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Gremio has tough time, but enjoys the experience.
Team Gremio and four guest players from Juventus participated in the NC State Games this past weekend, June 14th and 15th, in Greensboro, NC.
Players in attendance were:
Gremio: Evan Aldridge(RW), Connor Baroniunas(C), Lawton Bullock(G/RW), Dylan Esformes(G/LW), Carson Ford(G/LW), Austin Shoaf(D), Tyler Stark(D) and Skylar Teague(C).
Juventus: Josiah Canna(D), Joseph Luicci(G/D), Paul Rudinsky(C) and Elisha Wellum(LW).
The boys played some very skilled teams from Greensboro, Charlotte and the Raleigh area. While the results were not as they had hoped, the experience proved to be a memorable one.
After bouncing out of bed at 6am, Gremio started the tournament off at 8am as the first U10 rec team to take the field against the Oak Ridge Lancers. The Lancers were playing at the top of there game and took the match 8-3. The formidable line of Evan Aldridge (RW), Skyler Teague (C) and Elisha Wellum (LW) teamed up to score all 3 goals for Gremio. Providing solid goal tending were Dylan Esformes and Lawton Bullock in only his first game as a goalie.
After spending much of the day lounging at the pool, playing video games in the rooms and for some of the boys a quick trip to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda, Gremio headed back to the fields to face the OPRA Gold Diggers at 5pm. The Gold Diggers had just come off a big win against the Oak Ridge Lancers (5-0) and were running high as the game started. OPRA held the ball on offense for most of the game putting a great deal of pressure on the two goalies, Dylan Esformes and Joseph Luicci, another first time goalie. With an unbelievable number of shots on goals the two goal tenders, along with extremely solid defense from Josiah Canna, Joseph Luicci, Austin Shoaf and Tyler Stark, were able to hold the Gold Diggers to a 5-0 score.
After losing both Saturday games, the boys took a quick reprieve as the team enjoyed a pizza party. There was probably enough pizza for 3 teams as they ordered 4 – XXXL pizzas that had to be delivered on a luggage cart to the room. After the pizza party a nerf gun shootout occurred with no clear winner, but with lots of laughs and fun.
Sunday morning started slow with a 9:30am game against the East Wake Wolfpack. The Wolfpack had just come off a 2-2 tie in their 8am game to determine who would play Gremio. After all of the points were tallied, the Wolfpack was given the win and took the field. Clearly the Wolfpack were riding a high as they marched down the field for two quick goals against Gremio. Lawton Bullock struck back with a strong kick from the right wing after a great effort to get the ball out of our zone by Connor Baroniunas. Following up Lawton was Paul Rudinsky's free kick to the goal after an interference penalty. In goal was Dylan Esformes and for the first time this season, Carson Ford, who did an outstanding job. The Wolfpack hung strong thru the end of the 2nd half to take a 4-2 win.
Even though the boys lost all 3 games, they held their heads high and their smiles wide. Coach Jeff could not have been more proud of how they played, the sportsmanship they showed and their never give up attitude. Its off to the fall season for them, with a few moving up to U12 and a couple moving over to the U10 challenge team.
Coach Jeff is extremely thankful to the parents for putting forth the time, money and effort to get the boys to the games. And is in great debt to Rich Wellum for being the assistant coach, Ross Teague for helping with pre-game warm ups and Tom Ford for coaching the goalies. I don't think there is any better example of team work.
