Close matches set stage for CHYSC U-14 championship
Ed. note: The following is a recap of last weekend's U-14 intramural playoff games.
Two hard fought soccer matches marked the opening round of the Chestnut Hill Youth Sports Club U-14 intramural playoffs on Nov. 13. Both were decided by two goals. In the first game, Liverpool prevailed 2-0 over Manchester United. From the outset, Liverpool's potent offense, led by Zack King, kept relentless pressure on Manchester. However, Manchester defenders, Valerie Bannan, Axel Tuveson, Helen Spencer-Wallace, Stewart Campbell and David Preiss, with some great, fully outstretched saves by goalie, Eric Herrara, held off Liverpool for most of the first half. Just when Manchester's offense had established some presence by moving the ball down to the Liverpool end, Liverpool broke through for the first goal on a great cross from Zack King to Isaac Roberts.
After the second half opened with additional chances for both squads, Isaac Roberts converted again for Liverpool's second goal. With the score still 2-0 late in the game, Manchester did not give up and repeatedly put the ball into scoring position, but could not seem to get off any clean shots on goal because Liverpool's defenders, Jared Kornfeld and Sam Reitzes, stymied every run and Liverpool goalie, Joey Killian, scooped up every shot that made it past the defenders.
A surprisingly strong Arsenal club upset Newcastle United 3-1 in an evenly matched contest to capture the other spot in the second round. After the first Arsenal goal scored early in the game by Eddie Moman, assisted by Ayanna Pitts, Newcastle found their bearings. The Newcastle offense had their chances, working the ball deep into Arsenal territory only to be foiled again and again by defenders. Late in the game, down by 3-0, Newcastle found the fortitude to come back, pressuring Arsenal's defense and getting back one goal on a strong shot by Sam Ebert, but it was not enough to overcome Arsenal's solid play.
The second round on Nov. 14 featured two very different matches, a lopsided contest taken by the first place Tottenham Hotspurs over Arsenal 4-0, and a closely played second match in which the Bolton Wanderers outlasted a determined Liverpool squad 2-0.
The Tottenham offense was overwhelming. Tottenham's strikers, Gabe Baker and Brendan Dwyer, had a goal apiece in the first half, assisted by Greg York and Eric Bumbaca, respectively, while Greg York, scored two early in the second half, squashing any hope Arsenal had of coming back.
In the final game of the day, the Bolton Wanderers proved more persistent, scoring two unanswered goals in the second half, the first by Crosby Harris and the second a bullet into the upper right corner of the net by Godfrey Baldez on a perfect cross from Zandy Schreiber.
The Tottenham Hotspurs and Bolton Wanderers will meet on Nov. 20 at 2:15 p.m. at the Philadelphia Cricket Club for the U-14 championship. The championship game will be preceded by the third place contest between Arsenal and Liverpool at 1 p.m.
More Intramural results
U-11 -- The U-11 Intramural league played its initial playoff games on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend setting up the championship game scheduled for 12 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the CHA fields between the Metrostars and the Clash.
On Saturday, the Mutiny defeated the Galaxy while the Clash defeated DC United 2-1 in double overtime. Peter McCall scored the Clash's goal in regulation time and the winning goal was scored by Alex McCall.
In Sunday's semifinal matches, the Metrostars capped a great season with a win over the Mutiny while the Clash defeated the Revolution 4-0. In both games the Clash had solid goal keeping from Andrew Hamilton.
On Saturday, the Mutiny bested the Galaxy 4-2. The Metrostars beat the Mutiny 1-0 the following day.
U-17 -- The U-17 Intramural league began its playoff games this past weekend. On Saturday, the Wildcats defeated the Kixx 3-1. On Sunday, the Wildcats beat the Burn 3-2 while the Earthquakes beat the Fury in double overtime 2-1.
The Earthquakes goals were scored by Eric Fagan and Kirk Finkel while the Clash's goal was scored by Evan Cantu-Hertzler. Great goal keeping was provided by Evan O'Toole for the Fury and by Ari Kietzman for the Earthquakes.
Goals for the Wildcats over the weekend were scored by Zach Porges, Ben Babcock, Andy Tate, Carlos Cortez and Phil Thomas. Jon Bass and Aviv Bridge led the Wildcats defense while Ben Gavin anchored the midfield. David Bardfield and Alon Gur provided solid goalkeeping for the Wildcats. Jake Kring scored the Kixx goal.