The Garden City Tomahawks (boys U11 travel team) played its first state cup game on Sunday, Oct. 24, against the Longwood Jaguars. It was without a doubt the best team effort seen yet from the Tomahawks. The Tomahawks players stayed in position, passed the ball well, used their teammates, ran well after the ball, and gave an outstanding performance.

The pace was set early in the first half as the Jaguars' first attempt on goal was saved spectacularly by goalkeeper Robert Stufano, who dove at the ball and pushed it back and over the net out of play. Stufano had a very quiet game after that, being called upon only three times, but each time he played well, saving certain goals on two of those occasions. Dean Gibbons played an outstanding game as a fullback with an attacking bent, attacking regularly and effectively from the fullback position. Justin Kirschner played a very solid defensive game, stopping many threats and kicking the ball extremely well. Tim Holman did his usual outstanding job in the middle of the field playing a super defensive game, stopping the opponents on a regular basis and passing extremely well.

The left-footed trio of Alex Buck, Sebastian Gomez and Patrick Raymond played extremely well together on the left side of the field with good passes and lots of good attack moves. Kyle Walsh kept finding the right place to be and the right time to be there. Chris Zingalli made the most of his speed, while Jordan Ramsland and Brian Johnston played with endless tenacity and effort. Drew Tice, starting as a forward for the first time, was in great form, attacking with a lot of spirit and putting in some fairly fearsome crosses. James Lindsay electrified the team as he came back kicking, despite several injuries.

Despite the efforts of the Jaguar's goalkeeper who deflected countless attempts on goal, the Tomahawks couldn't be stopped. With about 10 minutes to go in the second half, the Jaguars tripped Tomahawk halfback Alex Buck at the edge of the penalty area, giving the Tomahawks a direct free kick. Patrick Raymond took the kick, which rebounded to him off one of the defenders. Raymond hit it first time into the roof of the net over the goalkeeper's grasping hands, making the score 1-0 Tomahawks.

The whole team made a major effort with lots of running and passing the ball to each other accurately and intelligently, and their effort paid off as they brought home the victory.