The third week of play in the Downtown Soccer League proved any team could take the season. Tough defense resulted in low scoring ties, or near ties this past weekend.
JUNIOR 6
Everton vs. Bolton
Everton and Bolton faced off under sunny skies in an exciting match on Saturday. Both teams played with enthusiasm, focus and determination throughout the game.
Bolton’s goalies were kept busy throughout the morning, as Everton players took the ball to the net repeatedly. Bolton goalies Justen Lam and Joseph Aboaf, along with Bolton teammates Sarah Biggs and Matilda Carney held Everton to just one goal by Julian Tutuncu-Macias in the first half. Not to be outdone, Sebastian Kim-Rehr quickly responded with a goal for Bolton.
In the second half, both teams had several impressive charges downfield, with James Stinnett and Naomi Lopato turning the tide on several Bolton drives and Olivia Sawyer reversing an aggressive drive by Everton. Walker Brandt’s skillful pass to Julian Tutuncu-Macias resulted in another Everton goal and demonstrated how players are learning to play as a team.
Julian was on fire, scoring an amazing three goals for Everton by the end of the game. Maya Greenberg, alert on defense, ably guarded Everton’s net in the second half as Olivia Sawyer stood guard for Bolton. Kudos to referee George Blau, who provided useful tips to both sides throughout. “It was a great game,” he said “both sides really gave it their all.”
Ipswich vs. Arsenal
A solitary goal, scored by Ipswich’s Charlie Scruton mid-way through the first half, was all that separated Ipswich and Arsenal in a hard fought, entertaining match. Both teams appear to be learning quickly as the season progresses. Parents on the touchline (including coaches Andy Scruton, John Chow, and Brandon Boudreaux) were lucky to see the full range of skills, including accurate passes, well-taken throw-ins, long range goal kicks, corner kicks and even defensive headers.
For Ipswich, Elise Dean Wolf did well on the wing, a new position for her, and in offense William Sisson was very quick footed and nearly scored with a shot that went narrowly wide after a strong run.
Arsenal worked well as a team with Alex Hall, Sophia Delaney, Bain Boudreaux and TJ Westfall playing primarily offense. Liana Chow, Scout Bushman and Stephen Nyarko held the line well on defense against a strong Ipswich attack. Yannick DeGuchteneere and Jackson Robbins played at midfield. Stephen Nyarko and Bain Boudreaux took turns as goalie, and Bain dove for several excellent saves in the second half. Alex Hall and Yannick DeGuchteneere were involved in some nice dribbling moves, with some near breakaways, but the Ipswich defense was quite strong.
Arsenal nearly scored on a number of occasions. Julian Ferraro, in goal for Ipswich, made a crucial save on the line, and the defense in front of him did a good job to preserve the shutout.
Max Kiss and Francie Seidl Chodosh go for the ball.
JUNIOR 7
Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspurs
Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspurs played an exciting, evenly-matched game on a sparkling fall Saturday morning. Both teams mounted impressive offensive and defensive moves. Cameron Burger, Julian Chow and Adrein Cohen consistently kept the ball in Tottenham’s goal area, only to be rebuffed by Tottenham’s goalie, Clyde Huibregtse, and strong defensive plays by Benjamin Beaumont and other teammates. Crystal Palace goalie Ben Karam played an important role during both halves, making a number of impressive saves, backed by the formidable defensive lineup of Wyatt Accardi, Nick Winokur and Jackson Kaufman. Wyatt, in particular, played an exceptionally brave game. During the second half, Fischer Bodwell ably guarded Tottenham’s goal, despite repeated and forceful attempts by Cameron, Julian and Adrein, along with the entire Crystal Palace team, to score. The game ended in a 0 – 0 tie, evidence that both teams were playing their best and that more exciting matches are ahead this fall.
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Charlton
In a thriller of a game, Sheffield edged out Charlton 4-3 on the scoring brilliance of Ryan Porcaro who with the tireless help of Brandon Mirabella and Lorren Winder scored four goals. Ryan has scored all of Sheffield’s nine goals this season. Charlton started the scoring with the first of two goals by the hard working Brody Sharoff, followed by Cole Hawthorne’s blast. Miranda Coombe almost tied the game with a shot that caromed off the goal post in the waning minutes.
MINOR 8
AC Milan vs. AS Roma
The lights were on and the stars were out for this season’s only Minor 8 twilight affair as AC Milan faced off with AS Roma. The first half was a stalemate with fine play on both sides of the ball, but few scoring chances. Milan’s Blake Lackmann poured it on early showing strength and skill as she made her way through Roma’s swarming defense for several impressive rushes with some fine passes to Leila Machkouri and William Steere, but Roma defenders Michael Shorris and Anthony O’Donnell proved impenetrable. Sweeper Aidan “the Flash” Rogers played his finest game to date for Roma tirelessly dominating the midfield for a number of fine steals and passes to forwards Owen “little dog” O’Keefe and Laila Fadel, who put continuous pressure on Milan’s goal.
