O-30 HANG ON

POST THRILLING VICTORY

Another nail-biter & yet more gray hair. These kinds of games aren't healthy.....for spectators! The games versus the Cobras are always pretty predictable: low scoring & physical. In the last four matches versus the Cobras, SSL has posted two wins & two ties. The wins were by a single goal & the ties were 2-2 & 3-3. Tight defense & two teams that don't particularly care for each other. This match was no different.

The match was tight, end to end, vocal  & physical from the outset. Tempers were frayed at the center-off & it deteriorated from there. In spite of the pushing, shoving & name-calling, SSL, on the strength of a great run & finish from Guillermo Cortez, took an early 1-0 lead. That lead was short lived.

The Cobras continued to defend & counter, which is the indoor model they use, & struck paydirt on a very good shot from the right side, just outside the box. But on the ensueing center-off, SSL pushed forward quickly & as a result of some good ball movement, found Edin Coralic streaking down the middle where he finished a one-timer, giving back the lead, 2-1 to SSL. However, this game was far, far from over.

At the interval, the score remained 2-1 in favor of SSL. SSL continued to press the attack, moving the ball smartly out of the back, creating multiple scoring opportunities, but unfortunately, missing on two or three point blank chances. However, they continued to move the ball, continually creating chances, & keeping the Cobras on their heels. On one of these chances, a quick thinking Bernard Anic upped the score to 3-1. As a result of the SSL pressure, Anic received the ball from the left corner. As he moved toward the top of the box to take the shot, he was fouled. Thinking quickly, he put the ball down & let go with a bomb that bent from right to left & into the bottom right hand corner of the goal before the defenders could even react. Just like that SSL took a two goal lead. It appeared they hand the game in hand. They didn't!

Say what you will about the Cobras, there is no quit in that team. They continued to play, continued to attack & as a result of their persistancy, collected their second goal. Not to worry. SSL still had a one goal lead at 3-2 & time was short. Shortly after the Cobra goal, a significant play took place. At the time it didn't seem extremely important, however, as it turned out, it was.

Tony Meadows carried the ball out of the back & into the offensive end. After some ball movement, Meadows received the ball back. As he was taking the shot, again there was foul. Just as Anic did earlier, Meadows placed the ball, & again like Anic before him, quickly took the shot & again, bent the ball beautifully into the bottom right hand corner of the goal for a comfortable 4-2 lead. The SSL side was breathing easier. It was short-lived.

With just 3 minutes left on the clock, the Cobras, on a bit of a quirky play out of a scramble just to the left of the goal, was able to sneak a ball past the keeper, closing the SSL lead to 4-3. The final moments of the game were hectic. There were two, two minute penalties charged to the Cobras as well as a red card & ultimately, three of the Cobra players were sent off. As I said, it was a nail-biter. SSL was able to hang on, withstanding a final pressure-packed minute to lock up a 4-3 win & retain thier hold on first place.

But the defense was the game. On three different occasions, keeper David Shelton made saves on point-blank break-aways. Will Suk, called on to play defense in the absence of regulars Mike Hogan (injured) & Ivan Bodul (work), turned in a spectacular evening, defending as well as often contributing to the offense, Additionally, the solid defensive work of Sladan Kurtovic, Casey Walsh & Tony Meadows, limited the Cobras to few shots while at the same time, creating beautiful thru-balls for the forwards & mid-fielders.

All in all, a more than satisfactory performance against a very good opponent. However, it was not without its thrills, & chills. By virtue of the win, SSL strengthened its hold on first place by 3 points over second place SoCo Utd with two to play.

From this point, the SSL destiny is in thier own hands. Next Thursday @ 8:50 of field #2, they'll face a familiar foe, PLS Zoom, whom they defeated 7-4 in game #1 this session, but who have played much better of late. Following that match, they'll face the following week, also for the 2nd time this session, the always dangerous Freaky Shakra on field #3 @ 7:00 pm. In their last match a couple weeks back, SSL prevailed in a very difficult test, 6-4. So, win the next two, they're in. Lose, well, see you next session. Hope to see you Thursday. Thanks for reading.

