The Official Site of Jersey Shore Boca Jr. FC

Boca Teams Go 3-2-2 In Super Y-League Action
July 14, 2002

Toms River, NJ (July 14, 2002) – All four Jersey Shore Boca Super Y-League teams took the pitch at Ocean County College this weekend when they hosted the Northern Virginia Royals (Fairfax VA) on Saturday and Super Nova FC (Harrisburg PA) on Sunday in seven SYL Mid-Atlantic regional games.

In the first match of the Saturday game card, the Boca U14s battled Northern Virginia in a very evenly played match. The Royals got on the scoreboard first at ten minutes into the second half.

Boca came back to tie the game in the last minute of regulation. Orlando “Juninho” DeMelo (Ocean Township) took on two defenders and slotted an unassisted ball past the arms of the Royals keeper. The score remained the same throughout the “Golden Goal” overtime period and ended in a 1-1 draw.

Boca U14 starting goalkeeper Jeff Soares (Ocean Township) made 12 saves for the day before he had to leave the game just before the overtime period due to injury.

In the second game of the day on Saturday, the Boca U15s allowed an early goal in the 5th minute of play. That was all Northern Virginia needed as the score ended 1-0 in favor of the Royals. Mike McBride (St Rose HS) faced 8 shots and made 5 saves in the net for Boca.

The Boca U16s were next up on the Saturday SYL line-up. Boca received an early goal in the 11th minute when Scott Gross (Manalapan HS) stole a ball 20 yard out from a Royals defender. Gross then took on the Northern Virginia GK one on one and placed a perfect ball in the far side of the net.

The Boca U16s also tallied another goal in the 39th minute of the 1st half. Off a set piece on a free-kick about 40 yards out, David Novak (Hightstown HS) connected with Kyle Zupanic (Middletown North HS) who volleyed the ball past a diving Royals keeper. Rob Galante (Sayreville HS) the Boca U16 keeper preserved the shut-out facing only 3 shots from the Royals.

In the final and spotlight game of the day on Saturday, the Boca U17 team allowed an early goal in the 4th minute of the game. However, that was the only time the Royals would see the back of the net.

The Boca U17s received their first tally in the 21st minute when Nick Gkionis (Jackson Twp HS) won a ball at the right side midfield. After beating one defender, Gkionis blasted a 18 yard shot just inside the near post.

Boca’s second goal of the game came in the 55th minute when Christian Pontier (Lacey HS) played a perfect diagonal ball to a streaking Yusuf Quasim who placed the ball beyond the outstretched Royals GK. Quasim who is a 2002 graduate of Colts Neck HS, will continue his soccer and academic career at Qunnipiac University in the fall.

Gkionis also scored unassisted again in the 68th minute. After a scuffle inside the Northern Virginia penalty area, he won a loose ball and poked it past the Royals GK.

In the 75th minute, the Boca U17s got on the scoreboard once again when Quasim picked up a loose ball about 40 yards out. After dribbling by a defender on the right side, crossed the ball to a charging Billy Eggers (Manchester Twp HS) who buried it for Boca’s 4th goal of the game.

The Boca U17s scored the final goal of the game in the 78th minute in what was by far, the most spectacular goal in the entire weekend of SYL action. Jack Facemyer (Pinelands Regional HS) tackled the ball away from a Royals defender about 25 yards out on the left side of the pitch. After switching direction, he lofted a ball to the far post and found a sprinting Arjun Thakker (Piscataway HS) who put the ball past the keeper via a spectacular diving head-ball.

Jersey Shore Boca U17 goalkeeper Chris Konopka (Toms River East HS) who was training in Binghamton NY since Wednesday with the USYSA Regional Olympic Development Program player pool, arrived just in time for the 5pm kick-off to make 8 saves on 14 shots which he faced on the day.

On Sunday, the Boca U14s took the pitch in the first match of the day against a strong Super Nova side. After spotting Super Nova 4 first half goals, Boca battled back in the second half to tally three of their own. Ryan Morris (Brick Township) put two in the back of the net for Boca in the 38th and 57th minute, assisted on the later goal by Brett Mass (Toms River). In between both goals by Morris, Orlando “Juninho” DeMelo (Ocean Township) slid a low ball past the Nova keeper in the 57th minute.

In the second match of the day on Sunday, the Boca U15s battled Super Nova to a 2-2 tie throughout regulation time and the 15 minute “Golden Goal” overtime period. Boca got on the board early in the 2nd minute on an unassisted goal by Jeremy Borrero (Hammonton HS). After giving up one additional goal in the 17th minute, Boca took the lead before the half in the 22nd minute when Andrew Finger (Kingsway HS) served a ball to Jara Habib (Marlboro HS). Habib who was named the Super Y-League U15 National Player of the Week last week, buried the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-1 Boca at the half. Super Nova scored the equalizer in the 79th minute. Mike McBride (St Rose HS) faced 17 shots on the day and made 8 saves.

The final match of the Boca Super Y-League weekend saw the Boca U16s spot Super Nova an early goal in the 22nd minute. One minute later Boca evened the match when Scott Gross (Manalpan HS) found Pat Gee (St Rose HS) inside the box for Boca’s first tally of the game.

The Boca U16s received the game winning goal in the 49th minute when Danny Haydu (Toms River East HS) stole a ball from a Nova defender at midfield. Haydu served a diagonal ball to a running David Novak (Hightstown HS) who fired it past the Nova keeper for the final goal of the weekend.

Jersey Shore Boca is now in their second year of competition in the Super Y-League. Boca is only one of four soccer clubs in New Jersey invited to participate in the Super Y-League. Boca is the only soccer club in Monmouth and Ocean County as a member of the SYL. Boca has placed 4 teams in the 2002 Super Y-League; U14s, U15s, U16s and U17s.

Jersey Shore Boca continues their 2002 Super Y-League season on Wednesday July 17th when three of Boca’s Super Y-League teams will see action. Boca will host the perennial league powerhouse DC United at Ocean County College in Toms River. That evening of Super Y-League action begins with the U14s kick-off at 4pm followed by the U16s and U17s at 6pm.

FINAL GAME SCORES:

Saturday July 13th:

U14s
Northern Virginia Royals 1
Jersey Shore Boca 1

U15s
Northern Virginia Royals 1
Jersey Shore Boca 0

U16s
Northern Virginia Royals 0
Jersey Shore Boca 2

U17s
Northern Virginia Royals 1
Jersey Shore Boca 5

Sunday July 14th:

U14s
Super Nova FC 4
Jersey Shore Boca 3

U15s
Super Nova FC 2
Jersey Shore Boca 2

U16s
Super Nova FC 1
Jersey Shore Boca 2
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