Intramural Division BU8, NHP Blue Thunder Takes First Place at Plainedge
In a rain-shortened tournament, the New Hyde Park Boys U8 Blue Thunder took home the First Place trophy in the top-rated Red division after going undefeated on the first day of the Plainedge Father’s Day Tournament held at Syosset’s Stillwell Fields. Playing on a slick, rain-soaked field did not slow the boys down one bit. After a hard-fought, opening game which ended in a 5-4 thrilling victory versus Lindenhurst, the boys shut out the Deer Park Wolfpack and the West Hempstead Chiefs, 3-0 and 5-0 respectively. The team showed up early Sunday morning ready to pick up where they left off but unfortunately Mother Nature did not cooperate. Heavy overnight rains rendered the fields unplayable and the day’s games were cancelled. The boys’ extreme disappointment was slightly tempered by the fact that they were crowned champs. The 5-4 win made the coaches proud because of the boys’ resilience. The only time Blue Thunder led in the game was when they broke the 4-4 tie with less than two minutes left after trailing 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3. The boys never gave up and kept coming back at a very tough and talented Lindenhurst squad. The 5-0 win versus the Chiefs was a clinic in soccer. It was as close to a perfect soccer game as 8-year-old boys could possibly play. Suffocating defense, disciplined positioning, no-look/one-touch passes, tremendous foot skills, and acrobatic goals left the crowd murmuring with the realization that they had just witnessed soccer the way it ought to be played. Congratulations boys! And thanks for a terrific Father’s Day present from all the coaches and dads in attendance.