 

	SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-30
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	JAYSON ADELSBERGER		4	6	0	12
	DAVID HIPPERSON		4	4	3	11
	GUILLERMO CORTEZ		5	3	2	8
	IVAN BODUL		3	3	0	6
	BERNARD ANIC		5	2	1	5
	RONNIE ROWDEN		5	1	1	3
	JOHNNY PENS		5	1	1	3
	EDIN CORALIC		5	1	1	3
	DAVID SHELTON		5	0	2	2
	TONY MEADOWS		5	1	0	2
	CASEY WALSH		5	0	1	1
	WILL SUK		3	0	1	1
	MIKE HOGAN		2	0	0	0
	SLADAN KURTOVIC		3	0	0	0

Schedule

Date			Location
Thu 8/13 8:00 PM	W 7-4	Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 2
Thu 8/20 10:00 PM	W 3-2	at Sinclair & Rush	Concord, Field 1
Thu 8/27 10:15 PM	L 2-5	at Soco Utd (BLUE)	Concord, Field 3
Thu 9/3 11:20 PM	W 6-4	Freaky Shakra(WHITE/BLUE)	Concord, Field 2
Thu 9/10 7:50 PM	W 4-3	CD Cobras(BLUE)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 9/17 8:50 PM	50 minutes	at Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 2
Thu 9/24 7:00 PM	50 minutes	at Freaky Shakra(WHITE/BLUE)	Concord, Field 3

O-40 BOUNCES BACK FROM LAST WEEKS LOSS

EVEN RECORD AT 2-2

Following last weeks forgettable loss, it would be easy to assume that SSL would follow that up with yet another disappointing performance. As it was, at the outset, that's exactly the appearance they gave. Early in the first half, they found themselves down 2-0. That score has followed both they & the SSL O-30 team around for the past month or so.

The O-40 side found themselves down 0-2 to both the Lampert & Vetta Red teams, prior to this early 0-2 deficit versus Vetta Blue. The SSL O-30 side, for their part, were down 0-2 in 3 of their first 4 matches as well. However, in spite of these poor starts, the SSL sides were able to win 4 of those 6 matches. Certainly not the way you want to start a game. Obviously, this trend needs to cease, or it will make for a long session.

In this game, however, the SSL side hitched its wagon to the offense provided by Gianni Pens & his three goals on the evening. He now leads the team with 10. The fourth goal of the evening, one of the spectacular variety, came off the foot of James Ahearn. Ahearn collected the ball in the defensive end, raced the length of the field, slashed by a flatfooted defender, & fired a ball quickly past a startled keeper.

On the strength of those four tallies, & sturdy defense, SSL held on & notched a much needed win. Regarding the defense, substitue goal keeper Steve Rankin filled in for an excused absence by John Kozuscek & turned in a terrific performance. He limited the opponents opportunities by pouncing on shots & loose balls, & not giving up any dangerous 2nd & 3rd chances. That defense, combined with an opportunistic offense, was just enough to bring home a winner & help erase the memories of the previous weeks painfull loss.

Next up for the O-40 side will be a difficult test. Looming on the horizon is the Lampert side, currently occupying first place by a single point over the SSL side. Adding some excitement to this match is the fact that it is the first time the SSL side will participate in the new Vetta Initiative, called "Flex Scheduling". In this format, a team can find themselves playing their league match on another day of the week. This idea is supposed to avert byes. We shall see. In any event, it should be interesting to see how players react when called on to play thier league game on another night. I'll keep you posted on that one. In any case, the match versus Lampert will be this Wednesday @ 7pm. So, stay tuned. Thanks for reading. 

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	JOHNNY PENS		4	10	3	23
	STEVE RANKIN		4	2	2	6
	BOB JANKO		4	1	3	5
	CHRIS CARPENTER		3	2	0	4
	MIKE HARTSOOK		3	1	1	3
	JOE BAER		1	1	1	3
	JIM AHEARN		3	1	0	2
	DOMINIC ANIC		2	0	1	1
	WALLY STOKES		3	0	1	1
	TIM KELLEY		2	0	0	0
	JOHN KOZUSCEK		2	0	0	0
	KEN BRIGDEN		1	0	0	0
	MARTY ISSA		0	0	0	0
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG		0	0	0	0
	TODD LORETTA		0	0	0	0

FC ST. LOUIS JOURNEYS TO SHOW-ME

LOSES IN BRONZE

For the 3rd year in a row, the FC St. Louis side traveled to beautiful, & normally scorching hot, Columbia, Missouri, to participate in the Over-50 Mens bracket of the annual Show-Me Games fesitval last month. Under the guidence of the Vitale brothers, Nick & Steve, the previous two years found the FC STL side playing well but losing in the finals, taking the silver medal. This year, with a re-vamped line-up they hoped would get them over the hump, they aspired to take the gold. However, fate & the soccer gods worked against them, & it was not to be.

