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Jersey Shore Boca teams wrap up solid summer – The Hub
August 4, 2005

Jersey Shore Boca teams wrap up solid summer

Sports August 4, 2005

TOMS RIVER — The Jersey Shore Boca mens U23 and U20 teams concluded their summer soccer season last weekend in the Mid-Atlantic Summer Showcase League (MSSL) as both teams participated in the MSSL Cup Championships at the Piscataway Soccer Complex with the Boca U20s advancing to the final-four round Sunday morning before loosing 3-1 to the Iron Lakes Sports Club from Allentown, Pa.

In Saturday’s MSSL Cup preliminary round action, the Boca U20s started the day with a tough 3-1 loss to the Silver Lake Rams from Staten Island. Boca’s Justin McGrath (Brick) converted a penalty kick midway through the second half to bring Boca within one goal at 2-1 before Silver Lake scored their final goal in the last few minutes of the game.

In their second game of the day, the Boca U20s upset the powerful Connecticut Strikers, 2-0, on two goals by Brookdale Community College standout Nick Klah, of Eatontown.

In the 15th minute of the first half, the former Jersey Blue midfielder received a cross from Syracuse University-bound Andrew Hawtin (Toms River) on the left side about 30 yards out and ripped a shot that left the keeper standing still.

Klah, who will attempt to gain a walk-on spot at Monmouth University in September, scored again midway through the second half when Seton Hall’s McGrath split two defenders with a perfect ball and found Klah all alone inside the box, who placed the ball into the far post netting, allowing the Boca U20s to advance to the Cup semifinals.

The Boca U23s lost to the Iron Lakes Sports Club 2-1 in Saturday’s initial MSSL Cup round game with Jason Mancuso (Toms River) scoring for Boca, assisted by Justin Fuccello (Brick), and battled Milmay FC from South Jersey to a scoreless 0-0 draw in their second game of the day.

In Sunday’s semifinal MSSL Cup game, the Boca U20s, who played without several key starters due to injuries and personal commitments, gave up three unanswered goals to Iron Lakes in the first half.

Boca scored their lone goal midway through the second half as the Central Connecticut State-bound Mancuso found the back of the net from a cross by Mark Schmiegel (Toms River), which ended the game at 3-1 in favor of Iron Lakes.

“Regardless of the wins and losses, I believe this has to be one of the most successful summer programs in our club’s history,” said Walt Konopka, a member of the Jersey Shore Boca Board of Directors, who also ran the men’s summer program.

“Our U23 and U20 teams played 43 total games since March and had 45 overall participants on their combined rosters. We gave our players a fantastic summer environment to maintain and improve their play and get ready for the fall college soccer season in a highly competitive setting.”

The Boca U20s finished the summer with an overall record of 10-10-3, which included seven exhibition games, 10 MSSL league games, three MSSL Cup games, including advancing to the semifinals, and three games in the U.S. Adult Soccer Association’s Regional Championship Tournament, in which the U20s again advanced to the semifinal round.

The Boca U23s also played seven exhibition games, 11 MSSL league games and two MSSL Cup games and finished the summer with a record of 6-9-5.

Published in The Hub
August 4, 2005