Tag: soccer

ANNA MARIA – Although the location of the Island’s community center is not literally the center of Anna Maria Island, The Center is the central gathering place for island area families to play sports, see their friends and family, and support the Island as a community.

With the normal cyclical rise and fall in sports participation on the Island, as well as changes in dynamics and demographics on AMI, the number of youth sports participants has diminished to all-time low numbers in recent years. But the feeling of The Center’s athletic fields was alive and electric again last Tuesday night.

As in the classic days of Island youth sports, not a parking spot could be found around 407 Magnolia Ave. Sounds of cheers and the referee’s whistle could be heard from blocks away.

Lawn chairs filled with parents and grandparents lined each of the many soccer fields. Some fans stayed on their feet so they could watch the action on multiple fields.

Grandparents Karen and Mike LaPensee reminisce about the days that their son, Greg, was a kid playing on the community center field. Now the LaPensees’ grandchildren, including Preston, are running the pitch and scoring the goals.

LaPensee scored one goal for Beach Bums along with teammate Noah Shoulson in the tie against Tidy MD in the Wednesday night games, played on back-to-back nights to make up for the rain cancellations from the previous week.

Youth soccer opened to kids as young as 3 years old several years ago with a clinic-type format. Volunteer parent/coaches like PJ Smargisso and Ryan Moss help the very young developing players learn a few critical skills while growing the love of the game.

For years Moss has given back to The Center as a coach for both of his sons’ teams. Mason and Miles Moss have benefited from the years of experience their father has gained over the years, including his time as an adult player in the co-ed soccer league.

In the first game Wednesday night, Mason Moss scored the two goals in the tie ballgame for Tidy MD. Goalkeeping credits were given to Stryder Petit, Andre Harwood and Shane Bradley.

Likewise, Smargisso – who more recently expanded his family with two daughters – has begun volunteering his time as a coach in the clinic level as he continues to play adult soccer himself.

Moss and Smargisso are not the only parent-players who coach and support their kids at The Center on the pitch. At least temporarily hanging up his boots, David Zaccagnino continues to coach his sons, Jesse and Jack.

Longtime Islanders Jason Sato and Scott Rudacille continue the tradition of youth sports at the Island community center with their sons, Dylan and Brandon Sato and Cale and Camden Rudacille, who are playing once again in the youth soccer league.

Sato had six saves for the Beach Bums squad last Wednesday night with a single save by teammate Charlie Serra.

Helping the Blalock Walters team capture the win against AM Bath Time, Cale Rudacille had five saves in the game, playing the key position his father dominated in the co-ed adult soccer league for a number of years.

The Satos and Rudacilles have, for generations, played sports as children and adults on the Island. The Center’s Executive Director, Chris Culhane, is no different.

Culhane spent his youth playing Center sports. Following in his footsteps have been his two daughters, and in the current soccer league, Chris’ son, Maddox, continues to battle it out on the pitch just like his dad, who plays in the adult league.

The tradition of fathers and mothers volunteering to coach their children’s teams continues at The Center. An even stronger tie to the Island’s community center exists as generation after generation of Island area residents, young and old, test their soccer skills on the pitch.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, April 27

Youth Co-Ed Soccer Week #2

Eight- to 10-Year-Old League

Beach Bums 3

Shady Lady 3

Bridge Tender 3

Solid Rock Construction 0

11- to 13-Year-Old League

Blalock Walters 4

HSH 3

The Gitt Team 2

Grooms Auto 2

Wednesday, April 28

Youth Co-Ed Soccer Week #3

Eight- to 10-Year-Old League

Beach Bums (0-1-2) 2

Tidy MD (1-0-1) 2

Bridge Tender (2-1-0) 0

Shady Lady (1-0-1) 1

11- to 13-Year-Old League

Blalock Walters (3-0-0) 4

AM Bath Time (1-1-0) 2

The Gitt Team (1-1-1) 6

HSH (0-2-0) 1

Thursday, April 29

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #3

Flynn Law (3-0-0) 5

Salty Printing (1-2-0) 3

Sato Real Estate (0-3-0) 3

Sandbar (1-2-0) 5

Slim’s Place (2-1-0) 4

C.A.B.B. (2-0-1) 5

Killer Bait (0-3-0) 1

Beach Bums (2-0-1) 7

ANNA MARIA – The rain kept the Island kids off the soccer field last Tuesday night, but the adults enjoyed the weekly competition at The Center on Thursday night for week two action.

