Boca Signs SHU Standout Niziolek
July 6, 2006
The Boca U23 men’s soccer team announced today that they have signed Seton Hall University standout defender Teddy Niziolek for the second half of the MSSL season and that the Clifton, NJ native will join the team this Sunday. Niziolek earned second-team BIG EAST honors in 2005 as well as five caps making one start with the United States U-20 National Team last year.
Boca Signs SHU Standout Niziolek
U23 team gears-up for second-half run in USASA tourney and MSSL Cup
TOMS RIVER, NJ (July 6, 2006) – The Jersey Shore Boca U23 men’s soccer team announced today that they have signed Seton Hall University standout defender Teddy Niziolek to their roster for the second half of the Mid-Atlantic Summer Showcase (MSSL) season and that the Clifton, New Jersey native will join the team and be available this Sunday for Boca’s two league games.
Niziolek, who will begin his senior year in September, had a break-out season for Seton Hall in 2005 playing in all 20 games while starting 19 and helping the Pirates advance to the second round of the NCAA Division I men’s soccer tournament. He has started in 60 out of 61 games for the Hall in his career.
The 6’2” defender tallied career highs in goals (2), assists (5) and points (9) last year and earned second-team BIG EAST honors for this efforts. Niziolek also earned five caps making one start with the United States U-20 National Team in 2005.
“I have known Teddy and have watched him play for some time now. We are delighted that he is joining us for the rest of the summer. Teddy is a very special player and a pretty strong defender who has played at the highest of levels. He will certainly help us. He knows how to read the game very, very well” mentioned Walt Konopka coach of the Boca U23 team.
Niziolek joins fellow Seton Hall teammate Justin McGrath on the Boca U23 team as well as BIG EAST foes goalkeeper Chris Konopka of Providence College and defenders Andrew Hawtin and Tyler Stoviak, both from Syracuse University.
Konopka and Niziolek were also teammates on the US Soccer U-19 Regional Team which competed in France and Belgium in 2004 as well as being teammates on the Jersey Falcons of the USL’s Premiere Development League a few years ago.
Jersey Shore Boca is undefeated in league play during the first half of the season and sits in first place in the MSSL U23 men’s standings with a record of 7-0-1.
Because of their outstanding performance through the first half of the MSSL season, the Boca U23s have been awarded a spot into the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) Regional U23 Championship Tournament which will take place on July 15th and 16th at the Ukrainian National Sports Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
The winner of the USASA Regional U23 Championship will advance to the USASA U23 National Championship held in Frisco, Texas August 4th through August 6th.
After this Sunday, the Boca U23s have two MSSL regular season games remaining and look forward to a high seeding in the MSSL Cup which will be held on July 30th crowning a champion from the top six teams of the league.
MSSL is a third year regional soccer league fostering high-level competition during the summer months at both the youth and adult ages in both men’s and women’s divisions in which Jersey Shore Boca is a founding member.
The adult level of MSSL is specifically designed for collegiate players under the age of twenty-three and is fully sanctioned by the USASA, the national governing body for adult amateur soccer.
The Jersey Shore Boca men’s summer soccer program is officially sponsored by Surf Taco, a popular Mexican themed restaurant chain with locations throughout the jersey shore.
Boca has been a fixture in the soccer community since 1978 and is one of the most respected soccer clubs on the East Coast.
The Club is celebrating their 28-year anniversary in 2006.
For more information about the Boca U23 team and all other the Jersey Shore Boca programs logon to the Club’s official web site at www.jerseyshoreboca.com
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