Date: Fri 31-May-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Strikers-Memorial-Day-Title

Full Text:

Strikers (U10) Win Memorial Title

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

There were not a lot of goals scored in the Newtown Strikers (U10 Boys) final

two games of the Memorial Day Tournament - just one, in fact - but after four

halves of regulation play and two five-minute overtime periods, that one goal

was enough to lead the Strikers to the co-championship of their division.

The only goal came off the foot of Jeremy Barczak in the semi-finals of the

10-and-under boys' division Monday morning against the Southbury Sonics. It

was the only goal the Sonics had given up all weekend and it was the one that

sent them packing and sent the Strikers into the finals Monday afternoon.

It was to be the Strikers of Newtown versus the White Beasts of Ridgefield for

the division championship at Fairfield Hills and it became a tug-of-war

between two equally matched opponents.

The final - Newtown 0, Ridgefield 0.

It took the two teams two scoreless halves and two scoreless five-minute

overtime periods to arrive at the conclusion that they would share the

division championship.

" The kids always come up to the level they need to, " said coach Peter

D'Amico. " We moved the ball well and had a lot of scoring opportunities, but

Ridgefield was a very good team and our defense played superbly. "

Coach D'Amico, who led a 13-and-under boys' team to a Memorial Day Tournament

championship back in 1987 (the last year the Newtown Soccer Club used the

shootout to determine a winner in its own tournament), made a defensive change

to neutralize the fast wings of Ridgefield.

It worked perfectly.

" My philosophy, " said coach D'Amico, " is you win with defense and if your

defense plays well it will always give you an opportunity to win. "

The Strikers' defense played more than well enough throughout the tournament,

allowing only one goal in six games . . . that coming against Brookfield in

the very first game.

The Strikers qualified for the semi-finals by finishing with the best record

of the five teams in their division - one of three divisions featuring 15

teams from Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.

The Strikers opened with a 1-1 tie against the Brookfield Bobcats. Matthew

Miller scored the only goal while Derek Miles, Devon Manfredonia, and Steve

Murtha carried a fair load.

In the afternoon, the Strikers eased past the Wilton Rams with one goal each

from Brian Smith and Miller. Andrew Fiscella and Al Mazur anchored a strong

defense while Chris Wolcott and Ross Coates played well.

On Sunday, the Strikers crushed the Agawam Strikers 6-0, getting two goals

each from Fiscella and Wolcott. Matthew McFadden and Miller also added goals

while Charlie Neilsen and Barczak had good games.

That afternoon, the Strikers tangled with the Galway Rovers, who were

undefeated in their previous three games, but the Strikers upended the Rovers,

2-0, on goals from Miller and Wolcott. Barczak, Mazur, and Miles were the

defensive core that repelled Galway.

Goaltender Mark Stephenson recorded the shutout that sent the Strikers to the

semi-finals. In the semis, Smith, Miller and Mazur all had strong games and it

was the long shot of Barczak, which sailed over the Southbury goalie's head,

which won the game.