DOVER CUP PLAYED TO DRAW ON NEW TURF

Bay, Westlake battle to stalemate while breaking in Rockets’ new turf

Ask any soccer coach or player, and they’d tell you playing on turf is a whole different ball game.

On Aug. 17 at Bay High School, the Rockets and Westlake Demons squared off in their annual Dover Cup showdown, and Bay opened up their new turf field.

The field is a noticeable difference for the coaches and players, and in the 1-1 draw, the Dover Cup stayed with the Demons because they won it last year and that’s where it goes if a tie occurs the following season.

Westlake coach Mike Besu didn’t hesitate when asked if the

field makes a difference.

“We practiced for one hour to prepare for the field,” Westlake coach Mike Besu said. “It’s a huge difference. And they (Bay) have a team that fits the style of play on the field.”

Westlake senior forward Logan Rummel, who got the Demons on the board with a strike from the right side in the 10th minute, said he prefers a different field.

“I didn’t like it,” he said. “But it is what it is. I thought we played well. Bay is always a strong team and fun to play and it’s good for us to keep the Dover Cup back home.”

Bay senior forward Cade Gergye, who tied things on a header in the 23rd minute of the first half, said the ball bounces differently on the new field.

Bay previously played on worn down turf.

There were moments where Bay did show strong possessiveness, and Westlake countered by trying to get physical with the Rockets by playing a direct style. Bay had a couple missed opportunities when Gergye

missed a header wide left in the 21st minute of the first half and junior Kyle Cusimano missed a PK attempt off the right post in the 33rd minute.

Westlake got called for several fouls, but it’s not unexpected in a Bay-Westlake rivalry game.

“You have to get used to it,” Gergye said about the field. “I like it a lot. I think our style fits pretty well and with us being a possession team, it’s nice for us to move the ball around and it makes good hops for us so we can control it and keep moving it back and forth.”

Besu’s squad has nine sophomores and juniors,

and he didn’t know what to expect entering the season. He especially didn’t know what to expect going up against Bay on a new field.

But Westlake’s toughness, which is historically strong under his watch, came through to his pleasure.

“I honestly was kind of surprised,” Besu said. “We are really, really young. But I think we’re going to get better as the season goes along.”

Bay goalkeeper Kevin Linder stopped six shots, and Westlake’s Levi Swisher halted five. For the first game, and a upgraded field, Rockets coach Bobby Dougherty

would have preferred a better outcome, but a tie isn’t so bad.

“That was entertaining,” he said. “It’s a good one for us. It was like Christmas morning when we got the field. What a difference just playing surface wise. Our last field was very fast and hard, and we were always exhausted just training on it. This is really nice. The ground is a little softer like sand, and you work a little harder to get out of stuff. But I tell you, when you hit the ground, it’s so much nicer.

“The best part was we opened up with a great crowd and school hasn’t even started yet.”

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Westlake’s Ben Carson attempts to kick the ball away from Bay’s Matt DeCapua at the sideline during the first half on Aug. 17.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Bay’s Cade Gergye heads a throw in as Westlake’s Sam Falcone defends from behind during the first half on Aug. 17.