The West Haven Youth Soccer League opened the spring season this past weekend with a full slate of games. The Elite Soccer Camps Tsunamis opened their season with a strong game against Wizard Painting, with the Elite Soccer Tsunamis coming out on top, 5-2. Santino Amato and Liam Lima split the time between the posts, both making some great saves. Ryan Abekah scored a brilliant goal and contributed on defense too. Guillermo Rubirosa worked hard in the attack while Nathan Powell hustled up and down the field. The season opening game in the CD Boys Division saw a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle with the WH Professional Firefighters defeating York Business Center, 2-1. David Christensen scored both goals for the Firefighters, and goalies Guillermo Gonzaga and Abraham Morales were strong in the net. Excellent defense was shown by Christian Reyes, Zion Blackman, and Omari Knox.
The #DAVILATRIBE Yellowjackets took on Elsie Encarnacion State Farm Insurance All Stars in their opening match, falling 1-0. Eve Montiel played strong defense to keep her opponent from scoring. Melissa Valtierra pushed the ball up for her team to take shots on goal. Lila Poincelot made multiple saves in goal to keep the game close. For the All Stars, Jada Avila scored, while Yousra Moussa played outstanding in goal. Alimarie Sesler, Fourela Dembele, and Layla Puente all played great defense throughout the game.
The Taco Town Timberwolves played Falcone Law Firm in a close match on Saturday. Rida Saanon played rock solid defense and Anthony Soto was an excellent goalie. The West Haven Federation of Teachers played the WH Italian American Civics Assn, with the Federation of Teachers, winning 8-2. Angeliza Davila scored a nice goal. Nadyia Lymon attacked the ball and moved it up the field and Nora Routh added to the win scoring multiple goals.
The Westies Nutrition Destroyers played their first game of the season against P&B Express, coming out with the win in week one. The Destroyers were led by Nikko Pratt with five goals. Awab Abdelmageed had amazing speed and ball control and Jackson Ford displayed incredible foot skills. For P&B Express, Hakan Tanbal played good defense, while Trevor Davis and Jude Charles each scored twice. Alexander Urgiles also scored and played tenaciously throughout the game.
In other F Division Boys play, Porto Funeral Home took on Keenan Funeral Home, with the game ending in a 0-0 tie, and Vio’s Sports Plus defeated Budget Transmission Center, 4-3. CT Pest Elimination played Mad Mike’s Cheesesteaks, with the two teams drawing, 2-2. Rylee Lanci defended the ball well against her opponents. Brooke Biancur scored and moved the ball to her teammates. Bianca Masterson scored a goal and defended well. Stowe’s Seafood Warriors opened with a tough loss to Touch of Heaven Home Care, falling 7-4. Mama Kamara stayed with the ball and followed through to score a couple of goals. Allianna Wilson stayed engaged while on the field, as she dribbled well and sprinted to get the ball back. Karla Urgiles defended well against her opponent and was determined to retrieve the ball.
The Dr. R. Mark Pappas Gold Dragons competed against Cappetta Italian Imports, losing in a spirited effort, 6-1. Phoebe DiNuzzo scored the lone goal for the Dragons. Anne Brown played well on defense, while Brook O’Meara was great in net, stopping several shots in the first half before playing out on the field in the second half. The Frankie’s of West Haven Blue Jays took on #DAVILATRIBE, with the Blue Jays, winning 5-0. The key to the victory was the great foot-skills and passing by Madison Marion. Avery Linen was excellent on defense and Emma Routh lead the change with two fantastic goals. The American Legion Post 71 won, 5-0, in its first game against Milano & Wanat. Shamar Boyd and Julien Chacon showed a lot of hustle in the win, while Davonte King, Seth Empric, and Collin Gibbons led the attack.
Baybrook Remodelers and the West Haven Police Local 895 opened to a stirring, back and forth 4-4 draw in the last match of E Boys Division play.
In G pool games, the West Shore Family Dental Tigers defeated the RQ Professional Accounting & Tax Services Lions 3-2, while the Nick’s Luncheonette Jedi beat the West Haven Elks Lodge Green Wave by the same score. Dillman and Dillman LLC tied Blue Connex Credit Union 3-3, and the Budget Car Wash Highlanders won over the Elite Soccer Camps Eagles, 4-1.
In travel team action, the People’s United Bank girls U11 team started the season off strong with two wins. They started on the road versus Haddam-Killingworth where a stellar team effort resulted in a 7-4 win. Stella Porto, Luciana Cappetta, Francesca DeMartino, and Celeste DiNallo all scored while Allie Powers and Josylyn Davila dominated in defense. The second match of the season brought the girls to Orange, where they picked up a 2-1 win. Gillian Wynus was fierce on the field with Francesca DeMartino defending the net. Luciana Cappetta scored two goals for West Haven. The Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center West Haven U10 boys also started the season with two straight wins. In the opening match of the season, the Westies were away to Coginchaug, and came home with a 5-0 win. Ben Trenchard and Jax Guarino anchored the defense, and contributed to the attack as they got the ball up the field. Matteo D’Elia and Davonte King each scored two nice goals, and Luca DeCresenzo rounded out the scoring, getting an assist from Ethan Fonseca. In the second game, the Westies hosted Orange, winning 6-0. Mason DaSilva and Tonye Isaac both scored, and Jacob Rader and Jaxon Cruz were strong in the net. Gavin Lenihan hustled on the wing and Roland Green created some solid scoring chances. The Law Office of Paul V. Carty West Haven U9 girls travel team kept the streak going, also opening with two wins over Cheshire to start the season strong.