Vice Grip Juggernaut Rolls On! U-8 Soccer In North Carolina...

Walker Vasey overcame an unprecedented injury this week to lead the Roberson 1 U-8 "Vice Grips" to a thrilling victory. After dispatching an excellent Enka squad 5-1, the Vice Grips faced arch rival Asheville in a rematch of a game played only two weeks earlier, won by the Grips 5-2.

In the opening minute, Walker came off the pitch holding his eye, amazingly the victim of a periorbital bee sting. He not only left the field, he departed the bench in search of his mother. The Grips were initially undaunted by Vasey's absence and seized a surprising 5-0 halftime lead, with brilliant goals by Afan and Welter, the India- Holland connection. Asheville rallied in the second stanza, however and tied the game 5-5, (although as always no official score was kept). As the tying goal nestled in the netting, Walker returned to the bench and announced that he was ready to play. Alas, there were only two minutes remaining. Vasey was inserted at sweeper, in hopes of stemming the Asheville tide. He parried a potential game winning thrust, controlling the ball deep in the defensive end, carrying it (not literally as is sometimes the case in the U-8 division) wide before starting a run to the the near post. Outracing the Asheville defense, he fired. His scorching shot beat the keeper as time (approximately) expired, giving the Vice Grips their third consecutive victory, 6-5.

The Grips have since defeated an improving Owen squad 6-1 and next face a fearsome Reynolds team that handed them their only defeat in the spring season (although the Grips played with only three players).

Thanks again to Charlie Vasey for this gripping update.