Cohesiveness Keys Devils' Title Repeat
It was very obvious that OFA's lineup was filled with players who had played together since Youth Soccer as the Blue Devils controlled Norwood-Norfolk 4-1 on Saturday night to win a repeat championship at their own Gerard (Gerry) Cring Memorial Tournament.
Even though midfielder Kyle Manke was playing in just his first two OFA games after moving into the district from Marcellus this summer.
"Kyle Manke has just been a great addition and it looks like he and Grant Prudhomme have played together all of their lives," said OFA Coach Matt Morley after Prudhomme, an explosive junior striker, was honored as the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and Manke was honored with an All-Mattison All-Star Award named in honor of OFA's first Boys Varsity Soccer Coach, George Mattison. The other All-Mattison All-Star Team awards went to dangerous striker Andrew Stone who scored the lone N-N goal, Hammond sweeper Jacob Bresett and Morristown fullback Aaron Stout.
"Grant Prudhomme is extremely fast and he never gives up on any play. He has a great shot and passes the ball well and Kyle Manke is an outstanding passer. With those two leading the way we are extremely strong up front and Kyle combined with Brent Lalonde and Paul LaPlante to lead our control of the midfield."
Prudhomme figured in all of the OFA scoring starting in the 29th minute when he used a chip pass to set up sophomore Gian Rufa who headed home his third goal of the tournament. Stone answered seven minutes later off Alex Ploof's third assist in two games.
The Devil pull-away evolved as Manke one-timed a pass from Prudhomme in the 32nd minute, Prudhomme headed home a corner kick from Manke in the 48th minute and J.P. Burns deflected home a hard shot off an elusive dribble drive by Prudhomme with 12:20 remaining in the game.
Tyler Carrow handled four shots in the OFA goal and Jeremy White made a series of leaping saves in a nine-save effort for N-N.
"Norwood-Norfolk has five guys who can score at any time and I was very happy with the way our defense responded after they scored. Brent Lalonde, A.J. Missert, Quinn Rufa, Alec Manke who is just a sophomore, and Zach Barr all did a nice job. I was very happy with the way all of our first year players played and overall I thought we showed excellent speed, especially on the outside."
Morristown 5, Hammond 0: Two NAC West rivals were short on numbers in the consolation game but there was no lack of effort or heart in the match of neighboring rivals.
The Rockets evened its record to 1-1 on the season taking a 3-0 halftime lead. Dakota Marshall generated two goals and one assist while Jeff King produced two first half goals to lift the Rockets. Kellas Lowery also scored for the winners who received a five save shutout by Alex Colby. Colton Tate had 12 saves for Hammond.
"We really did a nice job playing a man down for 16-20 minutes. Jeff King scored the first goal and then hurt his ankle. We taped him up and he went back in and scored again but he aggravated the ankle," said MCS Coach Mike Roberts.
"He wanted to keep playing but I took him out. Our first touches were very good today and Aaron Stout really did a good job in that department at outside fullback. He made some great little moves with the ball to send it up the sidelines or take it upfield himself."
Hammond Coach Katina Dillon looked for her team to improve when it gains full strength this week and felt that sweeper Jacob Bresett set the tone.
"Jacob Bresett worked extremely hard at sweeper throughout the tournament. And he was constantly encouraging his teammates, he was a real leader."
Blue Devil, Yellowjackets Tie
The OFAJunior Varsity Soccer team tied 0-0 Madrid-Waddington on Saturday.
Jacob Sias made 14 saves for the Devils who outshot the Jackets 23-14.
Pat Cosmo, Chris Axtell, Jordan Fifield, and Matt Snodgrass led the defense with Matt Piercey, Andrew Guimond, Garrett Calton, and JustinFeldt playing solid in the middle. Jacob Sholette, Connor Hannan, and Nathan Peo worked hard up front said OFA Coach Jim Howard.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
OFA 8, Hammond 0: Grant Prudhomme fashioned three goals and set up a tally by Gian Rufa in the first minute. Rufa made it 2-0 a minute later off an assist from Paul LaPlante and the Blue Devils cruised to a 6-0 lead.
Kyle Manke contributed a goal and three assists while Andy Rickett and Brent Lalonde struck for the other goals. Matt Ahrens and Jerry Guimond passed out single assists in support of Tyler Carrow and Matt Tolman who combined to make three saves in the shutout. Darrin Ragin and Tony Devito had a total of 11 stops tending goal for Hammond.
N-N 4, Hammond 0: Andrew Stone sparked the Flyer attack with three goals, starting with the eventual game-winner in the 10th minute, an unassisted long range missile from the left corner that hit the top of the net at the far post. Ben Purvis made it 2-0 from Alex Ploof.
Stone put the game out of reach in the second half with the final two goals, unassisted and then off an assist from Ploof. Jeremy Waite handled eight shots in the shutout while Alex Colby logged 18 saves in a stellar effort for Morristown.
