Members of the Garden City Crusaders (boys U-11) along with their guests from the Garden City Tomahawks and Garden City Sting spent the Aug. 7 weekend doing what they like best¬playing soccer! Eight Crusaders were joined by five Tomahawks and a Sting for the 2-day tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The boys, who had never played together as a team and had only two short practices before the tournament began, proved beyond a doubt that Garden City is a force to be reckoned with as they gave the more experienced U-12 competition a run for their money they won't soon forget!

The tournament began early Saturday morning with Garden City pitted against the Bayern Lightning, an older team that's been playing together for six years. Bayern knew how to pass the ball, but tenacity was the name of the game as Garden City refused to quit. Terry Kennedy and Tim Holman demonstrated their ability to pass, as Pete Cento, Patrick Raymond and James Ladner showed how to keep that ball in play. Owen Ludeman, Chris Zingalli and James O'Halloran gave new meaning to the word "aggressive," while Kevin Fuchs, Kyle Walsh and Tim Martin showed how the ball should be kicked. When it came to defense, Luke Mitchell and Alex Buck defined "in their faces," and Kevin Volpe was nothing short of dynamic, saving so many goals spectators stopped keeping count. Mom Diane Walsh saved one on the sidelines, showing how even the parents were into the game.

By game 2, the boys were really playing as a team against the larger Herndon, Virginia U-12 team. Kevin Volpe put the opposition on the defensive as he easily saved their first attempt on goal. When Herndon fouled, Garden City reacted as if they'd been playing together forever. Kevin Fuchs took the kick, sent the ball to Tim Martin, who passed to Terry Kennedy who sent it on its way to Chris Zingalli. James Ladner got it, sent it back to Kennedy who passed it to Pete Cento. When Herndon kicked it out, Cento threw it straight to Owen Ludeman who began back-and-forthing it with Patrick Raymond. When the ball neared danger, the Buck-Holman-O'Halloran trio moved it to safety. Luke Mitchell intercepted and crossed to Ludeman, and when Herndon went for it, Kyle Walsh got it out of trouble. With Herndon routinely kicking the ball 3/4 of the way down the field, Garden City was right there. A Kennedy pass found Zingalli who forwarded it on straight to Holman. With Herndon on the run and a great set-up by Tim Holman, Garden City found the net for goal #1. Garden City kept the fight going, as Tim Martin was there for a throw-in, passed the ball to Terry Kennedy who aimed and scored for goal #2. As the play intensified, Herndon made a run for it but Tim Holman broke their momentum with a well-placed kick. As the ball made its way toward the sideline, Patrick Raymond was there to keep it in and cross it to Kevin Fuchs. Fuchs passed to Martin who took the ball up the field where Garden City demonstrated the untapped talent of its players by scoring a total of 3 goals against the older Virginia team.

Sunday morning brought the rain and game 3 against the ultimately undefeated first place U-12 team from Staten Island, followed by game 4 against the Lower Dolphin United of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Dolphin United scored quickly as the game began; Kevin Volpe just as quickly saved their second attempt on goal, as well as countless others, making the Dolphins work harder than they ever expected. Even a direct kick was no match for Volpe as he calmly tied his shoes, adjusted his gloves and proceeded to psyche out the opposition. Garden City kept the pressure on throughout the game. Luke Mitchell, even when momentarily stunned by a ball kicked into his face, never stopped defending. James O'Halloran showed his speed, Chris Zinglalli proved to be fearless, while Kevin Fuchs and Terry Kennedy personified "aggressive." Intercepts by Pete Cento, Alex Buck and Patrick Raymond, a spectacular block by Owen Ludeman, and some fancy footwork by the two Tims (Holman and Martin), who got it together, literally, helped to keep the ball away from the defenders.

While the Garden City team didn't take first place this time, the players epitomized tenacity, camaraderie and sportsmanship.