The Catskill Chronicle

Chapel Field’s Joe Sgamdurra and Evan Heselciel and Blake
Jouchiam of the Family School.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

[CALLICOON] – One thing about Monday (September 21) afternoon’s league varsity boy’s soccer game between the host Family Foundation School Falcons (7-1) and the visiting Lions of Chapel Field (2-2-1) was that the half-by-half scoring was even, as the home team posted six goals in each period, outpacing the Lions lonely goal 12-1.

The Family School’s Yves Kipollongo contests the ball with a couple of Lions.

In the first frame, the Family School racked up six unanswered goals: Evan Heselciel off an assist from Blake Jouchiam (2:11), Yves Kipollongo off an assist by Ignacio Abascala (14:43), Kipollongo assisted by Heselciel (15:12), Sean Cleys off an assist by Kipollongo (25:05), Kippollongo with an assist from Cleys (31:00), Heselciel assisted by Kippollongo (34:00).

The Falcons opened up the second half with a couple of rapid fire goals, as Robby O’Connor assisted by Andrew Bolhman beat the Lions keeper at 3:38, followed up at 5:40 with an unassisted goal by Heselciel. Chapel Field got into the scorebook at 6:44 on a penalty kick by Chris Bolduc.

The Family School’s Max Ruderman battles Jeff Rivera of Chapel Field up close and personal for possession.

Then it was back on the attack track for the Family School. Jason Dabroski scored unassisted at 14:44, Heselciel off an assist by Cleys (20:21), Bolhman (21:29), and Arron Zack off an assist from Cleys (24:12) to wrap up the match’s scoring.

Helesciel,17,  took the afternoon’s top gun award with a total of four
goals. “It definitely helped our team out,” he said. “I couldn’t have scored
four [goals] without my team.”

Kipollongo wasn’t far behind in the race for goals, as the17-year old upperclassman racked up a total of three. “It felt good with the help of my teammates…I couldn’t have done it alone.”

Goalies: Family School (starter Kyle Faatz, backup Jens Renke); Chapel Field (starter Luke Solomon, backup Ezra Kuliszewski) Chapel Field’s coach Christian Elizondo declined to comment after the match.

The Family School’s Ignacio Abascala and Chapel Field’s Jesse Capalbo.

James Williamson took over the reins of the FFS’s athletic department and boy’s varsity soccer squad in 2009-2010  from Bill Musgrove, who held the post for several years.

“When Bill moved out, I stepped in,” he said. “Coaching here is different because of what we do with the kids here…they are at-risk teens. They’ve taken a little turn for the bad in their lives, and we’re strict and follow the 12-steps, and try to get them back on life.”

To watch the Falcons unite in prayer before the match, play hard on the field, give the opposition their due as competitors, and praise each other’s efforts was a lesson in how high school sports should be played, as respect and teamwork ruled the day.

“This sport was so far gone from their lives, they didn’t even think about it,” said Williamson. “Now all of a sudden it’s back in their lives.”

To take the pulse of a team, ask the manager/water boy/ball runner.

Casey Hong and Arron Zack celebrate after a Family School goal.

Troy Pollibore is a 15-year old middle schooler at the Family School. “It’s like helping my mother cook, it’s great,” he said of his varied duties with the Falcons soccer team. I love helping the team, and it keeps me out of living skills class.”

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Falcons Maul Lions 12-1 visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.