DEA Bedford Over 30

DEA continued their upward climb in the standings, winning their third straight by thrashing Hollis 7-1. Ryan Carvalho was the star of the day, pouring in four goals and chipping in with one assist. DEA has now taken points in four straight games, and is right on the heels of current leaders Seacoast. With the latest monsoon upon us, DEA was again forced indoors at the Hampshire Dome. Winless in three attempts at this facility, DEA also had a 7-3 whipping at the hands of Hollis on their minds in their last match against them at the Dome. This time, they turned the tables in a big way. Hollis has been struggling this year, winless in their previous four matches and giving up 21 goals in the process. However, they pulled out all the stops in an attempt to try to stop the bleeding, stocking their bench. DEA had to scrape to get players ready, and started with just enough. With regular DEA keeper Lucas Hill missing out, they called up backup Chris Cloutier. He was up to the task, making a couple of great saves in the first half that allowed DEA to play with some confidence. Hollis possessed to start, and while the chances were at the outside, a majority of the play was in the DEA zone. With ten minutes gone, a cross allowed Fritz Shenk to drive a header at goal from short range, but Cloutier got down and parried it off the post where it was cleared from harm's way. DEA then went right to work to gain the advantage. Willie Mungere found Ryan Carvalho on the right side looking to go clear. Ryan skated at goal, and initially looked to pass before driving to the short side and in to give DEA the lead. Five minutes later, a similar play again found Ryan open from 25 yards out. He scorched another drive, and DEA had taken a 2-0 lead. Hollis continued to play patient, and DEA defended with just as much patience. Content to let them play on the outside, they clamped down in the middle. After winning the ball, DEA attacked in waves. Another Carvalho chance, this one a header, went off the crossbar as time ticked down. Cloutier then made another great save. Again Shenk got clear on a cross, and volleyed a short drive from 8 yards that Cloutier punched over the bar. DEA went into the half up by 2-0, and playing with confidence. Knowing the first ten minutes would be huge, DEA came right at Hollis. After Willie Davis stole an outless pass, he fed to Mungere. Willie saw Carvalho, again open on the right side, and fed him through. Ryan was on fire today, and he finished easily to make it 3-0. Not five minutes later, Ryan this time gave it up to Barry Fitzgerald who ripped a low shot to put DEA up by four. DEA kept the pressure on. As Hollis just tried long balls, DEA contently picked them apart. Again Ryan was put in clean, this time off a Chris Laberge pass, and once again he finished easily for his fourth of the day for a 5-0 lead. Hollis would pull one back when Fritz was put in clean on a questionable off-sides play. Cloutier made the initial save, but the rebound was batted around before finally making it through to mess with the shutout. Not to be outdone, Laberge ensured he kept his lead in the goal scoring race by curling a brilliant restart inside the far post for a 6-1 margin. Chris Jones and Barry (his 2nd) teamed up in the final seconds for the 7-1 final. A huge overall effort by DEA. Jerold White and Willie Davis teamed to play an impressive midfield. The backfield of Laberge, Chris Florek, Jones, Peter Cline and Jon Cloutier were outstanding all day. Great ball possession, attacking defenders with quickness, and some solid goaltending by Cloutier allowed DEA to run away with this one. DEA now goes to 3-1-1 on the year and rising to second place behind Seacoast, whom they tied earlier in the year. Seacoast was 5-3 winners against Stoneham earlier in the day. DEA travels to Stoneham next Sunday looking for more revenge. DEA has never beaten Stoneham, and the team doesn't hold a particularly warm spot in DEA's hearts. Look for the solid play to continue.

