Wash Family Construction crafts a win in center’s Ace Cup
Wash Family Construction rode some impressive skills from back-up goalie Rico Beissert and just enough offense to record a 4-1 victory over Eason Builders Group to win the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup in the July 21 championship game of the adult soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island.
Wash got on the scoreboard in the third minute when Eason failed to effectively clear the ball after a corner kick from Kyle Lessig. Jennifer Sayko got off one shot that was blocked by Eason goalie Nate Talucci, but the ball bounced to Murat Akay, who poked it in for a 1-0 lead.
Lessig tried to extend the WFC lead in the eighth minute, launching a rocket from 20 yards, but Talucci was equal to the task and made the save.
Eason settled down and started to gain some traction in the match that was dominated early on by WFC. Anthony Barberio carried the ball up the middle before hitting a long pass to Scott Eason on the right wing. Eason took a touch before hitting a strong shot, but Beissert made the save to deny Eason.
Eason had another opportunity a minute later when Scott Dean flicked on a throwin to Shea Yates. Yates got off the shot, but Beissert was again up to the task.
The action was back and forth until the 20th minute, when WFC player Sean Flynn hit a long ball deep into the Eason end that Joey Ciasulo was able to handle. There was considerable debate whether it occurred inside the penalty area, but the referee ruled it in and awarded a penalty kick. Lessig calmly stepped up and finished the penalty kick for a 2-0 WFC lead.
With time winding down in the half, Yates got loose up the right side and unleashed a powerful shot from 20 yards, but Beissert made a diving save to preserve the 2-0 WFC lead as the half came to a close.
Eason came out strong to start the second half, determined to get back into the game. Two minutes into the second stanza, Barberio carried forward and found Dean up the right side. He one-timed it inside to Yates, whose shot was again saved by Beissert.
Three minutes later, Barberio was fouled while making a penetrating run up the middle, giving him a free kick from 23 yards, but his kick was blocked by the defensive wall.
Eason continued to apply offensive pressure, resulting in a corner kick. Dean served the ball in and Dave Green hit a nice volley, but it was right at Beissert, who secured the ball to deny Eason yet again.
WFC extended its lead in the 33rd minute when Lessig carried the ball forward to the 30-yard line. He hit what look like an innocuous shot with the outside of his right foot, but Talucci couldn’t coral the spinning ball and it scooted past him and went into the goal for a 3-0 lead with less than 13 minutes left to play.
Eason finally broke through in the 40th minute. Yates carried the ball up the middle before finding Dean on the right side. Dean one-timed it back to Yates, whose shot found the back of the net from 23 yards.
With time ticking away, Dean received the ball at midfield and served it into the box, where Barberio went high to get a head on it, but it went wide.
The ensuing goal kick went to Andre Lewis, who made a strong run up the right side and into the Eason penalty area. He somehow held the ball despite several Eason defenders all over him and passed the ball to 76-year old Lynn Clarke, wide open on the back post. Clarke passed the ball into the open goal to clinch the 4-1 victory for Wash Family Construction.
Lessig finished with 2 goals to lead WFC, which also received a goal each from Clark and Akay, while Beissert was strong between the pipes with eight saves.
Yates scored the lone goal in the loss for Eason, which also received an assist from Dean and seven saves from Talucci.
Look online at www.islander.org for more pics from the championship game.
Key Royale golf news
The men of Key Royale Club played a pair of matches July 18, starting with a low-net-of-partner’s game in the morning. The team of Fred Meyer and Hank Tremblay combined on a 1-over-par 33 to grab first place.
Later in the day, the men were back on the course for a nine-hole modified-Stableford System or quota-points match. Jon Holcomb, Merritt Fineout, Dan Richardson and Scott Lemon all posted scores of plus-3 to finish in a tie for first place.
The Key Royale women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match July 19 with a twist. They were only allowed to use three clubs on the round.
Lori Waggoner had no problem carding a 6-under-par 26 to grab first place in Flight A, three strokes ahead of Phyllis Roe and Helen Pollock, who both managed birdies on the second hole.
Terry Westby, Jana Samuels, Kathy Miller and Janet Razze all recorded 2-under-par 30s to finish in a four-way tie for first place in Flight B.
The men were back on the course July 21 for a nine-hole team scramble. The team of Gary Duncan, Lex Halakan and Gary Razze combined on a 5-under-par 27 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day.
Horseshoe news
Neil Hennessey had a good week of horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. During action July 20, Hennessey walked his way to the only 3-0 record in pool play and was the day’s outright champion.
Hennessey found himself back in the winner’s circle July 23, this time partnering with Sam Samuels as the only team to post a 3-0 pool-play record for another outright win.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Register now for MAYSO
Registration is open for the 2016 MAYSO fall soccer season.
Registering online at www.MAYSO.org before July 31 will earn a $15 early-bird discount.
Cost is $120, including jersey, shorts and socks and a 10-game season.
The last day to register is Aug. 20 — the only in-person registration day, which is at Dick’s Sporting Goods, 4108 14th St. W., Bradenton. This also is MAYSO savings day at Dick’s.
For more information, email info@mayso.org.