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Monica Simpson

Monica Simpson

March 7, 2017
Sun Correspondent Monica Simpson covers sports. Email
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December 11, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Center of Anna Maria Island adult soccer kick

Sato Real Estate on top again

The last regular season co-ed adult soccer game ended Thursday night with Lancaster Design pulling out the big win over Jiffy Lube. After Moss Builders took the first victory of the night over Eas…
December 4, 2018
By Monica Simpson
center adult co-ed soccer

Adult co-ed soccer heats up in the night chill

The temperatures dropped while the competition on the Island pitch heated up Thursday night in the adult soccer league. With one game left in the regular season, Sato Real Estate sealed the first…
November 20, 2018
By Monica Simpson
championship team bins be clean

Top teams take the championship

Teams Planet Stone and Bins Be Clean win it all in The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fall youth soccer league championship game. The top seeds in both of the youth soccer leagues finished on top…
November 13, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Center fall youth soccer

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

In the final week of the youth soccer regular season, Planet Stone finished in first place for the youngsters making up the eight- to 10-year-old league. Bins Be Clean found them on top for the 11- t…
November 6, 2018
By Monica Simpson
sports soccer little cleats

Little cleats, lots of fun

The chill in the air last Tuesday night was paired with the sounds of youth soccer at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Several weeks into the fall soccer season, little kids as young as three years o…
October 30, 2018
By Monica Simpson
center soccer sato

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

After two weeks of play in the fall adult co-ed soccer season, Team Sato Real Estate remains on the top of the leaderboard, despite the challenges of a new squad. Lead by team captain Josh Sato, the…
October 23, 2018
By Monica Simpson
jiffy lube soccer Center

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

The Center opened another co-ed adult soccer season hot off the heels of the summer season where Sato Real Estate earned the championship. Week one, once again, found Sato’s team with the last victor…
October 16, 2018
By Monica Simpson
center youth soccer group

Youth soccer takes to the pitch for another season

The 8-10-year-old age group is a tight three-team league with Planet Stone currently on top with a record of 2-1-1 Ugly Grouper is right behind having played an additional game and having one more…
October 2, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Hayward cup champs

Hayward Cup champions: Sato Real Estate eeks out the final win

The adult co-ed soccer season at The Center finished on schedule despite the seasonal rains, doubling up Thursday night with the last semi-final game and championship game played out within two hours…
September 25, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Ray Gardner

Ray Day: The man behind the celebration

It is not every day that someone is born that will impact just about every person they meet. Sept. 17, 1988, was one of those days. For years now, since a very young age, Raymond Gardner has been…
September 18, 2018
By Monica Simpson
four remain soccer

After the rain, four remain

The daily rains got the best of the island pitch for the originally scheduled first-round adult co-ed soccer playoff games. A week later, after three games, four teams remain in contention for the Pa…
September 5, 2018
By Monica Simpson
center soccer youth champs

Ugly Grouper Red Team champions

The Center of Anna Maria Island’s gym was filled with fast-paced, wall beating, bouncing ball youth indoor soccer. With six regular season games under their belt, the three teams sponsored by the Ugl…
August 29, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Center soccer Sato

Domination on the pitch: Sato Real Estate undefeated

The outcome of each of the three adult co-ed soccer games on the Island field was lopsided, to say the least. The three winners finished at least five goals over their opponents, but in the end, Team…
August 14, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Center adult soccer gardner

Brazil and Belgium undefeated: Island soccer’s unbeatable

It’s four weeks into the adult soccer season, and two teams are atop the leader’s board with three wins and no losses. Josh Sato’s Team Belgium, sponsored by Sato Real Estate, and Ryan Moss’ Team Bra…
August 7, 2018
By Monica Simpson
Center soccer

Belgium defeats England on AMI

After capturing third place in this year’s World Cup, Brazil met England on the soccer field again, but this time on Anna Maria Island, and earned another victory. Thanks to local businesses Sato…