Homefield Heartbreak Ends Gryphons Run

The Sickles Gryphons outplayed The Gulf Coast Sharks in every facet of the game. Unfortunately, their lone goal was not enough to overcome two penalty kicks that sealed the deal for Gulf Coast.

The Gryhphons fell to the Sharks 2-1 in double overtime at Thursday night's game, ending the soccer team's post season run.

The Gryphons came out aggressive. Gavin O’Malley won a corner kick in the first minute. By the 36th minute, Sickles had three shots on goal and a header that nearly went in. Gulf Coast did a pretty good job in the middle of their back line and eventually got the ball back on Sickles side. In the 29th minute, Brian Wittel fouled an offsides Shark in the box and Sly Szczesniewicz lined up for the penalty kick. He caught Alex Dichiara going low and went high to the corner, taking a 1-0 lead.

Out of the break, Sickles attacked and Gavin O’Malley cleaned up a Casey Cook shot that rebounded off a Gulf Coast player. This knotted it up at 1-1, in a blink. Sickles continued to press the action. They kept the ball on Gulf Coast’s side but couldn’t quite get into position for a clear shot.

The last five minutes of the half, Gulf Coast finally got the ball back on Sickle’s side and won a few corner kicks. Greg Balsamello denied anything that came near post to him.

The Gryphons got a really good scare in the 36th minute of the second half. Vincenzo Desiano played a nasty shot across the face of the goal and only a leaping tip by Alex Dichiara saved a second goal for Gulf Coast. The Sharks won a corner off the tip but the corner kick was played toward Greg Balsamello who characteristically booted it away.

Gulf Coast actually pushed the action on Sickles in the first ten minutes of the second half. Greg stepped up his game and surreptitiously denied shots, even off set pieces to Gulf Coast.

Even after the second water break, Sickles still played like they were behind. They pushed the action, won set pieces but could not get really good shots off.

The first overtime was typical of the night for Sickles. They pushed really hard even up to the last two minutes but were frustrated yet again.

The second over time opened with Sickles on the attack yet again. In the first minute, Gavin played a nice cross in front of goal and Quinn Berven got on the other end of it but his header went wide near post.

With five minutes left in the second overtime period, Gulf Coast got on a fast break and was one-on-one with keeper Alex Dichiara when he made a game-saving stop. However, Greg Balsamello was whistled for a foul as the ball ricocheted off Dichiara. This set up Gulf Coast for their second penalty kick of the game.

The penalty kick stuck in the back of the net and the Gryphon's season came to a grinding halt.