And Now a Words From the Parents

The best way to thank someone as wonderful and selfless as Dan is to begin with a quote:
(for all of the 8th grade soccer parents – this will mean a lot more to you)

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."-- Calvin Coolidge

Dan has been with most of the kids in this ‘UNDEFEATED Championship Winning 8th Grade Division 1Under-14 SIYSL Team’ for about 9 years.

Let’s start with what Dan has given these kids:

- Teamwork, Commitment, Respect, Self Confidence, Sportsmanship, Lifelong Friendships

Dan has given of himself and I am sure his wife Ivette will attest; hours upon hours of time to the Petrides Soccer Program. He has built this program from the ground up and continues to build and develop this wonderful program. He is one of those people who practices what he preaches – it has never been about winning, it is about winning and losing as a team.

His whole ideals center around a team philosophy – that no one is above it. (Funny enough, he just mentioned the other day how he doesn’t believe in an MVP that it takes a team to win.) As a parent who was lucky enough to have him coach my son – I feel honored that he has been with me every step of the way teaching values and morals to my son and his friends.

Lastly to all of the kids who have been a part of his team, please take a moment every now and then to reflect on what he has given you and the memories you all share in being a part of such a fantastic program. The best way to do this is to try your best EVERY day and remember to live and give life your fullest potential. It’s people like Dan who give of themselves and expect nothing in return.

These are powerful words to live by…

(My thanks to Candy and the others for recognizing and appreciating the effort)


But remember....
“The test of a good coach is that when they leave, others will carry on successfully.” Author Unknown

Season Ending Leads to New Beginning

As the Petrides Panthers Blue took the field for their final game today, Mark Murraso, Jr. took over the coaching duties and called out the positions. Coach Mark and myself sought shelter from the blistering heat on the parent's side of the field and settled in to watch the action amongst the distractions and the idle chatter.

The line stayed the same, with the exception of Katrina W. and Vicky R who decided to take on the roll of cheerleaders for the last game, ready to play at a moments notice. BJ started the scoring when he settled a Ryan H. pass and put it in the back of the net. Mike M. had a chance to follow, but his shot was knocked down by a hand in the box, and his PK stuck to the melting turf, making it an easy save for the keeper. A few minutes later Mike redeemed himself and found the goal. Game control from that part on wasn't an issue although Eddie R. and Richard A. had to run down a Hill player from time to time.

As the temperature hit 100, we started the second half. Katrina took time away from tanning to play some soccer and pushed a ball outside to a streaking Greg M who blasted a bullet. Minutes later Greg followed with a 'Flying Fajita' header off a Chris E. corner and ended up in the back of the net with the ball.

After Hill scored a couple of goals into what looked like an empty net, BJ answered back with a goal of his own and regained the team scoring title, much to the delight of the cheering fans. Mike M. chipped in the last goal of the game, of the season, and of the run to secure the 6-2 victory and the undefeated title.

...Can't wait till High School.

"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves."-Mike Ditka

Practice - None
Game - None
Party - 6/9 6pm Miyako
Party - 6/13 4pm Petrides

And now the end is near...

Today's game ended as expected and our play mirrored the way we played against the 7th graders in game 3. We dominated play on our side, took some shots but no one was playing with any real intensity. Joe Roda put it best "We were playing down to them".

Some bouncing balls missed there mark and a strong Panther White defense ate up all our shots in the first half. They were giving up corners but we were letting the ball through without connecting. Not until a Vicky R. corner kick bounced around the box and found the head of Jimmy D. did we finally get on the board. (an actual scoreboard) We ended the half up 1-0 and didn't give up a shot on goal, but only took 6 of our own.

After the half time ritual speech of the mistakes we were making and how to correct them, we started with a new look. Jimmy D. was a last minute sub at keeper after another player forgot the meaning of team play. We pushed the ball down field and had some chances, but the hustle wasn't there. Not until Mike M's aggressive play put a rebound past their outstretched keeper. The White answered right back, when they took advantage of a defensive miss play and a soft shot to the far post rolled through the fingers of our guest goalie. We had ourselves a game.

The push continued, and with Greg M. running the flank, crosses were being missed, but we kept the pressure on. When Mike M's second goal was stolen by Dean F. we were up by 2, and accomplished the team's mission...."EVERYBODY SCORED A GOAL THIS SEASON". Mike M. jambed in what would have been his hat trick in the final minute, and the Petrides Panthers Blue clinched their 2nd Straight Under 14 Boys Division 1 Title.

With next week being our 148th and last game as a team, I've asked Mark Murrasso, Jr. to coach the game and I will take up position on the parents side for the first time in 9 Years. I'll have my chair, a cigar...and look forward to enjoying the action with the other parents.

Thanks for a great run......


Last Practice: Friday 2:30 to 4:00
Last Game: Sunday 9:00 (Show Up 8:30)

Championship Party: Monday 6/9 6:00 pm
Miyako Sushi & Hibachi
939 Richmond Ave (Corner of Forest Ave by IHOP)

"A Championship Team is a Team of Champions"

"Build for your team a feeling of oneness,

of dependence on one another and of strength

to be derived by unity".

Vince Lombardi

After 8 games, we've found the secret to a great first half....a late afternoon game. After a morning of sleeping late, lounging around and catching the latest reruns on the Cartoon Network, we finally got around to soccer and we were ready to play.

Within the first two minutes, we knew the game was won, question was how to make it interesting for the next hour... but somehow we found a way.

