DEA Bedford Masters 2

The DEA Bedford Masters took home their second consecutive championship title in the NEOTH Soccer League yesterday morning in Stoneham. After knocking off the southern runner up, Newton Spurs, DEA advanced to the finals against the Marion-Mariners, the southern champs. This is the same team that DEA faced last fall in the finals. Ironically, the result was very much the same. DEA would come out on top with a win and in similar fashion to last season. It would be decided by PK's. In a very similar fashion, it would be the DEA Keeper, that would come up huge to save the day for DEA. DEA would show up in Stoneham ready to play. Jim Pellerin once again ate a bag of cookies on the ride down, but he convinced DEA management that he was game fit. The field was wet and very small, which does not usually play into Bedford's hands, or feet, well. It would be different on this day however, as DEA came out on fire. Taking control of the ball possession right off. Marion would come out chippy and chop a few of the DEA players right off. The referee would offer a yellow card to the Mariner star, Carlos Santos, in an effort to calm things down. In about the 10 minute, DEA Captain, Jim McCall would take a feed from Nick Masci into the corner. McCall would turn and hit a near impossible angle shot that would catch the post and find netting. Shortly after, McCall would take the ball down towards the corner. He would meg the Marion defender with a pass to Bill Jean. Bill would blast one towards the net. Nick Masci, would get up and deflect it into the net for a DEA 2-0 lead. Marion would really get chippy now. Carlos, who had a yellow already, would run DEA keeper, Jim Goddard, with a real cheap shot. This brought some colorful criticism from DEA GM, who was on hand. The referee would issue Dubois a yellow and the game would proceed. With minutes left in the half, Marion would get a PK on a hand ball in the area by DEA. The Mariners would sink the PK to close the scoring gap to one at the half. This was a huge momentum shift for Marion and they would come out on fire to start the second half. They would tie the score and go up by a goal as Bedford started to scramble. With about 20 minutes to play the score was still 3-2 in favor of Marion. Bedford started to turn things around with some very hard play. DEA would be awarded a free kick outside the area towards the left corner flag. It would be Captain Jim McCall that would take the restart. For the second time, Jim would hit a beautiful bender that would find only side netting. With the score tied, DEA felt a little more confident. Marion was determined to end this and with 10 minutes to play, they would score another goal to take the lead back, 4-3. Things were not looking good for DEA. But, they began once again to play very hard. In the waning minutes, Jim Kellogg would take a shot from about midfield. The ball was on target and with Nick Masci looming in front of the net, froze the Marion Keeper. Nick would leap up and deflect it into the net to tie the score at 4 a piece. On the other end, Jim Goddard would be forced to make a great save to keep the score knotted. The final whistle would blow and we would be going to PK's. DEA would pick the line up as would Marion for their first five shooters. DEA would win the chance to go first in the PK's. Jeff Guild would step up to the stripe and easily beat the keeper for DEA's first PK. Marion would come to the stripe and DEA Keeper, Goddard would set himself in the net. Jim was in a zone and this was his game to win. The kick would go to his left and he was there to save it. 1-0 DEA. Next, George would step up the stripe and calmly beat the Mariner keeper to his left. Marions turn. Again, Jim Goddard, like a cat, shot to his right to block the Marion PK. So it was 2-0 and things were looking dim for the Mariners. However, DEA would miss the next shot over the bar. But Goddard was not going to slip. He would dive to his right and block the shot from Marion's Carlos Santos. A little payback from his run in with Goddard earlier. Jim had saved an unheard of three PK's in a row. DEA was up again but would miss the net wide left this time. It was still 2-0 DEA. Marions fourth PK would just squeak into the left side of the net even though Goddard got a piece of it. It was Captain McCalls turn to shoot. Jim would set the ball and hammer it home to end the game for another DEA Championship. A very good game. DEA did not give up despite being down by a goal twice, late in the game. Mitch Green controlled the defense flanked by Steve Sarro, Mark Major and Bruce Walsh. This was tough as Marion had tallent up front. Nick Masci and Captain Jim McCall were both work horses at the midfield and they would keep DEA going when it would have been easier to give up. Bill Jean, Rick Plichta, Jim Kellogg, Cookie monster, Jim Pellerin, and Doug Wolfe would pick up the outsides. Up top was Brother Jeff Guild, George Wegricht and Stan Wisniewski running the Mariners all over. Everyone had a great game. But the man of the match has to go to Jim Goddard for saving the three PK's in a row. DEA Management was awarded a trophy and all the players received a championship Mug, which they immediately tried out. GREAT WIN FOR DEA.