Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Eight teams in the Mid Atlantic Division played games this past week, including several Super Y-League season openers. At the U15 boys level, Rage SC and Super Nova FC each won their first games while Parsippany is atop the division with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Here are a few of the players who stood out in their teams’ performances.
Jason Burns
Rage SC U15 Boys
Burns (pictured) scored five goals and added an assist in a 7-1 win against Ocean City FC on Saturday, May 12.
“He took his chances well and helped the team get off to a great start to the season,” said Coach Gerard Quinn said.
Rage led 2-0 after only six minutes before conceding Ocean City’s only goal of the game at the 10-minute mark. The lead was extended to 3-1 at the half before the game was blown wide open and Rage scored four in the second half.
“Jason has been with the club since he was eight years old and has always been clinical in front of goal,” Quinn said. “This is his third season representing the Rage in the Super Y-[League] and his performance against Ocean City was excellent.
“It’s a tribute to all of the hard work both Jason and the rest of the boys have put in to prepare for the 2012 Super Y season. Hopefully we can carry on this momentum through the rest of the summer and Jason can continue his good form in front of goal.”
Jason Skidmore
Ocean City FC U16 Boys
Skidmore’s Ocean City FC may have lost 6-2 to New Jersey Stallions, but Coach Neil Holloway insisted that the game “was a lot closer than the score-line suggests.”
Down 2-0 at the half, Nate Kummer sent an early cross into the New Jersey box that resulted in a fantastic header by Skidmore. The Stallions increased their lead to 3-1, however, before a wonder goal by Skidmore from a free kick sailed in from 30 yards. That was as close as Ocean City could get, as New Jersey finished off the game with the final three goals.
“Attacking-wise we are always dangerous,” Holloway said. “Jason stepped up with two magnificent goals. It was just unfortunate that these goals were in vain; every time the Stallions attacked [it] resulted in a goal.”
Kevin Valdivia
TSF Academy U15 Boys
Valdivia scored two goals in TSF Academy’s 3-2 loss to Super Nova FC.
Super Nova scored the game’s first two goals before Valdivia placed a calm finish in the back of the net from the penalty spot. TSF fell behind 3-1 before Valdivia’s second, a magnificent goal that saw the Academy player take the ball 35 yards from goal, beat two defenders down the left side, then beat a third defender to cut into the middle of the box and finish the run with a strike beneath the Super Nova goalkeeper.
“Kevin is a very good player that has the ability to break down defenders,” Coach Dan Christian said. “He has a very good work rate and has a knack for scoring goals.”
Zebulun Cross
Super Nova FC U15 Boys
Cross (pictured) factored in to all three of his side’s goals as Super Nova FC defeated Ocean City FC 3-2 on Mother’s Day for its second win in two days.
Cross scored the first goal, a bouncing shot past the outstretched goalkeeper. He then set up the second goal by passing to Derek Grose at midfield before Grose ran past the Ocean City backline and eased the ball into the back of the net.
Super Nova saw the two-goal cushion disappear, however, early in second half began. Ocean City started strong and managed to draw level. With 12 minutes remaining, Cross made a 30-yard pass to the chest of teammate Eddie Thomas, who finished the game-winning goal.
“Zeb is not only an extremely talented soccer player, but a young man of character, loyalty, and sacrifice,” Coach Niki Nikolic said. “He is this team’s leader on and off the field. Zeb makes all of our players better and can single-handedly change the complexion of a game with his technical skills and vision of the field.”
Jefferson Rincon
Ironbound SC U13 Boys
Ironbound enjoyed plenty of possession in its 2-0 win against Parsippany, and Rincon helped set up both of his team’s goals to improve its record to 2-0-0.
Though he did not get an assist on the first goal, Rincon managed to lure defenders away from his teammate Damian Konefal, allowing Konefal to give Ironbound a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. For the second goal, Rincon dribbled past two defenders and played a pinpoint cross for Cristiano Hocken to finish and extend Ironbound’s lead.
“Jefferson has the ability to determine an outcome of the game at any [given] moment,” Coach Javier Velazquez said. “[He] was involved throughout the game in many scoring opportunities.”
↧
Super Y-League Top Performers
↧