Doxa’s veteran goalkeeper Brian Burdue was in fine form on Saturday night, after the game versus So-Cal Real, as the team celebrated his birthday at Grunions! Burdue, who is currently on the Retirement Sucks Tour 2008 2009 2010, has already signed a one year extension to his current contract.
October, 2010:
5-1 Win Vs So-Cal Real FC
Doxa Italia 5 So-Cal Real FC 1
Behind an Eric Meister double, Doxa continue 100% record.
A strong Doxa team made it 4 wins from 4 on the season with a convincing 5-1 win over league newcomers So-Cal Real. After failing to find a pass in the first 20 minutes of the game, Steve Chirgwin hit a screamer from the top of the box on a half volley to give Doxa the lead. Half time came with the score at 1-0.
Early in the second half it was Eric Meister who gave Doxa the 2-0 lead, and shortly after he made it 3-0 meeting the ball on the back post, heading it onto the post, picking up the rebound and placing it by the keeper. That allowed Doxa to make several substitutions, the left the team shaky for 10 minutes. During that period, So-Cal had several good chances and got on the board with a screamer from just outside the area that left Brian Burdue flapping. The birthday man then gave a kick out straight to a So-Cal forward – and the game could easily have been 3-2 only for the striker to knock it over the bar.
Shortly after, Doxa got back into a rhythm and made it 4-1 when Kamikaze Yuki getting on the end of a Sean Lockhart cross. The game was wrapped up with 10 minutes left when a Marcus Chorvat corner was met by the head of Zach Roberts, who made it 2 goals in 2 games.
Next week see a top of the table clash, with Doxa heading to play at Corona.
1. Brian Burdue
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Nate Reeves
4. Nas Koubouras
5. Steve Chirgwin
6. Mat Davis
7. Marcus Chorvat
8. Ryan Taylor
9. Marcus Watson
10. Eric Meister
11. Dave Adams
12. Masa
13. Andrew Villalobos
14. Noah Rothstein
15. Sean Lockhart
16. Zach Roberts
17. Yuki
Doxa Overwhelm Morelos 7-1
Doxa Italia 7 – Morelos 1
The second home game of the CSL season saw Doxa come away with a well earned 3 points in what was an extremely chippy game.
A first half double from Ryan Taylor put Doxa in control, while goals from Bryan Byrne, Zach Roberts, Sean Lockhart, Ilia Nazarov and Noah Rothstein sealed a convincing win. Robert’s and Rothstein’s goals came on their Doxa Italia debuts, while Sean Lockhart’s goal will be a nomination for goal of the season. Morelos goal came in the 90th minute off a corner kick.
1. Brian Burdue
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Nate Reeves
4. Nas Koubouras
5. Steve Chirgwin
6. Mat Davis
7. Andrew Villalobos
8. Ryan Taylor
9. Pete Hazdovac
10. Devin Toohey
11. Aaron Craggs
12. Dave Adams
13. Brandon Avery
14. Ricky Figueroa
15. Sean Lockhart
16. Zach Roberts
17. Yuki
18. Ilia Nazarov
19. Noah Rothstein
CSL Season Starts With 2-1 Win
Doxa Italia 2 Artesia DES 1
Bryan Byrne scores in the 88th minute to earn 3 points from Artesia.
Doxa Italia opens the 2010 CSL with a 2-1 victory over Artesia DES at Manhattan Beach Village Saturday night. Doxa’s first scheduled match for the season was a forfeit as CGSA failed to produce a team in time for the match. Artesia was coming off a 3-0 win against Garden Grove Gunners. They were up for the match and started fast with high pressure and a quick pace but the Doxa midfield of Dave Adams, Aaron Craggs and Mat Davis was up to the task and kept possession for most of the first half and sending Doxa forwards Bryan Byrne and Ryan Taylor on run after run. Ryan Taylor came close to giving Doxa the lead after Bryan Byrne made a run up the right side and into the box and centering a bouncing ball that Taylor hit first time in stride whistling the ball just inches wide of the goal. Doxa had several more attacks and kept the Artesia keeper busy as he had to make several saves to keep the scoreline even at 0-0.
Veteran Doxa Italia goalkeeper Brian Burdue had very little do do in the first half thanks to the stellar defense of “Angry” Nate Reeves, Nas Koubouras, Eric Meister and Marcus Watson. But when called into action Burdue snuffed any Artesia attack by swiping crosses out of the air and coming quick off his line to take any through ball including one great save/tackle taking away what Artesia must of thought was a sure goal.
The 2nd half saw Doxa switch out the midfield with Steve Chirgwin, Ricky Figueroa and Eddie Pinto coming in to see if they could produce a Doxa goal. But at the 60th minute, against the run of play, it would be Artesia who struck first with a free kick given about 30 yards froam goal. A ball was lifted into the box and fell to an Artesia forward who volleyed the ball into the back of the net. Doxa players were calling for a hand ball on the play but the ref was having none of it.
Doxa started to unravel a bit and 5 minutes later another free kick was awarded to Artesia. The ball was sent into the box and an Artesia player flicked it on towards goal. Doxa keeper Brian Burdue did well to get his hand on the shot slowing the the ball down but an onrushing Artesia forward knocked the ball into the net. The Artesia celebration was short-lived however, as the linesman had his flag up signaling for an offside.
Doxa regained it’s shape and once again dominated possession. Artesia – as it had most of the game – played with 11 behind the ball thwarting of attack after attack. In the 75th minute Doxa was awarded a penalty for a hand ball in the box. Marcus Watson, who had somehow persuaded/fought off Steve Chirgwin and Eddie Pinto to take the spot kick, calmly sent the Artesia keeper the other way. Artesia 1 Doxa Italia 1. Doxa didn’t stop there and kept the pressure on. Artesia was determined to get the draw but in the 88th minute Ricky Figueroa intercepted a pass in the Doxa midfield and sent the ball back to Brian Burdue. Burdue took a touch and noticed that Figueroa was off to the races and knocked a perfect 60 yard ball on a rope to Figueroa in stride. With a quick touch to control, Figueroa sent a perfect ball to the sprinting Bryan Byrne who smashed the ball into the back of the net and ending any ill conceived thought that Artesia had that they would leave Manhattan Beach Village with any points. The center ref blew the final whistle 2 minutes later and the boys went off to Grunions Bar and Grill in Manhattan Beach to celebrate the successful beginning of the 2010 CSL.
1. Brian Burdue
2. Eric Meister
3. Nas Koubourus
4. Nate Reeves
5. Marcus Watson
6. Andrew Villalobos
7. Dave Adams
8. Aaron Craggs
9. Mat Davis
10. Ryan Taylor
11. Bryan Byrne
12. Eddie Pinto
13. Ricky Figueroa
14. Steve Chirgwin
15. Devon Toohey
16. Sean Lockhart
17. Masa
18. Yuki
19. Zach Roberts