DEA recorded their first win against a top tier team with a 3-2 victory against last year's winners, Ipswich in the annual Mother's Day Spectacular. The 8:30 start meant an early wake up call for Ipswich, but the classy squad made the trek with plenty of numbers available. They travel as well as they do at home. The match started out chippy, with Elvis Zukovic giving a whack before an Ipswich player slid in needlessly and sending Barry Fitzgerald to the pitch. Not two minutes into it, and Cornelius the Ref was already showing yellow. DEA roared ahead with some cheeky play. First, Elvis slipped an outless pass down the middle to Willie Mungere. As Willie slipped to the pitch, he kept his composure an from his ass and one-timed his pass to an on-rushing Chris Laberge. Laberge took a touch and noticed the keeper well off his line. From 45 yards out, Laberge left-footed a beautiful chip that everyone knew was in as soon as it left his foot. DEA had an important lead against the tough Ipswich squad. Five minutes later, Willie found himself open off a Jerold White pass eight yards from goal. The sniper himself admitted 'he got nervous' and shot directly at the keeper. He can do better than that, and he would later in the half. However, before DEA could build on their lead Ipswich moved the ball well inside DEA's zone. A poor clearance allowed for a transition back into the fray. As the DEA backfield was coming up the pitch, they suddenly found themselves allowing an open player through. They finished from close range to level it at one. DEA Keeper Lucas Hill then made a spectacular save, palming a scorching drive destined for the upper ninety. Lucas' pushed aside the drive as it ticked off the post before falling aside. Just outstanding. DEA would build a halftime lead when Jerold beat an off-sides trap and sent Willie in clean. Willie this time did much better, slotting home on the low right side to make it 2-1 at the half. The wind had been with DEA in the first half, so it was important to take the lead before the switch. The second half saw Ipswich all over DEA in the first ten minutes. DEA couldn't string more than two passes together, which was resulting in a turnover and another Ipswich onslaught. Lucas again came up big by laying out to punch aside a corner with Ipswich players draped all over him. Then, after a cross from the right side, Lucas again stretched out his entire 6'2" frame to push aside another shot destined for webbing. DEA had to gain control of the ball, as at this point it would only be a matter of time. Lucas was singlehandedly keeping DEA in the match. Ipswich was not done, however. Another bending ripper from 25 yards left Lucas only to watch, but it bounded off the bar and out of harm's way. And, yet another scramble left Lucas to punch out, and he was caught 12 yards from goal. The ensuing chip, however, didn't make it over Lucas and allowed DEA to right themselves. Ipswich had thrown everything at DEA to try to level, but great goalkeeping along with the defensive duo of Tom Labonville and Chris Florek allowed DEA to keep the lead. The middle portion of the second half saw DEA gain some measure of control back. They struck quickly when Willie sent Jerold down the right side. Jerold saw Laberge steaming through the middle, and sent a cross perfectly into the box. Laberge's brilliant header caught the keeper going the wrong way, and after a horrible first fifteen second half minutes, DEA had a 3-1 lead. Play evened for a while before the next Ipswich onslaught. After Lucas scrambled at the feet of two Ipswich players, the ball squirted free and Ipswich ripped a drive destined for the vacated goal. Peter Cline made maybe the save of the match, skying and heading off the line. As DEA turned to give Cliney the kudos, Corney blew his whistle and called, apparently, Lucas for the handball. He swears he saw a white jersey down in the scrum, but he was just flatout wrong. Ipswich calmly convereted the PK, and DEA was in for a battle in the last ten minutes. However, they held strong and didn't allow a shot as the final ticks went past. DEA has now taken seven points in their last three games, and have them upper tier of Division 1. Just like that, they went from planning on staying in the Division to wondering if they have the mettle to take the title. The all-important third half saw Ipswich again bring their A-Game. Their tailgate was open, and the spread was out as they had numbers for this beautiful afternoon. However, Laberge proved he can deliver in the kitchen as well as the box as he had prepped some sausages for the post game feast. DEA hung on, watching the Masters win their match 2-0 and saw Ipswich finally pack it up to go home. This leaves DEA's all-time third half record 1194-2-1. Anybody know a good liver doctor? DEA is back in action next week as they take on stumbling Hollis. Hollis appears to be having some problems in their own end, having given up 21 goals in their first four games in going 0-4. You know they will be fired up to play DEA, however, so everyone should be ready to play on Sunday. Gametime is 8:30 at the improved Legacy Field in Bedford. HUGE WIN!!!!!

