Super Y-League Tabs Eight Boca Players
November 26, 2003
The Jersey Shore Boca soccer club announced today that eight players from their 2003 Super Y-League teams have been named to the Super Y-League Mid-Atlantic ODP Regional Player Pools. The eight Boca players were selected through the Super Y-League’s National Scouting Network from their play during the 2003 Super Y-League season.
Super Y-League Tabs Eight Boca Players
Young standouts named to Super Y-League regional ODP player pool
TOMS RIVER, NJ (November 26, 2003) – The Jersey Shore Boca soccer club announced today that eight players from their 2003 Super Y-League teams have been named to the Super Y-League Mid-Atlantic ODP Regional Player Pools.
The eight Boca players were selected through the Super Y-League’s National Scouting Network from their play during the 2003 Super Y-League season.
They will travel to the Cocoa Expo Sports Center in Cocoa Beach, Florida from January 23rd to 25th where they will be evaluated by the SYL Scouting Staff and United States Soccer Federation National Staff Coaches in hopes of being identified for the US National Teams Programs.
The eight Jersey Shore Boca players selected include Nick Raspanti and Darren Rutherford from the Boca U17 SYL team, Andrew Finger, Roger Samartino, Chris Nelan and Sean Babcock from the Boca U16 SYL team and Boca U14 SYL team members Joseph Sorrentino and Varlee Koon.
“On behalf of all of our directors, coaches and staff of our soccer club, I would like to congratulate these eight young men on their selection to the Super Y-League Regional Pool” said Al Schwartz, the President of Jersey Shore Boca.
Raspanti is a long-time member of the Jersey Shore Boca youth program. He traveled with the Boca U17s to Argentina during the spring of 2003 to compete against the club’s fabled namesake the Boca Jrs. The Middletown North High School senior forward has drawn interest from several colleges including Monmouth University, Ramapo College, Montclair State University and Richard Stockton College.
Rutherford hails from Cape May, NJ and attends Lower Cape May Regional High School. The senior defender has several NCAA Division I soccer programs in the tri-state area actively recruiting him. He plans to peruse a film and communication major in college.
Both Raspanti and Rutherford played under Boca Coach Bill Carroll during the 2003 SYL season. They helped the Boca U17 SYL team to an overall 6-6-1 record and fourth place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Division.
Andrew Finger of the Boca U16s is a junior at Kingsway Regional High School in Swedesboro, NJ. The midfield playmaker is a three-year Super Y-League member who also traveled to Europe in 2001 with the Super Clubs National Team. Finger is a three-year varsity starter for Kingsway and was named team captain this year.
Samartino is also a junior at Kingsway Regional and high school teammate of Finger. He is a two-year Super Y-League member.
Chris Nelan calls Barrington, NJ his home. The junior attends Haddon Heights High School and is a two-year Super Y-League member.
Another Barrington, NJ resident, Sean Babcock rounds out the Boca U16 player selections. The junior midfielder, who also attends Haddon Heights High School, is a two-year Super Y-League member. He was named team captain in 2003 and is a three-year varsity starter for Haddon Heights.
All four Boca U16 players selected played under Boca Coach Wolf Finger during the 2003 SYL season. The Boca U16 SYL team finished in ninth place in the Mid-Atlantic Division in 2003 with an overall record of 2-9-0.
Boca U14 SYL members Varlee Koon and Joseph Sorrentino played under Boca Coach Tom Gentz during the 2003 Super Y-League season. Both helped the Jersey Shore Boca U14 SYL team to a fourth place finish and an overall record of 6-5-1 in the Mid-Atlantic Division.
Koon, a skillful midfielder, is in his sophomore year at Nottingham High School. The Hamilton, NJ native has shown exceptional vision, balance and strength for a young player his age.
Sorrentino also makes Hamilton, NJ his home. The freshman forward attends Hamilton High School West and dominates the pitch with his remarkable speed, quickness and skill.
“These players were selected by the Super Y-League’s independent national scouting network while playing with our SYL teams this past summer. In each Super Y-League game, I believe all of our teams and all of our players faced some of the best young soccer talent that the East Coast had to offer. These eight players rose to that challenge every game and were rewarded for their hard work and effort. We wish them success in Florida” Schwartz continued.
The Super Y-League, a North American youth soccer league for elite level players, began year five in 2003 in an effort to help U.S. Soccer in its quest to put a bead on the top youth players who are best bets to play on the professional level and, possibly, become members of the U.S. National Team.
The Super Y-League was granted Olympic Development (ODP) status in August of 2002.
Through the SYL’s ODP system, players are identified for U.S. National Team Programs through an internal national scouting network that will select players for Regional Teams through league play and the league’s finals.
This identification system provides an alternative for elite level players that excel in their natural club environment. The Super Y-League has recognized the club soccer system in the United States as being the major development platform for elite level players.
The Cocoa Expo Sports Center has 70 acres of practice and game fields, dormitories, cafeteria and easy accessibility from major airports.
The list of visitors to the facility includes the Youth, Men’s and Women’s US National teams, Haitian Men’s National Team, National ODP events along with several collegiate, club and international soccer events.
The facility is home to the Cocoa Expos of the United Soccer Leagues, Premier Development League.
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 its 25-year anniversary in 2003.
The club will compete in the United Soccer Leagues elite Super Y-League for the fourth straight year in 2004. Boca is the only soccer club from Monmouth or Ocean County (NJ) that is a member of the Super Y-League.
Boca was also a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League in 2003.
For more information about Jersey Shore Boca visit the club’s official website at: http://www.jerseyshoreboca.com
DETAILS OF THE EIGHT PLAYERS SELECTED:
Name, Hometown, High School, Grade, Position, SYL Mid-Atlantic Regional Pool
Nick Raspanti, Middletown, NJ, Middletown North, Senior, Forward, U17
Darren Rutherford, Cape May, NJ, Lower Cape May Regional, Senior, Defender, U17
Andrew Finger, South Harrison, NJ, Kingsway Regional, Junior, Midfielder, U16
Roger Samartino, South Harrison, NJ, Kingsway Regional, Junior, Defender, U16
Chris Nelan, Barrington, NJ, Haddon Heights, Junior, Defender, U16
Sean Babcock, Barrington, NJ, Haddon Heights, Junior, Midfielder, U16
Varlee Koon, Hamilton, NJ, Nottingham, Sophomore, Midfielder, U14
Joseph Sorrentino, Hamilton, NJ, Hamilton West, Freshman, Forward, U14
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