Class of 2010 and 2011 gather for a post-game group photo at Peden Stadium.
New champions have been crowned. The Class of 2010 has clinched the 2010 O’Malley Cup after sweeping the weekend's O'Malley events.
With spring quarter starting up but many second years pursuing job opportunities, O’Malley Cup Chair Alex Vitanye decided it would be a time for an O’Malley weekend. Up 4-2 in the standings, the Competitors only needed one more in the win column to secure their titles. Friday, April 9th was selected for soccer and the Competitors came to play. Despite being down two of the classes premier soccer players, the 2010ers were paced by solid play from Garrett Munro ('10), Taylor Wood ('10), and Kevin Anderson ('10). Kevin “KevBone” Anderson ('10) got the scoring going with an early goal. Munro followed with his first of three on the day. Wood also was able to find the back of the net to give 2010 a 3-0 lead.
The Rookies responded with an amazing goal by Sean Othen ('11) who bent it like Beckham from the end line, playing the ball into the wind and then into the goal. The only other goal scored from the Class of 2011 came on a PK from Jessie Martin ('11). The trio of 2010 scorers kept finding the net, proving to be too much offense for the first year students. When the final whistle blew, the Competitors found themselves up 6-3, leading Alex Vitanye ('10) to declare “The champs are here!”
First year student Jessie Martin ('11) could only respond "we gave it our best effort this weekend. As the game progressed, I think we proved to be tough competitors. It just wasn't our day."
Even with the events of Friday still fresh on everyone’s mind, both classes took the field at Peden Stadium to compete in the Cup’s football event. The second year’s started off hot again scoring two TDs to go up 13-0. QB Ryan Holmes hooked up with Anderson and A.J. Rizzo ('10) for the scores and also had several beautiful passes to Aaron Lewis ('10) throughout the day. The Competitors also put together a stout defensive effort. They were able to intercept the ball five times, including picks from George Smalley ('10) and Jessie Lamb ('10). Lewis, who also hauled in a touchdown said, “Our defense really set the tone with five interceptions and set up for our offense for success. When most people are either doing classwork or visiting Court Street, the second-year receiving corps and I are out running routes. That was pretty much the story this afternoon."
In fact, the Rookies were not able to score any points on offense with their only score coming on an interception return by Matt VanSandt ('11). “After the first half, defensive touchdowns seemed like our only option. First downs were tough to come by. But, I'm extremely proud of the way our team competed and how we carried ourselves on the field,” said VanSandt. With the score 13-6, the second years put up one more TD on offense to take a 19-6 lead. The Rookies had one last ditch effort to score but were stopped on a goal line stand shortly before the end of the game. At the end of the day, the Class of 2010 stood victorious once again, taking a 6-2 O’Malley Cup series lead.