DEA toppled Pepperell, 5-2 and in so doing recorded their first win in Division 1 OTHSL. The win leaves DEA 1-1-1 on the year, having taken points from both of their road games so far. The sideline was stocked, meaning players had to work hard for the minutes. The deep bench paid off as DEA would eventually pull away with a flurry of second half goals. Jerold White got DEA started in the 22nd minute when he hammered a right-footed drive that whistled by Pepperell's keeper. Jerold found just a sliver of space after collecting Elvis Zukovic's pass before unloeading. Five minutes later, DEA made it two-nil when Barry Fitzgerald's toe-poke caught an upper air current and floated towards goal. Again, the Pepperell keeper batted at it, but came up empty for the gift. "That's what happens when the tennis coach is your goalie," came off the lips of one Pepperell player. As DEA looked to go into the half with a two-goal cushion, they let up in the final two minutes after allowing a corner. Though a smattering of white jerseys seemed to be in the area, a Pepperell player cleanly won the header and made it 2-1 heading into the half. The second half saw a missed clearance and an ensuing counter attack catch DEA off guard. Another cross found noggin, and it was level. A disapointing result to what was a pretty well played 55 minutes. The defensive trio of Chris Laerge, Tom Labonville, and Chris Florek had done a good job of keeping Pepperell Dean Reyad Mahmoud from any clear chances. Jerold and Elvis, teamed with Mike Friedin, Barry Fitzgerald and Rob Cissel, patrolled the midfield as well as both ends of the pitch. After Laberge broke free and stormed down the left side, he hammered a low drive that the found the keeper's hands and he punched away. "If we can't cover this guy, we shouldn't even be out here," the sweeper yelled in frustration. Laberge let his action do (most) of the talking, and responded in the final 15 with back-to-back goals five minutes apart. First, a throw-in down by the left corner had Labonville come up and throw toward Kurt Englehart, running to the short post. Kurt flicked on nicely, finding Laberge at the back post where he nodded home to bring DEA back in front. "How's your marking now?" The crowd was just settling down when Barry came flying down the right side with numbers along. He slipped a low cross that weaved through and found Laberge on the opposite side. Laberge one-timed another hard low drive, this one finding goal to give DEA a 4-2 lead. Peter Cline then took a pass from Jeff Bailey just outside and box and scorched a shot that just got tipped and slammed off the bar. In the waning moments, Lucas Hill's long punt was again flicked on by Kurt, where he found Ryan Carvalho in clean. He finished easily for his first to close out the scoring. The Third Half was a letdown, as Pepperell's finest chased us away. DEA is home for four of the next five matches, starting next week against Defending champs Ipswich in the annual Mother's Day Spectacular. Gametime is 8:30, gates open at 6:00.

