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CHAMPIONS 3 STRAIGHT
SEASONS!!
Firecrackers Saturday Complete Third Straight Undefeated Season
22
June 2006
David Ahlgren
Back in the Spring
of 2005, a ragtag group of guys gathered together on the soccer field to
play what was basically a pick-up game. Silver socks and jerseys, along
with shimmery black shorts were passed out at the field as the group of
guys said their hellos. Since that time, players have come and gone,
some players have made additions to their families, and others have lost
teeth. The team name was even retired. A couple things however, have
remained constant: The Firecrackers are a great group of friends, and
they just don’t lose!
Saturday’s
championship match pitted two very formidable foes against each other.
On one hand, you have a sprite upstart of a team, made especially of
players designed to take out the old and bring in the new. The Sting
were even able to lure former Firecrackers players away in hopes of
creating a team to usher in a new dynasty. On the other, the
Firecrackers had been through the transition of having their team name
retired, players retire, and had to fill many voids quickly. Many
players even disappeared during the season to go on honeymoons, tropical
trips with their… uhhmm, “significant friends”, or reconstructive facial
surgery.
The Sting: Formed to
Finally beat The Firecrackers
When the
Firecrackers arrived to the game, the fields were already open and the
entire Sting team was warming up. They were practicing set pieces,
taking shots, passing, and really working up a sweat! This kind of
dedication is enough to make any team a little nervous. The Sting were
looking to dethrone the champions and were taking things very
seriously. Through a miscommunication, some of the Firecrackers even
showed up after the starting whistle had been blown. Amid all the
confusion for the ‘Crackers, the game began.
Jeremy strolls up to the
game, apparently upset no one called to wake him up for the 3:30 kickoff
Everything started
well enough, with both teams trading possession, passing well, and
really opening up the field. Playing on such a field really elevates
the play, because the ball bounces where you expect it to, and there are
a lot less mis-hits. Defenders are also less inclined to slide tackle
because of how the turf grates your skin off. Gonzo found this out the
hard way after having his legs swept out from underneath him, and now he
has two scabs covering both his entire kneecaps!
Gonzo, now sporting his war
wounds, shields the ball from Dan Friske
Strong defensive
maneuvers were made all across the back. Aram has began perfecting the
art of pick-pocketing forwards—knowing exactly when to stick his foot in
and steal the ball away. Garret has also been a great addition to the
team, and surely felt at home playing at Valley, his home field in high
school. Returning from a sabbatical, Pete Murray managed to keep all
his teeth through the game, although he used his neck at one point to
stop a free kick. As players from the Sting helped dislodge the rubber
fragments from the field out of his neck, he choked out through gasps
that he wouldn’t try that again. Ryan Mills and Antonio “I play where I
want” Favela also denied all attempts the Sting could muster in the
first half. Any shots that were taken were blocked by goalkeeper Matt
Favela. Although some saves did not require a dive, he played to the
cameras, and gave the fans their money’s worth.
Matt Favela makes one of
many great saves during the game.
About 25 minutes
into the first half, midfielder Justin Basanese found himself breaking
down the sideline with the ball at his feet. With the prowess of
Eddie Lewis or David Beckham, Justin
played a great ball across the mouth of the goal to a charging Josh
Patton. Patton stretched his leg out as far as he could and put the
ball in the back of the net. And just like that, it was 1-0. The Sting
kept pressing, and Matt kept making saves through the first half.
Josh Patton Celebrates
after scoring the first of his two goals
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