Eight Jersey Shore Boca members announce college plans – Ocean County Observer – Published May 5, 2003
May 5, 2003
Eight Jersey Shore Boca members announce college plans
Published in the Ocean County Observer 5/05/03
TOMS RIVER — Eight members of the Jersey Shore Boca Under 18 boys soccer team have made their college plans, announced Boca coach Walt Konopka.
The members are Christian Pontier (Lacey High School, Stevens Institute of Technology), Jack Facemyer (Pinelands Regional, Yale), Sean Cahill (Manchester, Kean University), Prescott Loveland (Brick, Fordham), Mike Kubas (Brick, James Madison University), Mike Baiata (Point Pleasant Beach, William Paterson University), Will McMaster (Christian Brothers Academy, Randolph Macon College) and Patrick Bulvanoski (CBA, Mount St. Mary’s College).
“I am very proud to have had the opportunity to coach such a group of fine young men,” said Konopka, also a member of the Jersey Shore Boca board of directors. “They are all very special to me. They are all respectful young adults, good students and are very talented individuals on the soccer field. All of them have made great decisions on their choice of colleges.”
They join teammate and goalkeeper Chris Konopka of Toms River East in solidifying their college decisions. Konopka will attend Providence College.
“Some of these players were heavily recruited and will make an immediate impact on the field at their respective colleges and some will have to really fight for playing time and a permanent spot on the roster. However, regardless of their level of recruiting, I’m confident that all of them will work extremely hard to succeed not only on the pitch, but in the classroom as well,” coach Konopka said.
All except one of the Jersey Shore Boca Under-18 players mentioned above were former members of Boca’s Super Y-League teams. Loveland joined the Boca Under-18s last September and was not a part of the Boca SYL program in previous years.
Jersey Shore Boca will again compete in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United Soccer Leagues elite Super Y-League for the third straight year this season. The club will field teams in four age brackets — Under-14s, Under-15s, Under-16s and Under-17s.
Boca is the lone club from Ocean and Monmouth counties that competes in the Super Y-League. The league is the only North American youth soccer league designed for the top one percent of elite youth players in the United States and Canada.
All nine Boca Under-18 college-bound players are competing for a spot on the roster of Boca’s Premier Development League team that begins its inaugural PDL season May 4. Jersey Shore Boca was awarded a Premier Development League franchise from the United Soccer Leagues last November.
The Premier Development League is the only national men’s Under-23 amateur league in the United States. PDL rosters can have up to 26 players, eight of whom can be over the age of 23. PDL rosters must also contain at least three players under the age of 19.
Designed to help develop players for professional careers, the PDL allows elite high school and college players to compete in a pro-like environment without losing their college eligibility. The PDL was also granted Olympic Development Program status by the United States Soccer Federation in 2001.
Jersey Shore Boca has been a fixture in the soccer community since 1978 and is one of the most respected clubs in New Jersey. The club is celebrating its 25-year anniversary during 2003.
The club also includes youth level teams from Under-11 to Under-19, an Under-23 amateur team and a men’s open team.
Jersey Shore Boca alumni include several former National and Olympic Team members as well as numerous collegiate Division I and III players, coaches and former local high school standouts.
from the Ocean County Observer
Published on May 5, 2003