The Gloucester High School varsity boys kicked off the 2012 soccer season with an impressive showing last week in the Christine Garvey Memorial Tournament, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

The Dukes opened play on March 14 with York High School and defeated the Falcons, 1-0, on a goal from Dustin Tietjen. The match was close and hard fought, with the only score coming in the final five minutes when Tietjen scored on a breakaway.

Last Thursday’s game was cancelled because of the weather, leaving Gloucester in a second group stage game against Great Bridge, a former Group AAA state quarterfinalist. Great Bridge won the matchup, 3-2, but the score did not adequately reflect the high level of play demonstrated by the Dukes. The skill in their play bodes well for the coming Peninsula District season.

"The tournament was a good opportunity to gauge where we are as a team and where we need to go. We showed great potential for excellence. We must continue to work ha...