More On Asheville U-8 Soccer...

The Roberson 1 U-8 Vice Grips were bent on revenge as they squared off against an excellent Reynolds 2 squad last week on the hallowed Buncombe County Sports Park field 3B pitch. The memory of a spring season 6-1 pasting at the hands, or feet, of an outstanding Reynolds squad still burned the Grips, at least one or two of the three that had actually made it to the game. Led by Walker Vasey's hat trick, the resurgent Grips stormed to an 8-4 victory, only to realize that it was Reynolds 1, not Reynolds 2, that had previously pounded them (although, as always, no official score was kept last year either). Fortunately, fate seemed to smile on the the Vice Grips, as the very next game on their schedule was indeed the outstanding Reynolds 1 squad, or at least a few of the same players. Sadly, baseball again reared its ugly head and three of the key Grips elected to take to the diamond rather than the hallowed pitch of Buncombe County Sports Park field 3C. Two other mainstays arrived late and a third had to leave at the half (hopefully not for a baseball game), leaving the Vice Grips to face the heralded Reynolds 1 squad again with a sorely depleted roster. Nonetheless, the out manned Grips seized an early 1-0 on an early goal by Devlin, a veteran of the spring season debacle. The Reynolds ace, Benjamin, certainly a player of the year candidate (if such an award existed), countered with two beautiful goals and the Grips were on the proverbial ropes. A fortuitous hand ball call opened the door for Walker Vasey, who converted the penalty for the equalizer and it was 2-2 at the half. Early in the second frame Vasey put the Grips on top, beating a diving Benjamin, now in goal for Reynolds, with a hard shot from outside the box just inside the back post. The resilient Reynolds Rockets responded and tied the score 3-3 with only minutes remaining. In a last ditch effort (whatever that means) Walker pushed the ball up the right side, where he was confronted by a number of determined Rocket defenders. Spotting an unmarked Afan Sayed, he sent a long cross that Afan beautifully one timed into the twine for the go ahead goal. The final whistle blew and the Vice Grips celebrated madly, only to realize that it was the game on adjacent field 3B that had ended and that the Rockets were still playing. No tying goal was forthcoming however, and the Vice Grips were at last triumphant, although as always no official score was kept.

- Dr. Charles Vasey