Game of the Week: Mad Lads United open with 4-0 win

 

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The Fall session kicked off with various sports playing the first game on their schedules. Mad Lads United, the fefending champions, defeated newcomers Arsenal Boys 4-0 to kick off this session of Tuesday Men’s Soccer Blue (there’s a Blue league and a Green league this session). Ostap O. led the way with two goals and Cody H. had a shutout in net for the defending champs.

Both teams were relatively slow in the first half. Mad Lads United had to shake off the rust off that accumulated after taking a few weeks off since the summer session ended. As for Arsenal Boys, it was their first official game together, so they were getting acquainted with each other on the pitch. The teams combined for five shots through the first 17 minutes of the first half.

Action picked up towards the end of the first half as Arsenal Boys made a couple goal line clearances. They couldn’t stop them all as Mad Lads’ Ostap O. scored two, including one with 4.5 seconds left. His two goals added onto a 1-0 lead that was earned by Mad Lads’ Audi when he scored with 10:09 left. The score was 3-0 Mad Lads at halftime, they also had a 7-5 SOG advantage.

Mad Lads United’s backline showed out in the second half. They stopped Arsenal Boys attacks left and right, forcing turnovers and/or shots that were sent wide. I’d wager that Arsenal Boys would’ve let the SOG category and probably scored a couple had Mad Lads’ defense not been as strong. Mad Lads United goalkeeper Cody H. also made a few key saves, 12 overall. Mad Lads United winger Lucas M. put the nail in the coffin when he sniped the top corner of the net with a free kick with 8:18 left in the game.

Final Score: Mad Lads United 4 Arsenal Boys 0

Shots: Mad Lads United 13 Arsenal Boys 12

Three Stars

First Star – Cody H. and the Mad Lads United defense

It doesn’t matter the opponent, earning a shutout at the Epic Center is tough and that’s exactly what they did.

Second Star – Ostap O.

Like a shutout, two goals is nothing to scoff at.

Third Star – Lucas M. 

His second half free kick was a thing of beauty.

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

Game of the Week (Abbreviated): Puckin’ Monkeys crowned champions

The Puckin’ Monkeys championship picture. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The top two seeds of the Tuesday Roller Hockey playoffs faced off in the championship on Tuesday night. Puckin’ Monkeys won their second consecutive session championship by beating Blazing Nuggets 8-7 in overtime. After being down 7-3 at one point, Blazing Nuggets scored four consecutive goals in the second half to tie things up before regulation ended, including a goal with 20.1 seconds left. Puckin’ Monkeys Matthew M., one of five Puckin’ Monkeys goal scorers on Tuesday, scored the championship-deciding goal to earn his team ‘League Champs’ t-shirts. James K. and Mitchell W. led the way for Blazing Nuggets, each tallying four points.

Final Score: Puckin’ Monkeys 8 Blazing Nuggets 7

Three Stars

Puckin’ Monkeys will once again have their names engraved on the Epic Cup.*

First Star – Matthew M., Puckin’ Monkeys

If scoring the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship isn’t worthy of a first star nod, I don’t know what is.

Second Star – Adam O. & Shawn A., Puckin’ Monkeys

They both tallied two goals and an assist each to help win the Tuesday Roller Hockey championship. 

Third Star – James K., Blazing Nuggets

He tallied three goals and an assist. He also finished the session as the top point-getter in all of Tuesday Roller Hockey notching 22 goals and 12 assists.

 

Announcement

This is the last Game of the Week until our September session kicks off. Thank you for all the support!

 

* – Name subject to change

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Puckin’ Monkeys win gritty playoff game

A Puckin’ Monkeys (White/) rush vs Red Machine (red/orange). Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Last Tuesday night, fans at the Epic Center were treated to a rematch of last session’s Tuesday Roller Hockey Lower Championship as Puckin’ Monkeys and Red Machine faced off in the two vs three matchup of this session’s playoffs. Both teams battled and fought (literally), but in the end Puckin’ Monkeys secured a spot in the championship beating Red Machine 6-4. They’ll face Blazing Nuggets next Tuesday.

 

Recap

A faceoff in the Red Machine (red/orange) zone. Picture by James Krolikowski.

