Cucuy Deports Toros

Cucuy FC vs. Deportivo Toros 4:1 (2:0)

What an unbelievable game to have the privilege of writing the summary for.   We had 14 confirmed players for this Sunday, but we actually started and ended the game with 9.  We had 10 for half of the game while Justin was on the field, but he unfortunately hyper-extended his knee and was carried off the pitch early in the second half.  Hopefully it’s not too serious and we’ll see you back on the field soon.  Before the game even started, there was discussion in the midfield if we should forfeit and turn the game into an even numbered scrimmage, but we decided to at least play the first half and see how things went.

In the beginning of the game we just sustained and marked as best we could to not concede any early goals.  We found chances of our own on counter attacks up the wings, but nothing materialized for us.  We earned a free kick from the right side of the field, which Karol took and put it into the box on the far post.  Toros defenders interfered with their keeper and the ball sailed through the defense, which somehow connected with Scott D. running through on the back side.  Not expecting the ball, it went off Scott’s chest and into the net.  Now we actually had something to play for.  Just before the end of the first half, a lazy clearance from the Toros defense gave Hintz the ball outside the 18.  He beat a defender 5-hole and was in on the keeper which he slotted far post.  On the walk back to midfield the whistle blew for halftime, which was a dagger to Toros going down another goal right before the half was called.

We knew second half would be brutal.  It was getting hotter outside, we expended a ton of energy in the first half, and Toros is not the type of team to give up.  We continued to develop chances on counter attacks while Toros struggle to find chances of their own.  On a play where their entire team pushed up way too far (everyone past half field), Hintz was able to put Steve K. in on his own 1 on 1 with their keeper.  Steve was already behind their defense as the ball was played, and he wasn’t even past the half line.  Steve juked the keeper to the right, just as the Toros defense caught up with him.  He took a tough angle shot that Toros got a piece of, and the ball slowly trickled back into the corner of the net for an unbelievable 3 goal lead.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we earned a corner, which we elected to let Scott D. take since he’s naturally lefty.  He swung the ball in where Hintz beat the Toros defense in the air Brent Becker style to give Cucuy a 4 goal lead.  Now we decided it was time to turtle up and just maintain the lead.  There was about 30 minutes left and we were gassed.  Toros only managed to score one through the remainder of the game due to some serious effort on the defensive front.
Serious props go to the Cucuy defense for playing tight and active all game.  Nick had a great stomach save on a shot that went far post where he held tight on the goal line.  Kyle had one of his best games ever in regards to coming off his line collecting crosses played into the Cucuy 18, which prevented anything from developing.  He also had some stud saves on long shots from the 18.
 
I’m sure everyone knows at this point, but Karol has started a job in Houston as of today, June 2.  He will be with us for a couple more games over the next month, but sadly we’ll be losing him permanently in the near future.  Dave Schluneker will be taking over management of Cucuy, so let’s show him the same level of dedication that we’ve given to Karol all these years.
Dave H.

Goals:  Hintz (2), Scott D., Steve K.
MVP:  All of Cucuy.  Everyone individually stepped up and did our part in this game and we truly earned this win as a team.