Soccer action heats up at summer’s end

Birmingham vs. Crystal Palace

Despite the muggy weather, the gang was all there for the Saturday match between Birmingham and Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace’s Wyatt Accardi, coming off of several great saves the week prior, could not avoid the first goal by Birmingham’s James Carney, assisted by Aviv Porath and Tyler Rohan. Moments later, Jacob Roter made a head ball to James for yet another goal. Wyatt made an excellent save shortly after, but Elias Griffin’s chest ball to Jacob to Gabriel Colon proved too tough a combination. Nick Winokur continued his run of great defensive kicks from last year’s Junior 6 Everton team, and new teammate Jackson Kaufman cleared the ball for Crystal Palace several times as well.  Adrien Cohen demonstrated sharp skills as well, but the team just couldn’t break through for a goal.

Ten seconds into the second half, Birmingham’s Dario Flores scored the fourth goal, unassisted against Crystal Palace’s Ben Karam in his first time in goal. Ben answered by smothering a shot by Jacob. Birmingham’s James Carney passed to Jacob for goal 5, and Dario Flores answered soon afterwards with the sixth goal, off of Katie Higgins’ throw-in. Ben saved several more and held up to the pressure of Gabriel’s fine dribbling skills. Crystal Palace’s Cameron Burger also did her best to bring the ball downfield, but Tyler Rohan (in goal) was able to sweep the shots away. Soon after, Dario registered a hat trick with an assist by Jacob. The final goal was a pass from Dario to Margaret Matthews, bringing the final score to 8-0.

Birmingham vs. Charlton

Birmingham and Charlton welcomed the first game of the 2005 season a week ago, both at near full strength. Fans on both sides cheered the excellent defense and skill demonstrated by both teams. Aram and Diana Flores stepped in for vacationing Birmingham coach John Griffin, and their enthusiasm and support paid off late in the first half, when son Dario scored the team’s first goal. In the second half, Birmingham’s James Carney swept two shots on goal back to midfield, allowing Dario to score goal number two. Charlton’s Liam Clayton and Adam Moftah did their best offensively, but Birmingham’s goalies held them off. Charlton’s second-half goalie, Brody Sharoff, also made some fine saves, but Birmingham’s Jacob Roter snuck one past him, bringing the final score to 3-0.

Charlton vs. Tottenham

Charleton’s right winger Cameron Lamser had a beautiful finish, scoring the lone goal off a brilliant crossing pass from Brody Sharoff. Both Yani Porter and Luke Dilworth came close to evening it up for Tottenham, but the superb goaltending of Adam Moftah preserved Charlton’s shutout.

Verona vs. AS Roma

The Verona – AS Roma game this weekend was a well-balanced and gritty mach-up between teams that split last year’s series. This was no exception. Verona stars Uriah Frederick and Elliott Loving came out flying and put pressure on the Roma defense from the start of the game showing bursts of speed and ball handling skill. Roma wingers Bryan Gomez and Aidan Rogers answered in kind with several offensive rushes, but no one could break through either teams’ collapsing defenses or sharp goaltending. Bridget Carey, Theo Simko and Iliana Memmo each made outstanding plays in the midfield for Verona as did Justin Wenig, Eve Grassfield, Anthony O’Donnell and Taylor “road-warrior” White for Roma. Just before halftime Verona stepped up the pressure and Elliott broke through for a goal on a defensive miscue and subsequent rebound.

The second half was electric with fine midfield play by both teams as well as an outstanding save by Roma goalie Michael Shorris. Verona’s Greta Keating and Matt Epstein both exhibited some fine footwork as Roma centers Owen O’Keefe and Laila Fadel made several late charges, but Verona would not wilt and prevailed 1-0.

Bologna vs. Lazio

The Minor 8 match-up Saturday between Bologna and Lazio was an early season test for both talented teams. Lazio, fresh off a 1-0 win over gritty Verona, ended its junior 7’s incarnation with a string of dominant wins. Bologna was that division’s undefeated champion. Saturday’s game, played in brutal mid-September heat, lived up fully to its billing.

An early goal by Lazio’s Zack Tractenberg stunned the Bologna players, who hadn’t been behind in a game since 2003. As the heat began to wither both sides, it looked as if the lead might hold up. Lazio’s punishing defense, led by Roberta Samuel and Mathieu Bialosky and bolstered by the goalkeeping of Jack Freedman and Noah Kahan, was impenetrable. But Bologna too stiffened. Nothing further got past defenders Bayley Arens, Roxana Zerres and Theo Klein, or the shutout goalkeeping of Matthew Weldon. Then, with three minutes left, Bologna midfielder Noah Sutter threaded through the Lazio defense and fed the ball to striker Jake Jiler, who sent it home. As both sides trudged off the field, happy to accept the tie and find a sprinkler, Downtown soccer aficionados were already circling the date of the re-match – Nov. 5.

Bari vs. Parma

In the wilting mid-day humidity, testing the conditioning of players on both

teams, Bari and Parma persevered in an outstanding game this past Saturday. The match showcased each team’s swarming defenses, which controlled the tempo in the early going. Parma, a team with several strong offensive players, broke the deadlock with skillful play-making and accurate shooting. Bari countered with a stellar second-half goal, evening the score at one. Parma’s relentless offense resulted in another three goals and a 4 – 1 final.  

After the game, the coaching staffs for each team commended the players for their hard work and hustle on such a humid day.  “The kids ran really hard today and showed tremendous heart,” said Jessica Friedman, Bari’s assistant coach. That sentiment was shared by supporters of both teams.

MINOR 9

Aberdeen vs. Hibernian

Hibernian and Aberdeen tied 2-2 in a hard-fought game Saturday afternoon. Hibernian struck first, with Noah Duran kicking two goals in the first half, despite spirited defense by the opposition. Late in the first half, Aberdeen’s Van Patton scored her goal with a hard, low kick. The closely-matched teams continued their excellent play during the second half, with Aberdeen’s Raphael Santore adding a second, tying goal on a deflected corner kick, with two minutes remaining. The players demonstrated good sportsmanship on this last, hot weekend of summer.