Fáilte! (Welcome!)

The Spring Season started April 14, 2012!

The Bronx Irish Soccer League was founded in the 1980′s by a group of Irish emigrants in the Bronx. The League has played on various fields around the Bronx but has made the Parade Grounds in Van Cortlandt Park its home for roughly the last 15 years. The league now only consists of a women’s division fielding eight teams. The season runs year round with a spring and fall schedule and games are played on Saturday mornings. If you are interested in joining the Bronx Irish Soccer League, please submit your information via our contact form or send an email to info@bronxirishoccer.com.

Reminders:

All teams are to have a copy of their roster on-hand to indicate who played that game, as well as to note goals scored and any cautions issued.
Captains are to wear armbands to identify themselves.
No jewelry is allowed, and in accordance with park regulations, no new cleats are permitted (players are strongly encouraged to wear turf shoes).
Any games that do not start on time will be shortened accordingly.
For field conditions call the Van Cortlandt Park Service Hotline: (718) 430-1862.

Match Reports:

05/12/12 – Parlour FC v Luke’s (0-3)

PFC started the game with only 8 players and held strong in the first half, only giving up one goal towards the end off the first half.

PFC was at full strength in the second half and played well, but were no match for Luke’s and gave up two more goals before the final whistle.

Luke’s goals came from Steph Dawbers, Maura Fitzsimmons and Jessie Garcia.

05/12/12 – Tigers v Bronx Ale (0-2)

Bronx Ale House and Tigers started the game short on players but both finished with a full panel. BAH took control from the start and kept possession with pretty passing from the back line on up to the forwards. The first goal of the game came off of Kat Murphy’s foot after Tina Cressent dummied a cross from Jeanine Rynne. The halftime score was 1-0.

BAH continued their possesion game in the second half and Tigers’ goalkeeper Amy Gufert did well to keep her team in the game. Despite Tigers’ sweeper Claire Booher doing her best to keep the back line organized and playing as a unit, BAH broke through again with a goal from Tina Cressent for a 2-0 lead. The BAH defense needed to be alert as Tigers’ speedy striker Kristina Tameta posed a constant threat nearly cutting the deficit in half, but were denied when BAH keeper, Jeannie Heinsohn, made a fingertip save to push the ball over the crossbar. The defense cleared the ensuing corner and BAH once again maintained possession. BAH played strong at every position, worked as a team and came away with the 2-0 victory.

05/12/12 – Phoenix v McKeon’s (2-0)

Phoenix took control of the game from the start and dominated play in the first half with much help from their stopper Sharon West and midfielder Colette McGoldrick. West and McGoldrick worked the ball up the field and set Phoenix up for a few goal chances but great play from keeper Nancy Blaine denied Phoenix the go ahead goal. The second half started much the same and Phoenix finally scored on a McGoldrick shot from outside the box. Phoenix kept the pressure on and earned a second goal with a shot from Ali McEvily, both shots catching the McKeon’s goalie out of position. McKeon’s had their own chances in the second half including when one of their strikers, Maeve Redmond, threatened the goal, but was unable to capitalize in the end.

05/12/12 – Inter v Harps (1-3)

Inter were penalized a goal and narrowly escaped a forfeit when a game delay was extended waiting for their minimum seven players to arrive. Harps were at full strength, and maybe a bit too casual in their passing while Inter challenged every ball, showing no signs of their disadvantage. Harps finally started gaining control when a pass from Vanessa Greene found Sandra Carolan who fed Aoife West for a tap past the goalkeeper. Inter continued to play as if they had a full squad, when in fact they only had eight players. Inter was finally rewarded when their striker Daniela Maddaloni cut left then right before rocketing a shot past Harps’ sweeper Teresa Brink and out of reach of keeper Marissa Bea to level the score going into the break.

In the second half, Inter’s lightening speed up front challenged Harps’ defense and created several near chances for Inter. Still with a three player advantage, Harps were finally able to capitalize as a break came with a cross from West that met the foot of Carolan who slammed home their second goal putting Harps ahead again. Inter had more chances as the speedy Maddaloni made a few breaks, only to be stranded with no support. Harps stole the top spot in the table from Inter with the 2-1 win. A brave and admirable effort by Inter.

Best for Harps: Aoife West, Sandra Carolan

05/05/12 – Inter v Parlour FC (5-3)

It was a slow start for PFC with only 10 players at the beginning of the game. Inter led 2 – 0, but a handball in the penalty box awarded PFC a penalty kick which was put away by Agnes Hitimana. Inter scored again leaving the score at halftime 3-1.

