Doxa put together a magnificent second half performance on Saturday night to book their place in the final of the Angels Confrontational league. The final will be played on February 18th, at 6pm.

Going into the break down 1-0, Doxa rallied and banged in 5 unanswered second half goals for their second victory of the season over Misioneros. The first goal came following a cross from the left, with a ball reaching Steve Chirgwin on the back post. Chirgy took a touch, before drilling a ball across the box to Bryan Byrne, who flicked the ball in with a back heel to make it 1-1. Less than 5 minutes later, it was captain Derk Droze who headed in what could be one of the most important goals of the season. With momentum on their side, Doxa’s Andrew Villalobos corner was glanced home by Droze on the near post.

The third goal came from a Steve Chirgwin through-ball, as he feed the speedy Bryan Byrne into a 1 vs 1 with the keeper. Byrne kept a cool head, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home. The fourth was set up by the same combo of players, with Chirgwins feed allowing Byrne to beat two defenders before playing the ball back to the top of the box. Ryan Taylor and Gurgen Adzemian both found space, but it was the latter who let the ball roll across his body before coolly slipping into the bottom corner. The nail in the coffin came with 10 minutes to go, and it was well worth waiting for! An Andrew Marinez corner found a wide open Ryan Taylor in the box – but with time on his side, Taylor decided not to take a touch and duly volleyed home spectacularly – sealing a terrific all around performance from Doxa.

The final on February 18th will feature Doxa Italia vs San Nicolas. All support is very much welcomed!

Goals:
#1 – Bryan Byrne (Steve Chirgwin)
#2 – Derk Droze (Andrew Villalobos)
#3 – Bryan Byrne (Steve Chirgwin)
#4 – Gurgen Adzemian (Bryan Byrne, Steve Chirgwin)
#5 – Ryan Taylor (Andrew Marinez)

1. Aaron Perez
2. Joe Cartlidge
3. Eddie Pinto
4. Devin Toohey
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Steve Chirgwin
7. Nate Reeves
8. Derk Droze
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Eric Meister
11. Andrew Villalobos

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Justin Commins
14. Ryan Taylor
15. Kevin Gallaugher
16. Vardan Adzemian
17. Kyle Holland
18. Spencer Shortland
19. Gurgen Adzemian

Doxa marched into the semi final of the Angels Confrontational league with a solid 4-2 win on Sunday over the LA Crew. Early on, Doxa actually went behind to a goal from former player Arthur Aghasyan but slowly worked their way back into the game before half time. The first goal came after some terrific work from Devin Toohey. Toohey battled with Crew defenders on the corner and won the ball back through hard graft and laid it back to Bryan Bynre. Byrne crossed to Derk Droze who’s header was palmed by the keeper into the path of Gabe Valencia. The striker took it in his stride and drilled it over the Crew keeper. It didn’t take long for Doxa to take the lead. The assist came from an unlikely source – a punt from Doxa keeper Aaron Perez. Droze battle some defenders before the ball bounced between an unrushing Byrne and Crew keeper. After nipping it just over the keeper, Byrne finished. 2-1 Doxa. The 3rd goal was nearly a carbon copy, except Droze got his head on this one and the ball fell in the path of Byrne again. With the keeper on his way out, Byrne chipped the ball over him and into the net.

Doxa started a little slow in the second, and allowed LA Crew back into the game with another goal coming from a former Doxa player, this time Travis Bowen. After some back and forth action, Doxa finally got the 4th they needed to secure the game. Johnny Alcaraz picked the ball up on the right before cutting in and dinking a ball over the top to Eric Meister. Meister flicked the ball across the box to Devin Toohey, who gratefully stroked home his 4th goal in 3 games!

Doxa take on Misioneros this weekend in the Semi-final, the game is slated for a 6pm kick off time.

