First-half goal by Smith
earns 1-1 tie vs. Dover
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ROCKAWAY TWP. - The Rockaway Township 10-11 boys B-1 rec soccer team couldn't overcome an early penalty-shot goal by Jefferson and absorbed a 4-0 loss in a Rockaway Valley Recreation League game played at Jefferson on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Jefferson went on to score another first-half goal and added two more goals in the second half to secure the victory. Rockaway Township finished the game with four shots on goal.
"We're struggling on offense a bit," said head coach Paul Minenna after the game. "But we still had some very good efforts on the part of our players.
"Niko Panapiolous and Max Carroll had solid games on defense; Derek Saintgz and Kenny Minenna had strong games in goal; and Michael Smith, Ryan McLaughlin, Ben Lee and Joseph Lee had some good offensive runs for us."
Next up for the township team is a 3:30 p.m. (changed from its original 4:30 p.m. time) game against Mine Hill on Sunday, May 7, at Norway Field here in the township.
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ROCKAWAY TWP. - Michael Smith's goal early in the game gave the Rockaway Township 10-11 Boys B-1 rec team a 1-1 tie against Dover-3 in a Rockaway Valley Soccer League opener for both teams played Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Norway Field here in the township.
Smith's goal came in the game's first two minutes when his bullet-like shot beat the Dover goalie on his left-hand side.
Dover scored its goal late in the first half and the entire second half became a defensive struggle with neither side getting off many shots on goal.
"The second half was a real nail-biter even though there were no goals scored," said Rockaway Township head coach Paul Minenna after the game. "Goalie Derek Sainz made two terrific stops for us and defender Niokko Panaglotou had an outstanding game for us in clearing the ball out of our zone with big kicks.
"Considering this was the first time we had the players together on the field, I thought they played well ... all of our preseason practices were either rained out or cancelled because our fields were not open because of the weather."
Rockaway Township's next game is an away game that is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, against Jefferson at Berkshire Valley Park. Game time is 12:30 p.m.
