The Saints played their rivals Oyster River in a rematch of the only game they have lost all season.
Game Captains Jamie Phontharaksa and Nick Blunier went out and got to choose field because Oyster River called the toss wrong and would kick off.
Peter Bergeron was on the injured reserve list with his arm in a cast. All the photos from today's game are courtesy of Peter.
The field was very wet and spongy from the week of rain and the few days that the automatic sprinklers were left on by mistake. St. Thomas chose to defend the dryer end of the field in the first half.
The Saints took the field with Matt Roginski as Stopper, Nick Blunier and Tom Gibney as Fullbacks and Mark Miller as Sweeper. Midfielders Bryan Hennigan, Justin Guilbert, Jamie and Jerry Phontharaksa. Tom Carroll and Owen " Taco" Cook as strikers. Colin McBride was in the net for St. Thomas.
Hennigan sends a pass up to Jamie Phontharaksa. The Saints dominated the play early as Oyster River tried to get used to the small field.
At 2:51 the Oyster River keeper took a goal kick and Cook stepped up and blasted it back into the net before the keeper could reposition himself. St. Thomas was up 1-0.
Players congratulate Cook on the way back from the Oyster River goal.
The Saints defense played hard and stepped up to thwart early Oyster River attempts.
The ball sails over the St. Thomas goal as Oyster River sent a high wayward shot.
There were a few rain drops as clouds moved through the area, but the weather held.
Miller takes a goal kick and slipped right after, but we didn't get a photo of that.
At the 10 minute mark Brent Snyder and Andy Stone went in as outside midfielders. Peter Shwaegerle and Sean Waters went in as Strikers
Phontharaksa and Guilbert worked hard to control the midfield.
Blunier steps up to send the ball back into the attack.
At 19:40 Stone took a shot that pinged off the right low post.
At the 20 minute mark Ryan Price and Linas Kenter went in as Strikers. Taylor "T-Mac" MacDonald enters at outside midfield.
An Oyster River player shows his dexterity blocking the ball with a waist high leg.
Guilbert battles an Oyster River midfielder.
MacDonald shoulders an Oyster River player fighting for the ball.
At 21:55 Oyster River took a throw-in into the box and headed it into the net to tie the score 1-1.
Roginski prepares to take a direct kick after an Oyster River foul.
Miller reverses direction to Bluiner to make the Oyster River striker work as they send the ball back up field.
At the 30 minute mark Hennigan, Jerry Phontharaksa go back in at outside midfield, Cook and Carroll return as strikers.
The Saints midfield and defense worked well overlapping and supporting each other.
Snyder hustles after a ball.
At 38:20 Oyster River scored to take the lead just before the half ended.
St. Thomas found itself behind 2-1 at halftime despite out shooting Oyster River 12-9.
The Saints started the second half with Stone and Jerry Phontharaksa at Strikers. Midfielders MacDonald, Guilbert, Jamie Phontharaksa and Snyder. The defense was Roginski, Blunier, Gibney, Miller and McBride.
At 46:16 Jerry Phontharaksa took a shot that went up over the Oyster River keeper and it was just about in the goal when Stone ran up to follow the shot and put it in the goal. No one was sure who actually got the goal, so we'll give credit to each of them. The score was now tied 2-2.
St. Thomas players come back celebrating after the goal.
Guilbert races to the ball beating the Oyster River players.
At 48:10 Cook and Carroll went in as strikers.
Cook rushes past the Oyster River defense. At 42:10 Guilbert sent a pass to Cook who beat the Oyster River keeper to put the Saints up 3-2
Players congratulate Cook once again after his second goal. It feels great to be in the lead again.
At 56:20 Kenter and Price went in at Striker. Hennigan and Waters went in as outside midfielders.
McBride came rushing out off his line at 62:59 to beat an Oyster River striker to a though ball by inches.
At 64:12 The saints were called for a foul just outside their 18-yard line. The Referee stopped the game because Jamie Phontharaksa had gone down in the Oyster River end of the field as they counter attacked. Coach Suleski apologizes in case Mrs Phontharaksa got too nervous at the length of time spent with her son down on the field. It wasn't that he was hurt that bad, we were just stalling to ice the Oyster River attack and let players catch their breath.
The Trainer arrives via Mr. Leary's golf cart, Coach didn't call for help, they saw him out there taking so long and didn't know he was stalling so they came over. This probably didn't help mom's worry factor either.
Stone went in to play as a double stopper to beef up the Saints defense. Shwaegerle went in as the loan Striker. MacDonald went in to replace Jamie at midfield.
On the direct kick restart, the Oyster River player shot the ball high up over the net, but the Referee hadn't blown the whistle to start yet, so he got another attempt. On the second shot he pinged the cross bar.
Play went back and forth a lot during the final minutes with both teams mounting attacks and defenses holding strong. The referee blew the whistle to end the game with the Saints up 3-2.
St. Thomas travels to ConVal tomorrow for a make-up game.