e-Sport

We began the day in the Under 14 division, with a qualifying game between the Chili Peppers and Mean Green.  The green squad kept this one close throughout most of the first half, but ultimately found themselves behind 6-2 at the half.  The second half started out with a flurry of scoring (three goals in a single minute between the two teams), and another rush of scoring midway through the half.  Each time the Mean Green tried to cut into the Chili Peppers lead, the red squad had an answer, and then some.  At the final whistle, the Chili Peppers advanced to the championship game with a 14-8 win.  The Mean Green finished their season in third place.

With their earlier win, the Chili Peppers advanced to the championship game to take on the Stingers.  The Chili Peppers started off the scoring in this one with a goal from Erik Brown in the fourth minute.  But, just one minute later, the Stingers took the lead when Jonathan Bonilla and Trevan Ainsworth both scored just seconds apart to give the yellow squad a 2-1 lead.  In the 11th minute, Bonilla scored his second goal to extend the Stingers' lead to two.  Jesus Adame responded for the Chili Peppers just a couple of minutes later to make it 3-2 in favor of the Stingers.  But, the Stingers would go on a 4-0 run to finish the first half, giving them a 7-2 lead at the break.  Out of the four goals, Ainsworth scored twice, while Grant Bettenhausen and Bonilla each picked up a goal.

In the second half, things didn't get any better for the Peppers.  The Stingers started the second half exactly the same way the first half ended, with four more goals added to their total to make it 11-2.  Bonilla scored the first three, with Ainsworth adding another goal to his total as well.  Erik Brown and Adame scored back-to-back goals for the Chili Peppers to chip away at the deficit, but the Stingers were just too much today, adding four more goals (two more for Bonilla and two for Henrique Adabo) to just one more for the Chili Peppers (Adame).  By the final whistle, the Stingers had won the Under 14 division championship with a 15-5 win over the Chili Peppers.

In the Under 11 division, the Blue Dragons would host the Red Razors in the consolation game.  For the first time in league history, we had a scoreless half of play, with neither team able to find the back of the net in the first half.

With the score all tied up at 0-0 heading into the second half, something had to give.  In the opening minute of the second half, the Red Razors got on the scoreboard with a goal from Erick Tadeo.  Just a minute later, Tadeo scored his second goal of the game.  He (Tadeo) made it 3-0 with his third goal in four minutes, and the Razors were rolling.  Jack Higginbotham then got in on the scoring, netting back-to-back goals just seconds apart to give the Razors a comfortable 5-0 lead midway through the second half.  But, with as fast-paced as the action is in our leagues, no lead is truly safe.  Shortly after the Razors' fifth goal, the Dragons were on the scoreboard.  Ethan Glenn scored to start off the comeback.  Just a few minutes later, Prestyn Engel scored to make it a three-goal game.  Unfortunately for the Dragons, time wasn't on their side, and their comeback effort fell short.  The Red Razors had won the consolation prize with a 5-2 win over the Blue Dragons.

In the championship game, the top-ranked Silver Strikers were hosting the Shadows.  The Shadows took the first lead of the game when Oscar Adame scored midway through the first half.  But, just three minutes later, Said Mendez scored for the Strikers to tie the game at 1-1.  With just seconds remaining in the first half, the Strikers then took the lead when Endy Leon buried a shot to give the silver squad a 2-1 lead at the half.

In the second half, the game was once again tied when Adame scored his second goal of the game for the Shadows.  Following his third goal of the game, the Shadows were once again back on top, 3-2.  Two minutes later, we were all tied up again when Mendez scored his second goal of the game.  Following a couple more scoreless minutes, and with time winding down on the clock, Armando Adame scored two goals in the final five minutes to put the Silver Strikers ahead, 5-3.  Despite a flurry of opportunities for the Shadows, they just couldn't break through, and the Strikers held on for the Under 11 division title.

Our next game on the schedule for championship week was a matchup between the Red Strikers and the Green Pythons, with the winner advancing to the Under 8 division championship game against the Smurfs.  The Pythons were on the scoreboard in the opening minute of the game, and also added three more goals for an early 4-0 lead.  The Strikers scored their lone goal of the first half in the eighth minute to cut the lead to 4-1, but the Pythons continued to score.  At the end of the first half, the Pythons held an 8-1 lead over the Strikers.

In the second half, it was more of the same, with the Pythons having little trouble scoring, and playing some solid defense to keep the red squad off of the scoreboard.  The Strikers did find a way past the Python defense twice in the second half, but it just wasn't enough today, as the Green Pythons advanced with a 15-3 win over the Red Strikers.  Despite the loss, the Red Strikers did finish the Spring season in third place.

With the win, the Pythons now had to take on the Smurfs in the league championship game.  In the regular season, the two teams were tied in points, with the Smurfs narrowly winning the tiebreaker between the two teams.  This game would turn out to be just as close as their previous matches and league standings would indicate.

The Smurfs struck first, when Jair Tovar scored in the fifth minute of the game.  Four minutes later, Israel Robledo scored to give the blue squad a 2-0 lead.  Late in the first half, the lead was extended to 3-0 when Alexandria Freshour found the back of the net.  That is how the first half would end, with the Smurfs on top by three.

In the second half, the Pythons were finally on the board thanks to a goal from Christopher Adame.  Three minutes later, Jorge Tovar scored his first goal of the game, making it 4-1 in favor of blue.  One minute later, in the 23rd minute, Jorge scored his second goal of the game, and it appeared that the Smurfs were well on their way to the title, now holding a 5-1 lead. 

Despite there only being 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Pythons came storming back.  Zach Alexander scored in the 31st minute (six minutes remaining) to cut the Smurfs' lead to just 5-2.  Josue Mendez then scored back-to-back goals in the 34th and 35th minutes to make it 5-4.  Down by just one, the Pythons were pushing hard for that important tying goal.  With the final seconds ticking away, though, their comeback efforts fell just short, as the Smurfs would hold on for a 5-4 win for the Under 8 division title, with the Green Pythons finishing the season with the silver medal.

Our Under 6 division then finished the season with a shoot around and a pizza party.  We want to thank everyone for participating in our indoor soccer leagues this year.  Your support will help us bring a full-size skating and indoor sports complex to the city of Columbus.  We appreciate all of your support, wish everyone a safe and fun Summer, and look forward to seeing everyone again in the Fall.  Thank You!