The U-10 Garden City Demons hosted Commack this past Saturday in Waldbaum's Cup action and got off to a terrific start. On a cold and windy afternoon at Nassau Haven field, the Demons unleashed a strong attack in the opening minutes of the match. The offense, led by Matthew Rogers, Jack Tighe and Kevin Mullin put sustained pressure on the Commack defense. Less than two minutes in Rogers fired a shot just wide of the goal and moments later off a nifty touch pass from Jack Tighe, Roger's strike hit the cross-bar and bounded out of danger. With help from defenders Mark DeSantis, Peter Escribano and Mike Randazzo, the Demons maintained wonderful possession of the ball on the Commack side of the field for much of the 1st half.

The Demon's struck first off a corner kick taken by Jack Tighe that a Commack defender couldn't control. The loose ball came to Rogers who's quick shot was blocked and Mark DeSantis, stepping up, launched a shot over the goalkeeper's head and into the net for a 1-0 lead. The windy conditions seemed to add another element of defense for Commack as the Demons narrowly missed on additional close chances by Carney Mahon who battled hard along with Kevin Mullin. However, the Demons continued to carry the play. While taking possession of a 50/50 ball, Mullin fed Matthew Rogers just above the defensive penalty area and he fired a shot that just cleared the cross-bar.

The Demon defense was superb. Mike Randazzo, sporting new shoes, wore them well as he owned his side of the field. As Commack tried to mount a short series of attacks, Randazzo was all over the lead striker before he could secure possession of the ball. Likewise Will Harrington, Kevin Mullin, Peter Escribano and Jack Gillan were just as dominant in protecting their goalie, Gregory Vouzianas. Commack continued to work hard and had two quality chances to level the score. The first came on a direct kick that was bravely blocked by Jack Gillan who absorbed the shot, then cleared the ball out of harm's way. The second chance came from a Commack striker who fired a low corner shot that Greg Vouzianas dove to his right to snare. The Demons completed the 1st half with the one goal advantage.

As the second half commenced, the Demon's really got their ground game going with wonderful one and two touch passing by Vouzianas, Roger's and Gillan who began the half up front. The Demon's tallied a second goal on a wonderful through pass by Vouzianas to Matt Rogers who deftly beat his defender and fired a left-footed shot into the goal for a 2-0 lead.

The Demon's final goal of the match was a beauty. After their defense had forced a Commack attacker to kick the ball out of bounds, Mike Randazzo threw the ball in to Vouzianas who settled, turned and found Matt Rogers streaking up the middle of the field along with Kevin Mullin and a Commack defender. Roger's two touched the ball to Mullin who got behind the defender and fired a shot into the net to seal victory for the Demon's.

The team begins league play this Saturday at home against Hewlett and although it's been cold outside the Demon's are just getting warmed up. Let's go Demons!