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2006 KIRKWOOD COLLEGE SHOWCASE SOCCER TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
The Severna Park Crew U-16 Boys soccer team traveled to Kirkwood, Delaware on August 5th and 6th to compete in the prestigious Kirkwood College Showcase Soccer Tournament. The Crew participated in the U-16 premier grouping, as the Severna Park Green Hornet team will soon be playing at the U-16 level in the NCSL, Division II this Fall. The Crew finished with a 2-1-1 tournament record, being edged out of first place by just a single goal.
The Crew first battled a high powered Redland York United team in an early match that found the teams deadlocked after fifty-five minutes of play. The Crew had struck either the goal post or cross bars four times, but were denied a tally. The United finally slipped one by the diving Crew goal tender, Chris Hein, who had saved every previous shot, with just minutes remaining. Keeper Hein only yielded four goals the entire tournament.
Their collective backs against the wall, the Crew next played the Hempfield Heat, a Pennsylvania soccer team, in a slugfest match that resulted in a 3-2 victory, to put them back into the running. Goals were scored by Nick Hofmann, Jimmy Dailey, and Colin Lay.
The next day’s game was again against the Heat! Colin Lay scored the tying goal and Andrew Finlayson sent a low line drive from twenty-five feet out into the net only to have the goal called back for an alleged off sides call questioned by Coach Mike Lay! Later, Colin Lay was slide tackled from behind in the penalty box, yet not awarded a penalty shot as called for under the rules! The score was tied at 1 to 1 at the end of the game, and an accurate call by the referee would have given the Crew victory and the tournament championship!
In the final contest of the Kirkwood Tournament, the Crew was determined to leave on a positive note! Despite the fact that they played a skilled team from New Jersey who had defeated the tournament winner earlier, called the West Windsor Planisboro Titans, playing out of Princeton; the Crew took control from the very first few minutes. Colin Lay scored two quick goals followed by scoring from Nick Hoffman, Adam Jankiewicz and Jimmy Dailey. The Crew walked away with a solid 5 to 0 finale.
The Severna Park U-16 soccer club scored nine goals in the tournament with the skill and support from: Matty Rogers, Nigel Fields, Derek Cope, Drew Campbell, Nick Finnigan, and Steven Ravotta, whose pin-point pass work and constant pressure fed the Crew’s strikers. The Crew’s stellar defense prevented all but a mere four goals over the four games, shutting down their opponents time and time again. The Crew’s defense was anchored by Kyle Simmons, Eric Hallberg, Patrick Houch, and James Meekins. Kyle Fairchild traveled with the club and cheered the Crew on to victory, but was injured and could not play.
The tournament was a great success for the Crew according to Coach Lay who said that the matches not only gave the players exposure to college coaches but also gave the players a great opportunity to tune up their soccer skills as each player plans to return to play for their respective high school teams this Fall.
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