The Titans The Garden City Titans arrived at the field June 14th ready for a rematch against the Island Trees Lightning, a team that defeated them in the fall. The Lightning won the toss, started with the ball, and tried to push the ball downfield but were stopped by the Titans' forwards. The teams battled back and forth many times for possession, but neither team was able to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the first half. Michael Franco, Mark Luglio, and Jack Roscoe moved the ball downfield together a number of times but were stymied by the Lightning's keeper and defense.

The Lightning's keeper had a strong boot, and on his possession and on goal kicks, the Island Trees team was able to use the ball's bounce to get it into our end of the field. But the Titans have worked together as a team for nearly a year now, so when the Lightning moved into our end of the field, if they made it past one of our defenders, the other two compensated to keep the Lightning from putting together an effective play. Defenders Conor Lehan, Jack Riceman, and John Schlichte were a force to be reckoned with. One time when the Lightning broke past the Titan defense, Brian Leggett sprinted past his teammates and cut off the opponent before he could put the ball into scoring position. On some other attempts by the Lightning to get the ball in scoring position, Joe Leighton kept the pressure on their forwards and pushed the ball to the outside and back towards his teammates, while keeper Owen Prendergast made some great saves to keep the game tied at zero at the end of the first half.

In the second half, the Titans' determination paid off. Only a few minutes in, the Titans worked the ball down into the Lightning's end of the field, and Michael Franco made a crossing pass to Mark Luglio, who put it in the net. The Lightning tried to respond but were denied again by Titan defenders Leggett, Riceman, and Lehan as well as keeper Joe Leighton. The Titans then moved the ball downfield again, this time with Franco crossing the ball to Jack Roscoe, who put it past the Lightning's keeper for the second goal.

The Lightning were called several times on penalties for tripping and unnecessary roughness on the Titans. Bobby McLoughlin and Nick Lavinio both fought ferociously at midfield for possession of the ball when the Lightning attempted to penetrate the Titans' end of the field, and when the Lightning returned the ball on goal kicks. On one Lightning kick from outside the 18 yard box, the ball bounced in front of the Titans' keeper and passed out of reach over his head, just barely making it into the goal. It was the only goal the Titans would allow. The Titans responded quickly by moving the ball back into the Lightning's end and Mark Luglio broke past their last defender and scored on an off-balance shot past their keeper into the corner of the net. Defenders Schlichte and Prendergast both moved the ball down the field on separate occasions and were nearly able to execute on scoring chances.

The team ended the season undefeated and in first place of their division. Great job boys!