2011 WATERMELON CUP

USA REPEATS AS CHAMPIONS

2 games every Wednesday at Long Lots -- Be ready to start at 6:15 p.m. sharp!

Be sure to wear the appropriate color shirt -- scroll down for teams and rules...

RESULTS -- FINALS

Wed., August 10: The most competitive, best-played Watermelon Cup league in history ended the same way every other one has:  with USA on top.  The squad -- with the 2006 team at its core -- has won the league every year they've played together.  This year, though, it wasn't easy.  Trinidad and Tobago rallied from a 2-0 deficit, forcing golden-goal overtime.  Five minutes were scoreless; then, each team had to remove a player every 90 seconds.  It got down to 3-v-3, when Nicky Hoberman netted the game-winner.

USA reached the finals with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over Costa Rica, while Trinidad and Tobago knocked out Mexico 5-0.  But Mexico -- the rising sophomore-laden side -- avenged that loss, with a 3-0 victory in the consolation match. 

Thanks to all 6 teams that participated this year -- and congratulations to the winning USA squad:  Greg Bachman, Brad Green, Nicky Hoberman, David Hoffman, Ryan Moran, Frankie Rende, Brian Wolgast and Craig Wolgast.  Also on the team, but unavailable for the finals, were Brendon Cristobal, Keaton Cristobal and Ben King.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Wed., August 3: The final week of regular season saw a few very good games in the light rain.  Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago both won twice -- including T&T's hard-fought win over USA, which for the 4th year in a row won the regular season.  Mexico vaults into 2nd place, while Trinidad and Tobago makes the playoffs by zooming from 5th place to 3rd.  Next Wednesday is the semifinals and finals:  Note that Trinidad and Tobago is 3rd, and Costa Rica 4th, based on head-to-head results (T&T won both games between the teams).  Semis:  USA vs. Costa Rica; Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago.  There will also be a match between #5 Ivory Coast and #6 Holland.

Wed., July 27: It was quite a Watermelon Cup week.  Mexico upset Trinidad and Tobago 2-1, then drew 2-2 with perennial powerhouse USA. In the 1st match Costa Rica knocked off previously unbeaten USA, and in the 2nd won again, vaulting into 2nd place.  Ivory Coast also won twice.  One week remains in the regular season; the playoffs follow.

Mexico 2, Trinidad and Tobago 1; Costa Rica 4, USA 0; Ivory Coast a lot, Holland a little

Costa Rica a lot, Holland a little; Ivory Coast 5, Trinidad and Tobago 2; USA 2, Mexico 2

Wed., July 20: Mexico -- the youngest squad -- exploded for a 6-0 win, then battled to a 4-4 draw with a surging Ivory Coast side.  Trinidad and Tobago moved into 2nd place, on the strength of 2 head-to-head victories over Costa Rica, while USA maintained its perfect mark.

USA 3, Trinidad and Tobago 0; Mexico 6, Holland 0; Ivory Coast 3, Costa Rica 0

USA 4, Holland 1; Trinidad and Tobago 7, Costa Rica 2; Mexico 4, Ivory Coast 4

Wed., July 13: 4 of tonight's 6 matches were decided by 1 goal.  Ivory Coast scored their 1st win of the year; Costa Rica and USA won twice, and Holland came from behind to top Trinidad and Tobago 5-4.

Ivory Coast 5, Trinidad and Tobago 4; USA 4, Mexico 1; Costa Rica 3, Holland 2
Costa Rica 5, Mexico 4; USA 4, Ivory Coast 1; Holland 5, Trinidad and Tobago 4

Wed., July 6: A very interesting 2nd week.  The 2nd set of games were all decided by 1 goal -- including a ferocious comeback by Costa Rica, which fell behind 5-1 before rallying to almost draw even with USA, which continues unbeaten (final: 6-5).  Mexico continues to surprise.  Trinidad and Tobago went 2-0 on the day, while Holland notched its 1st win. 

