MATCH RECAP:  Garden Grove Gunners

I have to start off by saying some referees are just not meant to be in the game anymore and probably should take their fading talent back to AYSO, but that is just my opinion.  The Garden Grove Gunners were matched against Artesia DES Reserves for their fourth match of the season.  The conditions were definitely not ideal with winds blowing around fifteen miles per hour that were kicking up dirt in all players' faces.  Aside from the winds, the temperature was great and the pitch had recovered nicely from the previous rainy weekend.  Garden Grove started the first half very strong which has been a common occurence for the team since the first match.  So far this season the Gunners have shown to be very deadly within the first ten minutes of each half, and they struck again with their first goal coming in the tenth minute by Captain and Forward Nick Rippeto as he made a clean break through the defense to the goal and placed it gracefully by the keeper.  Garden Grove soon after the goal seemed to have forgotten how to play soccer while in wind like the drivers in California forget how to drive when in rain.  They struggled through the rest of the first half unable to connect passes, create opportunities, and the defense struggled with clearances, but stuck it out still showing domination and the team was able to keep their 1-0 lead.  Halftime gave the Gunners a chance to settle down and discuss what needed to be fixed and what needed to happen to create a more succesfull second half.  Garden Grove came back on to the pitch the second half of play blazing and took a 3-0 lead within the first five minutes.  The second goal of the match came after a through ball was placed to Captain and Midfielder Troy Rippeto who out ran the keeper and chipped the ball back to Forward Antonio Monarez's head for the finish.  The Gunners third goal, only two minutes later, was earned from outside Midfielder Cody Correll after he struck an amazing volley that would have given any keeper no chance off a well placed free kick of Nick Rippeto.  Garden Grove defnititely had regained the momentum they had shown in the first minutes of the game as their lead lengthened throughout the rest of the match.  After a well put through ball by Nick Rippeto to an on running Antonio Monarez who finished for his second goal of the match, the Gunners took a four goal lead.  The fifth goal developed in a similar manner as the previous only leaving Nick Rippeto on the other end this time after finishing his second goal of the match by receiving a fantastic ball from outside Midfielder Leif Persson.  Garden Grove continued punishing the net when Nick Rippeto dribbled through the defense to the goal line and placed his third assist of the match back to Midfielder Josh Hogate who was crashing the net and with force knocked the ball passed the keeper for his first goal of the season.  The Gunners did not stop as Captain Nick Rippeto dribbled through the defensive line to an approaching Artesia Keeper when once again displaying his phenomenal footwork sent the goalie to the ground as he walked by and rolled the ball across the goal line to give the team a 7-0 lead.  The next goal was created by Josh Hogate giving forward Antonio Monarez an exceptionally placed ball who went fancy and slipped the ball between the keepers legs for his third goal of the match, giving him eight for the season as Gunners' leading scorer.  The Gunners finished the match against Artesia 8-0 to give them their fourth win of the season.  Garden Grove's undefeated record has not been possible without the great defensive ability of their defense and goalkeeper.  Outstanding play came from Curtis Gladden who stepped up to cover for missing stopper Brett Woodward.  Sweeper Sean Power showed strong once again cleaning up the back with his speed and poise.  Outside defenders Tim Elliot and Jonathon Delgado performed well allowing very little opportunities on their net.  Goalkeeper Brian Rippeto, the wall that fills the Gunners' net, added another shutout to his record and has allowed only two goals passed him this season which were both unfortunate.  Garden Grove played another great match and continue to put out a very solid and well put together game as they look forward to their future matches on their path to claim the First Division Championship.