Boca U18s Top Northern Virginia Royals in SYL
July 21, 2001
The Jersey Shore Boca U18 team squared-off against a tough Northern Virginia Royals side from Chantilly Virginia, in a United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League match on Saturday afternoon at Toms River North High School.
Although both teams had several quality chances during the first 45 minutes, the score remained 0-0 at the half.
Boca started the scoring in the 54th minute when mid-fielder Charlie Smith (Toms River, NJ) won a ball in the middle third of the pitch. After switching direction past two defenders, Smith, who will be a senior at Toms River East HS in September, chipped a ball to an on-running Kirk Peters. Peters, who hails from Lacey Township and will be a sophomore at William Paterson University in the fall, blasted a right footed shot past the diving Royals goalkeeper.
Northern Virginia got on the scoreboard in the 60th minute after winning a ball in the air at mid-field and serving a through ball to an on-rushing Royals forward who took a hard, low shot. Boca keeper Chris Konopka also from Toms River, NJ dove fully extended to his right and just tipped the shot, but not enough to push it wide. Konopka, who will entering his junior year at Toms River East HS in September, posted 10 saves for the afternoon.
Boca added the final score and game winner in the 75th minute. Travis Iapicco, another Lacey Township product, won possession of a ball from his right mid-field spot in the middle third of the field. The “to be” Stevens Institute of Technology freshman, played a 20 yard picture-perfect diagonal ball behind the Northern Virginia defenders, right to the feet of a streaking Peters on the left side. Peters then buried his second goal and the game winner in the far post corner. Both Iapicco and Peters played side-by-side before, when both starred at Lacey High School in 1999.
Boca received a quality defensive effort the entire game from Abhay Singh (Manalapan, NJ), Ryan Aldridge (Colts Neck, NJ), Dan Brady (Howell, NJ) and Kris Cheeseman (Barnegat, NJ). Singh and Aldridge have just completed their senior year in high school at Freehold Boro and Colts Neck respectively. Brady will be heading into his senior year this September at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft NJ while Cheeseman will return for his senior year at Southern Regional High School this fall.
In September, Singh will attend Duke University as a pre-med student. He hopes to earn a walk-on spot with Coach John Rennie and the “Blue Devils”. Aldridge will continue his soccer career at new Big East member Virginia Tech.
The Jersey Shore Boca U18 Super Y-League team improves their record to 6-5-0 and has guaranteed themselves at least a .500 record in their inaugural Super Y-League season.
The Boca U18s play their final USL Super Y-League game on Saturday July 28th when they host the powerful Richmond Kickers at Toms River North High School at 4:30pm.
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