Colorado Rapids vs. DC United
After 10 weeks and over 350 games the 2009 Downtown Soccer League was brought to a close with the 12/13 Division match up of Colorado Rapids and DC United
The first half action went end to end as both teams pressed hard for the opening goal.
Strong defensive work by Hannah Sklover, Greta Keating, Sabastian Carrion, Tariq Shami for Rapids and Laszlo Horvath, Jasmine Campise, Scarlet Perry for DC kept the game goalless at the half.
The Rapids began to take control early in the second half with the midfield probings of Bridget Carey, Oliver Mettle, Liam Barwick and Nicole Teckchandani creating chances for Leon Wildt and Theo Simko to go close.
The pressure paid off when after shots from Griffin Cloud Levine and Alden Cope were blocked on the line by DC goalie Sal Derogaties, top scorer Uriah Frederick pounced on the rebound to fire the Rapids ahead.
The goal produced an immediate reaction from DC, with Alec Tullock, Henry Lilien and Violet Low Beinhart moving forward to help Aiden Rodgers in the quest for an equalizer.
The DC threat was met with strong resistance by excellent defensive stops from Alina Miglietta, Alex Hirsch and goalie Graham Tuggle as time ran out on the game and the season and the Rapids earned a well deserved 1-0 result.
Afterwards, befitting the spirit that the game was played in both teams shared pizza and medals to celebrate another fun soccer season.
AC Milan vs Roma
The backdrop was not the Duomo or the Coliseum, but the fact that they were playing in front of a construction site did not lessen the rivalry between powerhouse AC Milan and long time rivals Roma of the Downtown Soccer League 8’s division.
Milan attacked from the start with strikers Owen Gallagher and Felix Barwick leading the charge. The Roma goal was leading a charmed life as the Milan midfield of Toby Barker, Jack Abrams, LJ Morales, Alyssa Fernandez and Patrick Baumann continued the assault through to half time.
After the break Roma regrouped and launched their own offensive led by Viraj Kathuria, Oliver Cope, Sophie Arens, Jessia Gross and Chloe Rosenkranz.
The Milan defense of Cate Albright, Eleanor Happy, Griffin Addison — Picciani and goalie Alex Picone proved the equal of all that was thrown at them.
Having weathered the storm, Milan gradually took over the game with the midfield mastery of Oscar Rachmansky, Noah Vakin and Lauren Picone creating the openings for Gallagher, Barwick, Barker and Adams to add to their season goal tally, as Milan enjoyed the spoils of the day in another exciting contest with Roma.
