O'Fallon Flames Archives

6.9.07 : Image IS everything

Saturday Jeff Drake put away his O'Fallon Flames figures and suited up with the 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies in the innaugural 'IMAGE is everything' tournament. Each team in the tournament played with Image II bases provided by SLSL sponsor Stefan Corda. Each player chose a team from the 1977 NASL season. The teams were then divided in to two conferences just like the actual 1977 season.

Drake and his Tampa Bay squad rolled through the 'regular season' with shutout wins over Toronto (Matt Findley), New York (Casey Blick), Washington (Larry Fryer), Rochester (Brad DeMunbrun), and Connecticut (Jared Saunders). Their only blemish was a 1-0 loss to Ft. Lauderdale (Mitch Morice). The top four teams in each conference advanced to the playoffs and the Rowdies qualified as the two seed in the 'Atlantic Conference'.

Their quarter-final match pitted them against the Rochester Lancers and manager Brad DeMunbrun. It took a late second half strike to move them in to the semi-finals against Larry Fryer and the Washington Diplomats. Two first half goals and solid second half defense propelled the Rowdies to a 2-0 victory and a trip to the final and a shot at the 'IMAGE is everything' Soccer Bowl.

Standing in their way again was Jon Schultz and his Seattle Sounders. Tampa Bay again played a strong match overall, but goals in each half by the Sounders and solid goalkeeping denied the Rowdies and the Seattle Sounders had won the Soccer Bowl by a score of 2-0.

Match recaps:

W 2-0 v. Toronto (Matt Findley)
W 2-0 v. New York (Casey Blick)
W 1-0 v. Washington (Larry Fryer)
W 2-0 v. Rochester (Brad DeMunbrun)
L 1-0 v. Ft. Lauderdale (Mitch Morice)
W 4-0 v. Connecticut (Jared Saunders)

W 1-0 v. Rochester (Brad DeMunbrun) (quarter-final)
W 1-0 v. Washington (Larry Fryer) (semi-final)
L 2-0 v. Seattle (Jon Schultz) (Championship match)