October 10, 2006 > Blizzard plows into 2006 season

by Naseem Chini

The Blizzard, of the boy's Under-12 House League, has had a phenomenal run thus far in the 2006 season.  Since the beginning of the season on Sept. 9, they have had six high-powered games under the strong leadership and guidance of coaches Yoed Nehoran and Pat Mapelli, as well as assistant coaches Nelson Fuentes and Santiago Lee.

Blizzard went undefeated for the first five games only to lose to an equally strong team, the Scorpions, in their sixth game on Saturday, Sept. 30, by a score of 2 to 1.  The players on the team displayed great camaraderie and teamwork.

On offense, Clayton Mapelli, Jake Roggenbusch, Harish Shanker, and Joshua Lee worked well together and had several shots on goal that were either stopped by the goalie or whistled for off sides.  The midfielders and defensive players, notably Jacob Dutra, Billy Huang, Kyle O'Dell and Barry Nehoran, displayed good skills and gave a strong effort to keep the ball in the opposition's end of the field.  Adrian Fuentes played goalie for Blizzard throughout the game as he blocked several attempted shots on goal. 

Scorpions opened the scoring in the first half and then later were whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area.  Clayton Mapelli of Blizzard took the penalty shot and put the ball into the back of the net, which tied the game at the end of the first half.  In the second half, Blizzard pushed forward attempting to break the tie, but Scorpions scored the only goal of the half to give then a 2-1 victory at the final whistle.  Blizzard has great leadership to hone the team's tremendous playing skills, which should bode well for the remainder of the season.  Go Blizzard!