Boca team heads abroad – Ocean County Observer
July 30, 2005
Boca team heads abroad
Published in the Ocean County Observer
07/30/05
Staff report
The Jersey Shore Boca under-16 boys team is in Scotland and England for a 12-day international summer tour that includes participation in the 10th annual Liverpool Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament in Liverpool, England.
The team is coached by Walt Pericciuoli. At Edinburgh University, the team is participating in daily morning training sessions conducted by Scottish FA coaches and competing in two international friendly games against local Scottish clubs Leith Athletic and Polbeth United.
The team is experiencing some of the Scottish culture, food and landmarks such as Celtic Park, St. Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle, home of the early Scottish Kings from the time of Mabeth as well as take in a Scottish first division professional game between Celtic FC and Leeds United.
The Boca 16s are one of three teams from the United States in the 24-team tournament. The event was approved by FIFA and the English Football Association. It was played under English FA rules. The event is a full member of the British Isles Soccer Tournament Association. The team will return to the United States on Monday.
Team members on the trip are Gregory Anderson, Richie Baiata, Tim Brady, Eric Bravo, Charles Cunliffe, Mark Darocki, Vincent Darpino, Shane Ferguson, John Gutierrez, Steven Jozwicki, Ted MacConchie, John McGeehan, Ervin Olivas, Mark Siehl, Ryan Spill, Joshua Stanwick, Craig Thompson and Robert Wilson.
To help defray some of the costs of the trip, the team performed numerous fundraising activities during the past year. The team also received support from some private donors as well as Shogun of Toms River, Applebee’s, Johnny Carina’s Italian Restaurant and Jenkinson’s.
The team’s official traveling party also includes assistant coach Joe Baiata and player chaperone Mike Baiata, a long-time member of the Jersey Shore Boca youth program. Parents, friends and family are also with the team.
Meanwhile, the Jersey Shore Boca men’s under-20 team lost to the Maryland Ambassadors, 4-3, in semifinals the United States Adult Soccer Association Regional Championship Tournament at the Manalapan Recreation Complex.
Boca advanced to the Final Four with a 4-3 win over Milmay FC of South Jersey in a FIFA penalty kick shootout. Milmay matched Boca in all tournament tie-breakers in preliminary-round play.
Boca’s Jason Mancuso shaved the deficit to 2-1 with a goal off a pass from Danny Haydu. Mancuso tied the game at two, putting home the rebound of his missed 15-yarder. Boca went ahead, 3-2, as Justin McGrath fed Mark Schmiegel for a goal before Maryland went to work.
In its first preliminary-round match, Boca bested Morris United of North Jersey, 3-1, on goals from McGrath, Mancuso and Christian Pontier. Chris Konopka was the winning goalie.
Boca fell to FC Philadelphia, 1-0, in its second preliminary-round match. Boca was one of three teams from the Mid-Atlantic Summer Showcase League to receive a wild-card berth into the event.
The Jersey Shore Boca program is sponsored by Surf Taco, a Point Pleasant Beach restaurant.
Published on July 30, 2005, in the Ocean County Observer