Wednesday, June 27, 2012
With less than a month remaining before the Super-20 League Finals begin in Bradenton, Florida, teams are riding on the backs of standout performances to push them toward the top of their respective division standings.
Stephanie Ribeiro and Jacqueline Gallagher
MPS Renegades S20 Women
Gallagher scored two goals and added an assist and Ribeiro recorded two goals and two assists in a 6-2 win against New England Division rival New York Elite FC on June 19.
The game started evenly with New York getting the better of the chances early. Once the game settled, MPS began to take control and created chances of its own. Scout Benson gave the Renegades the lead with an unassisted goal, striking the ball high and out of the reach of the Eilte goalkeeper.
The second goal came shortly after as Dani Cremmen placed a shot in the top corner from 25 yards. MPS took control of the game by adding a third before halftime, Benson again beating her defender to the end line and pulling back a cross for Gallagher to make a smart run between her defender and the ball to calmly finish.
Even with the three-goal lead at the half, the game was never out of reach for New York Elite. Within 14 minutes of the second half the New York club had pulled two goals back and continued to pile on the pressure. MPS struggled to match the opposition’s newfound tempo.
After a few adjustments, the game became more even as MPS began to take control again. The fourth MPS goal came from Ribeiro, who received the ball, spun her defender, and released an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. The scoring was not done yet, however, and neither was Ribeiro. She claimed the Renegades’ fifth of the game and her second of the night on a delightful pinpoint cross from Gallagher, who beat her defender out wide. Ribeiro powered home a header at the back post to put MPS up by three.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching Stephanie for almost four years and she is a special player,” MPS Coach Lee Billiard said. “I have not seen many better than her when she is on form. She could have scored a few more; she was a real handful for New York every time she got the ball. She is technically gifted, has an amazing sense of creativity, and a great soccer brain. She can turn a game around with a moment of brilliance and she was involved in everything.
“New York Elite decided to double-up on her, which opened up a lot of space for my other players who are also very dangerous in the final third. Stephanie is a talented player; I am just glad she is on my team and that I do not have to coach against her.”
After the combination of Gallagher setting up Ribeiro, Ribeiro returned the favor. As she received the ball at the halfway line, Gallagher timed a run behind the Elite defenders and was hit with a perfect pass. She finished comfortably and the Renegades left with a 6-2 victory.
“Jackie has started to hit some form at a key time for us,” Billiard said. “Whenever she had the ball she looked threatening. She beat her defender and put in amazing crosses every time she had it. Not only does she have great speed, technical ability, and delivery from wide areas, but she has now started to add goals to her game. All of that makes her a very dangerous player, which showed in the game.
“She works very hard all the time at practice, during games. I am delighted she got her goals and assists [on Tuesday], she deserved it based on her performance.”
Timothy Mulgrew
FASA S20 Men
In another 6-2 victory, Mulgrew scored two goals and recorded an assist against the Maryland Rush Super-20 team on Wednesday.
CJ Corey opened the scoring for FASA midway through the first half with a strike from 22 yards. FASA did not hold the lead for long as Maryland evened the score shortly after. The back-and-forth game continued with each team scoring again, before Mulgrew got his first of the game from a header to put FASA up 3-2.
FASA continued to pressure Maryland and got goals from Kyle Emerick and Eric Boggs, as well as Mulgrew’s and Corey’s second.
“[It] was a complete team effort,” Coach Adam Spinelli said. “In the first half we made it difficult on ourselves by conceding two goals. Our team did a great job refocusing at half time and coming out strong in the second half to regain the lead. I am extremely proud of how this team has come back after a rough start to the year. Hopefully we can continue to improve.
“With players like Timi, we have a great chance to close out the season very strong. Timi is a fantastic player; he gives everything he has for his teammates. He is a joy to coach.”
Caitlin Fox
City Islanders Academy S20 Women
Fox scored her first goal of the season and added her fourth assist to lead City Islanders Academy to a 2-1 win against previously-undefeated TSF Academy on Saturday.
After suffering their first Super-20 League loss on June 20 (they were 8-0-0 in 2011), the Islanders also got a goal from Kendra Mancino of Elizabethtown College in the first half. Fox, who plays for Morehead State University in Kentucky, scored the eventual game-winner 20 minutes from time before her side conceded an injury-time goal.
“I have known Caity since she was 12 years old,” City Islanders Coach John Abe said. “Although I’ve never coached her until she played last year for the City Islanders Super-20s. Caity is a great soccer player with a great soccer mind.
“Often players are judged on the goals they score, but she works hard on both sides of the ball and has developed into a strong leader for our team. She definitely leads by example.”
Bobby Castro
Triangle FC S20 Men
Castro (pictured) scored both goals for Triangle FC in its 2-1 win against South Atlantic Division foe Northern Virginia Royals on Saturday.
He opened the scoring in the 15th minute of play as he received a cross from the right side, beat a defender, and finished confidently. Later in the half, Castro took a pass at midfield, turned to beat the Royals defender, and passed the ball to the left of the ‘keeper with the outside of his right foot to score his second of the game and the game-winner.
“Bobby is capable of playing any position on the field,” Triangle FC Coach Pete Sadin said. “He produces anywhere; his strong leadership is key to his success.
“Bobby has been a tremendous leader and contributor to this team. We would not be tied for first place [in the division] without him.”
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Super-20 League Top Performers
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