The Saints played their rivals Oyster River on an overcast and drizzly day. The remnants of hurricane Ophelia were off cape cod throwing moisture up into area. Players were told to hurry on the bus so we could get the games started early. As the Yellow bus pulled out of the parking lot we were one player short. Hopefully Peter Schwaegerle learned that the bus won't wait for a JV player.
Game Captains Tom Carroll and Matt Roginski went out and won the toss so Oyster River kicked off.
The Saints took the field with Matt Roginski as Stopper, Andy Stone 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.
8 minutes into the game Nick Blunier went in at Fullback.
Oyster River was awarded a direct kick just outside the box after a St. Thomas foul at 14:50. The kick was taken and it was a great shot, Oyster River scored and the Saints were behind in a game for the first time this season.
16 Minutes in Taylor "T-Mac" MacDonald, Keith Hallock and Brett Snyder went in at Midfield. Peter Bergeron and Linas Kenter went in at Striker.
It took St. Thomas about ten minutes to battle back and at 23:16 Jamie Phontharaksa made a drive up the middle touching the pass to Stone who shot it towards the net deflecting it off the Oyster River defender and tying the score 1-1.
28 minutes into the game the strikers were switched as Ryan Price and Sean Waters went in.
The final ten minutes of the half was dominated by the Saints. Three hard shots were taken in the final minute of the half that were blocked by an Oyster River defender who left the game with impression marks that will stay well into next week. The half ended with the score tied 1-1.
Peter Shwaegerle arrived at the game thanks to Mrs. Gardiner.
St. Thomas started the second half saw Shwaegerle and Bergeron at Strikers. Midfielders MacDonald, Guilbert, Jamie Phontharaksa and Stone. The defense was Roginski, Blunier, Gibney and Miller.
At 46:19 Oyster River scored to take the lead 2-1.
Waters and Price enter the game.
Cook has earned enough respect from the Oyster River defense to be closely marked by more than one player during a corner kick.
Carroll cuts back to shake off his mark and get a throw-in.
Jamie Phontharaksa sends Carroll with a ball over the top of the Oyster River defense.
McBride leaps to make a save on a high shot that just went over the cross bar. One Ref called goal kick while the other one heard McBride's hand hit the cross bar and thought he touched the ball. The Ref's conferred and finally awarded the goal kick.
Miller sets up the goal kick a second time after the ref caught him placing the ball in front of the line.
Blunier takes a throw-in as the Saints play in earnest to come from behind a second time in the game.
Players move to space as the ball is retrieved from the field hockey field.
St. Thomas clears out an Oyster River attack.
The battle was fierce in midfield for control of the ball.
McBride had 15 saves for the game, one of the busiest yet.
The game ended with St. Thomas down 2-1. The Saints out shot Oyster River 27-17 but couldn't put a second one by the Oyster River keeper. It's hard to play your best game and not come out on top. Now we can focus more on playing each game than worrying about keeping up an undefeated record. We will get one more chance at home against Oyster River and maybe see them again in the play-offs.
St. Thomas plays host to Coe-Brown next Tuesday.