The futsal (indoor soccer) season at the Sportime Arena in Amagansett is nearing the playoff stage, and it has been a lively season indeed, what with 27 teams in the men’s open division, nine in the men’s 37-plus division, and six in women’s open play. It’s the first indoor season since Covid hit in the spring of 2020.
Two undefeated women’s teams, Scorpion and the East Hampton Football Club, met at the Arena Sunday afternoon, with Scorpion, a team coached by Cristian Bermeo, winding up on top 2-1.
Scorpion, the last women’s champion to be listed on the tiled indoor rink’s end boards, having won the title in the spring of 2018, was the aggressor by and large throughout the 50-minute showdown, though its goalie, Carmen Jimenez, was called upon to make several saves during a scoreless first half, while E.H.F.C.’s keeper, Adrianna Pillco, was rarely tested.
Things began to go Scorpion’s way, however, when the second half began. Erika Tacuri, a Scorpion striker, made her way through two defenders and got off a strong shot from the left side that went wide right with two and a half minutes gone in the period. She had a breakaway a little more than a minute later, but Pillco came way out to parry the attempt.
With his attackers beginning to control the play, Bermeo yelled out, “Pressure, pressure!” No sooner had he done so than Anna Strong broke through the defense and beat Pillco with a hard shot that put Scorpion on the scoreboard. Two minutes later, Bermeo’s squad scored again as Maria Guanga booted home a floated corner kick for a commanding 2-0 lead.
With 12 and a half minutes left to play, Strong was brought to the bench without any letup in Scorpion’s play. (Cara Nelson, who coaches East Hampton High’s girls soccer team and is one of Scorpion’s strongest forwards, sat out the entire second half.)
Tacuri made a credible bid for a third score with 6 minutes and 15 seconds to go, but a defender, guarding the cage, deflected the shot. Tacuri joined Nelson and Strong on the sidelines with five minutes remaining.
With 30 seconds to go, the Football Club was treated to a penalty kick, which Jessica Barros converted for the 2-1 final.
Thus Scorpion finished the regular season at 5-0, and the East Hampton F.C., coached by Carlos Barros, at 4-1. Presumably they’ll meet again come the playoffs, which are to begin Feb. 11, said Pablo Ortiz, the league’s new director (having replaced Raymond Naula).
There are three groups in the men’s league, according to standings displayed Friday, with two teams, Liga De Gulag and P.S.G.F.C., undefeated at 4-0-0. The East Hampton Soccer Club’s men’s team was 3-2 as of that day, according to its coach, Charles Escalante. The Soccer Club won the fall 7-on-7 men’s championship at East Hampton’s Herrick Park, besting Maidstone Market, the perennial champion, 4-1 in November. Mark Ferenczi-Bako, a native of Hungary who also plays on the Soccer Club’s indoor team, scored two of the goals.
The 37-plus men’s standings as of Friday showed La Tri in first place at 3-0-1, with Rolos Master Club second, at 3-1-0.