Veracity Competes in Labor Day Tournament

The following was submitted by the North Andover Soccer Association. 

The North Andover Veracity U14 boys soccer team participated in the 21st annual North Reading Kick-Off soccer tournament over the Labor Day weekend.  

In addition to the preseason competition, the Veracity was able to get in some valuable pregame practice time with coaches Jeremy Dalmer, Jim Killelea, and Patrick Duffy.  The Veracity finished with a 1-2 record. 

In Game 1, the Andover Warriors were in tournament championship form as they beat the Veracity 6-0.  The Veracity found themselves defending in their end of the field for most of the match.  Veracity goalkeeper Cole Julius was bombarded with shots from all angles and distances.  

Despite the onslaught, Julius was able to stop and control all the shots within reach and maybe some others.  Kyle King had the best of the few Veracity scoring opportunities.  King volleyed a well place cross from Ryan LaPointe with some power and placement but was denied by a diving Warrior keeper.   King also tried tucking in the rebound but this was also denied by the keeper.  

Slyde, the New England Revolution mascot, made an appearance at halftime.  Slyde gave out some high fives to the spectators and showed off some impressive dance moves.

 The Veracity's play improved the next day against the Peabody Pride - a 4-0 victory.  The less busy Julius remained stout in goal. The Veracity was able to control the ball for most of the match with skilled play by midfielders Ryan, Nathan Willis, and Shane Howard.  

Juan Carlos Cedeno started off the scoring after collecting a pass through the midfield and placing it in the far corner.  For the second goal, Erick Duffy collected a end-line pass in front of the net from Sean Steinberg and easily deposited it the Peabody net.  

In the second half, Peabody could not control Shane’s dangerous cross to the far post.  During a scramble for the ball, it appeared that a Pride defender beat the Veracity to the ball but deposited it into his own goal.  

A Peabody defensive mixup provided the final goal.  Erick Duffy collected the ball, dribbled in, and expertly scored passed a helpless Peabody keeper.  Idle central defender Ben Robertson found a frog on the field.  Fellow central defender, and equally distracted, Austin Brissenden collected the frog and handed it to his mom.  Mrs. Brissenden didn't scream but the frog should still have been given a yellow card for leaving the field without the referee's permission.

The Burlington Red Devils defeated the Veracity 3-0 in the final game - a game that was much closer that the score indicates.  The Red Devils were able to convert their scoring opportunities while the Veracity was denied by a tall and agile Red Devil keeper on several occasions.  On the much bigger North Reading high school turf field, the Veracity was able to show some improved passing and team ball control.