Red Machine got out to a 2-0 lead, and killed a power play, in the first ten minutes of the game. Then, Puckin’ Monkeys forward Jeremy K. scored two goals in a four-minute span to tie the game at two apiece. As the game progressed, both teams started to get chippy. There was a combined six minutes by the end of the first half (more on that later). With 1:47 left, Grant S. scored to give Red Machine a 3-2 lead. His shot gave Red Machine a one goal, and one shot, advantage at halftime.

With 15:47 left in the second half, Red Machine looked like they were going to strike as they had a three on one, but Puckin’ Monkeys’ Greg S. laid out to stop a cross crease pass, and blocked a shot just a few moments later. That play shifted the momentum in the game. With 13:30 left, Robert W. scored his first of the game to give Puckin’ Monkeys their first lead of the game, and Tyler H. scored with a snipe to give Puckin’ Monkeys a 5-3 lead. His goal prompted Red Machine to call a timeout and regroup.

With 6:05 Puckin’ Monkeys went on their third power play of the game. Puckin’ Monkeys then chose to kill the clock rather than extend the lead. Red Machine then took another penalty, giving Puckin’ Monkeys a four on two. Red Machine was able to kill that off, and score with 49.7 seconds left. Robert W. scored his second of the game to put the nail in Red Machine’s coffin, and lock up a spot in the championship next Tuesday.

Final Score: Puckin’ Monkeys 6 Red Machine 4

Shots on Goal: Puckin’ Monkeys 29 Red Machine 23

 

Three Stars

 

The game’s second star Robert W. (white) threads a pass by a Red Machine (red) defender  Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

First Star – Jeremy K., Puckin’ Monkeys

Jeremy K. notched a hat trick to help get his team to the championship

 

Second Star – Robert W., Puckin’ Monkeys

Robert W. had two critical goals that helped beat Red Machine

 

Third Star – Blake S., Red Machine

The Red Machine goalie stopped 23 shots in the contest.

 

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Mad Lads United win first ever Tuesday Men’s Soccer championship

The Mad Lads United championship photo. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Last Tuesday night, the one and two seed met in the Tuesday Men’s Soccer championship. Mad Lads United took down the defending champion International FC 2-1 after an enthralling penalty kick shootout. Pedro and George T. scored in regulation, but it was Mad Lads’ Ostap O. who scored the game-winning penalty kick in the last round of the shootout.

 

Recap

Ostap O. buries the game winning penalty kick in the last round of the penalty kick shootout. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

Mad Lads United came out in their usual 3-1-2 formation while International FC came out in the standard 3-3 formation. Much like their lineups, everything was calculated in the first half, and throughout the entire game. Each team was precise in their passes, and stout on defense. The shots on goal total at the end of the first reflected that; 5-3 in favor of Mad Lads United. The one shot that hit the back of the net was a banger. Pedro rifled a knuckleball in with 42.5 seconds left from just outside the center circle.

The second half started with a couple near misses by International FC. The second half featured more of the same: calculated soccer. International FC’s George T. tied the game with 5:08 left when he scored a free kick from just outside the 18-yard-box. No one else scored in regulation, so for the second week in a row, an Epic Center championship game went to a five round penalty shootout.

International FC won the coin toss and elected to shoot first. Both teams exchanged goals in the first two rounds of the shootout. In the third round Jake, the Mad Lads Untied goalkeeper, shut the door and afterwards his team converted. Both teams swapped goals in the fourth round. George T., the International FC’s leading scorer, converted the team’s final penalty kick. Ostap O. stepped up to the plate and buried his penalty kick to secure the championship for Mad Lads United

Final Score: Mad Lads United 2 International FC 1

Shots on Goal: International FC 10 Mad Lads United 9

Three Stars

Action from the Tuesday Men’s Soccer championship featuring Mad Lads United (orange) and International FC (white). Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

First Star – Ostap O., Mad Lads United 

His clutch goal in the fifth round of the shootout won the championship.

 

Second Star – Pedro, Mad Lads United

His goal was one of the many highlights of the championship.

