.jpg)
...go
to camp pictures
---IMAGES FROM JULY 2003 PLAYSOCCER CAMP---
...go
to camp pictures
The Watertown Youth Soccer Raiders boys
team made it to the three-day Massachusetts Tournament of Champions held on the
campus of UMass / Amherst June 20-22....and come home with excellent results.
The Raiders earned their tournament berth by beating Cambridge's
top boys team 5-3 in a playoff game, seeding them in as the Boston Area Youth
Soccer League (BAYS) representative for the under-19 / Division 1 entry.
In the intense Cambridge playoff game at Filippello Field two weeks before, the
Raiders stunned its neighbor city with three early goals, saw Cambridge regroup
and counter with two goals, then put them away in the second half with solid
defensive and midfield play.
At the state tournament in Amherst, the young Raiders team of juniors &
sophomores, faced senior-dominated teams in the highly competitive under-19 age
bracket. The first game was against a South Shore team from the Plymouth
area. After getting two goals in the first half from strikers Alex Aghyarian and
Wilson Oliveria, and then totally controlling the tempo of the game, the Raiders
let down, ultimately allowing a goal with 5 seconds remaining in the game to
suddenly transform what looked like a certain win into a discouraging tie.
The second game against Lynn was again dominated by the Raiders
with two first half goals from leading striker Oliveria. This time Watertown
maintained its poise for a convincing 2-1 win. Rogerio Dias and Max Fosque
controlled midfield play getting great results from outside wings Leo Felisberto,
Alan Garcia, Chris Calden, and Hernan Gogoy. A defense anchored by keeper Massis
Cinar, sweeper Alex Reyes, stopper Harold Nikollara and backs Jeff Solares and
Tospron Kamkaew shut down many Lynn attacks.
In the third game, the Raiders faced their toughest opponent, an all-star team
of seniors from Berkshire County. Led by a US-ranked top-40 sweeper, the Westonhook
FC team showed remarkable teamwork and the best organized defense the
Raiders would encounter. A quick score in the first two minutes threatened to
demoralize Watertown, but the Raiders bravely fought back, getting a magnificent
goal by Oliveria off a long ball from Aghyarian to shake their opponent's
vaunted defense. Watertown ended the second half tied with control of the game
wrested from Westonhook FC. Unfortunately, several squandered opportunities,
injuries, and the rain all hampered Watertown in the second half, allowing
Westonhook to come back and gain a 3-1 win over the Raiders.
Despite the loss, Watertown's record gained it an unprecedented berth in the U19
Final Four playoff held on Sunday June 22. Eagerly anticipating a semifinal game
against perennial state soccer power Weymouth, the Raiders were
disappointed when -- for the first time in history -- the tournament was
canceled, by a torrential downpour that turned the UMass soccer fields into
lakes. So the boys came home disappointed not to have the opportunity to be the
ranking soccer team in the state, but satisfied that they shared the title of
state U19 Champions with three other fine teams.
The Raiders were coached by Varoug Aghyarian, George Fosque, and Joe Luciano.
Players on the team were born in 10 countries on five continents, speak 13
languages, and are representative of the five major world religions. Yet they
were all united as a team and look forward to being the core of the High School
varsity team for coach Frank Cacia this upcoming Fall.
go to....TAB article
(7/3/03)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The under-14 Chargers boys team dominated their first game 9-0, and followed up with a pair of 1-1 ties....but weren't able to advance....complete story to come.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Massachusetts Tournament of Champions is the annual springtime event that
brings together the divisional winners from the twelve youth soccer leagues for
a single loss elimination contest to determine the top team in the state.
Only once before has a Watertown Youth Soccer team made it to this tournament.
This year, two boys teams will represent the community as the gutsy under-14 Chargers
won 3 games in 4 days in last week's Boston Area Youth Soccer's divisional
playoffs to join the under-18 Raiders boys quest to be #1 out in Amherst
this upcoming weekend.
At the Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley on Tuesday evening, the top seeded
local boys dominated the #6 seed Cambridge team, displaying their
offensive might with an overwhelming 9-0 romp. Stephen Kuechkarian scored 4
goals, Anthony Coppola added a pair and Benyam Kerman, Stefanos Galouzis and Max
Meyer each chipped in one apiece in helping goalkeeper Hayk Kaya gain his third
shutout of the season.
Coach Kaz Keuchkarian has spoken numerous times about how this team has worked
hard to earn their accomplishments while displaying incredible heart during gut
check times...and they need to do it twice again over the next two games.
Thursday evening saw the #7 seed Needham jump out to a two goal
lead until Anthony Coppola tallied before the half. Central defenders Matt
Jablon and Steven Panza hunkered down in the second half and got to work
shutting down their opponent's thrust while Grey Larson, Kerman & Meyer were
winning the midfield battles and supplied a quick transition longball
counterattack. The hard work paid off as Keuchkarian blistered home a shot
before he was sent sprawling amid Needham's entire back four, to tie the game.
With 14 minutes left he struck again, putting the boys up for good.
At Friday evening's deluge, the boy's fell behind early again to an upstart, #8
seeded Marlborough team. Three goals were traded as Galouzis'
answering goal was answered shortly thereafter again. But when Kerman tied up
the match before half-time, momentum seemed to shift. Stellar team play
confidently taking over ball possession at the outset of the second half,
eventually leading to Coppola scoring the go ahead goal. Galouzis later added
his second of the day, a backbreaker that sealed the victory and a road trip
west for a chance at bragging rights as the state's top team.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The under-18 / division 1 Raiders boys
team are already on their way to the Amherst with a 5-3 playoff win over Cambridge
last Sunday afternoon.
Jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game had a
decided edge as the tough and talented Cantabs pulled it togther and literately
fought back with a pair of goals to reach within striking distance at the half.
