| Sudwerk Downs Cosmos DAVIS, Calif., Sept 29, 2005 (Reuters) -- Kevin Gray scored four goals on Thursday night to lead FC Sudwerk to a sensational 6-4 triumph over Cosmos FC. For the red-and-black to pull off an upset of one of the league's best teams, it required drama -- and plenty of drama there was. To wit: -- Goalie J.C. Mark sealed the victory with several spectacular saves late in the game, after aggravating a knee injury midway through the second half that left him limping. -- All guts Cathy Ross returned to the field after using her face as a ball stopper. She gritted out the game with a bloody lip and giant welt on her cheek. -- Ben Finkelor celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday by scoring Sudwerk's fourth goal on a penalty kick. (Way to go Ben!) He slammed the ball into the center of the net as the keeper dove to his left. -- Night-shift nurse Renae Wurschmidt Owens gave it her all the first 60 minutes before dashing off, soaked with sweat, to make it to work. -- Joe Cardoza explempified Sudwerk's competitive spirit when he marked a Cosmos attacker so tightly in the box, he looked like an NFL lineman protecting the quarterback. It cost us a penalty kick, but you have to admire Joe's determination. -- Mel Meyer and Alex Park played through to the final whistle despite suffering minor muscle pulls. As usual, Sudwerk got a terrific performance out of its outstanding corps of women players -- Owens, Meyer, Ross, Randi Field and Deleanna Quan. Field, in particular, had a stellar game, setting up Sudwerk's third goal on a great cross to a streaking Imer who finished off the play nicely with a quickly touched shot underneath the onrushing keeper. Field also struck the cross bar with a rocket she launched just inside the box right of goal. In addition, the red-and-black's defense held strong against the speedy and aggressive Cosmos attackers, with Cardoza, sweeper Adam Bauer and backs Imer, James Engel and Ben Finkelor proving swift and competent. Sudwerk led 3-2 at the break and went up by two goals before Cosmos bounced back, tying the game on a penalty kick in the 71st minute. But Gray's dazzling footwork was too much for Cosmos to handle and he scored twice in the final 20 minutes to give the red-and-black the win. "Game balls to everyone!" said Juan Carlos, FC Sudwerk's president and CEO. "This was truly a game to behold." ## |