WESTFIELD UNITED
COURTESY OF JIM HAGAN
WINDSOR, CONN. – The Westfield United U13 boys traveled to Windsor, CT to participate in the 28th Annual Paul R. Cody Soccer Tournament over the Columbus Day weekend. The Tournament had over 160 teams competing in the soccer classic under beautiful, sun-filled skies. Westfield had a tremendously successful tournament finishing in second place, one point behind the first place Granby, CT Rovers.
Westfield got off to a strong start by defeating Somers, CT by a score of 3-0 on Saturday, October 12th . The scoring began early in the first half as right wing Jimmy Hagan broke free over mid-field and carried the ball toward the end line, where he then put a crossing pass over to Jack Hogan, who tipped the ball to left wing Aaron Blanchard who slipped the ball past the Somers goalie to put Westfield up 1-0. Westfield never looked back in the game and added its second goal of the game when Jimmy Hagan again broke free at mid-field, sent a nice pass down the line to a hustling Carter Cousins, who faked by a defender and sent a crossing pass to left wing Mike Lurgio, who blasted the ball by the goaltender from 10 yards out. With Westfield leading 2-0, center mid- fielder Mark Botin led a streaking Brenden LaForest down the left side of the field. LaForest put a perfectly placed shot into the back of the net to make it 3-0 Westfield. The Westfield defense was led by goaltenders James Grubelic and Mike Lurgio who closed down the Somers offense. Frank Florek, Pat Lurgio, Paul Piepergerdes and Parker Kelley all played well in the defensive backfield in support of Grubelic.
In Westfield's second game of the day on Saturday, Westfield scored 3 goals to secure the win against a determined Suffield, CT team by a score of 3-1. Niko Flevotomos began the scoring for Westfield with a beautiful shot into the lower right corner of the goal after a receiving a through ball from center mid-fielder Mark Botin. Botin added to the scoring by creating his own offense after stealing a ball form a Suffield defender and placing a well timed shot into the net to put Westfield up 2-0. Suffield then got on the scoreboard with their own goal to make it 2-1. Aaron Blanchard put another goal on the board for Westfield by scoring from the left wing after two nice passes from Jimmy Hagan and Parker Kelley. James Grubelic played well in goal and Westfield again got strong defensive efforts from Pat Lurgio, Frank Florek, Paul Piepergerdes and Parker Kelley. In addition, Head Coach Pete Lurgio made a strategic decision to move Jimmy Hagan, Mike Lurgio and Carter Cousins to the defensive end of the field at times in the second half to provide additional defensive support and keep the Suffield offensive attack off balance. Matt Rowe and Jack Hogan provided solid mid-field and offensive support as well.
Sunday morning October 13th provided the toughest test of the tournament for Westfield United when they faced off with the Granby Rovers. An aggressive Westfield team got on the scoreboard first when right wing Jimmy Hagan raced down the sideline and received a pin point pass from center mid-fielder Mark Botin . Hagan was able to use his speed to beat the defenders and blast a shot into the lower right hand corner of the net to put Westfield up 1-0. After several scoring opportunities for both the teams, Granby's mid-fielder drilled a ball from 30 yards out into the top left corner of the net to even the score. Westfield's defense led by sweeper Brenden LaForest along with Pat Lurgio and Frank Florek kept the talented Granby offense off the score board until a contested goal by Granby put Granby up 2-1. The Westfield defense appeared to have the attacking Granby offense off-sides on the play, however, no call was made and the goal counted leading Westfield to its only loss of the weekend. Goaltender James Grubelic came up with several nice saves to keep Westfield in the game. Niko Flevotomos, Carter Cousins, Mike Lurgio , Matt Rowe and Aaron Blanchard had good all around games for United.
Westfield rebounded with a 4-0 victory in the afternoon game on Sunday against Bloomfield, CT. Mark Botin got the offense going with a nice run down the mid-field where he received a perfectly placed cross from Paul Piepergerdes and shot the ball low and away from the Bloomfield goalie. Jimmy Hagan added to the scoring with a well placed shot into the back of the net after a nice give and go with Mark Botin. Aaron Blanchard then scored off a strong crossing pass from Carter Cousins who had a speedy overlapping run up the sideline after receiving a break out pass from Jimmy Hagan. Aaron Blanchard later netted his second goal of the game using passes once again from Jimmy Hagan and Carter Cousins. Goaltender James Grubelic played well in the net for Westfield and the defense of Brenden LaForest, Pat Lurgio, Frank Florek and Matt Rowe was strong in keeping Bloomfield off the scoreboard. Niko Flevotomos , Mike Lurgio, Parker Kelley and Jack Hogan also played well in the win.
The final game of the tournament took place on Columbus Day when Westfield United played the Garden City, New Jersey Avengers. Westfield won 5-0 and was led offensively by Jimmy Hagan who had 4 points on the day. Jack Hogan got Westfield a 1-0 lead early in the first half. The scoring opportunity came about when Jimmy Hagan stole the ball from a Garden City defender and moved the ball up to a crafty Niko Flevotomos, who made a nice fake to beat the opposing defender, and sent a crossing pass over to Hogan who nicely tipped the ball past the Garden City goalkeeper. Parker Kelley added to the scoring with a goal at the mid- point of the first half . The play began with Paul Pieprgerdes attacking from the back field and moving the ball up the field to striker Jimmy Hagan who then spotted Kelley and sent a through pass over to the left side of the field where Kelley was able to get a strong shot off and score. Westfield's third goal of the day came when Mark Botin was knocked down in the penalty box area. Botin was awarded a penalty shot and calmly scored into the lower right hand corner. Jimmy Hagan added to the scoring when he broke free down the middle of the field and right wing Aaron Blanchard made a smooth pass over to Hagan who blasted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 Westfield. The final goal of the game came when Jimmy Hagan stole the ball off of a goal kick and lofted the ball up and over the Garden City goalie to make it Westfield 5 and Garden City 0. James Grubelic, Mike Lurgio and Aaron Blanchard all took turns in goal for Westfield and shut out Garden City. It was Westfield's third shut out of the Tournament. Playing well once again on defense was Brenden LaForest, Paul Piepergerdes, Frank Florek and Pat Lurgio.
Westfield United finished the tournament in second place just one point behind Granby, CT. For the tournament, the high powered Westfield offense scored 17 goals while giving up only 3 goals. Jimmy Hagan led the team with 10 points on 4 goals and 6 assists, while Mark Botin produced 7 points with 2 goals and 5 assists, and Aaron Blanchard had 6 points on 5 goals and one assist. The defense was led by goalie James Grubelic and the strong play of defenders Brenden LaForest, Paul Piepergerdes, Frank Florek ,Pat Lurgio and Parker Kelley who were outstanding all through the weekend. Mid-fielders/forwards Mike Lurgio, Carter Cousins, Matt Rowe, Niko Flevotomos and Jack Hogan had strong play throughout the tournament.
Head Coach Pete Lurgio and Assistant Coach Jim Hagan praised the boys for their effort and hard work which led to successful play in the tournament.
