Reading Rage Press Release –
Sunday, July 19
READING, PA – Sunday night as the final minutes ticked off the clock, the Reading Rage celebrated something they had never been able to claim before in their history: a regular season North American Regular Season Championship.
Players, coaches and fans alike knew that something special had been accomplished by the PDL’s best team of 2009, bringing a chorus of cheers as “We Are the Champions” pumped through the stadium’s sound system. The 3-1 win over the Fredericksburg Gunners capped off an exhilarating season, in which the Rage knew they were true champions.
The night started off on the right foot, that is the right foot of Rage midfielder Adam Gazda, as he gathered in a deflected shot by Jon Ports. Gunners’ goal keeper Ken Manahan blocked the initial shot off a corner kick but the rebound found the steady foot Gazda who immediately deposited a shot of his own into the back of the net, giving the Rage a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute of play.
Gazda did not stay quiet for long either, waiting only until the 31st minute to break open up the left side of the pitch. He then spotted Aarron Wheeler streaking up the middle and passed off to his forward who did what he has done all season long, reeling in his league – leading 16th goal of the season, giving the Rage all they would need to wrap up the title.
The Gunners gave the Rage faithful a scare in the 62nd minute as Josh West headed in a rebound off the cross bar. Fredericksburg had been garnering momentum since the 34th minute though when Manahan stuffed two shots off a Wheeler penalty kick. The tide seemed to be turning but Jimmy Taranto put those fears to rest. Taranto took a beautiful feed from Ports in the 76th minute and kicked in his fifth goal in the past two games, all but ending hopes of the upset minded Gunners.
Reading’s Fan Appreciation Night brought one of the largest crowds of the season to watch the title-claiming performance. The group of players, who they watched Sunday, earned this title through hard work and determination, never giving up or giving in, even when the road was not the easiest. The champions will start anew Saturday night at 7PM against either the Cary Clarets or Carolina Dynamo in their first round playoff game.
