, the first Division I recipient of the Smiledeep award, faced multiple strikes by Pearson. Charron, keeper for AMI Fitness, could not save a goal by Calleja at the fifth minute of the second half to tie the game 4-4. Calleja moved Wash Family Construction ahead three minutes later, but Pearson answers back again tying the game 5-5.

The last 10 minutes of the game were just as exciting as the first 40. Following another goal by Pearson, Calleja at the kickoff launched the soccer ball from mid-field to score the tying goal. Peason had a chance to take AMI Fitness ahead again with a penalty kick resulting from a handball by Cullinan. But Pearson’s miss gave Wash Family one last chance to go ahead. At the 20th minute of play Calleja near midfield booted the ball into the goal just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Leo Tilelli to win the championship game for Wash Family Construction.

This upset win for Wash Family Construction was the first non-forfeit win for them this season.