DEA sloshed their way through an entertaining, if not artful, 1-1 draw with Seacoast today. Some recent rains took their toll on the Phillips-Exeter Academy pitch, with some standing water and mudpatches to contend with. Seacoast, going downhill (literally) in the scoreless first half, held the better of the play and had a majority of the chances. Twice, Seacoast rattled the post, but nothing could get by DEA keeper Lucas Hill. The defensive combo of Chris Florek and Tom Labonville (making his O-30's debut) were outstanding in clogging the middle and keeping the chances on the outside. This was not a soccer match in the purest form. It was like running in sand out there, and DEA hoped the second half and the downhill slant would be kind to them. Instead, five minutes into it a scramble left a bill sitting flat 22 yards from goal. Seacoast drive through and screamed a hard drive into the upper corner that Lucas had no chance on. DEA would have to come back if they wanted to secure some very vital points. Elvis Zukovic decided twice to test Seacoast keeper Jim Eilenberger, and both times 'Berg was up to the task. Once more, a through ball by Ryan Carvalho almost sprung Kurt Englehart, but again 'Berg swalled up a faceful of mud and made the save. With 15 minutes to spare, DEA finally brought the match back to level. After Rob Cissel was sent to the pitch, Chris Florek sprung Mike Fiedin on the right side. Fiedin crossed, where Carvalho pestered the new Seacoast keeper who was just brought in to close the match. The clearance went virtually nowhere, and instead fell to the feet of a wide-open Gary DuPlessis. DuPlessis volleyed home the equalizer. Seacoast came right back, streaming down the pitch with numbers and forcing Lucas into two fine saves while wallowing in the mud. Jon Cloutier had to clear off the line before DEA could finally get their wits about them. The last five minutes were all DEA as they went in search of the winner. Their best chance was when Labonville went down to meet a cross, but headed just over the bar. Overall, probably a fair result at 1-1, but DEA felt they had a good chance to steal the full three points. The 3rd half was a collossal battle, as it went past 1:30 and going to the nose once before finally outlasting the thirsty Seacoast squad. They are back in action next week against 1-1 Pepperell, who through up a seven-spot in their win against Hollis last week before being swamped by Stoneham, 4-1 today.

DEA dropped a hard-fought battle to Stoneham, losing a lead late and falling 3-2. DEA spent freely in the Winter Transfer Market, and had hoped their new star-studded lineup would have better results. Stoneham took the play to DEA at the opening whistle. As their home field was not ready for action after the spring monsoon season, DEA scheduled the match for the fast surface of the Hampshire Dome. This actually played to a disadvantage for DEA, as Stoneham usually has more pace, and it showed today. DEA was on their heels as they get acclimated with the personnel and a new 4-5-1 lineup. With Lucas Hill manning the pipes, he came up with an early save off a scorcher from 25 yards. Stoneham was pressuring DEA, and finally broke through at the 18 minute mark off a transition. With the DEA backfield moving up the pitch after a clearance, a turnover resulted in a defensive mis-match. As DEA scrambled to get back, Stoneham had a clear look from 16 yards out and didn't miss, driving home to put DEA down, 1-0. This looked to be a wakeup call for DEA. Determined not to roll over, they picked up the pace and carried the play for the last 20 minutes. They broke through when Jerold White sent a through ball to Elvis Zukovic. Elvis' steely demeanor allowed for a moment of calmness, before slotting home to level at 1-1. Five minutes later, DEA won a corner on the right side. Elvis took it, and drove hard to the back post. Chris LaBerge rose above the fray, and nodded home to give DEA the lead at the half, 2-1. Second half saw each squad getting their chances, but as time wore on Stoneham began to put DEA on their heels. DEA was keeping eight or nine players behind the ball to defend, but the result was that if they did win the ball, they had nobody to pass to. Lucas temporarily held off the inevitable by palming away after a scramble, but Stoneham levelled when their right wing tore down the side and slipped home a drive to make it 2-2. DEA felt they had played too well to come away pointless, but the legs were getting rubbery and Stoneham was relentless. Stoneham finally won a restart just outside the top of the penalty area. A questionable call, the resulting finish was not as it was bent into the upper webbing to put Stoneham back in front at 3-2. Back to the other play went, as DEA threw caution to the wind in search of their third goal. LaBerge again reached skyward, heading Jerold's cheeky chip that beat the keeper. Unfortunately, it bounded off the crossbar. Another similar play moments later saw a forearm to LaBerge's back, but no call as he tumbled to the pitch. Stoneham took this one, 3-2, but they are certainly aware that this is not the DEA team that was swept out of Division 1 last Spring. Look for DEA to get back in action next week when they take on Seacoast in Exeter, NH at 10:00am.