Goals:
#1 – Gabe Valencia (Derk Droze)
#2 – Bryan Byrne (Aaron Perez)
#3 – Bryan Byrne (Derk Droze)
#4 – Devin Toohey (Johnny Alcaraz, Eric Meister)

1. Aaron Perez
2. Joe Cartlidge
3. Kevin Gallaugher
4. Devin Toohey
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Vardan Adzemian
7. Nate Reeves
8. Derk Droze
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Gabe Valencia
11. Andrew Villalobos

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Justin Commins
14. Ryan Taylor
15. Sam Allen
16. Steve Chirgwin
17. Johnny Alcaraz
18. Eric Meister
19. Spencer Shortland
20. Kyle Holland

Doxa won a very lopsided affair on Saturday night at Manhattan Village, running in a 13 goal scoreline in the process. The win continues an unbeaten home streak that dates back to May 14th 2011.

Goals:
#1 – Gave Valencia (Sean Lockhart)
#2 – Matt Upton (Ilia Nazarov)
#3 – Bryan Byrne
#4 – Sean Lockhart (Matt Upton)
#5 – Ilia Nazarov (Ryan Loza, Gabe Valencia)
#6 – Matt Upton (Sean Lockhart)
#7 – Own Goal
#8 – Matt Upton (Eric Meister)
#9 – Steve Merker
#10 – Ilia Nazarov (Spencer Shortland)
#11 – Steve Merker (Sean Lockhart)
#12 – Eric Meister (Steve Merker)
#13 – Eric Meister

1. Brandon Avery
2. Devin Toohey
3. Spencer Shortland
4. Sean Lockhart
5. Eric Meister
6. Ryan Loza
7. Bryan Byrne
8. Matt Upton
9. Gabe Valencia
10. Steve Chirgwin
11. Ilia Nazarov

12. Craig Reynolds
13. Ryan Taylor
14. Steve Merker
15. Joe Cartlidge
16. Aaron Perez

Doxa needed a solid performance heading into Angels Confrontational playoff action – and the team obliged with a fantastic first half performance. It was actually 6-0 at half time, with Johnny Alcaraz grabbing a hat-trick in between a Bryan Byrne Double. Ryan Taylor bagged the 6th just before the break.

The second half was a little more somber, with Doxa introducing some fresh legs and resting some players. Devin Toohey bagged a quick double before Ilia Nazarov sealed a very convincing win. Steve Chirgwin moved into double digit assists for the season, grabbing 4 in 60 minutes of action. The league now enters playoffs, with Doxa sitting in 3rd place at the moment (still some more games to be played this weekend).

Goals:
#1 – Bryan Byrne (Joe Cartlidge)
#2 – Johnny Alcaraz (Andrew Villalobos)
#3- Johnny Alcaraz (Steve Chirgwin)
#4 – Johnny Alcaraz (Andrew Villalobos)
#5 – Bryan Byrne (Steve Chirgwin)
#6 – Ryan Taylor (Steve Chirgwin)
#7 – Devin Toohey (Steve Chirgwin)
#8 – Devin Toohey (Gabe Valencia)
#9 – Ilia Nazarov

1. Aaron Perez
2. Joe Cartlidge
3. Kevin Gallaugher
4. Devin Toohey
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Vardan Adzemian
7. Steve Chirgwin
8. Johnny Alcaraz
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Ryan Taylor
11. Andrew Villalobos

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Justin Commins
14. Gabe Valencia
15. Sam Allen
16. Gurgen Adzemian

After a very comprehensive first half, where Doxa went into the break 2-0 up, it looked like a job well done in Angels Confrontational action. But, the second half was a completely different story – and Doxa paid for coming out flat by conceding 3 straight goals. it took a 90th minute goal to salvage a point in what was an entertaining encounter for neutral spectators!