At the end of the night, Slim’s Place and Flynn Law were at the top of the leaderboard with two wins.

In the first game of the night, Slim’s Place went up against the Sato Real Estate squad with a fresh roster, still hungry for their first season win.

Despite seven saves by Rico Beissert for team captain Josh Sato’s team, the solid team could not find the net against Slim’s.

The single Sato goal was scored by Ben Sato, typically found in the goal. B. Sato showed why he is a force, not only protecting his team’s goal, but also on the other side of the field taking shots.

Brother J. Sato was credited with the only assist in the game for his team.

Keith Mahoney scored two solid goals for the Slim’s Place team, with a single by teammate Raul Loera.

Steve Oelfke helped his team with the victory with nine recorded saves for Slim’s Place to keep them undefeated.

Flynn Law’s offense kept Killer Bait’s goalkeeper, Erik Shulz, busy in the second game of the night. Shulz finished the night with 17 saves.

The Killer Bait squad, despite two points by Ethan Hampton, just could not surpass the firepower of the Flynn Law team. Eric Pullen and Hakan Toka both hit single shots for goals, while Damir Glavan continued to evade the goalie, scoring two points in the game.

Glavan leads the league in total points scored so far this season with five goals.

Mark Long, Flynn’s goalie, helped solidify the win with seven saves in the record book.

In week three, Slim’s Place will face C.A.B.B. with a 1-0-1 record and Flynn Law matches up against Salty Printing with a 1-1-0 record.

Rounding out the individual league leaders are Tyler Brewer and Yuri Pereira topping the charts for assists, with three each.

The league’s goalkeepers are led by Connor Haughey with 19 saves, closely followed by Ethan Hampton and Tuna McCracken with 17 stops.

This season marks McCracken’s first season in the adult co-ed soccer league after numerous youth seasons, where he was awarded Goalie of the Year honors for most of his career.

The season is young, with plenty of regular-season soccer action to come. Who will end up on top in June?

Sun Scoreboard

Thursday, April 22

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #2

Sato Real Estate 1

Slim’s Place 3

Killer Bait 2

Flynn Law 4

Beach Bums 3

C.A.B.B. 3

Salty Printing 5

Sandbar 3

ANNA MARIA – After a couple of weeks off, the soccer action resumed at The Center for the adults last week. The game play started with Sandbar and Flynn Law taking the field.

The first half of the game ended at a 3-3 tie, but Flynn Law turned the game around in their favor after a quick fourth and final goal by the Sandbar team after a bobble of the attempted save by Flynn Law’s Mark Long.

Long ended the game with seven saves in his team’s victory. Two Flynn Law players had hat tricks. Damir Glavan and Eric Pullen both got three shots past the Sandbar goalie, Kevin Mulcahy, for the six points and the win.

Mulcahy made nine recorded stops in the action-packed game.

On the other side of the field, Alecx Pichardo scored three goals of his own for the Sandbar team, with an additional goal by Luis Pichardo.

With week one complete, in addition to Glavan, Pullen and Pichardo, three other players top the scoreboard with three goals. Timo Vecchio, Kali Richardson and Daniel Hampton all put three points in the game stats.

