Maidstone Market, the Tuesday evening 7-on-7 men’s soccer league’s perennial power, didn’t look that powerful in its initial outing, on June 17 versus Liga de Gulag, a younger entry, which prevailed 4-3 that night. But in a July 1 encounter with F.C. Tuxpan, the Market seemed like its old self, crushing Antonio Chavez’s charges 5-1 with two goals each by Justin Carpio and Alberto Zambrano, and one by Juan Cortes.
Going into Tuesday’s games at East Hampton’s Herrick Park, Maidstone, at 1-1-0, was in fourth place among the league’s six teams, but the playoffs won’t be until the first two weeks in September.
A second-half penalty kick taken by Jorge Naula (who used to play for Maidstone) enabled Liga to tie the June 17 game at 3-3, the kick having been awarded after Alex Mesa, Maidstone’s longtime goalkeeper, took an opposing player down in the (vaguely outlined) penalty box, and was, consequently, sent to the sidelines for two minutes. Naula then beat Mesa’s temporary replacement, Maicol Parra, from seven yards out. A subsequent goal by Liga’s Gary Gutama finished the Market off.
Liga de Gulag led the league going into Tuesday’s games with a 2-0-0 record, followed by Sag Harbor United (1-0-1), East Hampton Soccer Club (1-1-0), Maidstone Market (1-1-0), F.C. Tuxpan (0-1-1), and Tortorella Pools (0-2-0).
In the six games played as of Tuesday, 55 goals were scored, testimony to the fact that the 7-on-7 league, because of Herrick Park’s renovation, has had to use regulation soccer goals rather than the smaller ones it has used in the past. As of earlier this week, Sag Harbor United’s Fernando Leon led the “Golden Boot” list with four goals. Four players — Leo Moran of Tortorella Pools, Anthony Mosquera of S.H.U., and Christopher Pintado and Sebastian Ruiz of the East Hampton Soccer Club — each had three.
Interestingly, Tortorella, winless as of Tuesday, was the top seed going into last season’s playoffs, losing 2-1 to Maidstone in the league’s long-delayed summer championship game played on Oct. 30. Reseeding in the park caused the final to be put off for two months and obviated a fall 7-on-7 season.
On Tuesday, the Soccer Club and Sag Harbor United are to play at 6:30 p.m., Tuxpan and Liga de Gulag at 7:30, and Maidstone and Tortorella at 8:30.
