The Mineola U-8 Soccer Tornadoes fled indoors for Thanksgiving weekend in the Kids For Cancer Tournament at Plainedge High School. The boys took some lumps playing in an older division but came away inspired and none the worse for wear behind the tutelage of husband and wife coaching tandem of Dr. Ann and Rich Forte. The four game round robin format was conducted under regular soccer rules in fifteen minutes of running time. The matches were quick and exciting and provided some breathtaking play both offensively and defensively.

Our charges needed one game under their belt before they appreciated the sense of pace and nature of the action at hand. Unfortunately, the opening task was to face the eventual winners from Oceanside who dominated play in a 5-0 shutout. Despite the score, Tyler Kapela was outstanding in goal with thirteen saves and allowed no goals over the first seven minutes. The Tornadoes managed only two shots on goal limiting the chances to stay competitive.

Game two saw quite the contrast in a hard fought battle versus the Levittown Blues. Greg Carlin and Jonathan Kowalcyzk had early chances before an opposing score in the third minute. Kowalcyzk fired the tying tally a minute later only to see the Tornadoes succumb to the deciding goal in another fifteen seconds. The remainder was a lesson in futility. Nick Palma shot wide and dead on in two excellent opportunities a minute and a half apart. Ryan Winters had a shot blocked while Anthony Destefano curled a corner kick just short of the net. Bobby Kelly was timely on defense with a pair of kick saves in support of Tommy Breslin who manned the mouth and picked up eight saves in the process. The play of the tournament was a Tyler Kapela rocket with 1:45 remaining. Kapela drilled the short high corner for the potential tie only to see the keeper's head absorb the blow and send the rebound to mid-court. Levittown managed a meaningless goal in the final few seconds to seal the 3-1 win.

Mineola sent Ryan Winters to the posts for the third game and the second consecutive Levittown foe. "Boo" Kowalczyk put a perfect pass on the foot of Greg Carlin for an early lead that was stifled by an athletic keeper. A penalty kick assessed against the Tornado resulted in a one goal deficit in the twelfth minute. Rich Forte sent a three quarter court screamer, Kowalcyzk snatched a rebound and Destefano fed the doorstep - all three to meet snuffed fates. Winters could not stop an own goal ricochet at three minutes despite ten solid saves for the game. Carlin manufactured hope with a beautiful high arcing shot at 1:20 to cut the lead in half. As time expired, the play was fast and furious but could not turn the tables on a 2-1 defeat.

The final set matched the Tornadoes against the home town Plainedge Soccer Club. A deficit in the first minute did not prevent Kowalcyzk from scoring off a direct kick. Forte fell victim to the goalkeeper's flying feet for his best chance of the tourney. Kowalczyk nailed his second of the game shortly after his first and completed a trio at three minutes for their biggest lead of the evening. Greg Carlin wanted the goalie assignment and his eight saves looked like enough before a final hometown rush. Reminiscent of an earlier tournament demise this year, the unlucky Tornadoes would surrender a duet of goals in the final minute for a frustrating 3-3 tie.

Normally indoor tournaments are rough and tumble affairs which oft resemble squash matches more than soccer. The Plainedge group are commended for playing the games on the high school basketball court establishing a normal soccer sized field of play. The games combined the normal tasks of corner kicks and throw-ins with some modified rules for full field goalie clears. Short game times led to exciting finishes and a loud and accommodating sense of excitement for the nearly full gym crowd. Line shifts were done in hockey like style with changes occurring "on the fly" and "on the yell" by our laid back coaches. The Tornadoes expect to return in another Plainedge tournament in mid- January but will be schooled and more familiar with the skills and dimensions necessary for a more successful outcome next time. Many thanks to the Mineola Athletic Association, particularly Boys Soccer President Marianne Wachter, for their ongoing sponsorship of the Tornadoes' efforts during 2001.