Indoor Soccer Team

RPC United Finds place as NASCAR sponsor after making it to the Championship Game

 

 

Peruvian Predator leads RPC United to first ever championship game

By Ashley Bagabagels

Needing at least a tie to advance to the AAIS Men's D League Championship, interim coach Tomi Ardiles lead RPC United to a 4-3 win over Azteca.  United entered the game shorthanded, missing Coach/Player/Cherry Picker/All Time Leading Scorer Tony Felich, and the venerable Nathan Currey, but were able to overcome these losses to pick up the much needed win.  Down 1-0 early, Jose Guerra scored the equalizer and shortly there after brother Lenin Guerra found a wide open Ashley Barton to go up 2-1.  Lenin then scored himself with a powerful shot that the Azteca goalie was unable to handle, to put United in control.  Brian Hough finished up the scoring with one of the better goals we've seen this year (look for this on YouTube), where he took on two Azteca defenders alone relying on his good footwork and his "bull in a china shop" persistence to get the goal.  In the waning moments of the game, with a 4-3 lead, it looked like RPC might give away the win.  Without regular Coach Felich to constantly remind the team to control the ball and keep it low, United looked to be out for more goals rather than conserving their lead.  But thanks to the stellar defense by interim coach Ardiles, Wes Crape Chico Chiriboga, midfielder Brett Busenitz and goalie Jose Rico; RPC held on to the lead and secured the win.  RPC United now heads to the championship game for a rematch against Broham United.  During their regular season match up, United dominated for a 6-1 win, but considering many of RPC's players have obligations to teams outside of their club, it will be interesting to see which players make up team for the championship game.
 

 

April 25th 2008  - RPC SECURES THIRD PLACE WITH DONNELLY DRAW

By Tony Bagadonuts

 

RPC United capped off an excellent season by tying a much younger, heavily manned Donnelly College team 7-7 Thursday night.  The game was physical and high scoring.  RPC never trailed in the game and actually had a 2 goal lead at one point.   Several RPC players stepped up their game when it counted.  Midfielder Ashley Barton found the back of the net with his first and very timely goal in the first half.   Concerns that Nathan Currey's lack of domestic leadership skills (evidenced by his absence last week) would effect his game intensity were waylaid dramatically as he played his best game to date, netting one and assisting on another, not to mention numerous pressures and steals.  Brian "BC" Hough was up to his old tricks as he took down a Donnelly player late in the game causing United to play a man down for two minutes, however, rising to the occasion were Travis Shanahan and Tim Gillen who masterfully killed the penalty allowing RPC to retool and stay in the game.  Wes Crape joined the RPC backfield and set up three goals from that position.  The Peruvian Predator made some key defensive stops highlighted by a full field sprint to catch the Donnelly forward.  While #88 entered the game late, he still managed to score another goal with a nice give and goal play with Tony Felich.   Christian Claar, who will be RPC's number one goalie next session, once again filled in well for all-star goalie Jose Rico.   Despite Donnelly's youth and vigor, RPC seemed to maintain a certain level of control, but could not stop a late goal to settle for a draw.  A draw was all RPC needed however, to lock down third place.  Ironically, a win would have given them a better record than the second place team, Merkato, but alas, it was not to be.  RPC management was very happy with their 5-2-1 record this session and hope to build on the success next session which begins next Thursday.

 

 