 

Third Star – George T., International FC

George T. scored in regulation and the penalty kick shootout in the championship.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Jive Beat win Tuesday Co-ed Soccer championship

 

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – T-shirts were on the line last Tuesday. The Tuesday Co-ed Soccer session came to an end with Jive Beat beating Wild Oak Beard Co. in the Tuesday Co-ed Soccer Championship, 5-3. Both teams split their session series, highlighted by the championship review the week before the playoffs which saw Wild Oak Beard Co. beat Jive Beat 4-3. In Tuesday’s championship, Austin led the way with three goals for Jive Beat. He netted a league-leading 18 goals during the session.

 

Recap

A player from Wild Oak Beard Co. (navy blue) guarding the ball from a player on Jive Beat (royal blue). Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

Jive Beat came into the championship blasting pump up songs during warmups, as they’ve done for nearly every game in the session and the playoffs. It was Wild Oak Co. who started the game by blasting the ball in for a goal. Captain Nicholas D. scored just five minutes into the game. Jive Beat’s answered with a low driven shot to tie the game.

With 18:38 left, Wild Oak Beard Co. had a goal kick. The goalkeeper, Courtney, booted it down to Josh M. who was standing on the edge six-yard-box and tapped it in for a goal. Wild Oak Beard Co. had taken advantage of the Epic Center house rule which nullifies any offsides on a goal-kick. Josh M.’s goal

In the last ten minutes of the half Austin scored two SportsCenter-worthy goals for Jive Beat. His first goal came on a perfectly placed free kick from roughly 25 yards away from the net. His second came with 29.5 seconds left in the half as he blasted it in top corner to give Jive Beat a 3-2 lead heading into halftime. They outshot Wild Oak Beard Co. 10-6.

The second half was contentious with pristine Epic Center ‘League Champs’ t-shirts being brought to the timekeeper’s station at halftime. Wild Oak Beard Co.’s Doug scored (the hero from last week’s GOTW) to open the second half to tie the game at three. Austin notched his hat trick by roofing the ball in the back of the net with 15:43. After some evenly played soccer, Ben N. iced the game by going five-hole to score with 4:26 left.

Final Score: Jive Beat 5 Wild Oak Beard Co. 3

Shots on Goal: Jive Beat 19 Wild Oak Beard Co. 14

 

Three Stars

First Star – Austin, Jive Beat

All three of his goals would’ve gone viral had someone caught them on camera, they also helped Jive Beat win the championship.

Second Star – Ben N., Jive Beat

His two goals started and finished the game. He also had some great coast-to-coast runs throughout the game.

Third Star – Josh M./Courtney, Wild Oak Beard Co.

Both players connected to take advantage of a seldom remembered rule: no offside on a goal kick at the Epic Center.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

 

Game of the Week: Wild Oak Beard Co. advance on penalties

 

A Wild Oak Beard Co. (blue) player threads the needle between two Rover (dark red/orange) defenders. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Last Tuesday, the Tuesday Co-ed Soccer playoffs unfolded and the matchup between first seeded Wild Oak Beard Co. and fourth seeded Rover was an absolute barnburner. Wild Oak Beard Co. took down Rover in the penalty kick shootout to win 2-1 after it was tied 1-1 after two intense halves of Epic Center Co-ed soccer. The penalty kick shootout made it to the fifth round before Doug put away the game winning goal to send them to the championship.

Recap

Tori from Wild Oak Beard Co. taking a turn in the penalty kick shootout. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

Rover played the game without any substitutes to Wild Oak Beard Co.’s three, but that didn’t stop them from going all out in what was a do or die scenario. Steph C. scored Rover’s only regulation goal at the 20 minute mark of the first half. She scored two in the six game session. With 11:21 left, Nathan P. tied the game by splitting two defenders in a shot that ended up in the top corner of the net (as seen in the featured photo). With one goal each, Rover outshot Wild Oak Beard Co. 8-5 in the first half.

The second half was goalless, but intense. Neither team registered a shot on goal in the first seven minutes. Each team had a few near misses with about seven minutes left in the game. Wild Oak Beard Co.’s goalkeeper Courtney made a few highlight-worthy saves to keep her team in it during crunch time, and throughout the game, to keep her team in it. The second half buzzer sounded with the score still tied at one. The game headed to a best of five penalty shootout.