Connor Haughey tops the charts with 10 saves. In his second season as an adult player, Tyler Brewer is on the top of the leaderboard with three assists going into the second week of spring soccer on the Island.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, April 13

Youth Co-Ed Soccer Week #2

8- to 10-Year-Old League

Beach Bums 1

Bridge Tender 2

Tidy MD 2

Solid Rock Construction 0

11- to 13-Year-Old League

Blalock Walters 4

The Gitt Team 1

AM Bath Time 5

Grooms Auto 4

Thursday, April 15

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #1

Sandbar 4

Flynn Law 6

Salty Printing 5

Slim’s Place 6

Killer Bate 4

C.A.B.B. 9

Sato Real Estate 8

Beach Bums 3

After five weeks of adult co-ed soccer action, Allied leads the league with three wins, one loss and one draw. Two teams follow in a close second with 3-0-2 records: Burton Brick & Tile and Sato Real Estate.

In the middle of the pack is Servis First Bank with three wins and two losses, and Blalock Walters with two wins and three losses.

Rounding out the final three spots in the ranking are The Gitt Team and Jiffy Lube, each with a single win. Slim’s Place continues to search for the elusive first win of the season.

In the third game of the night, Burton Brick & Tile narrowly beat the Blalock Walters squad with the final score 2-1.

Burton’s Omar Polar and Sumiko Chapman put up single points on the scoreboard for their team in the win, with an assist by Cemal Duzgun.

Nate Welch eluded the Burton Brick keeper for his team’s only goal. Matt Staggs is credited with an assist in the game for Blalock Walters.

Blalock’s goalkeeper, Devin Mulcahy, was kept busy with 16 saves. On the other side of the field, Jonathan Aragon led his team with nine saves. Burton’s Chris Klotz made five stops. Kris Yavalar prevented three goals in the game to help secure the win.

Going into week six, Chris Scott leads the league in goal scoring with 11 points. Zach Reda and Ugur Durmaz tie for second with nine goals after five games.

Robb Marshall tops the goalkeeping rankings with 55 recorded saves thus far in the season along with Mulcahy. With 49 saves, Mark Long is close on the heels of Marshall and Mulcahy. These top goalies are on three of the bottom four teams in the league.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, February 16

Youth Co-Ed Flag Football Week #5

Eight- to 10-Year-Old League

Moss Builders (4-0-0) 33

Beach Bums (2-2-0) 8

Tidy MD (2-1-1) 6

Shady Lady (0-3-1) 6

Rays Ramblings (1-4-0) 0

Cloud (3-2-0) 13

Coastline Contractors (2-2-0) bye

11- to 13-Year-Old League

Detweilers (2-1-1) 9

The Gitt Team (1-3-0) 14

Ugly Grouper (2-2-0) 21

Poppos (3-1-1) 6

Gulf Drive Café (2-3-0) 30

HSH (0-4-0) 26

Root Logix (4-0-0) bye

14- to 17-Year-Old League

Grooms Auto (4-2-0) 54

Ugly Grouper (3-3-0)

LaPensee Plumbing (2-4-0) win by forfeit

Wednesday, February 17

 Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #5

Sato Real Estate (3-0-2) 4

Slim’s Place (0-3-2) 1

Jiffy Lube (1-3-1) 5

Servis First Bank (3-2-0) 7

Burton Brick and Tile (3-0-2) 2

Blalock Walters (2-3-0) 1

The Gitt Team (1-4-0) 2

Allied (3-1-1) 5

Thursday, February 18

Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Week #5

Slim’s Place (2-3) 14

Moss Builders (3-2) 26

Beach Bums (5-0) 52

Salty Printing (0-5) 38

Ugly Grouper (5-0) 26

Solid Rock Construction (3-2) 24

Sandbar (1-4) 33

Mi-Box (1-4) 39

After a long-awaited season start, another group of youth soccer champions was crowned at The Center last Tuesday night, as the fall co-ed soccer season came to an end.

Finishing with a cookout and awards, team Progressive Cabinetry and team Gulf Drive Café each won the last game of the season to earn top of the league honors for their age group.

