The Smiledeep soccer tournament Nov. 11 at the Center of Anna Maria Island honoring the late Paul “Ace” Hayward was a smashing success with nine adult teams entered in the 4v4 tournament.
The teams played three preliminary games to advance to the knockout stage.
The last two teams standing were Bins Be Clean and its island players and Mariner Dock & Seawall from Palmetto.
The game started slow as both teams played it safe, not wanting to give up a counterattack. Mariner Dock & Seawall broke through in the sixth minute on a counterattack goal from Ivan Pineda, giving them a 1-0 lead. They added a goal two minutes later when Sebastian Cruz scored on a rocket shot for a 2-0 lead.
With time running down, Bins Be Clean had to press in an attempt to get on the scoreboard, leaving them vulnerable to another counterattack. They got caught pressing forward, allowing Jesus Ayvar an open net and he took the shot, giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead.
With two minutes left to play, Chris Klotz stole the ball and cut the lead to 3-1 but Bins Be Clean eventually ran out of time, putting the championship trophy in the Mariner Dock & Seawall hands.
Finalists set in adult soccer playoffs
The fall adult soccer league playoffs are down to two teams standing after semifinal action Nov. 9 at the community center.
The first semifinal match saw No. 5 seed Gulf View Windows & Doors eliminate Slim’s Place 5-4. The teams battled to a 4-4 tie through regulation. Leo Gonzalez scored a pair of goals to lead Gulf View Windows & Doors, which also received a goal each from Keith Mahoney and Jesus Martinez.
Lindsey Styka scored two goals for Slim’s Place, which also received a goal each from Damir Glavan and Thomas Mangotic.
For the penalty-kick shootout, Mahoney, Martinez, Eric Pullen and Raul Loera made their spot kicks for Gulf View, while only Glavan and Yuri Pereira and Kris Yavalar converted for Slim’s, giving Gulf View the victory.
The second semifinal match between No. 2 seed Gulf Drive Cafe and No. 3 Ross Built lacked the drama of the first match as Gulf Drive Cafe cruised to a 5-2 victory. Jana Whitehead and Kevin Roman scored two goals each and Eliza Faillace added a goal. Tuna McCracken helped preserve the victory with nine saves in goal.
Daniel Hampton and Andrew Ross scored a goal each for Ross Built, which also received 13 saves from goalie Max Gazzo in the loss.
The championship match is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the center.
Youth soccer playoffs down to final four
The youth soccer league at the center is down to its last week after the final regular season matches wrapped up in the 11-14 division and first-round action was played in the 8-10 division.
No. 2 seed Solid Rock Construction and No. 3 seed Gitt Team battled to a 3-3 tie Nov. 7, which may serve as a preview to the semifinal matchup between the two teams as they will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 13. Solid Rock received two goals from Luke Dellinger and one goal from David Zupa in the tie. Jack Zaccagnino made seven saves to help preserve the tie.
Callin Westfall scored a pair of goals for the Gitt Team, which also received a goal from Renan Kesten and six saves from Austin Guess in the tie.
The second match, which also could amount to a preview of the first-round playoff game, saw No. 1 Cheesecake Cutie cruise to a 6-1 victory over HSH Designs behind three goals from Preston LaPensee and a goal each from Theo Aupelle, Gunnar Maize and Kegan McGlade.
Sterling Holiday notched the lone goal for HSH Designs, which also received six saves from Cyrus Ryan in the loss.
The two teams were to meet again Nov. 13 with a chance to advance to the title game at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 — after press time for The Islander.
First-round playoff action got underway in the 8-10 division Nov. 7 with No. 4 seed Adrian Griffin Interiors cruising to a 3-0 victory over Le Creperie behind two goals from Joseph Caballero and a goal from Phoenix Harwood. Andre Harwood helped preserve the victory with four saves in goal.
Sawyer Leibfried helped keep Le Creperie in the game with 10 saves in the loss.
Isola Bella Italian Eatery and Am I Coconuts battled to a 2-2 tie in regulation, sending the game to penalty kicks. Am I Coconuts came out on top thanks to Adelaide McGraw and goalie Kason Price connecting on their spot kicks, giving then a 3-2 victory going into the playoffs.
The second match saw Solid Rock Construction outscore The Porch 5-3 behind four goals from Matthew Darak and a goal from Lucas Urbiola. Carson Long and Elijah Roadman combined to make five saves in the victory.
Wesley Bekkerus, Grayson Hinckle and Luke Willing each scored a goal for The Porch, which also received six saves from Santiago Cantero in the loss.
Adrian Griffin Interiors was set to take on No. 1 seed Moss Builders, while Am I Coconuts goes up against Solid Rock Construction. Both games were Nov. 13.
The winners were to meet in the championship game at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 — again, after press time.
Key Royale news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach kicked off Nov. 6 with the men’s modified-Stableford system match. Nelson Eagle lapped the field, posting a plus-7 to win clubhouse bragging rights for the day. John Kolojeski was three points back in second place with Ron Buck another point back in third.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match in two flights Nov. 7. Jana Samuels took first place in Flight A with a 1-under-par 31, one stroke better than second-place finishers Jenny Huibers and Margrit Layh.
Marilyn Niewik fired a 1-under-par 31 to win Flight B by two strokes over Annette Hall.
Members played a nine-hole scramble Nov. 9 that saw the team of Leigh Brattain, Eric Dawson and Diane and Fred Miller combine on a 3-under-par 29 to take bragging rights.
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits Nov. 8 was short and sweet as Katrina Wilson and Bob Hawks posted the lone 3-0 record, winning the day’s proceedings.
Two teams advanced to the knockout stage during the Nov. 11 games. The team of Bob Lee and Steve Doyle outscored Bob Bake and Gary Howcroft 24-12 to earn the day’s bragging rights.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.