Rover took the first round thanks to a nice diving save by the Rover goalkeeper, but Wild Oak Beard Co. won or tied the next four rounds to win the game, and secure their spot in the Tuesday Co-ed Soccer championship. Doug won it in the fifth round.

Final Score: Wild Oak Beard Co. 2 Rover 1 (SO)

Shots on Goal: Rover 19 Wild Oak Beard Co. 12

 

Three Stars

First Star – Courtney, Wild Oak Beard Co. She stopped 18 of 19 shots in regulation and made a save in the penalty shootout.

Second Star – Nathan P., Wild Oak Beard Co. He scored in regulation and the third round of the penalty kick shootout. 

Third Star – Doug, Wild Oak Beard Co. On top of playing great defense in regulation, he sent Wild Oak Beard Co. to the championship in the penalty kick shootout.

 

News and Notes

• Next week’s GOTW will be the Tuesday Co-ed Soccer championship next week.
• There wasn’t an article last week because we were closed for the week of Independence Day, sorry for no heads up.

 

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center.

 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Puckin’ Monkeys extends winning streak

A Puckin’ Monkeys forward evades three Red Machine players. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

 

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – This past Tuesday, Puckin’ Monkeys were able to defeat Red Machine 5-1. With the win Puckin’ Monkeys overtakes Blazing Nuggets for first place and extends their current winning streak to four. Red Machine still sits firm in third place with three games to go before the playoffs. As a result of the win Puckin’ Monkeys now have three of the top five pplayers in terms of points in Tuesday Roller Hockey.

Recap

A player from Red Machine winds up for a slapshot . Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

Puckin’ Monkeys forward Tyler H. got the game started when he scored with 18:58 left in the first half. Shortly after Puckin’ Monkeys then went on a powerplay, but Red Machine was able to kill it. Puckin’ Monkeys had double the amount of shots as Red Machine through the first 11 minutes of the first half. They were able to dominate possession and play tight defense for most of the game.

Within the last three minutes of the game Puckin’ Monkeys forward Adam O. scored two goals, the second coming on a silky pass from Andrew H. to make it 3-0 before halftime. Puckin’ Monkeys led 17-9 in the SOG category.

Red Machine’s Chris B. started the second half by scoring a goal off the opening faceoff. Red Machine had the chance to build momentum off the goal, but they did not. Puckin’ Monkeys forward Matt M. picked the top corner of the net with 14:26 left, and Adam O. clinched his hat trick with 10:31 left to make it 5-1

Final Score: Puckin’ Monkeys 5 Red Machine 1

Shots on Goal: Puckin’ Monkeys 33 Red Machine 23

Three Stars

First Star – Adam O. – His hat trick led the way. He now has 15 goals on the session.

Second Star – Zach S. – The Puckin’ Monkeys goalie stopped 22 of 23 shots en route to the victory. 

Third Star – Tyler H.– His goal to open the game was the game-winning goal

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then they’re identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: International FC overtakes Mad Lads United for first place

Action at midfield from International FC vs Mad Lads United. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – This past Tuesday, International FC squeaked out a 6-5 victory against Mad Lads United. With the win, International FC is now in first place, ahead of Mad Lads United, in the Tuesday Men’s Soccer standings. Mad Lads United had a one point lead over International FC before the game. Mad Lads United forward Ostap O. and International FC’s Josh each had three goals.

International FC got out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jason D. and Benty A. Mad Lads United then went on the attack as they were able to tie the game with a goal from Ostap O. and a goal from Lucas M. that caught the International FC off guard as it was from a throw in. Ostap O. scored his second of the night with 4:07 left to give Mad Lads United a 3-2 lead. Josh scored his first of the night to tie the game at three apiece, and that’s how the half ended. International FC and Mad Lads United were tied with eight shots on goal each.

Action from International FC vs Mad Lads United. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

Ostap O. notched his hat trick in the second half by converting a penalty kick after he was pushed down by an International FC defender. With 11:40 left in the game, Josh scored back-to-back goals to clinch his hat trick, and give International FC the lead. Mad Lads United captain Niko K. tied the game with 5:45 left but it was Benty who scored the game winning goal for International FC with 2:30 left in the game.

