Fish Hole takes Island Cup in shootout final
The inaugural Island Cup, the Dec. 3 championship game of the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s coed adult soccer league, was an intense battle with plenty of drama. That is, until the Fish Hole’s Ed Moss sent a penalty kick into goal in the second round of overtime to set off a wild celebration.
Moss’ winning kick in the final game between the Fish Hole and Back Alley culminated a game that saw the Fish Hole defense, led by goalie Scott Rudacille and defenders Josh Sato and Ed Moss, turn away a relentless offensive attack by Back Alley and then prevail in penalty kicks to complete a 2-1 victory.
It might never have come to that end had Back Alley capitalized on an early scoring chance. In the third minute of the game, Zach Gilliland ran down a long ball that brought Fish Hole-goalie Rudacille off his line. Gilliland beat Rudacille to the ball, sending Rudacille scrambling to get back to his goal. Gilliland cut inside past one defender and shot against the grain, but the ball rolled just wide of the empty goal.
Four minutes later, Fish Hole scored on a beautiful free kick by Sato to take a 1-0 lead. With the ball near the left sideline approximately 30 yards out, Sato passed inside to Ryan Moss, who one-timed it right back to him. Sato fired a curving laser that just tucked inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.
The rest of the game saw Back Alley attacking the Fish Hole defense relentlessly, but they were up to the task. Back Alley had a good scoring chance in the 21st minute when Tim Tedesco carried the ball across the 18-yard line and fired a shot through traffic, but Rudacille made a laid-out, one-handed save to deny Tedesco.
The Fish Hole squandered a good scoring chance late in the half when Sato stole the ball and dribbled up the middle before sliding it to Brent Moss, but his shot was just over the goal.
The second half saw Back Alley test Rudacille repeatedly. Tedesco carried the ball up the middle and passed outside to Gilliland, who cut back and ripped a left-footed shot, but a kick save by Rudacille denied the Back Alley striker. Rudacille made strong saves in the 35th minute and 39th minute, the first a diving save on a free kick by Gilliland that had goal written all over it.
Back Alley finally broke through in the 42nd minute, though it took a little bit of luck to finally beat Rudacille. Gilliland stole the ball at midfield and carried it up the left side. He passed inside to Tedesco, who one-timed the ball back outside to Gilliland, where he uncorked a rocket that deflected off Fish Hole defender Sato and into the goal to tie the score at 1-1.
The score held at 1-1 through regulation thanks to some more stellar goal keeping from Rudacille, sending the game to penalty kicks. Each team chose three players to take alternating penalty kicks with Back Alley shooting first.
Tedesco, David Green and Gilliland connected on their shots for Back Alley, while Ryan Moss, Brent Moss and Sato made their shots for the Fish Hole.
Two new kickers were chosen, one from each team, with Jesse Brisson shooting just wide for Back Alley and setting the stage for Moss, who came through with the game winner for Fish Hole.
Other members of the Island Cup champs include Katie Berzowski, Brad Lowry, Evelyn Saenz and apparent good-luck charm Erin Heckler. Heckler played two seasons of flag football and one season of soccer and was on the championship team each time. Word has it that she’s a top pick in the upcoming flag football draft.
Back to soccer. Back Alley advanced to the championship game thanks to a 4-0 victory over the Sun Dec. 2. Gilliland and Tedesco led the way with two goals, apiece while goalie Nate Talucci posted a shutout.
Fish Hole advanced with a 4-3 victory over Beach to Bay Construction. Brent Moss scored two goals for Fish Hole, which also received single goals from Sato and Saenz in the victory. Beach to Bay Construction received single goals from Enrico Beissert, Trevor Flathman and Tony Frudakis in the loss.
Manatee hosts beach volleyball tourney
The Manatee Area Volleyball Club is hosting a beach volleyball tournament at the Manatee County Public Beach Saturday, Dec. 18, for junior and adult players.
Junior offerings will include doubles, 4-v-4 and 6-v-6 coed. Adult offerings include mens and womens doubles, 4-v-4 coed and womens, 4-v-4 mens and 6-v-6 recreational.
Cost varies from $15 per player to $25 per player depending on the age group and events. This is a USAV event and membership is required to play. Go to www.usavfl.org to register as a beach member.
Check in starts at 8 a.m. and play gets under way at 9 a.m. To register for the event, e-mail Nancy Cothron at tcothron@tampabay.rr.com with player names and events. For more information, contact Cothron at 941-748-1093.
Key Royale news
The Key Royale Club women played an individual low-net-in-flight golf game Nov. 30. Flight AA saw Jean Holmes and Cindy Miller tie for first place with matching 3-over-par 35s.
Marcia Helgeson’s even-par 32 was good enough for first place in Flight A and Penny Williams took second place with a 33.
Lynn Dailey and Margrit Layh both carded 4-under-par 28 to tie for first place in Flight B, one shot ahead of second-place finisher Liz Lang.
Flight C saw Denise Burckhardt alone in first place with a 3-under-par 29 with Markie Ksaizek one shot back in second place.
Dorothy McKinna’s 7-under par 25 was the low-net round of the day and gave her first place in Flight D, while Jane Winegarden took second with a 1-under 31.
The game of the day was team low putts. The team of Beverly Neville, Nell Bergstrom, Jane Winegarden and Lorraine Towne combined for 63 putts to claim that prize. Sue Wheeler chipped in on number eight as did Maria Helgeson, who had a chip-in birdie.
Horseshoe news
Only two teams emerged from pool play with three victories and were left to battle for the championship Dec. 4 at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Ron Pepka and Norm Good rolled past Roy Vickers and John Crawford by a 23-13 score.
Only two teams qualified for the playoffs during horseshoe action on a chilly Dec. 1 morning. Art Kingstad and Steve Grossman defeated walker Herb Puryear 21-13.
Play gets under way 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.