Downtowners kick it up

AS Roma vs. Bologna

Soaking up the unexpected rays of sunshine, the AS Roma team took to the north field with force on Saturday.

Celtic’s Elaine Farah, left, and Dundee’s Hannah Sklover go for the ball.

Roya Sullivan’s Bologna team played tough, despite the notable absence of their lead scorer, Sader Matar (who, last year, as a part of the Junior 7 Blackburn team, had helped defeat the AS Roma team for the first time in two years). Gabriel Colon brought the ball downfield several times for Roma, but was unable to score against Bologna’s James Hull and Lucy Winokur. Jack Wysoker and Jackson Mansfield were persistent on the Bologna side, showing good hustle and ball-handling skills.

James Carney and Elias Griffin, realizing their striker potential, combined for Roma’s first goal about halfway thru. Carney has scored a goal in each game for Roma so far this season.

Bologna answered with more strong offense from Joshua Fish, Jack Vegas and Jake Katzenberg, but the defense by Roma’s Margaret McGovern Matthews and Romy Macari blocked them well. Luke Marable debuted as goaltender for Roma, and with enthusiastic coaching from mom Krystyna and Chris Rohan from the sidelines, stayed in focus to shut out Bologna. The half ended with Griffin doing a combination crab walk and goal-kicking attempt as the whistle blew.

Gabriel Colon took to the field running, to start the second half. His fancy footwork paid off with his first goal of the season, when he intercepted a kick from Bologna goalie Jeremiah Wysoker and blasted it past him.

Anthony Miguez and Nicky Leong’s persistent hustle helped control the offensive flow of the game. Tyler Rohan, now on defense for Roma, cleared the ball downfield several times to avoid Bologna from scoring against Matthew Levine in goal (who also made several saves). Oscar Sullivan, Hailey Coffey and Ruby Marzovilla played with enthusiasm, but Coffey’s only shot on goal went wide. Meanwhile, Roma’s Katie Higgins’ unique defensive moves proved a little too much for Bologna.

Bologna vs. Juventus

It was the first and only night-game of the season Sept. 21 and Bologna was short a few players in the first half; it was a tough defensive and physical game.

Beginning of the second half, Lucy Winoker of Bologna prevented two goal attempts by Juventus, and a strong throw-in by Jeremiah Wysoker to Joshua Fish, who made a precision pass to Jackson Mansfield, resulted in the first goal.