Final Score: International FC 6 Mad Lads United 5

Shots on Goal: International FC 20 Mad Lads United 20

Next week, International FC takes on Team Team Team. Mad Lads United has the week off.

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then they’re identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center. 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Blazing Nuggets pull away from Red Machine

 

Blazing Nuggets’ Derek ‘Dubya’ M. (blue) surrounded by three Red Machine (red) players. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Blazing Nuggets and Red Machine faced off in this week’s Game of the Week. Red Machine were looking for their second win of the session. Blazing Nuggets looked to maintain their spot atop of the Tuesday Roller Hockey standings, while debuting a new jersey/logo combination inspired by the original Denver Nuggets logo. They did just that as they won by a score of 7-4. Blazing Nuggets abused the Mitchell W. – James K. connection as they linked up for five goals and five assists respectively.

Throughout the first half each team was trading goals. Some literally moments apart from each other.  Red Machine’s Grant S., Jerimiah K., and Johnny E. scored first half goals for their team. Blazing Nuggets goalie Denny F. made a few key saves over the course of the first half. He made nine saves in the first fifteen minutes of the first half. The first half ended 4-3 Blazing Nuggets after a late Blazing Nuggets surge to come back from down 3-2. It was done so in the span of nearly two minutes. Blazing Nuggets had the Shots on Goal advantage as well: 14-12.

Red Machine (red) scores! Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

The second half was dominated by Blazing Nuggets. Even though Red Machine’s Blake S. flashed the glove a few times, and Red Machine’s defense gave up less shots than they did in the first half, Blazing Nuggets were able to pull away for the victory.  It was during the second half when Blazing Nuggets’ Andrew T. and Jason M. scored their two goals to Mitchell W.’s aforementioned five goals. Blazing Nuggets were also able to kill back-to-back power plays thanks to some great fore-checking by James K. to end the game.

Final Score: Blazing Nuggets 7 Red Machine 4

Shots on Goal: Blazing Nuggets 26 Red Machine 25

Next week, Blazing Nuggets plays the second place team, Puckin’ Monkeys at 8 P.M. Red Machine plays 1017 Brick Squad an hour beforehand.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then they’re identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Dukes of Hazard defeats Rover

Dukes of Hazard’s Russ B. (white) tries to attack the Rover (maroon) net. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – No matter what time of the year it is, Dukes of Hazard (named after the FC Chelsea forward) and Rover are sure to be in the midst of a coed soccer session at the Epic Center. The last time a Rover-Dukes of Hazard matchup was featured on Game of the Week was July 13, 2018. Dukes of Hazard took this installment of their regular meetings in a 5-2 victory. Dukes of Hazard’s win puts them in a three way tie for first place with Wild Beard Oak Co. and Jive Beat.

Rover didn’t have three boys and three girls – as per Epic Center coed soccer rules – so they played the first half with five outfield players as opposed to the normal six. Rover started out the game defending well, but Dukes of Hazard scored three goals in a span of three minutes. Nate D. scored his first two of the game, and Russ B. opened the game’s scoring. Dukes of Hazard’s Kyle C. tallied one before the halftime buzzer to give his team a 4-0 lead.

A Dukes of Hazard (white) player and Rover (maroon) player fight for the ball. Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

To open the second half, Nate D. clinched a hat trick to make it 5-0. After some back and forth soccer, Rover finally got on the board with 10:24 left in the game. Rover’s leading goal scorer Brendan A. scored to make it 5-1. Two minutes later, Rover scored again. Rover’s captain Josh B. scored to make it 5-2 with 8:18 left. He accidentally hit a few players in the face with some deflections throughout the game, but he put it where the ball is supposed to go to close Dukes of Hazard’s lead to three. Rover wasn’t able to close the gap in the last few minutes of the game.

Final Score: Dukes of Hazard 5 Rover 2

 

If a player doesn’t directly give me their last name or last initial, then they’re identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. These aren’t professional athletes, just people who play a recreational sport at the Epic Center. 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.