Before ever leaving St. Louis, two of their valuable defenders, Ed Dwyer & Mike Hogan, went down with injuries & didn't make the trip. These two injuries happened so late, they were unable to make any roster additions. This greatly hampered their effort & depth in the tourney. Additionally, they lost yet another player, Jim Ahearn in the first match & Nick Vitale in the 3rd match, to injuries. It just was not their year.

However, things started well. In their first match @ 10am on a beautiful, 75 degree, overcast day, versus a team from Maryville Illinois, they faced many players from the Granite City indoor soccer facility, Soccer For Fun. It wasn't fun for that side, as they absorbed a 7-2 defeat. FC STL was off to a good start. However, that all changed the next match.

Facing a team comprised mostly of players from south St. Louis & captained by John Brensic, FC STL suffered a 5-1 loss in the afternoon match. In the match, short-handed from the start, & facing a fully stacked southsider squad, they just didn't have a deep enough bench to counteract the wave upon wave of fresh substites the southsiders continued to throw at them. At the half it was 1-1, but in the 2nd, the southsiders ran past FC STL for another 4 goals, posting a convincing 5-1 win. Some of the southsiders were Bob Pollihan, Ike Bibas & Jake Heilich.

The 3rd match on Sunday morning, again featured unlikely Missouri August weather, somewhere in the high 70's & low 80's. The opponent this day for FC STL was a familiar foe, U City. Two years ago, FC STL faced U City in the championship match, only to lose 2-1 in penalty shots. Losing that match 1-0 late, they scored the tying goal with only a minute or two left in regulation. However, in the Show-Me, they don't play overtime, they go directly to penalty kicks. They were outscored 3-1, resulting in a 2-1 loss, taking the silver medal.

On this day, however, each team, having one loss apiece, would be playing for the bronze. Once again, FC STL fell to U City 1-0, this time in regulation. Unfortunately for FC STL, late in the first half they lost yet another player, Steve Vitale, to an injury, hampering their substitution even further & they just didn't have enough left in the tank to pull back even from the U City first half tally. They'd have to settle for fourth.

However, a great time was had by all & hopefully next year, they'll have a full roster to take to the Show-Me. It might make a difference.

In the thrilling championship match, featuring the Southsiders versus a north side team lead by Ed Cody, the north side team prevailed 2-1 in exciting fashion.

Much like FC STL's championship match two years ago where they lost in penalty kicks, this match would end much the same way. The Southsiders scored in the first half, but couldn't get any add-on tallys. Late in the match, after applying heavy offensive pressure the whole 2nd half, the Northsiders scored late in the match, knotting the game at one & forcing penalty kicks. In the exciting penalty sequence, the Northsiders outlasted the Southsiders, 3-1, taking a 2-1 decision & the goal medal.

But it was a fun weekend for everyone with beautiful weather, great camaradie & excellent soccer. Everyone looks forward to next year, every year. Thanks for reading.

First Row: Rich Dierkes; Steve Vitale; Dave Braun; Nick Vitale & Paul Cummins.

Second Row: Dave Zanaboni: John Muehlhauser; Joe Baer; Ed Muehlhauser; Chris Coyle; Wally Stokes; Jim Ahearn & Jack Coleman.

O-40 FALTERS AFTER LAST WEEKS BIG WIN

LACKLUSTER EFFORT VERSUS VETTA RED

On the heels of a magnificent 10-2 win last week versus Vintage Utd., the SSL O-40 side delivered a poor effort, much like their week one 4-2 loss at the hands of the Lampert side. This time the opponent was Vetta Red, but the outcome was the same. Another 4-2 loss.