Goals:
#1 – Bryan Byrne (Derk Droze)
#2 – Andrew Villalobos (Bryan Byrne)
#3 – Eric Meister (Andrew Villalobos)

1. Brandon Avery
2. Joe Cartlidge
3. Kevin Gallaugher
4. Nate Reeves
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Derk Droze
7. Steve Chirgwin
8. Devin Toohey
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Ryan Taylor
11. Andrew Villalobos

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Marcus Watson
14. Spencer Shortland
15. Sam Allen
16. Vardan Adzemian
17. Eric Meister

It is that time again, as we “Get in the Box” with another one of your favorite Doxa stars. This time we get up close and personal with left back, Joe Cartlidge. Known for his easy going approach to life and his heading ability (some actually say he leaps higher than an Alaskan Salmon, others think he could easily out jump Blake Griffin) Joe is a team player who is always willing to step up and take on a task for a teammate! Currently sporting a wilderness style beard, we caught up with Joe and here is what he had to say.

Name: Joseph Cartlidge
Occupation: Beer Specialist, Whole Foods Market
Position: Defender, primarily used on the left.

Tell us about your career before Doxa:
After losing the National Championship match my Senior year at CSUDH, I stayed as far away from competitive soccer as I could. I couldn’t get the defeat out of my head for the longest time, and it wasn’t until I was introduced to beach soccer (thank you Austin Roman!) that I realized soccer was more than a final score.

Soccer career highlight:
2000 – National Championship match my Junior year at CSUDH (we won 2-1 in the 4th OT!!)
2010 – Traveling to Portugal with the US National Beach Soccer team to compete in the Mundialito tournament against Brazil, Portugal and Argentina.

Favorite player to play with:
The first player that popped into my head was Juan Carlos (JC) Bolanos. Incredible scoring machine and terrifically smooth on the ball.

Favorite moment outside of soccer:
Cliffs of Moher trail run with my brother.

Most embarrassing story you have on another player:
I’ll embarrass the hell out of myself before I would a friend. Sorry man, no stories here.

Most Likely on the team to:

• Score an own goal: Me, because my passing is atrocious.
• Get sent off: Nate Reeves, because he loves yelling.
• Get goal of the season: Bryan Byrne, because he’s the fricking Energizer bunny and can’t be stopped.
• Show up to a game with no gear: David Adams, because he stayed out all night and thought he was showing up to “party and party and party”.
• Have to go to rehab: Again, David Adams.

As a beer connoisseur, give us your insight on the following:

Best Beer of all time: My all-time favorite, that can be enjoyed year-round, is Kern River Brewing Company’s Just Outstanding IPA. It’s a West Coast-style IPA that blends Simcoe and Amarillo hops to give the beer a fantastic grapefruit and apricot essence, which combine perfectly with its caramel malt backbone. The beer isn’t overly bitter like some IPAs, but in order to get the most out of it, please drink it out of a glass! Utilizing your sense of smell is crucial in beer tasting.
A beer worth paying big money for: There are so many fantastic beers out there that are priced to sell, but if you have a couple extra bucks to burn, you gotta try Uinta Brewing Company’s Labyrinth ($14.99 for 25.4 ounces). Labeled a “Black Ale,” it’s technically a rye whiskey, barrel-aged, double imperial stout. If you’re unfamiliar with Imperial Stouts, they can be hit or miss. Some are overly sweet, due to the fact that they involve large amounts of sugar (which is what the yeast feeds on in order to create alcohol). Some are reminiscent of a Japanese spin-the-bottle session and taste like soy sauce. Labyrinth is everything you want in an Imperial Stout – bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee, medium alcohol flavor, and a hint of licorice root. At 13.2% ABV, it’s a beer that will put hair on your chest and tell you it’s okay to drunk dial your old baby sitter to let her know she will always be “the one.”
Number one Beer to avoid: Similar to human beings, there are plenty of lame beers out there. But like us, all beers serve a purpose. Just enjoy what’s in front of you and thank the Egyptians, Inca, Germans, Belgians, whoever it was that first let bacteria build on grain and combine with water, hops and yeast to become the libation we all enjoy to this day…in front of the television, in a boat, on a bench, on a beach, in a buddy’s backyard, in bed, bored, baked, buzzed, bewildered, beguiled. It’s all good.
Best liquor on the market: After visiting Scotland, I am a big fan of Scotch, but my family is from Kentucky and Bourbon is in my blood, so I gotta go with Maker’s Mark.

