May 8, 2012
On the board
The Bay Area Ambassadors captured their first three points of the season against the North Coast Tsunami on Saturday, with a 3-0 win. The Ambassadors got first-half goals from Javier Hill, Emrah Klimenta and a second-half score from Stefan Clemens.
Stoppage time thriller
The Sacramento Gold returned to their winning ways with a 3-2 win over Real San Jose on Sunday. The winning goal came when Jason Duvall struck a loose ball in the penalty box after a throw- in and put it into the back of the net in the 92nd minute.
Gone in a Flash
The San Diego Flash handed Santa Clarita SC its first loss of the season, taking a 3-0 decision on Saturday night. Goals by David Bakal (42’) and Brennan Tennelle (45’) had the Flash up 2 - 0 at the half. A goal by Flash Captain Nelson Pizzaro in the final 15 minutes finished it off for the 2011 conference champions. However the game belonged to goalkeeper Nick Harpel. He had a Man of the Match performance on the back of a clean sheet with several key saves against the highest scoring team in the league, including a pair of penalty saves.
Big Apple battle
The Brooklyn Italians opened their National Premier Soccer League season with a 2-1 victory over FC New York at Poly Prep Stadium on Wednesday night. Ben Graver and Jakeem Johnson scored for the Italians. Zaheer Bell scored for FC New York.
More of the same
Defending NPSL Champion Jacksonville United FC, got their season started where the left off, defeating the Mississippi Storm 4-2 on Saturday.
The Storm got off to a quick start when Romario Blandon scored in the first minute, but Jacksonville equalized only three minutes later on a goal by Nedim Hrustic. 2011 NPSL All Star Tyler Williams opened his scoring account for the season midway through the half. Flagler College’s Adam Jackson headed down a cross and Williams hit a first time volley into the side netting.
Shortly before halftime JUFC doubled their lead through 2011 NPSL Tournament MVP Tommy Krizanovic. Hollis Donaldson threaded a beautifully placed ball into an oncoming Krizanovic, who collected it and slotted it home.
JUFC scored the fourth in stoppage time as Krizanovic got his second of the night, earning him Man of the Match honors.
Off on the right foot
The Myrtle Beach Mutiny won their first NPSL game, 1-0 over Rocket City on a goal by Shawn Guderian.
Players of the Week
SD Flash goalkeeper Nicolas Harpel and Myrtle Beach Mutiny netminder Brock Duckworth share NPSL Player of the Week honors for the week ending May 6.
Harpel stopped two penalty kicks and turned away a point-blank shot by Stephen Martines as the Flash shut out the Santa Clarita Storm 3-0 to retain control of first place in the West-Southern Conference Saturday at Del Norte High School Stadium.
Duckworth stopped a 30th-minute penalty kick and charged off his line to thwart an 86th-minute breakaway to help Myrtle Beach win their first-ever NPSL match 1-0 over Rocket City on Saturday at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.
