Gillons’ ties defending champs

Taggs isn’t running for cover, but they’ll have to run faster if they’re going to hold on to their title.
The 10-time defending champs of the men’s Borderland Soccer Association had to fight tooth and nail with league-leading Gillons’ to earn a 2-2 draw Monday night at the St. Francis Sportsfield.
Both teams also crawled under each other’s skins as the physical contest was punctuated by some verbal jousting between the two sides.
Thor and Olaf Ruppenstein connected for Taggs (2-2-1), who sit in second place, while Matt Basaraba and Jeremy Wilson did the damage for Gillons’ (4-0-1).
Basaraba and Olaf Ruppenstein lead the league in scoring with five goals apiece while Gillons’ Dan Poperechny has four.
Meanwhile, a scrappy ITS team did its best to capitalize on a short-handed Gillons’ squad but came up short in a 1-0 loss June 10, with Kyle McTavish tallying the game’s lone goal.
ITS starting keeper Justin Depodesta was given a red card midway through the first half, with Gillons’ Adam McTavish picking up one of his own later in the game.
Then it was a far different Gillons’ crew that came to play two nights later as, with replenished numbers, they laid a 9-0 licking on ITS (0-4).
Poperechny and Basaraba each had hat tricks in that one while Steve Hands notched a pair and Wilson added a single.
Nova (2-2) surprised Taggs 1-0 on June 11, with Joe Sinclair netting the game-winner.
ITS, which has been held scoreless so far in the regular season, battled Nova last night (the outcome was unavailable as of press time).
< *c>One step up
With Curves (3-1) on the sidelines for the evening, Gillons’ (4-1) jumped into first place by themselves with a 3-0 shutout over Taggs (0-5) in women’s play Monday evening.
Laureen Cousineau, Shannon Koval, and Susie Grynol all scored for Gillons’ against a gritty Taggs squad that trailed only 1-0 at the half.
Gillons’ had a much easier time June 10 against Taggs as they earned a 6-0 shutout. Amy Wilson had a pair in that one while Amanda Allan, Koval, Marina Boileau, and Cousineau added singles.
Curves handed Gillons’ its only lose of the season so far in a 5-3 victory June 11. Hillary Morgan and Ashley Wilson each scored twice for the victors while Kate Basaraba tallied the other goal.
Koval, Boileau, and Amy Wilson replied for Gillons’.
A similar offensive output the following night lifted Curves to a 5-1 win over Taggs. Rebecca Cornell and Mandy Wilson each drilled a pair of goals in that one, with Hillary Morgan adding a single.
Penny Knapp had the lone tally for Taggs.
The same two teams were slated to face each other again last night (the score was unavailable as of press time).
Mandy Wilson is setting the pace in the women’s league with five goals while a number of others have four.