Despite the solid game performance, it seems RPC cannot avoid some level of weekly controversy.  A source close to All American Indoor Sports has confirmed that Donnelly officials are turning in video tapes that purport to show several instances where Travis Shanahan puts a cheap shot on or verbally accosts a Donnelly player.   Supposedly there is also a video clip of Tim Gillen joining Travis to pummel a Donnelly player after the play.  Apparently, Donnelly representatives claim no one should be fooled by Travis and Tim's smiley, golden boyish exteriors, they are actually trained assassins!  Donnelly has stated they can prove Shanahan and Gillen were part of a covert Navy Seals division that was used to infiltrate Afghanistan in the late 90's.   There are allegedly pictures of these men circulating on the internet that prove their military involvement and attending killer attitudes.  Donnelly manager Neil Wethart had this to say- "I know Shanahan doubles as a computer geek and Gillen is some pocket-protector wearing accountant...but don't be fooled!  These guys are dangerous and unstable.  They should be in a hospital for the criminally insane, not playing in our fair league"!  Player coach Tony Felich was shocked by the allegations and seemed speechless when shown a picture of Travis Shanahan that looked more like Rambo than the mild-mannered father of three he thought he knew.  Felich was overheard asking Shanahan, "Your name is Travis.......isn't it?".    It is not known what ramifications proving Shanahan and Gillen's involvement in U.S. military covert special forces activity will have on their playing careers, but it has certainly frightened future opponents of RPC United.  #20 for Donnelly commenting on these revelations said, "If you play RPC United, you better bring a lot body bags". 

 

Team lawyer, Lenin Guerra, who has been working overtime on RPC United matters these past weeks, is said to be working feverishly to address these accusations against Shanahan and Gillen, meanwhile pictures of these men from their mercenary days are said to be circulating on the internet already.  This controversy will no doubt follow them in to the next session and beyond. 

 

April 11th 2008 - Goodyear Express throttle RPC United

 

Goodyear Express are a lock to play for the championship and barring a miracle, Merkato will be their opponent.  Express proved too much for a disorganized and disheveled RPC United team handing them a 7-1 thumping.  RPC really never got in to a rhythm with every facet of their game off kilter.  The first 10 minutes looked promising, but allowing easy goals, poor line management, a hot-headed player-coach, and missed finishes did RPC in. 

 

All was quiet on the scandal front this week for RPC, however some suggested that Felich's body-checking episode in second half was "roid rage".  Further accusations flew in the press box as Jose Rico threatened to open a can on an Express player late in the game.  As expected, team officials shrugged off such accusations.  RPC's last regular season game is next Thursday night against Express (not Goodyear, just Express).  Their best possible finish would be 3rd place.

 

RPC United Fall; B.C. Hough returns (March 28th, 2008)

 

Entering the game undefeated RPC United had high hopes against the young, agile Merkato team but left disappointed losing 4-3.  The game was fast paced and physical throughout.  United goalkeeper Jose Rico was stellar in the nets keeping RPC in the game the first half.  The Crape Connection also solidified United throughout.  To their credit, Merkato never let up their pace and RPC did their best, despite their age and fatness, to keep up.  Player Coach Tony Felich scored on a penalty kick by firing the ball directly at the goalie's head.  His stated his rationale for "aiming" the ball that way by saying, "it's the law of survival, if the goalie wants to survive, he'll need to move his head out of the way."

 

The game saw the return of Brian "Blue Card" Hough's fouling ways, but this time via a verbal protest at referee Gaston.  Gaston seemed to be at the end of a bad day when he decided to send Hough packing to the penalty box late in the game.  Gaston also received much criticism for his refusal to call a hand ball in the Merkato box late in the game.  Mertato player coach Berhanu Desta rebuffed the idea of poor reffing when he said, "those old guys are tripping and clutching all over de place, Gaston was too nice to them."  The loss creates a three way tie in the All American Thursday night "D" division with RPC's next game being against Blazin Balls next Thursday night.  Despite the loss, RPC remains ahead of Merkato in the standings due to their greater goals differential.  There are four teams with 3-1 records.

 

RPC United might be facing a late season distraction as rumors swirled at All American about "C" Division Sandoria trying hard to sign RPC's famed #88.  It appears Sandoria lost their Argentinian phenom, Martin, for last session and are looking to add "Ametralladora" to their roster for the next Spring session.  This puts pressure on United to sign #88 before Sandoria lures him away.  Player Coach and GM Tony Felich was clearly irritated by the rumors saying, "we won't discuss player contracts until this season is done, if Sandoria is speaking to Lenin, they are in violation of league tampering laws and will be hearing from our team lawyer...who also happens to be Lenin....anyways, I won't be answering any more "Ametralladora" questions, so go away or I'll stick B.C. Hough on you!"  Sandoria reps were seen scouting the game and clearly impressed with #88's goal.