St. Thomas Aquinas JV Boys Soccer vs. Souhegan Saber Cats 9-29-04
The Saints played host to the Souhegan Saber Cats on a very sunny day. It was surprising after all the rain we had over the last few days. The rain had stopped at noon and the Athletic Directors checked their fields and decided to play.
While St. Thomas was warming up before Souhegan arrived, Gabe Perreault came up and told everyone his bag was taken so he had no uniform or equipment. We assume on of the girls grabbed it on their early dismissal to travel to Souhegan. The team chipped in and Gabe was given extra shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, mouth guard and uniform shirt #4. Basically something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, so Gabe was ready to play soccer or get married.
Game Captains Chris Rignoli and Tom Carroll went out and won the toss to begin the game.
The Saints took the field with Gabe Perreault at sweeper and Collin McBride in net. Jon Campolo at stopper, Max Olsen and Bryan Collins as fullbacks on defense. Midfielders Tom Carroll, Andy Stone, Jamie Phontharaska and Chris Rignoli. Kevin Schneider and Pat O'Brien as strikers.
Souhegan came out strong and made some fast runs against the St. Thomas defense. The Saints held off the attacks and then returned up field to mount their own.
McBride punts one out after making a save.
Ten minutes into the half Faisal Gurwala and Justin Guilbert went in at Strikers. Brian Sullivan and Richard Howard went in at Midfield while Matt Roginski went in at Stopper.
St. Thomas made some offensive attacks, but the far end of the field was very wet and muddy. A lot of the shot weren't as hard because of the unsure footing, but most were still on target.
Here Perreault ties McBride's cleat during a defensive lull so Collin could keep his gloves on.
Collins and Olsen had a great game frustrating the Saber Cats strikers.
With 5 and a half minutes left in the half, Souhegan broke through the St. Thomas defense to score a hard fought goal and put the Saber Cats up 1-0. Both teams had played hard scoreless soccer up till that point.
St. Thomas came out in the second half ready to even the score. Attacking on the dry end of the field made footing more sure and shots a bit harder.
5:32 into the second half Guilbert took a shot from the right side that looked like it was going in over the Souhegan keeper, but it just nicked the crossbar and rebounded out to be cleared away.
Here the Saints offense turns back down field as the Saber Cats keeper punts out the ball.
7:47 into the second half, the Saber Cats scored a second goal on a quick counter attack.
The Saints quickly worked back into the Souhegan end and while pressuring the Saber Cat fullback he made a bad pass that was intercepted by Gurwala. His shot was just wide of the post, but close enough to make the Souhegan goalie scream out at his defender and that got him cautioned by the Referees yellow card and sent off for the rest of the game.
At 31:40 Rignoli threaded through the Souhegan defense and got off a hard shot that was blocked by the Saber Cat keeper. Rignoli also shot the rebound from close range which was stopped by the keepers face, giving him a bloody nose for his efforts, but keeping the shut-out going.
The Saints out shot the Saber Cats 12-7 in the second half. Souhegan stalled on goal kicks even though they were up by 2. Another sign of how good St. Thomas was playing was that a number of Souhegan players on the bench never saw playing time.
When the referee blew the final whistle, Souhegan was up 2-0 on St. Thomas.
The Saints out shot the Sabers 19-12 and Souhegan out fouled St. Thomas 9-5. Coach Suleski was very proud of the way his team carried themselves on the field. Three Souhegan players were either cautioned (Yellow Carded) or sent off by the referee for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Saints maintained their poise and kept their heads in the game.
St. Thomas travels to Merrimac Valley on Friday..