The youth soccer season at the Center of Anna Maria Island came to a close with championship matches played May 23 in the 11-14 and 8-10 age divisions.
The 8-10 title game was a 2-0 back-and-forth battle that saw No. 5 seed Island Real Estate fall to No. 3 Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control. Both teams had good scoring chances early in the game but goalies Kason Price of Westfall and Mason Moss for Island Real Estate managed to keep a clean sheet.
That is until the 12th minute, when Callin Westfall fired in a long-range shot that eluded IRE goalie Mason Moss, giving Westfall a 1-0 lead. Wesley Bekkerus added a second-half goal to ice the game, while Price came through with 10 saves in the victory.
Other members of the championship team, which was coached by Tyler Brewer, are Ruby Kesten, Madeline Simmons, Maggie Niedzwick, Mia Ross, Jordan Steele, Parker Svoboda, Jordan Tobey and Polea Vacek.
Westfall’s Lawn Care advanced to the finals by defeating No. 2 Sato Real Estate 2-0 behind goals from Wesley Bekkerus and Callin Westfall. Island Real Estate advanced to the title game thanks to a 1-0 upset of No. 1 Cheesecake Cutie. Colton Sullivan notched the game-winner for IRE, while Miles Moss made four saves in the victory.
The 11-14 division championship also was played May 23, with No. 1 seed Gulf Drive Cafe taking on No. 3 HSH Designs. Gulf Drive Cafe lived up to its No. 1 seeding with a 3-1 victory behind a hat trick from Luke Dellinger and five saves in goal from Cyrus Ryan.
Other members of coach Matt Darak’s championship team are Theo Aupelle, Gabriel Bodnar, McKenna Darak, Josiah MacDonald, Kegan McGlade and siblings Jasmine and Jayden Sparks.
Gulf Drive Cafe advanced to the championship game on a 6-3 win over Shady Lady Horticultural Services thanks to three goals from Theo Aupelle, two goals from Dellenger and a goal from McGlade. Ryan made five saves in goal to help preserve the win.
Renan Kesten scored two goals and Dominick Zupa scored one to lead Shady Lady, which also received four saves from Colton Kranz in the loss.
HSH Designs advanced to the finals by holding on for a 3-2 win over Moss Builders. After battling to a 2-2 tie through regulation on two goals from Mason Moss and a goal each from Cecelia Kroth and Sterling Holiday, the game went to penalty kicks.
Krosby Lamison, Kroth, Holiday and Briahna Robertson all made their spot kicks, while Callin Westfall was the lone Moss player to convert a penalty kick.
Pool America takes adult soccer title
The upset-filled adult soccer playoffs at the center came to a close May 25 with No. 5 seed Pool America taking on No. 7 Vintage Beach.
Pool America prevailed in a tight 4-3 contest behind a pair of goals from Christopher Klotz and a goal each from Sam Parker and Nate Welch. Dean Hinterstoisser added an assist and Robb Marshall made seven saves in the victory.
Other members of Pool America are Jamie Hutchinson, Maxim Pancheko, Juan Carlos Perez, William Romberger, Eduardo Schlueter and Lucas Wilson.
Danny Free scored three goals for Vintage Beach, which also received an assist from Joey Hutchinson and eight saves from PJ Smargisso.
Key Royale golf news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started May 22 with the men playing their weekly modified-Stableford match over nine holes.
Mike Cusato earned clubhouse bragging rights after on a plus-5 for a one-point victory over Bill MacMillan and Bill Shuman, who tied for second place. Larry Solberg was alone in third at plus-3.
The women took over the course May 23 for their weekly nine-hole individual-low-net match. Connie Livanos fired a 3-under-par 29 to take first place for the day. Roxanne Koche and Betsy Meyer tied for second place at 1-under-par 31, while Judy Mencheck came in third with a 1-over-par 33.
Members were on the course May 25 for a team scramble/shamble combo that played to a par 64. The team of Jim Bailey, Bob O’Brien, Jerry Martinek and Blake Ress combined on a 5-under-par 59 to earn first-place honors. The team of Jack Lowry, Dave and Deb Richardson and Warren Stevens took second with a 3-under-par 61.