Mike Marotta opened the scoring went he shot an Eddie Rosario rebound past an outstretched goalie. Minutes later a Safet Redzovic shot was stopped and a Richard Avvento rebound went wide, only to be jambed in by a sliding guest player, brother Miguel. BJ Bifalco's pass found the net, but not Safet. BJ kept passing and the forwards kept trying, but no one was scoring, until Birthday Boy Eddie Rosario settled a bouncing ball, stepped around a defender and drove a shot into the net from an unfamiliar midfield position and we were up by 4 into the half. Speaking of unfamiliar positions, this was the biggest lead we brought into a half all season.

Musical chairs were played at the start of the second half, with Eddie ending up in net, Katrina Wiesner as center full back, Daniel D'Alessandro as stopper. and BJ in Midfield. This was going to be interesting.

With the start of the half we had one mission, goals for our non-season scorers. We were down to three, but only two were playing, the third showing commitment to the wrong sport. Richard and Safet were at forward and every pass went to them. Ball after ball were knocked away and it looked like we'd have to wait till next game to get them on the sheet but we kept pushing. When RT drove past the defense and our back peddling keeper let a shot in, no one lost focus, and we played on.

As the game got colorful, BJ was kissed with a YELLOW and then smacked with a RED. We were down a man, but fired up. So much so that Matt Guthrie took a card of his own just to show that we meant business. With Greg Molina running the wing, his cross found the foot of Safet who couldn't miss this one and finally put it in. Minutes later the brothers Avvento connected again, this time Miguel to Richard and our goal was achieved. Greg took it from goal to goal for the last score and the Back 2 Back Division 1 Championship was now secured.

Seven separate scores in one game is truly a team accomplishment.

"Great Job!"

Practice: Monday 5/19 2:30 - 4:30

Scrimiage: Thursday 5/22 2:30 -4:30

Senior Game: Wednesday 5/28 - 6:30 at Petrides

Next Games: Sunday 6/1 12:00 vs. 7th Graders

If only field goals counted....

To win at soccer, a team must take advantage of the opportunities that are given to us. More times than not we wasted those chance. Balls launched through the uprights are a good way to win in American football, but in soccer they just mean that we're kicking the ball wrong. I lost count of the field goals at ten, but even one is too many in our game.


Our game plan was simple, down the sides, to the middle, get the ball to the forward to score. We are on a mission to get every player a goal this season, and to achieve this, unselfish play and team work are needed by everyone.


BJ Bifalco knew the plan, and spent most of the first half pushing the ball across the net so that someone could connect for a goal, but no one did. After a tough penalty set them up for an indirect and a bouncing ball found the back of our net, we were down by one, but the game plan remained the same. When BJ pushed another one across, an alert Safet Redzovic let it role by to avoid the off side call, and it found the far post to ties us up.


After the half time pep talk, we awoke. Matt Guthrie settled a bouncing ball in front of the net and lifted a shot under the cross bar for our second goal. Minutes later he had the chance again, but was pushed off the ball. BJ's follow up put it in and we were back in control, up 3-1. The hat trick put it away with a 30 yarder.


We continued with chance after chance missed by some forward looking for their first of the season, but we continued to keep the pressure on. With the defense dominant, as always, the goalie was substituted with Mike Marotta, playing between the pipes for the first time since 2nd grade. Mike rose to the challenge and even made a save or two.


All in all, maybe another day of practice would have tightened up our play.

3 to go....


Practice: Tuesday 2:30 - 4:30
Thursday 2:30- 4:30


Game: SATURDAY 3pm vs Richmondtown

Food for Thought...

“When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win”

"Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best"

"If I don't practice they way I should, then I won't play the way I know I can"

And my Favorite:

"Success is no accident. It is hard work"

"You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose.”

The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos.
The winner will be the one who controls that chaos,
both his own and the enemies.
Napoleon

Today's victory was nothing short of a war. Last weeks battle put us on top, but a win this week would keep us there, and Holy Child knew it. They came ready with all their players, but so did we and we needed each of you to win.

We had our chances in the first half but weren't finishing. Break away after breakaway were shut down and their defense was wise to our left side attack. We were trying to break through but were being stopped on each try. And when they broke through the defense and a wet ball found it's way through the outstretched hands of goalie Gaetano Sciove, the game plan needed to change. Going into the half down 1-0 was not where any of us wanted to be, but it takes two halves to make a game.

Coach Mark reached deep into his bag of tricks, and pulled out the answer. Safet Redzovic made a guest appearance in net, Jabari Archer was pulled back to defense and the Forward attack of Molina / Bifalco was put together. Archer played his spot like a veteran, pushing the ball up the right side to Ryan Hapuarachchi, who connected with Greg and BJ pass after pass. Again the chances were coming but the goals weren't. Not until BJ broke through again, blasted a shot at the keeper and the rebound bounced to a waiting Greg Molina to tie us up at 1-1. But we didn't play for ties and we all knew that.

With a fresh slate, our team continued to press ahead, and with the fresh legs of Matt Guthrie running the wing, we continued to move the ball. After Matt's cross found a hole in the defense and BJ's lobbed a shot that feel short, Michael Marotta came flying in from Midfield and "coughed up a hair ball" that took the goalie into the net and put us on top for good.

Every game brings us closer to the end, but every victory prepares us for the future.

4 to go.....

In the end...it was harder to get you all to smile for the photo than it was to win the game.

Practice: Tuesday 3 to 5 Thursday 4:30 to 6:30
Game: Sunday 9:00 (Arrive at 8:30) Happy Mother's Day!