Seasoned veteran of the youth soccer scene on the Island, Jack McCarthy, scored both goals for Progressive Cabinetry in the 8- to 10-year-old league.

Throughout the season, McCarthy played alongside competitive teammates, including goalkeeper Jack Zaccagnino, who had seven recorded saves in the game. Zaccagnino, also a long-time Island player, was joined by his brother, Jesse, Cale Rudacille, Camden Rudacille, Brooklyn Melancon, Jackson Kennedy, Victoria Perry and Malia Keith.

Growing up playing at The Center, all of these young players grew their talents thanks to their volunteer coaches, Scott Rudacille and Steven Perry.

The selfless volunteer coaches in the youth soccer league worked hard all year to keep their players active on the field, taught them new skills, reinforced the basics, and made sure they had fun.  Coach Rudacille and Coach Perry accomplished this all while winning the championship.

Despite the loss, the Beach Bums team had a great season, finishing with the same regular season as Progressive, 3-1-1. Beach Bums came up just short despite wonderful play at the net by keeper Ryan Cyrus with five saves in the game.

In the five-game regular season, the Beach Bums team fought hard and put victories on the scoreboard with their talented squad. Julie Baugher, Jasmine Sparks and Lexi Baugher made solid plays for their teams and proved why co-ed youth soccer can be so exciting to play and watch.

Rounding out the Beach Bums soccer family were Tomas Bartos, Hayden Eurice, Collin Bankert, Jackson Rosas, and Oliver Tirpak, each making the fall soccer season a memorable one.

Gulf Drive Café won the single goal game against Tidy MD Cleaning in the 11- to 14-year-old league championship match. In the goal to help his team with the win was Evan Talucci with seven saves in the game.

Talucci’s Tidy counterpart, Emma Raulerson, had five saves to be proud of.

Tommy Baugher scored the lone goal for Gulf Drive Cafe while being coached by his dad, Tom Baugher, and playing alongside his sister, Eve. Dennis Gallager, Carter Eurice, Aidan Gannon and Katelyn Cecil made their critical contributions during the season to get the team to the championship game.

Gulf Drive player Ava Harlan gave it her all with father/coach Gary Harlan helping to further the development of the young Island players.

On the other end of the coin, Tidy MD Cleaning was the slight favorite in the game due to their 3-1-1 record and their roster. Victor Albrecht, usually in goal, helped take his team to the big game.

Frankie Coleman, Caden Quinby, Angelina Albrecht, Jaden Sparks and Cala Ryan rounded out the Tidy MD squad that filled the season with soccer action at The Center’s pitch.

Each of the teams gave it their all, but there could only be two champions last Tuesday night.

Win, lose or draw, all of the players are winners by just getting on the field, playing soccer, being with friends, and living a normal life on the Island with youth co-ed sports.

 Sun Scoreboard

 Tuesday, October 27

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 8- to 10-Year-Old League: Championship Game

Progressive Cabinetry 2

Beach Bums 0

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 8- to 10-Year-Old League: Third Place Game

Miz & Hiz Rustic Creationz 1

Moss Builders 4

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 11- to 14-Year-Old League: Championship Game

Tidy MD Cleaning 0

Gulf Drive Café 1

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 11- to 14-Year-Old League: Third Place Game

Ugly Grouper 5

Slim’s Place 0

Wednesday, October 28

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #6

Slim’s Place (4-0-1) 8

Skinny’s Place (0-5) 2

Blalock Walters (3-1-1) 8

Solid Rock Construction (1-4) 2

Sato Real Estate (4-1) 10

Ugly Grouper (2-3) 5

Signature Granite (3-0-2) 11

Progressive Cabinetry (1-4) 2

Thursday, October 29

Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Week #6

Solid Rock Construction 60

Progressive Cabinetry 40

Sandbar 46

Gulfview Windows and Doors 12

Ugly Grouper 41

Beach Bums 21

Slim’s Place 21

Moss Builders 20

The first game of the night last Tuesday started the action off with a zero-zero regular playtime score. The 8- to 10-year-old co-ed soccer league at The Center is winding down to a close with plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

With a tied score and no time left on the clock, team Moss Builders and team Beach Bums put their best legs to the test in the shootout. Only one team would be victorious.

