The Official Site of Jersey Shore Boca Jr. FC

Boca Goalkeeper Takes First Official Visit
September 22, 2002

Jersey Shore Boca goalkeeper Chris Konopka took his first official college recruiting visit this past weekend when he headed to north to Kingston as a guest of Coach Ed Bradley and the NCAA Division I Rams of the University of Rhode Island.

Konopka who is a senior at Toms River East High School departed on Friday evening, stayed at the Kingston campus two nights and returned home Sunday night. During his official visit he met with the URI soccer players, staff and coaches; spoke with URI faculty and students and attended the men’s soccer game between Rhode Island and Quinnipiac University on Sunday afternoon.

Rhode Island, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, is currently ranked No. 8 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association Northeast Region poll. The Rams have started off 2002 with one of the toughest schedules in the country, facing-off against nationally ranked teams in No. 5 Maryland, No. 10 Virginia and No. 15 Alabama-Birmingham.

Head coach Ed Bradley is in his 14th season as coach of the Rams. He has posted a career mark of 142-103-18 record as a head coach, leading the Rams to four Atlantic 10 championships and four Division I NCAA tournament bids.

Konopka is a long-time member of the Jersey Shore Boca youth program and was a part of the Boca Super Y-League teams for 2002 and 2001. He was named the USL Super Y-League “National Player of the Week” on May 21, 2001.

He is also a current member of the 2002 USYS Region I Olympic Development Program player pool and a four year member of the NJ ODP State Team. Konopka, who stands 6’4″ and weighs in at 200 lbs., was also nominated to attend the prestigious Adidas ESP program in 2002 and 2001.

At the high school level, Konopka is a 3 year varsity starter in goal for Coach John Crowley and the Raiders of Toms River East High School. Through his junior year he has started 36 games; has a career GAA of 1.05; made 265 saves; recorded 10 shutouts and posted an overall record of 19-14-3. He has previously received All-Conference, All-County and All-Division honors for his efforts.

As a senior in his current 2002 high school season, Konopka has led Toms River East to a 3-2-0 start. He has allowed only 5 goals in 400 minutes, recorded 29 saves and posted one shut-out.

Academically Konopka is a 3 year honors student at Toms River East. He has a 3.83 GPA and ranks in the top 20% of his senior class of 469 students. He plans to peruse a computer graphics and design major in college.

If Konopka chooses to attend URI next year, he would be the second Jersey Shore Boca player to play for the Rams. Adam Curtis, a resident of Bay Head, NJ and alumni of the Jersey Shore Boca youth program, starred for Coach Bradley at URI from 1992 to 1995 after a highly successful youth and high school career. Curtis who is presently the head women’s soccer coach at Georgian Court College in Lakewood NJ, was a four year starter for the Rams and was a member of their Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Tournament teams. While in the Boca youth program, Curtis played under Coach Walt Pericciuoli.

In addition to the University of Rhode Island, Konopka’s goalkeeping services next year are being heavily sought after by Seton Hall, Providence, West Virginia, East Carolina, American, UMass, LIU, Boston University, Monmouth and the College of Charleston among others. He intends to take his four remaining official recruiting visits before the end of the year.

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