The Jewish Community Center of Bayonne’s Indoor Soccer Senior Division continued to stay as tight as a prize fight in a phone booth as the Rockets (2-3) faced the Sonics (2-2). The game got out to a lumbering pace as both teams tried to size each other up. After 25 minutes of waltzing around, the Rockets’ Chris Shaw finally lit a spark by sailing a net-to-net goal strike to make it 1-0, Rockets. With their defense playing at its peak, the Rockets’ Madison Neal Markowski, Colin Woods, Hailey Bouillon, Kaitlin Morrell and Mackenzie Woods went on a scoring quest.
But the Sonics’ defense held strong as Kevin Aguilar, James Johnson, Ryan Ballance, and Brandon Ferreira played lockdown defense all game long. Down by one, the tenacious Sonics’ offense cashed in on a Rockets’ miscue as Tyler Cholankeril redirected an inbounding pass back to net to knot the bout at one-all. As the nose-to-nose donnybrook continued, the Sonics snatched a 2-1 lead as Chloe Gregory worked the ball to a wide-open Shashwat Punjani, who turned a fast break into a net-scorching goal. Needing another jumpstart, the Rockets’ Chris Shaw once again took matters into his own hands and sent the game into overtime with yet another net-to-net volley, making it 2-2.
The overtime shootout started with a bang as the Sonics’ Chloe Gregory hammered in the first shot of OT, giving her team a 3-2 advantage. Down to their last attempt, the Rockets turned to their team captain and fiery sweeper Meghann Mock to save the day. Mock answered with a game-tying bullseye, making it 3-3. The Sonics had one last try to clinch a victory, but their goal attempt sailed into the waiting arms of the Rockets’ goalkeeper to seal the match at 3-3.
The Senior Division Players of the Week for week four were: Offensive Player of the Week – Chris Shaw, Rockets; Defensive Player of the Week – Chris Shaw, Rockets; Teamwork/Leadership Player of the Week – Allen McComb, Comets.