Bengsten tastes Premier Soccer playoffs
Local players Alex Bengsten of Bryant University and Andover, and Eliza Marshall of Brown University and North Andover played important roles for the Aztecs U23 team which advanced to the semifinals of the Women's Premier Soccer League Eastern Conference playoff.
In the regular season, the Aztec U23s finished tied with their sister team, the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves, for first place with an 8-1-1 record in the WPSL East-North division. As a result, the Women's Premier Soccer League Eastern semi final started out as a simple family affair between the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (8-1-1 WPSL Northeast) and the Boston Aztec U23 (8-1-1 WPSL Northeast). Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves won 2-1 knocking out the Bengsten and her Boston Aztec U23. Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves went on to win the Women's Premier Soccer League championship with a 2-1 win over Ajax America.
"The game ended up being one of the most suspense filled, back-and-forth and climactic games of the 2010 WPSL season," according to a release from the Aztecs.
After 90 minutes of regulation play and the first of two 15 minute overtimes passing with no score the final 15-minute period of the game saw three goals. The Aztec U23s scored in the 108th minute on a goal from University of Albany standout Shayla Bergeron. The Aztec Reserves bounced back two minutes later with a goal from Yuka Miyazaki a member of the Japanese Women's National team. In the 199th minute, only a single minute away from penalty shots, Becca Mays from Metropolitian State College of Denver, connected on a cross and sent the Aztec Reserves in the Eastern Conference Finals The Boston Aztec women's team is a minor league affiliate for the Boston Breakers, while the Boston Aztec U23's will also compete in the WPSL starting in 2010 and be comprised entirely of college players.
In earlier action, onJuly 17, the Boston Aztec U23 (8-1-1 WPSL Northeast) took on the Millburn Magic (5-4-1 WPSL East-Central) in a Women's Premier Soccer League quarterfinal playoff match.
Sports Park seeks 'Warriors'for special tongue-in-cheek event
The Amesbury Sports Park is holding a contest to find two Warriors to represent the park in the upcoming Spartan Race, a 5-kilometer trail race loaded with extreme obstacles including barbed wire, mud pits and a Gladiator spear throw. The race will take place on Saturday, Aug. 28, beginning with registration at 8 a.m., at 12 South Hunt Road, Amesbury.
Andover residents can enter the contest at www.amesburysportspark.net to win free admission to the race. "If one of the ASP Warriors wins the race, he or she will receive not just honor, glory, and bragging rights, but also a $500 cash prize. The top three winners of the Spartan Race will have the privilege to get free entry to the Spartan Race World Championship, "The Death Race" youmaydie.com located in Pittsfield, Vt.," according to a release.
Contestants don't necessarily need to be incredibly fit or athletic to win the Amesbury Sports Park's contest.
"We're willing to consider contestants who may be a little more of a couch potato than, say, Hercules," said MaryCarol Fowler, executive vice president at the park, "but our Warrior will definitely need to be feisty and tenacious. A good costume and an entertaining personality can certainly win over our judges in lieu of rock hard abs."
The park said it would "ideally like to sponsor two radically different racers to compete, one shoo-in and one long shot," but it is waiting to see what the pool of contestants looks like before making a final decision.
Those not brave enough to race are welcome to participate as Spartan Spectators and cheer on their favorite warrior or the masses. The full day event will include live entertainment, barbecue, beer tent, Spartan face painting, spray-on abs and tattoos, OGO rides, summer tubing and more.