Mexico 3, Ivory Coast 2; USA 5, Holland 3; Trinidad and Tobago 6, Costa Rica 2

Trinidad and Tobago 2, Mexico 1; Holland 2, Ivory Coast 1; USA 6, Costa Rica 5

Wed., June 29: This was the best opening week in Watermelon Cup history.  Highlights include solid showings by the 2 older Staples groups -- and a surprisingly strong effort from the younger group, plus undefeated outings by always strong USA and the oldest team (Costa Rica).

Trinidad and Tobago 3, Holland 1; USA 4, Ivory Coast 2; Costa Rica 2, Mexico

Mexico 7, Holland 5; Costa Rica 2, Ivory Coast 1; USA 4, Trinidad and Tobago 0

STANDINGS

SCHEDULE

Wed., August 10 :  6:15: Semifinals: #1 USA vs. #4 Costa Rica; #2 Mexico vs. #3 Trinidad and Tobago; also #5 Ivory Coast vs. #6 Holland

7:15:  Championship and consolation

TEAMS

COSTA RICA (red)
Dan Donovan (captain)
Mark Noonan (captain)

Nathan Bird

Warren Bird

Mike Brown
Scott Chinitz

Steve Halloran
Tom Henske
Tom Jones
Andy Hoffman
Bruce Kinnaman
Edwin Leon

Brendan Reidy

Tyler Ricks

Brian Smith

Brian Sullivan
Matthias Visser

HOLLAND (orange)
Kurt Dasbach (captain)
Anastasio Beltran

Howie Hayes
Robbie Kramer

Chris Meinke
Dane Ostilly

Igor Pikayzen

Rich Stein
Bobby Trimboli

Zach
Jim Wolf

IVORY COAST (white)
Jake Malowitz (captain)
Harry Birch

Dylan Evans
Joe Greenwald
David Hoffman
Dylan Hoy

Jay Kaplan
Matt Liebergall
Aaron Liu
Taylor McNair
Ryan Moran
Ryan Petersen
Greg Shikowitz
Alex Tonsberg

MEXICO (green)
Diego Alanis (captain)

Daniel Boyce
Julien Delepine
Robby Giannone
Sebo Hood
Charlie Leonard
Alex Makarainen
Jake McGibney
Jon Osorio
James Rubin
Josh Rosenberg
Jack Scott
Yousef Shahin
Connor Weiler

USA (blue)
George Birch

Liam Bohonnon
Brendan Cristobal
Keaton Cristobal
Santiago Cuartas

AJ Green
Greg Gudis

Nicky Hoberman

Ben King
Alex McDowell
Andrew McNair
Frankie Rende
Connor Walsh
Craig Wolgast

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (grey)
James Hickok (captain)
Lars Aanestad
Noah Bender
Ethan Bradeen
Jon Denowitz
Tim Frassetto
Terence Gibbons

Max Hoberman
Sam Koenig
Zach Morrison
Will Meinke
Tucker Rizzi
Ben Root
Steve Smith

RULES

1)  20-minute halves, running time.  Approximately 5-10 minute halftime. Shin guards are mandatory.

2)  6-v-6 plus 1 keeper; if both teams agree, they can play 7-v-7 plus 1 keeper. Keepers may use their hands WITHIN REASONABLE AREAS.  Subs may enter on any out-of-bounds or dead ball; no subbing on the fly.

3)  No referees; call your own fouls. No penalty kicks. Watermelon Cup administrators* will be in attendance at all games, and may eject or ban players for egregious or repeated fouls.

4)  No offsides, though goal-hanging is severely discouraged.  This is the Watermelon Cup; if you can't play defense as well as offense, find another sport.

5)  3 points for a win; 1 for a tie.  

6)  *Watermelon Cup administrators: Dan Woog, Kurt Dasbach.  Yes, Dasbach plays.  He's a very fair guy. This isn't the Supreme Court.  Get over it.