The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Fenerty’s Irish eyes are smiling
Since way back in mid-January, nine teams have been battling every Monday evening in the indoor soccer league, aka Futsol. The league started three years ago and continues to hold strong, bringing out a variety of talent and nationalities, including Peruvians, the Irish and even some Texans.
On Monday, March 16 the season came to a close with Team Fut Soul taking the 2015 title, edging out a 4-3 win over Sport Lashuebas.
It was a dismal start for Fut Soul way back in January as they dropped the first two games of the season. Since then though, they rattled off nine wins and a tie to enter the post-season tournament the number one seed.
Sport Lashuebas’ season was quite different, as they muddled around in the middle of the standings all season, winning a few here, losing a few there and coming into the playoffs the sixth seed.
But they peaked when it mattered most and had a terrific run on the final night of the season, battling their way out of the loser’s bracket.
They opened the evening with a win over the high school team Booty Patrol. Then they pulled off a massive upset, beating the third-seeded Average Jose’s in sudden death and carried their momentum into the loser’s bracket finals to take down the second-seeded team Godzilla vs. Transformers 3-0.
Meanwhile, Fut Soul’s trip to the finals was calm, cool and calculated. After cruising through the first round of the playoffs last week, they had just one game between them and the finals and, while their play was erratic, they managed to put together a solid enough effort to win 3-1 for the showdown in the championship game.
The game was a clash of styles as Sport Lashuebas liked to pack in the defense and then counter with the long ball over the top. Meanwhile, Fut Soul’s approach was a bit more organized, stretching the floor and looking for passing combinations to open lane shots on net.
As a result, Fut Soul had Lashuebas pinned in their defensive half but couldn’t find a seam for the first three minutes of the game, frustrating their organized attack. Fut Soul spirit warrior Jeff Jaquith provided the difference in the middle as he posted up 10 feet in front of the net to receive a pass. Two players collapsed on him to try to strip him of the ball but Jaquith turned to goal and drove a low shot through the mess to find the back of the net and a 1-0 lead.
Forty seconds later, Fut Soul struck again as Cole Brittain broke up a pass with a quick toe poke, settled the loose ball and beat two players to push the ball through for a 2-0 Fut Soul lead.
Lashuebas are notoriously cunning in their play though, and they pulled back into the game over the next three minutes. Down two goals, they were forced to stretch out and apply pressure higher up the court. The effort paid off as they picked off a pass to set up their first goal. Then, with 30 seconds left in the half, they returned to the high ball for their attack with a flick crosscourt and a header goal to send the two teams into halftime notched in a 2-2 tie.
Both teams came out in the second half a bit hesitant, but Fut Soul continued to dominate possession and eventually set up shop once again looking for a break in the Lashuebas defense. But Lashuebas’ defensive stand proved flawless and they looked to counter with their classic big ball counterattack. Fortunately, Fut Soul was well aware and Kyle Pendleton and Lesley Seale were in perfect position to deny Lashuebas any clean looks midcourt, as Ian Elder closed down all attacks on the flanks.
As time waned, things tensed up for Fut Soul but they maintained their composure to break the tie with two minutes left. Elin Binck stepped in front of a Lashueba player to pick off a pass and found Brittain up-court with a quick touch. Brittain turned and split two players with two quick touches to score for a 3-2 lead. A minute later, Fut Soul struck again as Binck took a pass wide and found Brian Fenerty breaking free on the weak side with a crosscourt pass. Fenerty settled the ball and drove the shot past the final Lashuebas defender for a 4-2 lead.
Elder came up huge to stop a two-on-one in the final minute and while Lashuebas netted one last goal, time ran out and Fut Soul sealed the 2015 indoor soccer title.
