My name is Tyler Biscone and I am the net keeper or goalie for the U-10 Jaguars Travel Soccer Team. My Dad has always done a pretty good job of writing the articles for my team from a spectator's point of view. Here is my take on our team as a player.

Our first season together was in the Fall of 2004. We had a rough start winning very few games and losing many but we always tried our hardest. Our coach

Janice Bruno, assistant coach Tom Bruno and Trainer Brian Buckner told us that we should be building skills and not worry about winning or losing. It was not easy, but we all tried to stick to their plan.

Most of us played up in an indoor U-11 winter league in Franklin Square and really worked on our passing and positioning skills on a very small field with some tough competition. When the Spring 2005 season began, we looked a lot better and showed our coaches and ourselves that we had the ability to really turn everything around and start playing at a higher level. Our opening game at home against the Hicksville Thunder resulted in our first win with a 3-2 victory. All three goals were scored by my dependable teammate Pat Keogh who marked his first hat-trick of the season. The very next day we had to take off for a 9am make-up Waldbaum's Cup game in Hauppauge. Keogh scored our only goal and I had my first shutout of the season. This single elimination game could not have been won without my incredible defenders Rob Sorge, Chris Thomas, Brian Flynn and Marc Shendemann.

The next game was played against the Manhasset Sparks at the great Habor Links field that used to be a landfill! We defeated the Sparks by a score of 2-1. Greg Arning's speed and Andrew Granville's pressure were big factors in that win. The following weekend we played the Auburndale Dragons at the Long Island Soccer Park in absolute torrential downpour. With Thomas Bruno scoring one, Tim Halaby scoring two and Thomas Holbrook scoring one goal, we slayed the Dragons 4-0 in another shutout.

Our next match-up at Nassau Haven was tough for us because our trainer Brian turned out to be head coach for the New Hyde Park Lynx! Brian sat out that game which I personally thought was a good decision. This game ended in a 1-1 tie. Next was a Cup game against the Manhasset Ravens at home the day before my tenth birthday. It turned out to be a good early birthday present ending with an incredible 5-0 win. Next we faced Syosset Fire in a game that really came down to the wire. Every goal that was scored was answered. They were tough opponents that were in my face. After every save, they would slide into the box looking for a rebound. I should have had my football pads on! With just under 3 minutes left to play, Chris Thomas who is normally one of my key defenders rose to the occasion to score the winning goal!

The next day, we played in a 3rd round cup game against the Carle Place Jaguars. This team was probably our toughest opponent yet. We were down 2-0 in the first five minutes of the game. Those other Jaguars must have been shocked that we came back to win it by a score of 4-3! After that it was the Uniondale Wildcats turn to fall to us by a score of 3-1.

The next weekend we played the undefeated Wantagh-Seaford Strikers. Up 1-0, the Strikers managed to tie the game one all.

It was then that we faced our toughest game of the year, the Waldbaum's Cup Semi-Final against Levittown. Regulation time ended in a 1-1 tie followed by tow scoreless overtimes. This resulted in our first-ever shootout. Once again, we were at a deadlock as each team scored two goals. We were up 3-2 and I managed to make a save. We scored again and were up 4-2, but he next shooter was the same player that got one past me in regulation time. If he beat me, the shootout continued, if he did not then the game was over and we were finalists. My stomach in knots, but I just focused on contributing to my team. The ball was shot very hard in the upper corner to my right. I jumped up stretching my arms our as far as I could and felt like Superman was with me! I made the save for my team and we would face Hempstead in Stonybrook for the Waldbaum's cup finals.

Our regular season ended with a tie against Massapequa. We were undefeated in our regular season games and very proud of our efforts and accomplishments. A big thank you goes out to our coaches and trainer. Unfortunately, we were unable to defeat Hempstead in the finals and had to settle for the silver medal. While the finals were a disappointment, we really did have a great year together.

With Travel Tryouts upon us, we know that we probably won't all be together as a team again, but we really played together this year and grew as a team. What a season!LETS GO JAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!