The No. 5 Sting and No. 2 Mutiny met under the lights on a brisk Thursday night to decide the championship of the grades 5 and 6 Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department soccer league.
STING players, from left, Denny Young, Madison Postell and Casey Lovely and coach Brad Boyles cheer their team on during Thursday’s championship soccer match. The Mutiny came out on top, 1-0.
The game was played on the lighted field at Riverside Park in front of a large crowd of supporters on both sides.
The Sting, looking to continue their Cinderella ride through the playoffs, was in control in the opening minutes. Strikers Bryce Smith and Madison Postell tested the Mutiny defenders early and often, using some great passing to create quality-scoring chances. Mutiny goalie Pat Cash was aggressive in the goal, making multiple saves and diving after loose balls. He was aided in front by halfbacks Emma Beaulieu and Ethan Clark who was able to tap loose balls away from would be attackers. The Mutiny was lucky to head into intermission in a scoreless game, having had the Sting throw everything at them but the kitchen sink.
The second half seemed to bring new life to the Mutiny. In a role reversal of sorts, it was the front line of Michael Mahon, Abigail L. Shaw, and Josiah Morse of the Mutiny constantly working the ball into the penalty area of the Sting, looking to take the lead. Defenders Regan Nelson and Victoria Williamson were a huge asset to Grant Bridges, the patrolman between the pipes for the Sting.
The game remained tied until a foul midway through the half resulted into a free kick just in front of the midfield line for the Mutiny. Mutiny marking back Devin Grant lofted the ball into a crowded box, hoping to find an open teammate. The ball was cleared out of harm’s way, but just momentarily, as it rolled right back to Grant. He zipped a quick pass to Morse at the top of the box. Morse settled the ball, then turned and sent a laser of a shot that snuck just inside the right post into the back of the net. Defenders Shelby Shaw and Caleb Page of the Mutiny helped the goal stand up as the Mutiny held on for the 1-0 win and a championship victory.
The No. 1 Crew and No. 5 Sting met in the semifinals last Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Crew struck first thanks to the hustle of Mandy Graham, who ran down the sideline to gain control of the ball on the right. She sent a laser shot in low, skipping through the mud and rattling the back of the net.
Denny Young emerged from a cluster of players at midfield with the ball on his foot, looking to get the equalizer for the Sting. He managed to do just that, cutting the ball to the left of the goal before sliding it back into the right side mesh of the goal. Graham and Gavin Kelley used great teamwork and passing to try to put the Crew back on top. They created some great chances, but all were turned away by the defense of Regan Nelson and Caleb Desmond. The half ended at one-all as both teams went into the intermission looking for ways to solve the other’s defense.
The Sting pep talk worked as they struck paydirt less than a minute into the second half. Young once again was able to sneak past the defense, this time being set up off a pass from Bryce Smith. The next 10 minutes the two teams played to a stand still as a steady drizzle quickly turned the contest into Mud Bowl 2009. Issac Devine and Madison Postell of the Sting and Shaye McHatten and Khasen Lowe of the Crew battled back and forth to give their team an edge; the Sting trying to put the game out of reach and the Crew desperate to tie things up.
The Sting got their wish answered when a throw-in from Young deep in the Crew territory deflected off a Crew defender into the goal, giving the Sting the 3-1 advantage. The score would stay the same through the end of the game as Nick Bartlett and the rest of the Sting defense turned away all Crew advances.
The Clash and Mutiny collided in the other semifinal that same evening. Mother Nature did her part to slow down the pace of the game as the combination of mud and rain significantly hindered the speed and quickness of both sides.
The Clash took on the offensive early as talented front liners Alex Brewer and Bradley Kinney applied the early pressure deep in the Mutiny defensive third. Luckily for the Mutiny the trio of Shelby Shaw, Caleb Page, and Devin Grant were up to the task in front of keeper Pat Cash as the Clash couldn’t get an open look in the opening minutes.
Kinney was able to eventually break through. A misplay by the defense left the ball at the top of the penalty area. Kinney blasted it into the net to put the Clash up, 1-0. The lead would prove to be short lived, however, as the Mutiny stormed down the field, poised to get the goal back. Josiah Morse was able to put the Mutiny on the board as the ball rolled right to him in front of the goal. He knuckled the ball through the crowd and into the goal.
This gave the Mutiny new life as Morse, Abigail L. Shaw, and Grace Player seemed to be rejuvenated by the goal. The threesome was able to apply continuous pressure in front of the Clash goal, resulting in a corner kick. Morse was able to curve the ball through the crowd and into the goal to vault the Mutiny into the half holding the 2-1 advantage.
The second half turned into a classic battle in the trenches, as the midfields of both team wouldn’t allow the ball into their defensive area. Skyler McAtee and Michael Mahon tightened the reins for the Mutiny while Noah Kinney and Wyatt Kennedy spearheaded the Clash attack. The game ended with no further scoring opportunities as the Mutiny prevailed 2-1 to set up a championship match up with the Sting.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
MUTINY teammates Abigail L. Shaw, left, and Grace Player have some fun on the bench during Thursday’s Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department grades 5-6 soccer final. Their team prevailed, 1-0.