The scoreless ballgame was not for the lack of trying. Moss Builders’ goalkeeper Xane Flores made five saves in the game, while counterpart Cyrus Ryan had nine stops as the goalie for Beach Bums.

On the penalty kick mark for Beach Bums, Julie Baugher started off the shootout with a goal. Moss Builders’ Mason Moss led off the kicking for his team. His miss was followed by fellow teammates Dylan Sato and Liam McGinnis.

The early scoring start by Beach Bums was short-lived. Teammates Cyrus Ryan, Jackson Rosas and Tomas Bartos could not find the goal as they took their shots alternating with Moss Builders.

Austin Guess took the line, hoping to match the point scored by Baugher. Guess’ shot did not give Moss Builders the goal they needed to tie the single Beach Bums point.

Beach Bums’ Hayden Eurice sealed the deal for his team with a nice shot that was not stopped by the Moss Builders’ goalie to end the game, giving Beach Bums another win.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, October 20

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 8- to 10-Year- Old League

Beach Bums 0 Winners in Shootout

Moss Builders 0

Progressive Cabinetry 6

HSH 1

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 11- to 14-Year-Old League

Slim’s Place 0

Tidy MD 3

Ugly Grouper 0

Gulf Drive Café 3

Wednesday, October 21

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #5

Slim’s Place (4-0-1) 8

Skinny’s Place (0-5) 2

Blalock Walters (3-1-1) 8

Solid Rock Construction (1-4) 2

Sato Real Estate (4-1) 10

Ugly Grouper (2-3) 5

Signature Granite (3-0-2) 11

Progressive Cabinetry (1-4) 2

Thursday, October 22

Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Week #6

Slim’s Place (4-2) 37

Sandbar (4-2) 20

Solid Rock Construction (5-1) 40

Ugly Grouper (2-3) 21

Moss Builders (3-3) 28

Progressive Cabinetry (2-4) 25

Beach Bums (3-3) 30

Gulfview Windows and Doors (0-5) 12

After being shut out last week, the Ugly Grouper adult soccer squad won over Skinny’s Place. Skinny’s Place was hoping to earn their first win of the season, but the hot feet of Chris Scott, Nate Welch and Greg Ross gave Ugly Grouper a win.

The tone for the game was set in the first half of the game and continued early into the second half of play. Tough and aggressive play by both sides put Ross in position to take a penalty kick.

The goalie for the other team, Hayden Brewer, made the stop, sending the soccer ball sailing behind the net.

Taking the corner kick, Ross put the ball in perfect position for another Ugly Grouper goal.

On the kickoff after the Ugly Grouper point, Katie Christenson sent the ball off the leg of opponent Chris Culhane past Ugly Grouper keeper Robb Marshall for an own goal.

After giving Skinny’s Place a goal, Ugly Grouper came back with the seventh goal of the game from a Welch free kick off the goalie.

Despite the goals of Christenson, Chase Diaz and a hat trick by Kevin Bell, Skinny’s Place just could not get the ball past Marshall enough times.

Week five of adult co-ed flag football ended with Sandbar and Solid Rock Construction on top of the leader board with 4-1 records with the Sandbar win in the game that put the number one and two against each other on the gridiron.

Sandbar’s Chase Richardson threw for three touchdowns to the hot hands of Anthony Mannino, ending the game with a total of eight receptions.

On defense, Richardson had two interceptions, one for a touchdown.

Solid Rock’s Danny Murphy and Bri Roberts were the big scorers in the game for their team. Along with an interception, Murphy had six catches in the game including one for a touchdown and two extra points nabs, and one interception.

Roberts continued her offensive success with two touchdown catches for Solid Rock Construction from brother Tim Shaughnessy.

