Pushing Toward Tournament Time
October 18, 2005
Pushing Toward Tournament Time
Several Boca U20 members are helping their college teams push for 2005 conference tournament spots
TOMS RIVER, NJ (October 17, 2005) – With the 2005 NCAA college soccer season winding down, several members of the Jersey Shore Boca U20 team continue to make an impact for their respective college squads as the regular college soccer season draws to a close and the conference tournaments begin over the next several weeks.
“I have been following the progress of all of our college players this season. I’m not surprised that most of our U20 players from last summer are making significant contributions for their college teams, some of them in the top men’s college soccer conferences in the nation. They all have some tremendous individual skills, a great work rate and the ability to read the game so well at the college level. I’m very proud of them and happy for all these young men. They were a pleasure to coach last summer” mentioned Walt Konopka, a member of the Jersey Shore Boca Board of Directors who also coached the Boca U20 team last summer that advanced to the semi-finals of the USASA U20 Regional Championship as well as the semi-finals of the MSSL Cup Championship.
Several members of the Boca U20 team from last summer that are making significant contributions to their respective schools include:
Jason Mancuso (Toms River) a junior midfielder at Central Connecticut State University (CT) tallied two assists in CCSU’s 4-1 win over Robert Morris University on October 17 to help the Blue Devils improve to 4-3-3. Mancuso has played in 9 games for CCSU thus far.
Andrew Hawtin (Toms River) a junior defender at Syracuse University (NY) has started in all 14 games for the Big-East Orangemen (6-6-2). Hawtin has assisted on one goal this season.
Chris Konopka (Toms River) a junior goalkeeper at Providence College (RI) has played in all 1,208 minutes for the Friars (4-1-7) allowing 13 goals and making 59 saves. Konopka has a .097 goals against average and .819 save percentage. He earned both Big-East and ECAC “Goalkeeper of the Week” honors on September 19.
Connor Bryant (Tinton Falls) a junior defender at Bryant University (RI) has started in 13 out of 14 games for the Bulldogs (6-4-4) and had taken 8 shots on goal.
Jim McMichael (Pompton Plains) a junior midfielder at Kings College (PA) has tallied 1 goal and 1 assist while playing in all 13 games for the Monarchs (4-8-1) so far this season.
Casey Zambor (Jackson) a junior defender at Lynchburg College (VA) has netted 1 goal and tallied 1 assist while starting in all 13 games for the Hornets (8-5-0).
Andrew Perez (Brick) a sophomore forward at LaSalle University (PA) has played in all 13 games for the Explorers (5-5-3) scoring one goal and adding 1 assist.
Danny Haydu (Toms River) a sophomore defender at Monmouth University (NJ) has helped the Hawks (5-3-5) gain first place in the NEC with 1 goal and 1 assist on the season.
Justin McGrath (Brick) a sophomore midfielder at Seton Hall University (NJ) was recently named to the College Soccer News “National Team of the Week” for October 17 as he tallied 2 goals in the Pirates 3-1 Big-East win over West Virginia. McGrath, who has started all 13 games this year, has tallied 4 goals and assisted on 3 for Seton Hall (9-2-2) this season.
Andy Fraggos (Marlboro) a sophomore defender at Towson University (MD) has tallied two assists in 6 games for the Tigers (9-3-1).
Daniel Brackley (Hamilton) a freshman midfielder at Carnegie Mellon University (PA) has started in all 11 games for the Tartans (9-1-1) while assisting on 2 goals.
Mark Schmiegel (Toms River) a freshman midfielder at Bucknell University (PA) has started all 13 games for the Bison (6-5-2) and has tallied 1 goal and 1 assist. Schmiegel was named the Patriot League “Rookie of the Week” for the week ending September 25.
Mark Pertuniak (Hightstown) a freshman midfielder at American University (DC) has played in 7 games for the Eagles (3-7-1).
Andrew Finger (Mullica Hill) a freshman midfielder at Neumann College (PA) has started in all 11 games for the Knights (2-8-1) and has tallied one goal and one assist. Finger, who started out in the midfield, was moved to the sweeper position half-way through the season due to an injury.
Jersey Shore Boca has a record fifty-five club standouts who previously played for Boca on either their Men’s, Super Y-League, PDL, Club or Youth teams that are participating in NCAA intercollegiate soccer this fall for their respective institutions.
This is the highest number of Jersey Shore Boca players to ever participate in NCAA intercollegiate soccer during the same season in the club’s 27 year history.
Jersey Shore Boca has been a fixture in the soccer community since 1978 and is one of the most respected soccer clubs on the East Coast.
The Club is celebrating their 27-year anniversary in 2005.
For more information on the Jersey Shore Boca Soccer Club, visit the Club’s official web site at www.jerseyshoreboca.com
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