A sluggish effort combined with an anemic offense will usually result in a loss. It did! Even though SSL had the majority of the possession by a great margin, they could not convert those opportunities into goals. Even following the ejection of the Red keeper, (more on that later), SSL could not break through. This was a very strange match indeed.

Even though SSL was forcing the attack, Red scored first on a counter. Later, as tempers flared & the match became more heated, (this match, after all, was a World Cup final, was it not?), on a quirky play, John Kozuscek, the SSL keeper, inadvertantly collided with a Red forward. For that indescretion he was awarded two consecutive 2 minute penaltys & Red was additionally awarded a penalty kick, which they converted for a 2-0 lead. SSL put that unfortunate turn of events behind them & then went on to kill off both the penaltys.

SSL continued to attack, but this was an uphill battle. However, on goals by Gianni Pens & Steve Rankin, they drew even @ 2 at the interval. So, in spite of a bit of adversity, SSL found themselves back in the match at the start of the 2nd, with a great opportunity to take the lead & the win, based on their dominating play to that point. It was not to be.

Even though the match leaned heavily in the favor of SSL for the 2nd half, they could not find the back of the net. As we all know, if you can't score more than one or two goals in an indoor game, victorys are few. That was the case in this match & it cost SSL. Late in the 2nd half, on a clearing ball from deep in the SSL end, a Red attacker picked it off & immediately deposited it into the back of the net for a 3-2 Red advantage. One they would not relinquish.

Later in the half, following some additional "penalty area dancing", the Red keeper was given a 2 minute penalty for his physical play. He was not happy. Not happy at all. At this point, he entered into a shouting match with the referee, which escalated into an ejection. Then, he really got angry. Screaming at the top of his lungs at the referee, he was sent off. All the way off the field, up the stairs & across the balcony, the keeper continued his harangue towards the aggravated refereee. Well, as you know, these world cup matches result in heightened emotions.

In any case, SSL could not take advantage of the substitue goalie & still could not find the back of the net, getting shut out for the remainder of the match, suffering an ugly, lethargic, 4-2 defeat. Perhaps the icing on the cake was the 4th Red goal. SSL, pushing the attack, were all in the Red end when the Red keeper collected the ball & thru it the length of the field & into the SSL goal. Exclamation point!!! That pretty well summarized this match.

Now, saddled with a 1-2 record, they have their work cut out for them. They'll have to face the first place Lampert side in two of the remaining four matches. If they are to make a run at the championship, they'll certainly have to improve on offense. As mentioned earlier, you won't win many matches scoring only two goals.

Next up will be Vetta Blue next Tuesday @ 8:35. Hope you can join us. Thanks for reading.

SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-40
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	JOHNNY PENS		3	7	2	16
	STEVE RANKIN		3	2	2	6
	BOB JANKO		3	1	3	5
	CHRIS CARPENTER		2	2	0	4
	MIKE HARTSOOK		2	1	1	3
	JOE BAER		1	1	1	3
	DOMINIC ANIC		2	0	1	1
	KEN BRIGDEN		1	0	0	0
	WALLY STOKES		2	0	0	0
	JIM AHEARN		2	0	0	0
	TIM KELLEY		2	0	0	0
	MARTY ISSA		0	0	0	0
	JOHN KOZUSCEK		2	0	0	0
	STEVE SCHLICHTIG		0	0	0	0
	TODD LORETTA		0	0	0	0

Date			Location
Tue 8/18 8:35 PM	L 2-4	Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 8/25 7:45 PM	W 10-2	Vintage Utd 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 9/1 7:45 PM	L 2-4	at Vetta 40+ RED TEAM	Concord, Field 3
Tue 9/8 8:35 PM	50 minutes	at Vetta 40+ BLUE	Concord, Field 3
Wed 9/16 7:00 PM	50 minutes	Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 9/22 8:35 PM	50 minutes	at Vintage Utd 40+	Concord, Field 3
Tue 9/29 7:45 PM	50 minutes	at Lampert 40+	Concord, Field 3

 O-30 BOUNCES BACK FROM UGLY LOSS

POSTS HUGE WIN OVER FREAKY SHAKRA

Following last weeks horrible 5-2 loss to SoCo Utd., even though SSL sported a 2-1 record after that match, the soccer future looked bleak. The game versus SoCo was ugly. For the 3rd week in a row, they found themselves down 2-0 early in the first half. However, this time they could not recover.

