- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Putnam Science Academy’s soccer team has had plenty of first-year success. After completing its first season as a program with a 12-1-2 record and after a few month lay-off, the Mustangs were back in action out in Pennsylvania for an exposure tournament. PSA played tough in the first game going up against the Ukrainian Nationals Club that ended in a loss (0-2). The Ukrainian team took the lead in the early going capitalizing on a Mustang penalty to score a goal. They would then close the match out on a free kick to seal the victory.
Putnam Science Academy would get revenge in the second go-round.
Game two against the Ukrainian National Club saw PSA pull out a 3-2 win thanks to a well-balanced team performance. Jorge Mendo got the Mustangs on the board in the first then Angel Bermudo would find the back of the net in the second half. After being tied at 2 and headed into the second half, Boadi Augustine delivered the nail in the coffin with a goal to give the Mustangs the eventual win.
The Mustangs were pushed to their limit conditioning wise later Feb. 24 with four games on the docket. The Mustangs would finish winless (0-2-2).
PSA started off the first game against Penn Fusion with a tie after Angel Bermudo scored a solo goal and Matheus Reis added a second goal to force the tie. The offense would slow down in the second game losing to PDA Rossi (0-2). Rossi would pull away after a free kick goal and a penalty kick to seal it. A break in between had Putnam Science take the field in a rematch with Penn Fusion but once again the offense would go cold. Fusion shut out the Mustangs in similar fashion to PDA Rossi with a free kick and penalty kick.
PSA’s offense woke up in the fourth and final game but walked away with a 2-2 tie versus PDA Rossi. The Mustangs trailed early but would rally scoring two unanswered goals to force the tie.
Head Coach Ivan Damulira would have liked to have walked away with wins but he was pleased with what he saw throughout the weekend. “We played very hard,” he said. “Our guys had to dig deep. Playing four games in one day and racking up well over 200 minutes of soccer can be a difficult task for anyone let alone high school kids.” The first-year head coach at PSA added, “This was a learning experience for these guys. Those are talented clubs that we played against and we had impressive battles. I’m happy with our play.” Putnam Science will be playing in another tournament facing Bridgeport FC and the Boston Bolts next weekend.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.