The Stars started their morning against a club from Connecticut called 2Way 2023 which placed two different teams in the tournament. It took the Stars a little time to wake up, learn their strengths, recognize their weaknesses, and get into a rhythm. There were flashes of brilliance as the athlete in each of the Stars broke through for a “Wow” play or two. But down early, they fell 9-3 in their opener.
They had a brief break before game number two: a match against the other 2Way 2023 team, called “North.” The Erickson Athletic Complex at Brown University has six turf fields, but what makes it a special venue is field number one, which takes place on the roof of the OMAC (Olney-Margolies Athletic Center).
Climbing the lone cement staircase to reach the fourth-story roof is like climbing the stairs to a tall slide at a waterpark. There’s a lot of huffing and puffing and wiping sweat from the brow as you trudge upwards in a slow-moving line. But what awaits at the top is not the refreshing reprieve of an aquatic thrill ride… but an open oven of unfiltered sun with no sign of shade in its 360 degree panoramic view of Providence.
Playing on the roof is a memorable experience. Terrific view, unorthodox elevation, and tight-quarters where the spectators are standing three feet from the sidelines. The surface is astroturf and only sneakers are allowed, making it an overall unique experience. Watching the game, however, was a 50-minute baking challenge where the participants can only tolerate an abbreviated game with a week’s supply of water and sun tan lotion.
As with virtually all tournaments, the universal game clock starts suddenly and often unexpectedly and you’re thrust into immediate competition. And the competition, for this game, was heated. The Mass Bay Stars came out swinging and playing in unison. Starting to look familiar to one another, the defense began communicating well and the offense had a lot of scoring opportunities.
2Way “North” was a solid team: feisty, quick, and well-coached. They gave the Stars a lot of different looks, especially from an attackman who created a lot of offense from the point behind. Perhaps it was fitting we had a “Fidler” on that roof… for Quinn maneuvered through the crease with grace and protected the net with agile choreography. The young goaltender made some incredibly athletic saves, keeping the score a one-goal or tied game
throughout. And the Stars in transition were a sight to see.
The game was tied when a tournament official announced “one minute left” from the lone twenty-five squared feet of shaded area: the scorer’s tent. The Stars had possession but lost it on a shot that wasn’t backed up. 2Way put together a speedy offensive and managed to put one in the net as the clock whittled down to zero. An exciting game with a thrilling finish. The disappointment was momentary and fleeting because the coaches and players all knew they were playing well and that they had a lot more in the tank to make their mark.
The final game of the day brought the Stars back to sea level against a mixed-grade team called “Braveheart Elite.” Though Braveheart had a significant size advantage to the all 5th-grade Mass Bay team, they had no answer for the momentum which carried the Stars to a 4-3 victory in a game that didn’t seem as close as the score.
18 The Scoop / Spring '17