The inaugural year for high school boys soccer league got underway with a heated game that could see a decent rivalry between Central and Vanier.
With the first meeting of the season ending in a 2-2 tie, the Cyclones and Vikings began the season with a chippy game on Monday afternoon at Gutheridge Field.
“Hopefully not,” said Vanier’s head coach, Jaysen Tomashewski of the possible rivalry on the pitch. “The guys just came off the summer and haven’t been playing a whole lot and haven’t been out there or refs in their ears. So, we need to change some things a little bit and watch our mouths and behaviours.”
The Vikings said behaviour saw them receive three yellow cards in the game and that is something Tomashewski wants to change before their next game.
“We know how to play the game and it was a rush start to the year. Coming off the long weekend, we had a week to run one practice with our whole squad. It was tough, but we have to start working on those little things and we have to get that behaviour back in check.”
Central hit the crossbar three times in the first half before Karama Augustine got the Cyclones on the board after running past two Vanier defenders and using a strong kick to beat keeper Jonathan Brooks. Central’s Peter Ntignee extended the lead before the half.
“I think a lot of these boys have played each other for a long time and rivalries exist beyond the schools,” said Ray Rawlyk, assistant coach for the Cyclones. “A lot of these boys know each other through summer soccer programs and what not.”
Paul Spaletta scored for Vanier to get them on the board and Albert Brown scored less than two minutes later to tie the game.
“We haven’t had a lot of time to practice, so we have been experimenting today and putting people in positions where we didn’t know how they were going to handle it. Some decisions not so good and some decisions worked out a bit better,” explained Tomashewski. “After we get a couple more games in, we will have a better idea of where they fit in and fit as a team. I think the season could be a good one.”
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
