The Saints opened their 2004 season at home against Fall Mountain Regional High School on a beautiful sunny afternoon that marked the last day of summer for players before returning to school on Monday.
Before the game, coach Suleski felt very confident about this year’s team. Of the eighteen-player roster twelve were returning from last year. Of course that confidence quickly faded as players gathered on the field. While getting ready for warm-ups coach Suleski was approached by Richard Howard who asked if he could use a cell phone to call his mother to bring his cleats to the game because he forgot them. Lucky it was a home game. Chris Rignoli came late because he was stuck in Friday toll traffic. Brian Collins had to tell the coach his uniform and all his equipment was in the back seat of Jon Campolo car. Normally it wouldn’t be such a problem, but Jon was still in Hampton. Adjustments were quickly made. Richard’s mom brought his cleats (Thanks Mom), Chris Rignoli got ready and warmed up in time. Brian Collins borrowed cleats, socks and shin guards. He used Collin McBride’s white uniform jersey since Collin was wearing a keeper’s shirt. Coach Suleski made adjustments to his line-up in time for the coin toss.
Game Captains Collin McBride and Gabe Perreault got to choose field end as Fall Mountain lost the toss. The Saints took the field with strikers Kevin Schneider and Pat O’Brien. Brian Sullivan, Jason Suleski, Jamie Phontharaksa and Adam Bermingham at midfield. Sweeper Gabe Perreault led a strong defense with Max Olsen and Brian Collins at Fullback and Chris Rignoli at stopper. Collin McBride debuted in his first junior varsity game between the pipes for St. Thomas.
The Saints came out strong and controlled the game from the start. The play was all in the Fall Mountain end. Matt Roginski had to quickly sub in for Adam Bermingham once it was noticed that he was playing without a mouth guard. Luckily he was subbed for before the referee noticed and it cost the team a yellow caution card. After receiving two yellow cards during last season Coach Suleski is still looking for a perfect card less season.
St. Thomas made some terrific shots on goal, but the Fall Mountain keeper came up with some great saves. Tom Carroll and Justin Guilbert went in as new strikers and Richard Howard went in at midfield about 8 minutes into the game. Faisal Gurwala, who is recovering from a leg injury, went in to give it a try. Gurwala made some great plays, but had to come out so he wouldn’t aggravate it.
24 minutes into the game Fall Mountain finally broke through the Saints defensive wall and took their first shot on net that scored to give them a 1-0 lead.
St. Thomas didn’t give up; they knew they had controlled play up to this point. Working together they began to increase their attack. 29:48 into the game, just over five minutes, Phontharaksa sent a pass to Guilbert for a tying score. The rookies teamed up for their first junior varsity points.
Jon Campolo arrived at the field and brought Brian Collins his equipment. Jon saw a few minutes of play in the first half.
The teams played hard for the next 10 minutes with each team making attacks and both defenses holding. The half ended with the score tied 1-1.
The Saints took the kick-off in the second half. The players were starting to jell and were working together. The veterans and rookies were mixing well.
14:05 into the second half Roginski sent a long lead pass to Bermingham who put it by the Fall Mountain keeper to give St. Thomas a 2-1 lead.
The Saints continued on the offensive but the Fall Mountain keeper kept making some amazing saves to rob St. Thomas players of insurance goals.
The defense of Campolo, Roginski, Olsen, Collins and Perreault kept stopping every Fall Mountain attack. When they realized they couldn’t get through the Saints defense a Fall Mountain player took a 40 yard chip shot that came down out of reach of McBride just under the cross bar to tie the game 2-2 at 23:25. It had to be one of the luckiest shots ever.
The next 17 minutes saw two teams playing with a tenacity to try and secure a win. Both teams came close, but defenses held. The second half ended in a 2-2- tie.
The teams prepared for Overtime. Once again game captains McBride and Perreault went out for a coin toss and came back with the choice to kick off.
The Saints took the field for two 10-minute periods of golden goal overtime. They had some shots on goal early and looked like they might end it quick, but the Fall Mountain keeper kept his team in the game. Rignoli had a break away and came close to scoring, but was taken down just after getting off an off balance shot. The referee seemed to hesitate over weather to call a penalty or not, then decided against it.
After the first 10 minutes the Whistle blew and teams switched sides. The fierce battle continued with each team fighting for the goal that would win. With less than 2 minutes left Guilbert sent a pass to Bermingham who put it in the back of the net to take the win in a hard fought game.
It was a 3-2 win for the Saints in over 98 minutes of soccer.
St. Thomas plays host to the Kersarge High School Cougars @ 2pm next Friday September 3rd.