In the second half both teams began to tire. Roma’s Eve Grassfield and Chloe Lombardi both showed some brilliant flashes, but could not outrun Milan’s hard-charging Quincy Durkin and Jake Friedman, who turned the tide several times with excellent efforts. Roma’s India Cohen broke through twice with good kicks, but could not advance the ball past Milan’s DJ West. Fine saves by Roma goalie “Joltin” James Demsak and Milan’s Liam Barwick kept both teams scoreless until Rogers broke through for a left-footed score from the top of the crease. Cameron Risse, Jake Friedman and Jonathon Sexton poured it on for Milan, but another fine rush by Rogers set up Roma center Owen “little dog” O’Keefe’s deft pass to top scorer Bryan Gomez flying in from the right-wing for the final goal of the game to leave it Roma 2, Milan 0.
Bologna vs. AS Roma
In a much anticipated match, undefeated Bologna squared off Saturday against a surging AS Roma eager for a rematch of last year’s well-fought rivalry. The game was no disappointment as Roma took advantage early of a short-handed Bologna squad missing leading scorer Jake Jiler and defensive stalwart Roxana Zerres to take a 1-0 lead on striker Laila “the Raven” Fadel’s second goal of the season. Laila’s goal was set up by a tremendous clearing throw by Roma goalie “Joltin” James Demsak to center Owen “little dog” O’Keefe. Owen flew up-field for a shot on goalie Matthew Weldon. Though Matthew turned the shot aside, “the Raven” pounced on it and slammed it into the upper left corner of the goal. Theo Klein and Bayley Arens played well for Bologna, but could not penetrate beyond Roma’s India Cohen, Michael Shorris and Elaine “Rocket-girl” Farah. Zach Lobel and Violet Low-Beinart combined for some fine moments as did Eve Grassfield, Taylor “Road-Warrior” White and Anthony O’Donnell in the midfield as the teams see-sawed back and forth.
Once again the story for Bologna followed the fortunes of midfield general Noah Sutter, whose ball control skills are legend in the Minor 8’s. For the first three quarters midfielder Aidan “the Flash” Rogers shut him down, running with him step for step. It was only with the emergence of Matthew Weldon from goal in the second half that coaches Arens and Byrne got their team on track offensively. With Weldon to pass to at center and Rogers growing weary, Sutter began to move the ball well resulting in a fine goal by Sutter on a give-and-go from Weldon.
Roma looked exhausted at this point and appeared ready for a knockout blow as the Sutter-Weldon tandem turned up the heat, but Adrian “Blackhawk” Cohen, Anthony O’Donnell and “Flash” Rogers dug deep to thwart numerous Bologna forays turning the ball up-field for rushes of their own. Roma’s “Joltin” James Demsak was outstanding in goal, winning high praise from onlookers and coaches alike. His numerous outlet passes and goal kicks to forwards Bryan Gomez and “Little-dog” O’Keefe relieved the pressure on the defense and led to a number of late Roma scoring opportunities all thwarted by Max Ripps, Alexandra Chang and Anna Rubinfeld. Only the final whistle preserved the 1-1 tie.
MINOR 9
Celtic vs. dundee
It was a defensive battle when Dundee met the Celtics on Saturday afternoon. A combination of incredible defensive plays by Duncan Kimmel and awesome goaltending by Cierra Schrripa kept the score at 0-0 at the end of the first half. The second half continued the defensive battle with the Celtics’ unstoppable Chynna Basso and Dundee’s Jackson Emanuel-Collins as goalkeeper not allowing any goals. Dundee had some chances to score in the second half as by both Madison Marino and Zisis Gribas made outstanding shots that were stopped by the Celtic goalie. The game ended in a scoreless tie.
MAJOR 11
Marseille vs. Monaco
Marseille and Monaco met for a hard fought game at high noon on Sunday. Cameron Spector put Monaco up on top with the first of his two goals with sure footed passes from Lindsay Holcomb and Joseph Demarco. Ali Rossi was up to the task as Monaco’s goal keeper preventing a number of challenging shots from entering the goal. A quick score by Marseille before the end of the first half of play put the score at 2-1.
The second half saw Brian Boyd starting in goal for the first time this season. Brian’s aggressive playing prevented a number of Marseille’s players from scoring with the added help of Monaco’s iron clad defense, Michael Garel-Martorana, Taylor Sandella and Jessica McAlear. Caspar Henak picked up a score and was instrumental in controlling the midfield of play for Monaco. Joseph Demarco had four assists in the win. The game was well played by both squads with the final outcome only decided in the final minutes.
Downtown Soccer League coaches should email game highlights to news@downtownexpress.com on Monday mornings.
Compiled by Caitlin Eichelberger
google_ad_client = “pub-6226499064891091”;
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
google_ad_format = “468x60_as”;
google_ad_channel =”0606561524″;
google_color_border = “336699”;
google_color_bg = “FFFFFF”;
google_color_link = “0000FF”;
google_color_url = “008000”;
google_color_text = “000000”;
//–>
src=”https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js”>
WWW Downtown Express
