
High scoring affair ends in draw in Inaugural Match
SAN JOSE, CA – In the highly anticipated opening match of the new
Spartan Premier League, the two sides gave a good show to the television audience,
battling to a 6-6 draw at Spartan Field on Monday afternoon. The high scoring affair was highlighted by a
hat-trick and a four goal game, one from each team.
After a mild first half which
saw two goals from each team, the second half saw a flurry of action. Roxy “Golden Grahams” Kamal scored the
historic first goal of the Spartan Premier League just over two minutes into
the game on a pass from Michelle “Super Sugar Crisp” Haughey to give the
Dropkixx an early 1-0 lead. The Riots
fired back three minutes later as Stephanie “Frosted Flakes” Righetti notched
her first of the season to even the score at 1-1.
“It means a lot to me to score
the first goal in league history,” Kamal said.
“I am planning to bronze my boots from this game and send them to the
Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY. Jeff
has been there. He knows what I’m
talking about.”
The Dropkixx once again took the
lead as Haughey this time found the back of the net herself on a feed from
Kelsy “Choco Crunch” Holm with 19:15 remaining in the first half. Righetti, not to be denied, netted her second
marker just a minute and a half later after a streaking Emmy “Lucky Charms”
Belding found her strikemate for the goal.
Each team nearly drew blood again with sustained pressure, but both
teams would settle for a 2-2 stalemate headed into the intermission.
The second half whistle signaled
some early tentative play as each team made their half-time adjustments. The Riots took the initiative in the second
stanza as Liz “Trix” Behlen took the ball at midfield, dribbled, and then
deftly chipped the ball over the on-rushing Dropkixx keeper and into the upper
right corner of the net to take their first lead of the game 3-2.
“I just looked up and saw the
keeper coming right at me,” Behlen said of her goal. “Honestly, I just closed my eyes and hoped.”
The Dropkixx answered Behlen’s
magic with two goals in a two minute span by Kamal to retake the lead. The first came from a nifty pass from Mandy
“Cheerios” Martin, while the second came from a defensive steal and buried with
the outside of her right foot. (Oh yeah,
I forgot, it’s not like Roxy is going to use the inside of her feet!!!!) With the two goals, Kamal became the first
player in player in SPL history to notch a hat-trick.
“Remember the boots,” Kamal
said. “Same thing goes for the sports
bra!!!!”
Although it looked to be smooth
sailing for the Dropkixx, Belding and the Riots had other things in mind. The Riots showed the capacity crowd their new
kickoff play and returned fire just nine seconds later (YES, that’s NINE seconds!!!!) evening the game once
again at 4-4. Belding was not done,
however, scoring two minutes later and then adding her own hat-trick on a feed
from Kim “Crunchberries” Johnston with just under 12 minutes to play in the
game and giving the Riots the first two goal lead of the match.
“I couldn’t let Roxy out-shine
me today,” Belding commented. “I had to
go out there and work hard and the lord said that it was time for me to score
goals so I did.”
Well, folks, if you thought
scoring in nine seconds was fast, hold onto your hat!!! Kamal, not to be out-done, took the ball off
a great assist from Lauren “Cocoa Puffs” Ng-Pinkerton just eight seconds after
Belding’s goal to cut the lead in half. (YES, I said EIGHT seconds!!! You heard
me!!! Pay Attention!!!!)
“There was no way I was going to let the Belding girl
over there mess with my mojo,” Kamal said.
“She can shine my bronzed boots and sports bra. I’ll even provide the towel for her.”
With the Dropkixx trailing, Shanelle “Wheaties” Furner
netted her first goal of the game to tie the score at 6-6. Both goalkeepers, Nina “Booberry” Butera of
the Riots and Sarah “Count Chocula” Wisotsky of the Dropkixx turned in
spectacular performances down the stretch to preserve the draw.
Match
Statistics
Scoring
1. Roxy Kamal (Haughey) Dropkixx 2:07
2. Stephanie
Righetti (unassisted) Riots 5:12
3. Michelle
Haughey (Holm) Dropkixx 10:45
4. Stephanie
Righetti (2) (Belding) Riots 12:24
5. Liz Behlen (unassisted) Riots 35:28
6. Roxy Kamal
(2) (Martin) Dropkixx 40:17
7. Roxy Kamal
(3) (unassisted) Dropkixx 42:20
8. Emmy
Belding (unassisted) Riots 42:29
9. Emmy
Belding (2) (unassisted) Riots 44:43
10. Emmy Belding
(3) (unassisted) Riots 48:18
11. Roxy Kamal
(4) (Ng-Pinkerton) Dropkixx 48:26
12. Shanelle
Furner (unassisted) Dropkixx 50:38
Score 1st 2nd Final
Riots 2 4 6
Dropkixx 2 4 6
Shots 1st 2nd Total
Riots 15 14 29
Dropkixx 10 16 26
Transactions: none
Scorekeeper: Jordan
“Grape Nuts” Santos
Jeff “Cap’n
Crunch” Leightman
Commissioner
SPL
Spartan Premier League
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/jeff.leightman/SPL.htm
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