Unforgiving field #3, always a nemisis for SSL, would not relent. The harder they worked, the behinder they got. They could never recover, and in the process, proceeded to implode, leading one to think that there may be no soccer tomorrows, in spite of their decent record. There are losses & then there are bad losses. This, was a bad loss. The way it looked following the SoCo match, it may well have been all she wrote regarding any possible return to the championship. But what a difference a week makes, and a win.

The match this week versus always formidble Freaky Shakra, last sessions championship finalist, would be no easy task. If SSL played this week as they did last week versus SoCo, well, it would be a long, long session.

This match started out the same way the previous 3 matches started. The opponent scored first. Not a prescription for success. However, SSL righted the ship, scored the next two goals & managed a precarious 2-1 lead at the interval. But, there was still a long way to go. Freaky is a goal scoring machine. Last session they were 2nd in the league in scoring with 44, only one behind Sinclair & Rush's 45. If SSL had a relapse & played as they did last week, that 2-1 lead they forged in the first half would vanish quickly. That would not happen.

SSL came out flying in the 2nd half, outscoring Freaky 4-2, posting a 6-4 win in an extremely difficult match. Freaky continued to press the attack thruout the half, only to be turned back by excellent defense by Casey Walsh, Tony Meadows, Sladan Kurtovic, Ivan Bodul & Joe Baer. Not to be overlooked was the incredible play of keeper David Shelton, who made at least 3 point-blank saves as well as turning back a break-away. This great defense conspired to hold the potent Freaky attack to two 2nd half goals, while the offense was depositing 4 of their own on the other end, padding the 2-1 half-time score.

Excellent offensive efforts were turned in by Ivan Bodul, with two rocket shots off great moves, Guillermo Cortez with two excellent contributions of his own on great individual effort, Gianni Pens with a 2nd effort finish in the box while being double-teamed & perhaps the best goal of the match from Jason Adelsberger. He collected the ball in his defensive end, raced  the length of the field, & while tightly marked, from the right side of the field just outside the box, let go with a right-footed shot that exploded into the back of the goal, past a flat-footed, startled keeper. The offense was back, with a bullet.

Continuing their fine play & pressing the attack for the remainder of the match, SSL carried the 6-4 lead to the finish, posting their 3rd win in 4 matches, vaulting them back into first place, with 3 matches to go. However, as luck would have it, SSL will face Freaky one more time. They will face each other in the sessions final game on their favorite field, #3. So, stay tuned. It could be interesting.

Next up will be the always pesky CD Cobras @ 7:50 on field #1. Hope to see you there. Again, thanks for reading.

	SOCCER ST. LOUIS STATS O-30
	NAME		GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS
	JAYSON ADELSBERGER		4	6	0	12
	DAVID HIPPERSON		3	4	3	11
	IVAN BODUL		3	3	0	6
	GUILLERMO CORTEZ		4	2	2	6
	RONNIE ROWDEN		4	1	1	3
	BERNARD ANIC		4	1	1	3
	JOHNNY PENS		4	1	1	3
	EDIN CORALIC		4	0	1	1
	DAVID SHELTON		4	0	1	1
	CASEY WALSH		4	0	1	1
	TONY MEADOWS		4	0	0	0
	WILL SUK		2	0	0	0
	MIKE HOGAN		2	0	0	0
	SLADAN KURTOVIC		2	0	0	0

Date			Location
Thu 8/13 8:00 PM	W 7-4	Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 2
Thu 8/20 10:00 PM	W 3-2	at Sinclair & Rush	Concord, Field 1
Thu 8/27 10:15 PM	L 2-5	at Soco Utd (BLUE)	Concord, Field 3
Thu 9/3 11:20 PM	W 6-4	Freaky Shakra(WHITE/BLUE)	Concord, Field 2
Thu 9/10 7:50 PM	50 minutes	CD Cobras(BLUE)	Concord, Field 1
Thu 9/17 8:50 PM	50 minutes	at Zoom Motors	Concord, Field 2
Thu 9/24 7:00 PM	50 minutes	at Freaky Shakra(WHITE/BLUE)	Concord, Field 3

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