WYSA opens season for sixth through eighth grade teams

By Matt Pascarella

In the first games of Windham Youth Soccer Association’s fall season, sixth through eighth grade teams Warren Mechanical and Wildwood Properties played at Gambo Field in Windham on Saturday, Sept. 12 as Warren Mechanical earned its first win of the season by a score of 8-1.

Windham seventh grader Riahanna Sayed will not be caught
as she  moves the ball closer to her opponent's goal during
Windham Youth Soccer Association's season opener
between Warren Mechanical and Wildwood Properties
at Gambo Field in Windham on Saturday, Sept. 12.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Warren Mechanical came out aggressively and scored multiple goals in the first and second halves of play. Wildwood Properties scored late in the second half to avoid being shut out.

“The focus in practice has been to try to teach some of the fundamentals,” said WYSA Warren Mechanical coach Jared Archilles. “Utilizing more of the width of the field needs work. We have a tendency to consolidate children in the middle of the field. Some of the things we worked on in practice that went well during gameplay was spacing, trapping the ball, and communicating with one another. There’s always an opportunity to work on some of the fundamentals ... understanding where people need to be.”

Both teams came out with a lot of hustle and communication. Each team had solid defense, but Warren Mechanical’s offense kept the ball in front of Wildwood Properties’ goal for a large portion of the game.

Warren Mechanical seventh grader Riahanna Sayed scored during the first half. Following Sayed’s goal, sixth grader Silas Arnold scored.

Wildwood Properties goalie and eighth grader Quinn Roina had a nice stop before the end of the half but at halftime, Warren Mechanical led, 2-0.

"It was exciting,” said Wildwood Properties seventh grader Avalyn Tweedie. “I could have definitely done better, especially in the second half of the game – if I can keep my stamina up that would be good. I think if we were able to get the ball up closer to their goal we would have had a chance at scoring more, but we had to play more defensively.”

The second half of the game was intense for both teams. Warren Mechanical seventh grader Trent Archilles scored three goals over the course of the half. Both teams had very good defense, but Warren Mechanical’s offense was in high gear. Sayed scored again. Warren Mechanical’s seventh grader Esteban Cayetano scored twice consecutively close to the end of the second half.

“I scored a hat trick, and my team was passing a lot,” said Trent Archilles. “We’re just trying to get the team together; the team chemistry has been decent. The passing and communication went well. Defense (needs work); we need to spread out a little more.”

Sixth grader and Wildwood Properties goalie Maverick Lucas posted multiple saves in the second half. Toward the end of the half, Roina scored to put Wildwood Properties on the scoreboard.

Sayed said everybody’s shooting and communication went well. Not clumping up in the field needs work. Her goal was to win the game.

“We want to show them how fun it is and then we can start refining the skills as we go along,” said WYSA Wildwood Properties coach Derek Hanrahan. “I saw a lot of communication between kids that potentially don’t know each other, getting the ball, stopping the ball, playing it. I saw some players out there that were making some nice moves. I think the team aspect needs some work, understanding the position of play, understanding the formation a bit better and getting more touches and more play will help them to stop the ball when they want to and pass the ball when they need to.” <