Sep 17, 2008 2 min read

This is Brownsville’s first season with its own soccer team. Brownsville students previously played on the California High School soccer team. First-year coach Kelli Sampson has a great group of players. It is a co-ed team since there were not enough girls to have an all girls team.

A big plus is the fact that assistant coach Gary Bella has coached most of the players since they were youngsters.

Four of Brownsville’s players also run cross-country, and they had a meet at Fort Cherry before the soccer match against TC. The four are Jason Bella, Cameron Coffey, Tori Scott and Charhea Strickler. Each saw considerable playing time on the soccer field after a hard race at Fort Cherry.

Trinity Christian’s Anthony Marchilena had a hat trick in the first half. Robert Whitaker assisted Marchilena’s third goal and scored a goal to make it 4-0 at halftime.

“He (Marchilena) played a good, solid game. He stayed composed,” coach Mike Agate said.

Jason Bella suffered an injury in the first half.

“He collided with another player. He got up, and I made sure he was fine. He said he was. He came out for a bit, and then wanted to go back in so I let him.”

Brownsville had quite a comeback during the second half.

Christian Sally scored his first goal at 14:21 and another at 13:55. The first goal was from a corner kick and the second came on an assist from teammate Kendle Parsons.

“We are definitely a second-half team,” Sampson said. “Once they get down, they forget to have fun. Once we got that first goal things started to pick up.”

Brownsville keeper Donald Thomas made some great saves.

Sampson said, “He’s really stepped up and has showed a lot of improvement.”

The Brownsville defense ended on a good note. The Falcons never gave up.

Sampson pointed to Matt Whyel as being one of those players who never gives up.

“He constantly runs and never gives up. I ask him if he wants a break and he never wants to come out,” Sampson said.

Brownsville (1-4, 1-7) plays in a conference matchup at 7 p.m. Thursday at Serra Catholic.