As before, the final (real) contest came at the expense of arch-rival, Guapos, though MLP handily took care of business this time with a game that was never very close and finished 10-5. The next game (against the champs from the B-league) was a lopsided mismatch and ended 20-1.
But the path to glory, champagne and roses wasn't easy, including a regular season game against Guapos that saw MLP down 2 goals with 90 seconds remaining. As if by miracle, team captain Tommy Hernandez scored a goal and then, with 10 seconds left, found teammate striker, Andreas Zeischegg, heavily guarded near the net. Andreas received the ball, shielded one defender, turned and somehow slipped it past the Guapos keeper with 8 seconds left as the overcapacity Rec Center crowd went wild and had to be restrained by Truckee Police from storming the court.
In overtime, Genevieve Speas of MLP nailed the game-winning sudden-death penalty shot to close the nail-biting contest and keep the unbeaten streak alive.
After winning against their arch-rivals in the championship game, Hernandez spoke of destiny when he said, "We weren't scured tonight. Normally we know games with them can go either way. Tonight we were never scured, not even sure why."
Genevieve Speas came up huge again, leading team MLP in scoring and finding herself mobbed by fans and reporters immediately afterwards. "I just put the ball in the net," she said when asked the secret of her success. "People make this game complex with hella rules and strategies. Just put the ball in the back of the net."
Despite Speas' prolific goal-scoring, team assist leader, Michael (Mike) Kruger was named finals MVP for dishing out 6 assists. "My teammates deserve the credit," Kruger said, holding the cherished TDRPD Futsal Cup. "They bust ass to get open so I can dish out dimes. Makes me look like Steve Mash or Lebron Jones."
(Pictured above left to right standing - Autumn, Michael Kugler, Andreas Zeischegg, Genevieve Speas, kneeling -Tommy Hernandez, Octavio Cardenas, Jason Matthews, Octavio Jr. Not pictured - team spiritual leader, Natalie Pratt)
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