During the halftime PFC was by inspired by a rousing speech from Captain Andrea Gonzalez and started out quickly in the second half. A long service from Gonzalez into the box which headed into the back of the net by Hitimana, leaving the score at 3-2.
Inter scored again bringing the score to 4-2.

A PFC corner kick by Hitimana, found newcomer Andrea Gallegos’ head awarding Gallegos her first BISL goal. After a hard fought game Inter scored again leaving the final score at 5-3.

Best for PFC Agnes Hitimana.
Inter goal scorers: Elisabetta Casarella (2), Chelsea DeSalvatore (1) and Jessica Paganelli (2)

05/05/12 – Bronx Ale v Luke’s (1-1)

Bronx Ale House (BAH) and Luke’s met in a much anticipated, well contested match on Saturday. Both teams came out strong and the BAH stepped up to match Luke’s high level of intensity. It was back and forth early on, then Kat Murphy of BAH broke through Luke’s defense and put a beautiful ball in the side of the net, assisted by Mary McEvoy.

Luke’s came back strong, but BAH defense did well to control them, entering the second half with a 1-0 lead. Luke’s pushed numbers forward the second half keeping left back Jill Steinberg, stopper Laura Mooney, right back Lucille Conklin, sweeper Beth Higgins, and keeper Jeannie Heinsohn under pressure, which they did well to withstand.

Luke’s forward Maura Fitzsimmons had been threating much of the match, and on a sweeping run across the front of the 18 sent a ball in to the top corner just out of Heinsohn’s reach for the equalizing goal. Both teams stayed on the attack trying to break the draw, with constant movement up and down the pitch.

Murphy and McEvoy, along with Chantal Talmor and Tina Cressent kept the pressure on up front for BAH but Luke’s back line and fierce goaltending by Megan Catalonga did well to hold them. Casey Melilli played a strong match at right halfback for the BAH and is a welcome addition to the team.

The 1-1 draw was reflective of how well the teams matched up.

05/05/12 – Tigers v Phoenix (2-0)

The Tigers began the game with an offensive push that kept the ball deep in Phoenix’s end for most of the first half. Relying on Claire Booher’s and Teri Chargualaf’s distribution out of the middle, forwards Sabita Krishnan and Kristina Tameta used their speed to test Phoenix’s defense. A sequence that began with a ball from Tigers’ keeper Amy Gufert found Krishnan who sent a cross to be tapped home by Tameta for Tigers’ first goal of the match. Phoenix rallied in the second half putting pressure on their opponents, but strong defending by Tigers and a full-stretch save by Gufert kept Phoenix off the score sheet. Tameta scored again for Tigers’ insurance goal on another pass from Krishnan to finish out the half.

05/05/12 – McKeon’s v Harps (1-1)

McKeon’s battled Harps in a thrilling match on a wet and gray day. Harps started with just 10 players against a strong and aggressive full-sided MCK who dominated the first 10 minutes. The speed and skill of MCK were too much for Harps’ stretched numbers and they capitalized on the shortage when Melissa Ryerson received a ball from Jessica Newfield and hammered a strike past Harps’ keeper, Marissa Bea. A few subsequent critical saves by Bea and Harps latecomers changed the balance in the game. A long ball from Aoife West found Sandra Carolan who put tapped it past the keeper for the equalizer. The scoreline remained 1-1 at the half.

The Harps stepped up their game in the second half and had several attempts on goal only to be denied fearlessly by MCK keeper Nancy Blaine, while Bea bravely defended her net at the other end. The contest was arguably the most exciting one of the season to date, incredibly hard fought on both sides with end to end attacking and equally strong defense to stave off any further scoring.

Best for Harps: Marissa Bea, Sandra Carolan

04/28/12 – Luke’s v Tigers (3-0)

Luke’s defeated Tigers 3-0 in a competitive and friendly match. Luke’s had the wind advantage in the first half and Michelle Kohut, Tara Webber and Maura Fitzsimmons capitalized by producing a goal a piece. Liz Lops played a strong game in goal keeping a clean sheet for Luke’s. Tigers defenders Alex Griggs, Brandy Pelts and Alexis Hill played well to hold the score at 3-0.

04/28/12 – McKeon’s v Inter (2-6)

Inter beat McKeon’s with a decisive score of 6-2. Inter’s goals came from Elisabetta Cassarella-3, Cristia Salinas-2, and Leslie Piedra-1. McKeon’s goals both came from Maeve Redmond giving her the spot of top goal scorer with a total of four on the season after three games.