Hurricanes Earn 2nd Place at Pittsgrove Labor Day Tournament 2000

South Jersey Soccer:
Hurricanes Earn 2nd Place at Pittsgrove Labor Day Tournament 2000
Tuesday, September 5, 2000

By Jerry Amari
SJSports Special Correspondent

The Vineland Hurricanes spent a good part of the Labor Day weekend toiling at the 12th Annual Labor Day Tournament hosted by the Pittsgrove Soccer Club. The Pittsgrove Tournament has traditionally kicked off the Fall season for the Hurricanes.

First on the list was Gaetanos United from nearby Franklinville. United got off to a quick 2-0 lead as the Hurricanes started the game with some shakey defense. Trailing 2-0 halfway thru the first half, the 'Canes roared back with three unanswered goals to grab a 3-2 lead. The first score for Vineland was an 18 yard blast by Ryan Gregor off the crossbar. Saverio Brunnetti was there to finish the play and cut the lead to 2-1.

Then Vineland tied the game when Mike Amari threw in an out of bounds ball to Ryan Gregor. Gregor passed to Nick Ruskoski, whose shot was deflected to Mike Rigo. Rigo tapped the ball neatly into the left side netting for the score. The momentuem of the game had changed completely when Billy Redden scored from 25 yards away to give Vineland the 3-2 advantage. Gaetano fought back to tie the match with 10 minutes left to play. As both teams battled for every loose ball, the Hurricanes struck again. Billy Redden scored the game winning goal for Vineland on a "direct kick" for the 4-3 victory.

The midday starting time and the fleet footed Tredyffrin/Eastown,Pa. Rebels defense was too much for Vineland in the second match of the tournament. Although the Rebels controlled most of the offense play of the first half, the Vineland defense and goalkeeper Bobby Rupp kept the match scoreless. T/E took the lead with four minutes left to play in the first half. The Rebels extended their lead to 3-0. Although Billy Redden's longrange rocket of a goal would cut the T/E lead to 3 to 1, Vineland was only able to muster two more quality shots on the net. As time ran down, the Hurricanes allowed two more goals in the 5-1 defeat.

Sunday morning was cloudy and muggy as the Hurricanes played Deptford Panther Attack. Attack was the key word, as Deptford tested Vineland goalie Bobby Rupp with several shots in the first five minutes of the match. The Canes regrouped, and moved the ball quickly down the field with passes from Kerry Daplyn to Billy Redden. Redden played the ball nicely to a charging Saverio Brunnetti, who was able to push the ball past the Deptford keeper for a 1-0 lead. More Vineland offensive pressure followed, Chris Downey broke free of the Deptford defense and scored on a half field breakaway. Vineland offense pressured the Attack with shots by John Saffiotti, Billy Redden, and Evan Bostrom. The Deptford keeper saved a shot by John Saffiotti, Billy Redden scored the third goal for the Canes as Billy knocked in the loose ball in front of the goal. The final talley of the game was a pass from Evan Bostrom to Nick Ruskoski. Nick chipped the ball over the diving goalie for the fourth Hurricane score of the match.

The last game in the Under-14 round robin division was against the Egg Harbor Twp. Rangers. Hurricane forward, Tom Tobolski, scored the first goal of the match in the first minute of play. Tobolski assisted Billy Redden on Vineland's second goal. The Hurricanes defense of Dan Perritti, Nick Ruskoski, Kerry Daplyn & John Saffiotti, had the Rangers stopped for most of the first half. Tobloski scored his second goal of the game with five minutes left to play in the first half. The Rangers scored in the first minute of the second half. Kerry Daplyn scored for Vineland. The Hurricanes had shots by Ryan Gregor, John Harkes, Billy Redden, and Saverio Brunnetti. The final goal of the game was by Redden when Nick Ruskoski "drop passed" the ball, and Redden "one touched" it into the net from 20 yards out. Final Score: Vineland 5, EHT 1

The Hurricanes had to wait for the outcome of the Tredyffrin/Eastown vs Gaetanos match for their placement in the division. The 1-1 tie in that match gave Vineland second palce with a record of 3 wins, and 1 loss (to divison winner Tredyffrin/Eastown).