The Garden City Tomahawks (boys U-11) soccer team battled the sun and heat to bring home the second place title at the East Meadow Refuel Tournament on Aug. 28 and 29.

Play began on Saturday with an early morning start against the North Shore Lightning as the Tomahawks came out fighting. In the opening minutes the Lightning tried to strike, but were quickly turned back to Nigel Carpenter who wouldn't let them near the goal. The Tomahawks warmed up their offense with attempts on goal by Kyle Walsh, Dean Gibbons, and Justin Kirschner, as half backs Alex Buck and Patrick Raymond kept the ball clear of danger. A corner kick by Chris Zinglli went to the waiting Drew Tice who sent the ball to Tim Holman who kept the pressure on. A nice kick by Holman sent the ball halfway down the field where James Lindsay and Brian Johnston kept it out of danger.

As the Lightning tried to break away, Sebastian Gomez intercepted and got the ball downfield where he centered it to Justin Kirschner who passed to Alex Buck. The ball quickly went from Buck to Kyle Walsh to Dean Gibbons who lifted the ball over the defenders' heads and straight into the net for Tomahawks' goal #1. The Lightning tried to go on the offensive, but goalkeeper Robert Stufano wouldn't allow it, saving three attempts in quick succession. The Tomahawks passed like pros, as James Lindsay, Chris Zingalli and Patrick Raymond refused to let the Lightning maintain possession.

As the temperature rose, the Tomahawks ran faster and played harder. Dean Gibbons intercepted from a Lightning throw in and demonstrated his ability to control the ball as he passed to Alex Buck who left-footed it to Patrick Raymond who crossed the ball into the net for Tomahawks goal number two. A greater corner kick by Nigel Carpenter flustered the Lightning as Justin Kirschner got the ball to Brian Johnson for a nice try on goal, which was barely saved by the Lightning, whose goalkeeper retaliated by kicking the ball to the waiting feet of Tim Holman who got it, controlled it and passed it to Alex Buck. Buck sent the ball to Nigel Carpenter who aimed, shot and found the net for goal number three.

The Tomahawks kept the momentum up as they quickly scored as James Lindsay's kick sent the ball into the net for goal number four and a half-time score of 4-0 Tomahawks. By game two, the Saturday afternoon sun was beating down as the Tomahawks faced Rockville Centre. Justin Kirschner quickly got the ball away from Rockville Centre and sent it to Sebastian Gomez who fought to keep possession. Drew Tice was there to help, passing to Chris Zingalli who crossed to Tim Holman. Holman out-distanced the Rockville Centre defense as he took the ball down the field, kicked and scored for a quick Tomahawk goal. Brian Johnson, Sebastian Gomez and Chris Zingalli refused to make things easy for the opposition. With Nigel Carpenter's super defense play, Rockville Centre barely had a chance to try on goal, but each time they did, keeper Robert Stufano showed them the futility of their attempts. As the first half drew to a close, Chris Zingalli took a corner kick; the ball went to "bigfoot" Drew Tice who passed to James Lindsay who shot the ball into the net for the second Tomahawks goal of the game.

The second half began with RVC quickly making an attempt on goal which was just as quickly saved by Robert Stufano. As the Tomahawks gaied possession, Chris Zingalli passed the ball to Tim Holman who kicked the ball into the net for Tomahawks goal three. Again RVC attempted to score, but a spectacular rebound save by Stufano fended them off. The Tomahawks kept the pressure building and RVC couldn't overcome it as Kyle Walsh scored on a goal kick, making it 4-0 Tomahawks.

The Tomahawks maintained possession as Sebastian Gomez pased to Justin Kirschner who got the ball to James Lindsay. A nice header by Drew Tice went to Chris Zingalli who passed to Tim Holman. Fighting for the ball, Holman sent it to Nigel Carpenter who kept it in and crossed to Tim Holman who took a nice attempt on goal. James Lindsay wouldn't let RVC near the ball as he passed it to Carpenter. Carpenter avoided the oncoming RVC defenders, passed to Sebastian Gomez who kicked the ball past the RVC keeper for Tomahawk goal #5. Another goal by James Lindsay on an assist by Tice raised the total to six, and even a bee sting on the chin didn't stop Robert Stufano from saving every RVC attempt on goal. Final score: Tomahawks 6, Rockville Centre 0.

By the third game of the day against Northport, the Tomahawks were hot and tired, but they refused to give up. The first Tomahawks goal came quickly as a kick by Tom Holman went into the net off a Northport defender. Chris Zingalli quickly got the ball away from the Northport defense, took it down the field and kicked it in for goal two. Northport regained possession and made an attempt on goal, but Stufano was there and saved it. The Tomahawks kept the pressure on as a corner kick by Chris Zingalli found Tim Holman, who turned it, took the shot and scored for goal three.

Even two quick goals by Northport couldn't demoralize the Tomahawks, who came right back as Alex Buck got the ball to Patrick Raymond who crossed it to Kyle Walsh who aimed, kicked and scored four. Passing was the name of the game as Patrick Raymond ran down the ball, passed to Buck who sent it to Gibbons who wouldn't let Northport near, turning the ball and passing it to Walsh who kicked it down to Holman who shot it in for goal five. Two solid attempts on goal by Carpenter and Lindsay and a great deflection of a Northport indirect by Gibbons ended the game with the final score 5-2 Tomahawks.

Sunday arrived and was hot and muggy by noon as the Tomahawks faced the undefeated West Hempstead team for the fourth game of the tournament. With the West Hempstead team averaging eight goals per game, the Tomahawks held them to one goal in the first half. In the second half, the Tomahawks scored on a cross from Tim Holman to Dean Gibbons, whose kick found the net. Although the Tomahawks were unable to defeat West Hempstead, they held the undefeated team at bay and the Tomahawks defense made the opposition fight for every inch. By game five against East Meadow, the Tomahawks were ready to prove their worth.

Despite the heat and humidity, the Tomahawks kept on fighting. As East Meadow attempted to pass in the first half, Kyle Walsh went after the ball, outran the defender, aimed, kicked and scored goal one. Two East Meadow goals only made the Tomahawks play harder and better Tim Holman intercepted on an EM pass and sent the ball to Alex Buck who got it to Dean Gibbons who passed it on to Chris Zingalli who scored for number two. A second attempt on goal by Walsh on a cross from Holman nearly found its mark and an attempt by Gomez off a pass from Holman kept the pressure on East Meadow.

By the second half, the Tomahawks were relentless, vowing not to allow any goals by the opposition and determined to score the winning goal. That moment came as Justin Kirschner fought for the ball and kicked it upfield to Kyle Walsh who booted it in for goal three. The final score was Tomahawks 3 - East Meadow 2 as the Tomahawks headed home with the second place title and their first trophy of the season.