Tell us how your recent trip to Scotland went: Glasgow, Brew Dog, Loch Lomond, Kilchurn Castle, Skye, Talisker, Inverness, Cardhu, Edinburgh, Glen Kinchie, Haggis, Neeps, Tatties, Steak and Ale Pies, Tenants, a perfect partner, and the kindest people on the planet. Not a bad trip.

The first goal came midway through the first half, with a Steve Chirgwin knock down reaching Eric Meister on the edge of the area. Meister teed himself up and sent a sublime volley over the keepers head. Doxa should of had a second soon after, only for a very contentious offside decision.

In there second half, it was Andrew Villalobos who made an instant impact, scoring the all important second goal. After receiving a ball on the right, he cut in and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. Devin Toohey got the third after a fantastic build-up. Sam Allen beat a defender on the right before drilling a cross into the middle. Bryan Byrne flicked it on to Eric Meister at the back post, and he very unselfishly squared it to a wide open and very happy Toohey. The fourth again came from the right and Sam Allen, who again beat a defender, but this time dropped a ball to the PK spot where Byrne was waiting to pounce, drilling the ball past the keeper. And the fifth and final goal came compliments of the Russian Rocket. It was Sam Allen, with his 2nd assist off the bench, who squared it to Navarov and he took a touch before burying his shot past the keeper. In between the 4th and 5th, Esperanza got their consolation goal.

The win keeps Doxa in 3rd place with 2 games left to go in Angels Confrontational action.

Goals:
#1 – Eric Meister (Steve Chirgwin)
#2 – Andrew Villalobos (Nate Reeves)
#3 – Devin Toohey (Eric Meister)
#4 – Bryan Byrne (Sam Allen)
#5 – Ilia Nazarov (Sam Allen)

1. Aaron Perez
2. Spencer Shortland
3. Kevin Gallaugher
4. Nate Reeves
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Gugo Adzemian
7. Steve Chirgwin
8. Kyle Holland
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Ryan Taylor
11. Eric Meister

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Devin Toohey
14. Derk Droze
15. Sam Allen
16. Vardan Adzemian
17. Andrew Villalobos

Doxa finished the 2011 season with a 1-1 tie versus Hollywood Allstars in Angels Confrontational action. It ended up being a mixed game, with Doxa producing some excellent chances, only to see some under-par finishing keeping the scores level. Doxa took the lead in the first half, with Andrew Marinez scoring a fantastic volley off a Bryan Byrne cross. Hollywood scored their goal before halftime, off a sloppy back-pass that left Doxa keeper Aaron Perez in a tough spot! The win keeps Doxa in 3rd spot, with 2 games left to play.

Goals:
#1 – Andrew Marinez (Bryan Byrne)

1. Aaron Perez
2. Vardan Adzemian
3. Kevin Gallaugher
4. Devin Toohey
5. Nas Koubourus
6. Andrew Marinez
7. Sean Lockhart
8. Johnny Alcaraz
9. Bryan Byrne
10. Ryan Taylor
11. Derk Droze

12. Ilia Nazarov
13. Kyle Holland
14. Gugo Adzemian
15. Steve Merker
16. Justin Cummins
17. Spencer Shortland

It had all started so differently, with Gugo Adzemian scoring for Doxa after only 3 minutes. PSA scored shortly before half-time to leave the score at 1-1. It was the all important 3rd goal that changed things and unfortunately for Doxa it went to PSA. Needing to get back into the game, Doxa sent players forward – on two resultant break-aways, PSA won free-kicks and Doxa conceeded two very unfortunate own-goals.

Next weekend Doxa play their final game of the year versus Hollywood All-Stars in Angels Confrontational action.

Goals:
#1 – Gugo Adzemian (Bryan Byrne)

This weekend, Doxa take on PSA Elite in what will be the first ever CSL Charity Shield game. Both teams did fantastically well in the National Championship this summer and it will be a battle between two of the best amateur teams in the country!

All support is very much welcomed – we hope to see you all there!