The 2014 season of Sudbury Regional Soccer Association (SRSA) men's soccer got underway Tuesday night at Queen's Athletic Field with four of the five teams in action, and the Sudbury Athletic crew earning a split.

Sudbury United got the better of Sudbury Athletic Fury in the opener, scoring twice in the final 25 minutes in recording a 3-1 triumph. Goals from Adam Ali, Brandon Ladouceur and Cody Grigsby powered the United attack, with Shaken Alkanwi temporarily deadlocking the contest at 1-1 early in the second half.

Sudbury Athletic Voima earned a little retribution in the late game, blanking the Italia Flyers 3-0 as newcomer Nick Charlemagne made himself immediately at home with a two-goal effort for Voima.

Gabriel Rodrigues added the final marker, with Matt Paradis posting the clean slate as Athletic Voima rebounded nicely from a rocky 2013 campaign with a very young team.

"We knew we would be stronger this season," noted player-coach Andy Veilleux. "We kept the core together as Mean Machine through indoor season, and it helped us mesh as a team."

Veilleux was particular pleased with his 1-2 punch up front in the form of Charlemagne and Kevin Jeanveau, along with the midfield work of Rodrigues and the final line of defense stability his team enjoys with Paradis.

"Offensively, we kept them guessing and scrambling in their own zone," said Veilleux. "Defensively, our midfielders did a wonderful job tracking the opposition." The Athletic teams will go head to head for the first time this summer, taking to the Queen's pitch at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, with Sudbury United and Croatia Adria providing the evening finale under the lights.