ANNA MARIA – Center soccer play ended last week with six teams playing for three championship titles. Monday night started with semifinal playoff games for youth soccer.
In the 8- to 10-year-old league, top-ranked team Moss Builders lost the first age group game against team Adrian Griffin Interiors in an overtime shootout after the 0-0 regulation time finish.
Solid Rock Construction eked out the win, moving on to the championship game against Adrian Griffin Interiors, after a 1-1 tie against team Am I Coconuts? by a single goal in the shootout.
The semifinal games for the older youth players were not as close. The 11- to 14-year-old league play started with Solid Rock winning over The Gitt Team – KW on the Water by four goals.
In the final game last Monday night, the top-seed Cheesecake Cuties team outscored HSH Designs by seven goals. The Cuties’ win put them up against the second-ranked Solid Rock team the next night in the championship match-up in youth soccer.
Kicking off Tuesday night soccer, James Roadman’s Solid Rock Construction could not compete against the tough Adrian Griffin Interiors team in the 8- to 10-year-old championship game. With the final score 7-1, Jordy Perez had a hat trick for the winners.
Teammates Phoenix Harwood and Jackson Griffin each had a goal in the game. With two points, Joseph Caballero scored two points to help his team earn the win. Andre Harwood made 10 big stops for the Adrian Griffin Interiors team.
Carson Long worked hard at the goal with nine saves for Solid Rock Construction. Sam Raulerson got one past A. Harwood for a solo goal for his team. Solid Rock showed a never-quit spirit on the field for two full halves of play, ending the season strong.
The Adrian Griffin Interiors team, led by coach Jesse Griffin, set the stage for their victory with a huge victory against Moss Builders in the semifinal round.
Last Tuesday night’s final game showed strong efforts on both sides of the field as the Cheesecake Cuties, coached by Keith Mahoney, narrowly defeated the Solid Rock Construction team in the 11- to 14-year-old league championship game.
Thomas Kelly led the defensive charge with nine saves for the Cuties. Jack Zaccagnino stopped eight strikes for Solid Rock.
On offense, the single goal by Luke Dellenger just was not enough for the Solid Rock Construction team, coached by J. Roadman. Three goals by three players solidified the Cheesecake Cuties place on the top of the rankings for the age division.
Closing out the action-packed season and nail-biting playoff series, the adult co-ed recreational soccer finals were played last Thursday night. After over 45 minutes of regulation play, Gulfview Windows & Doors faced Gulf Drive Café utilizing the Golden Goal rule.
After letting one in during the final seconds of the game, Gulf Drive’s Tyler “Bean” Brewer was the first to score in overtime, winning the game for his team.
Gulf Drive Café’s Helio Gomez scored the first two goals for the team, while Jesus Martinez and Amber Augustine got the soccer ball past Charles “Tuna” McCracken. McCracken, the league’s leading goalkeeper, had 11 saves in the final game of the season.
The two Gulfview goals by Martinez and Augustine were capped off by team captain Keith Mahoney. Mahoney snuck the ball away from Brewer in front of the Gulf Drive goal, leading to the third Gulfview goal with McCracken caught off guard.
Heating up the field, Gulf Drive’s captain, Kevin Roman, was left just enough time in the game to dominate and strike. Roman’s shot sped past Gulfview keeper, Raul Loera, at the lower left corner of the goal to tie the championship game 3-3 at the whistle.
Brewer’s OT goal captured the Paul “Ace” Hayward championship for team Gulf Drive Café. As a player at The Center since he was 4 years old, the big win is Brewer’s first soccer championship in his 17 years of playing on the Island’s pitch.
Soccer moves to the gymnasium in 2024 with indoor soccer action for both kids and adults. Walls, balls and high-speed action starts in January.
SUN SCOREBOARD
NOV. 13
YOUTH SOCCER – SEMIFINAL GAMES
8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
#1 Moss Builders 0
#4 Adrian Griffin Interiors 0
winner in overtime PKs (4-2)
#2 Solid Rock Construction 1
winner in overtime PKs (3-2)
#6 Am I Coconuts? 1
11- TO 14-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
#2 Solid Rock Construction 5
#3 The Gitt Team
KW On The Water 1
#1 Cheesecake Cuties 8
#4 HSH Design 1
NOV. 14
YOUTH SOCCER – CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
#4 Adrian Griffin Interiors 7
#2 Solid Rock Construction 1
11- TO 14-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
#1 Cheesecake Cuties 3
#2 Solid Rock Construction 1
NOV. 16
ADULT CO-ED SOCCER – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#5 Gulfview Windows & Doors 3
#2 Gulf Drive Café 3
winner in overtime PKs (1-0)
