Boca Tabs MLS Veteran to Guide PDL Side – Soccer365.com – published January 8, 2003
January 8, 2003
Feature article on Socer365.com – published January 8, 2003.
US NEWS: UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES
Boca Tabs MLS Veteran To Guide PDL Side 08/01/03
The Board of Directors of Jersey Shore Boca has announced today that David Vaudreuil has been named head coach of the club’s Premier Development League team.
Jersey Shore Boca was awarded a PDL franchise from the United Soccer Leagues on November 25, 2002 and will begin its inaugural PDL season this spring.
Vaudreuil recently ended his fourteen-year professional playing career in October when he retired from Major League Soccer at the end of the 2002 season. He is a seven-year veteran of MLS having played in 176 games and logged over 13 thousand minutes on the field.
“I am delighted to be a part of an organization with so much soccer history. Jersey Shore Boca is a well-respected soccer club that has always put player development first” said David Vaudreuil.
“I believe I can help their PDL team develop. We hope to be competitive in our first year. I can’t wait to get started” Vaudreuil continued.
During his tenure with Major League Soccer, Vaudreuil won two MLS Cups (1996 and 1997) and one Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (1996) as a member of DC United. He also played one season with the Miami Fusion (1998) and two seasons each with the Colorado Rapids (1999-2000) and Chicago Fire (2001-2002).
Prior to joining the MLS, Vaudreuil’s professional playing experience included stints with the Connecticut Wolves and Hampton Roads Mariners of the USL, Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave of the NPSL and the New York Centaurs and Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL. He began his professional career in 1989 with the Washington Stars of the ASL.
Throughout his playing career, Vaudreuil was also a regular member of the U-23 and U-20 United States National Teams.
At the college level, Vaudreuil was a four-year starter for Princeton University under then head coach Bob Bradley. He was an All-New Jersey and All-Ivy selection while at Princeton. Bradley who has coached professionally since 1996, was recently named the head coach of the NY-NJ MetroStars of Major League Soccer.
“We are thrilled to have a person with Dave’s soccer background join our club. The experience that he can pass along to our young PDL players is just tremendous” said Walt Konopka, club treasurer and member of the Jersey Shore Boca Board of Directors.
“Dave also has some great soccer contacts as well. He will give our PDL side instant credibility. He will add an additional chapter to our club’s 25 year history and will help begin an exciting new era for Boca” Konopka finished.
The PDL is one of five leagues under the umbrella of the USL. The USL consists of two professional leagues (A-League and Pro Select), men’s amateur league (PDL), women’s open league (W-League) and the elite youth Super Y-League.
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.
The Premier Development League is the top national men’s U-23 amateur league in the country. PDL rosters can carry up to twenty-six players, including up to eight players over the age of 23. PDL rosters must also include at least three players who are under the age of 19.
PDL teams also have the opportunity to compete against teams from Major League Soccer, the A-League and the Pro Select League on an annual basis in exhibition games and in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
“With David’s college and professional background and contacts, he will fill that gap for us between our club and the top level college and pro clubs. I think our whole geographic area will benefit by Dave’s involvement in soccer here at that Shore” said Walt Pericciuoli, Boca’s VP and General Manager of their PDL team.
“I count our club very lucky to have David and I can’t wait to work with him to help put together our new PDL team” Pericciuoli added.
The Jersey Shore Boca PDL side will compete in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
Boca will play their home matches at Ocean County College in Toms River and will schedule their PDL and Super Y-League games connected to each other in order to create a “Shore Soccer Weekend” whenever possible.
Boca has been a member of the USL’s elite Super Y-League since 2001.
Jersey Shore Boca has been a fixture in the soccer community since 1978 and is one of the most respected soccer clubs in New Jersey. The club is celebrating their 25-year anniversary in 2003.
The club is based out of Toms River (Ocean County) and programs include youth level teams from U11 to U19, a U23 team and a men’s “open” team.
Boca alumni include several former National and Olympic Team members as well as numerous collegiate DI –DIII players, coaches and former local high school standouts.
One of the most recognized Boca alumni is current U18 United States Men’s National Team & University of Virginia Coach George Gelnovatch who played under Boca Coach Walt Pericciuoli while also staring at Wall High School in the 1980s.
Gelnovatch is a former member of the US National Team and played professionally with DC United of Major League Soccer.