Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – The Super-20 League announced its 2013 Championship All-Tournament Team today, honoring Force Football Club Academy forward Bubacarr Jobe as Most Valuable Player for leading his side to the championship this past weekend at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Jobe scored four goals in five games for Force, but it was his critical goal-scoring ability that led to him being named MVP. With four goals in three games, forward Zachary Zurita of Beachside FC shared the Golden Boot Award with Jobe.
Zurita’s teammate, midfielder Tyler Turner, also was chosen as a member of the team, along with Force defender Quincy Thomas. Midfielders Osagioduwa Malkin and Kevin Tikhomiroff make the All-Tournament Team from Pacesetter SC, the other finalists. Defender Peter Beasley makes his second All-Tournament Team after being named last year in the Chicago Fire’s championship-winning effort. The Fire did not perform as well this year, but USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor was very pleased with their approach.
“The Fire brought in a mix of U16, U18, and U20 players,” Mellor said. “It’s good to see that some teams are preparing for the future and concentrating on a mix between good player development and winning trophies.”
The Safe Hands Award is typically awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament, but this year it was a tie between Force FC’s Elliot Tarney and the Toronto Lynx’s Triston Henry. Henry was instrumental in building Toronto’s semifinal run and commanded his line well. Not only did Tarney defend his own goal well, but he sank the decisive goal that put Force into the semifinals from a free kick in stoppage time. Tarney’s performance earned a special spot in the eyes of Mellor.
“From the moment it was given [Tarney] wanted to take it,” Mellor said. “That courage for a keeper to go up in the dying minutes of a game and put the game-deciding play in his own hands 80 yards from his own goal and then the perfect execution – that’s phenomenal.”
Henry is joined on the All-Tournament roster by teammate Matthew Barsalona, who did well in helping his team retain possession from the midfield. IMG Academy defender Eduardo Juarez put in a clinical display despite his team’s early exit. Midfielder Domonik Small was moments away from leading Alamo SC to a semifinal berth and was vital in providing his team with chances.
Men’s Super-20 League All-Tournament Team
GK – Triston Henry, Toronto Lynx
GK – Elliot Tarney, Force Football Club Academy
D – Peter Beasley, Chicago Fire
D – Eduardo Juarez, IMG Academy
D – Quincy Thomas, Force Football Club Academy
D – Tyler Turner, Beachside SC of CT
M – Matthew Barsalona, Toronto Lynx
M – Osagioduwa Malkin, Pacesetter SC
M – Domonik Small, Alamo SC
M – Kevin Tikhomiroff, Pacesetter SC
F – Bubacarr Jobe, Force Football Club Academy
F – Zach Zurita, Beachside SC of CT