Today’s post takes the form of a short article I submitted to the Concord Journal.

In a dramatic come from behind win, the Concord United Over 50 Men’s Soccer Team won the New England Over The Hill Soccer League (NEOTHSL) Division 1 Championship in a penalty kick shoot out this past Sunday in Taunton. Concord trailed the Stoneham Spartans, last year’s champions, by one goal at the half. Minutes into the second half the Spartans scored again making the score 2-0. The Concord men remained composed and earned a goal late in the second half. With 30 seconds remaining in the match, Concord pushed everyone forward on a final corner kick including goalie, Rob Morrison, who scored the equalizer, forcing a penalty kick shoot out. Morrison went on to save three sudden death penalty kicks before his teammates won the shoot out 5-4 in the ninth round.

I started at left wing (midfield) and had a strong first half, playing with the intensity you would expect in a championship match. I did not play as well in the second half and was thankful I was not on the field for the penalty kick phase. A smart man of my age would graduate to the Over 56 division in the fall. I am not that smart. My last D1 championship was in 2008 as a member of the Concord United Over 40 team and I would like to win another before moving up another age group.