More than midway through the regular season, the Shaughnessy-Roberts duo, along with the patriarch of the team, Mike Shaughnessy, fight for another championship to end the season with their veteran squad team.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, October 13

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 8- to 10-Year-Old League Week #6

Beach Bums (2-1-2) 1

Progressive Cabinetry (3-0-2) 5

Miz & Hiz Biz (0-4-1) 1

HSH (2-3) 3

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 11- to 14-Year-Old League Week #6

Slim’s Place (1-5) 0

Ugly Grouper (3-2-1) 6

Gulf Drive Café (2-0-2) 0

Tidy MD (4-1-1) 1

Wednesday, October 14

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #4

Skinny’s Place (0-4) 6

Ugly Grouper (2-2) 8

Sato Real Estate (3-1) 7

Solid Rock Construction (1-3) 3

Blalock Walters (2-1-1) 9

Progressive Cabinetry (1-3) 1

Signature Granite (2-0-2) 3

Slim’s Place (3-0-1) 3

Thursday, October 15

Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Week #5

Sandbar (4-1) 27

Solid Rock Construction (4-1) 22

Beach Bums (2-3) 41

Progressive Cabinetry (2-3) 14

Ugly Grouper (2-2) 31

Moss Builders (2-3) 30

Slim’s Place (3-2) 26

Gulfview Windows and Doors (0-4) 6

At the end of three weeks of adult co-ed soccer at The Center, Slim’s Place remains undefeated with a shut-out game against Ugly Grouper in the third game of the night.

Seven shots got past Ugly Grouper’s goalkeeper Robb Marshall, in addition to the eight stops he made in the game.

Ryan Moss had two saves for the Slim’s Place team in the 7-0 win.

Four of the Slim’s Place’s squad put points up on the scoreboard. Nick Bouchard had a hat trick and Kevin Roman scored twice, while Brent Moss and Andy Thomson each had single points.

The lead-up games included a 4-3 win for Sato Real Estate against Blalock Walters. With the loss, Blalock closed out week three with a 1-1-1 record.

Signature Granite’s team put another win in the record books with their victory against Solid Rock Construction. Olsin Crean had three goals, with additional points by Zach Leib and Zoran Kolega.

Connor Bystrom had the lone goal for Solid Rock in the team’s loss.

Progressive Cabinetry’s Danial Adan and Skinny’s Jonathan Aragon both had four goals for their teams in the last game of the night. Progressive pulled out the win with additional goals by Keith Mahoney and Andrew Sullivan.

AJ Colagiovanni put the soccer ball in the goal for an additional point for Skinny’s. The win was the first of the season for Progressive to close out another night of Island soccer.

Sun Scoreboard

Tuesday, October 6

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 8- to 10-Year-Old League Week #5

Beach Bums (2-0-2) 0

Progressive Cabinetry (2-0-2) 0

Moss Builders (2-1-1) 2

HSH (1-3) 0

Youth Co-Ed Soccer – 11- to 14-Year-Old League Week #5

Slim’s Place (1-4) 1

Gulf Drive Café (2-1-2) 0

Tidy MD (3-1-1) 0

Ugly Grouper (2-2-1) 8

Wednesday, October 7

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #3

Sato Real Estate (2-1) 4

Blalock Walters (1-1-1) 3

Solid Rock Construction (1-2) 1

Signature Granite (2-0-1) 5

Ugly Grouper (1-2) 0

Slim’s Place (3-0) 7

Progressive Cabinetry (1-2) 8

Skinny’s Place (0-3) 5

Thursday, October 8

Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Week #4

Beach Bums (1-3) 21

Moss Builders (2-2) 38

Progressive Cabinetry (2-2) 33

Slim’s Place (2-2) 15

Gulfview Windows and Doors (0-3) 21

Solid Rock Construction (4-0) 40

Ugly Grouper (1-2) 14

Sandbar (3-1) 33