The curse of the first strikes again: Top teams in basketball and soccer fall

Legend has it that the #1 seeded team in adult sports at the Anna Maria Island Community Center will struggle to win the season championship. Last week’s games in basketball and soccer continue to enforce the reality of the legend.

On Tuesday, July 1, #2 seed Team Mickan handedly defeated #1 seed Gator Squad. Team Mickan’s Antwaun Jackson score 15 valuable points. In an effort to lead the top team to the win, the Gator Squad’s Brandon Osmond scored three three-points and a total of 13 points. Team Captain Jason Mickan was the high scorer of the game, putting 16 points on the scoreboard, including four three-point shots to help his team capture the victory with a final score of 60-50. The final closeout of the basketball season will be on July 15 at 6:30 p.m. with a three-point and slam dunk contest.

In the first week of the playoff series for the Adult Soccer League, the curse of the first continued on Thursday. The third game of the night saw #1 seed Team 11mangang against the last seed Slims Place Team Optimisticool. After 50 minutes of regulation play, Slims Place defeated Team 11mangang 8-4. Eric Pullen for Team Optimisticool scored six impressive goals, while Team Captain PJ Smargisso hit two. Lexi Braxton, Kris Yavalar and Jeff Gonzales all scored for Team 11mangang. The only time in the history of AMICC Adult Soccer the #1 seed team won the championship was in the spring season of 2013 when Island Pest Control clinched the win in the final game of the season.

The feature soccer game of the night paired off #2 ranked Sato Real Estate Powwowder and #7 seed Wash Family Construction idigthisisland. Josh Sato and Teddy Louloudes, for Wash Family Construction, met up in the initial kickoff. Despite strong defense and shooting by both teams, each struggled to put the ball in the goal the first half. Team idigthisisland’s Aleesha Keene struck hard and often, but Sato Real Estate’s defense and goalie Jason Sato kept the scoreboard dim well into the game.

On defense, Josh Sato was given a yellow card for tackling Wash Family Construction’s Drew Mitchell, but his team could not take advantage of the opportunity when the free kick was missed. Wash Family continued the scoreless trend after impressive field control and fancy footwork by Dohwun Kim that lead to a strike that went well above the goal.

Jason Sato continues his strong goal keeping when he denied David Hiram a goal at the 21st minute of the first half of play. Finally, with the assist by Taylor Manning, Teddy Louloudes scored a goal on Team idigthisisland. This would be the only goal to get by goalie Austin Wash, who had four saves in the game.

With the score at 1-0 and with very little time left in the first half of regulation play, Wash Family Construction caught fire offensively. Taking the ball down field, Keene found Cory Wash near the goal. C. Wash booted the ball evening up the score 1-1 by half time.

Wash Family Construction held the momentum into the second half of play. Offensively, Hiram and Keene struck fast both hitting the post in near misses. Louloudes’ shot for Sato Real Estate went high allowing goalie Chris Culhane for Team idigthisisland breath easy for a second. Hiram hit another post shot after a beautiful pass by A. Wash.

At the six-minute mark, referring controversy began to excite the spectators. After shouts of “handball” ensued, the referee made a late call after play had continued, and Sato Real Estate put the ball past Culhane for what many thought was a goal. The referees went into on field deliberations and came out with a decision that there was a handball infraction and Sato Real Estate would take the free kick. Louloudes took the shot for the team and missed. With the miss, the score remained at 1-1.

Chris Klotz’s shot near mid-field for Sato Real Estate hit the crossbar. He hustled to take back the soccer ball and slid to make the shot. The referees did not count the goal and gave Klotz a yellow card for sliding, which is not allowed in the AMICC league with the exception of the goalie.

With additional shot attempts by A. Wash and Hiram for Wash Family Construction, the regulation time ended with a tied score of 1-1. Both teams prepared for the first shoot out of the season, choosing their five best strikers.

Jason Sato remained in goal for Team Powwowder. Kim put on the yellow penny and took his place in goal for Team idigthisisland. The first two shots by Kim and Klotz for both teams were stopped by the goalies. Keene made the first goal for Wash Family Construction. Alley Thomas made her shot for Sato Real Estate. Hiram and A. Wash were successful, as was Louloudes and Taylor. The game came down to the last shooters for each team. BJ Grant shot wide right and missed his opportunity for Wash Family Construction. The final shot of the game was a strategically placed ball by Josh Sato, winning the game for his team.

Four teams remain and will play Thursday night. #2 Sato Real Estate will match up against #3 LaPensee Plumbing and Pools at 7 p.m. #5 Eason Builders go head-to-head against #8 Slims Place at 8 p.m. The championship game is on Thursday, July 10, at 8 p.m.

The Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, July 1 - Adult Basketball Championship Game

Team Mickan 56
Gator Man 53

Thursday, July 3 - Adult Soccer Quarter Final Games

Eason Builders – Team Unity 3
Island Pest Control Team smiledeep0

Sato Real Estate Team powwowder 1
(Shoot out winner)
Wash Family Construction Team idigthisisland 1

Team 11ManGang 4
Slims Place – Team optimisticool 8

Team Rebellion 3
LaPensee Plumbing Team Lion 8