Filippello Field, which had held up amazingly well this monsoon spring season,
finally broke down into a muddy mire and contributed to some weird bounces, or
non-bounces in this case, thus adding to the frustrations in this all important
game that eventually saw 5 yellow cards, including a double which sent a
Cambridge player off with the resulting red card.
Despite it all, the local boys maintained their composure for the most part and
matched a second half goal with one of their own and sending them on their way
out west with an MTOC berth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renegades Record Perfect Season--
| The under-11 Renegades girls team capped their championship season by topping Southborough, 4-1. Led by two goals from Amy Bridge, and one each by Brianna Reilly and Alex Strawbridge, the girls were undefeated in division 2H with a 10-0-0 record. |
|
Dean Conway is stepping down as Head State Coach at the end of this year. Here is a brief BAYS meeting report as attended by WYSL rep / registrar /
coach George Fosque, (please note rule changes on item 7) The Watertown Falcons, an under-14 girls travel soccer team, won the InSoccer
Futsal under-13/14 division Playoff Championship at the Park School in Brookline
this past Saturday with a thrilling 1-0 sudden death overtime victory against a
heavily favored powerhouse Lexington team.
After dispatching the Brookline Leprechauns (a team that had allowed the
fewest goals in this age bracket), 3-2, on a pair of goals by Kim McLean and the
gamewinner by Kayla Jordan-O'Brien, the girls awaited the outcome of the other
semifinal match between Lexington and Newton, running concurrently in the next
gym and had stretched to golden goal penalty kicks.
Facing a daunting task against a highly skilled Lexington team that had
trashed them earlier in the winter with a 12-2 loss, the local girls came out
fighting, giving no room for their opponents to move and took away their passing
lanes with a quick drop down coverage by the strong side forwards.
Goalkeeper Meaghan Kingston, who plays with the under-14 Rockets, came up big
with a couple of crucial saves when the Lexington team was able to break through
the defense - one on a clean breakaway and another that caromed off her far post
as she sprawled behind her to grab the ball before it went completely over the
line.
After a scoreless regulation tie, the intensity level went up noticeably for
the overtime period as girls were banging bodies at a furious rate but the
referee allowed play to continue. After a confusing out-of-bounds decision made
for Watertown's possession had allowed Lexington to regroup with a defensive
posture, Jordan-O'Brien couldn't find an open player on the restart and decided
to clear her own zone by lofting the ball for distance towards the opposite net.
Despite losing the 50/50 ball and being boxed out by two larger Lexington
defenders in the goal mouth, Alina Bahlavouni, a St. Stephen's girl who plays
with the under-12 Dragons, stepped through and was able to strip the ball for an
off-balance left foot shot but it was saved.
However, the rebound dribbled to the left where the always offensive-minded
McLean was perched and she popped home the gamewinner through the keeper's arms,
sending the rest of the team out onto the floor to mob her and creating a roar
of celebration from their parents in the stands.
Contributing greatly to this satisfying winter session was the tough and
steady defensive work from Falconados regulars Natalie Ipeghian and Zoe
Millstein, and the Rockets Janine Callen and Jessica Depamphilis. Offensive
contributions by Juliana dos Santos (who had a hat trick against Wilmington last
week but missed the playoffs), Joanna Fosque, Lulu Kerman and the Dragons' Julia
Brennan helped the girls average more than three and a half goals per game.
He will be still associated with MYSA on a different level. While still giving
seminars he will aslo be involved with developing a youth program for the
city of Boston and it's neighborhoods.
No successor for his position was named.
Jackie Shannon has also left MYSA, effectively immediately.
Glenn Cristofori is now the BAYS rep for the departed Brett Jacobs who left last
year to work with the Nottingham England FC youth/junior program and Mario Prata
has temporarily taken over Shannon's duties.
1. Some good packages to Breakers games available. See Breakers web site or
call Lauren Pinkus at 781-292-1038 or lpinkus@bostonbreakers.com
Revs info at: Revs tix.
2. 8 v 8 survey of 32 towns revealed much - mostly that U12 and/or U12.6 is
preferred age level for 8 v 8, more at future meetings, may try to start
Fall 03
3. Bulletin Board Forums to start up on bays.org web site. Good for
specialty areas like refs, equipment, rules discussions, etc.
4. MYSA annual meeting on March 1 at Best Western in Malboro. They want the
Watertown proxy if no Watertown person wants to go in person and vote it.
Need to FAX Ted Richie the signed proxy form (on mysa web site) if we can't
make it. (But I think someone will?)
5. Also John Teti is hopefully signed up for the ref assigner training that
date. Very important
6. www.massrefs.net site has lots of ref stuff
7. Rules changes of note voted in:
a) If a coach only has 1 signed roster copy at beginning of game,
opposing
coach can decide to play or make coach produce a second copy within 15
minutes (else a forfeit). Designed to allow play to go forward if a coach is
short a roster and other coach agrees.
b) defensive team can make substitution on offensive team throw-in
now (if
player ready at half-line) - designed to speed up games
c) The passcard discussion was animated and about split 50% for requiring all
persons on coaching/team side to have passcards, 40% for the proposal to
allow non-passcarded adults under coach supervision, and 10% alternate
configs. Decided to table for more detailed review and discussion.
---(Please
note: WYSL plans to diligently reinforce the coaches w/ passcards on the
sidelines rule...to whit: Only licensed coaches for both teams will be allowed
on the same side of the field as the team they are responsible for. Parents will stand on the opposite side of the field. Games will not start until
this rule is adhered to.)---
Under-14 girls win soccer playoff championship
Watertown TAB---Friday, March 28, 2003
Fall 2001 Season Championships--
Congratulations and a hearty well done goes out to all the WYSL teams for their will, determination, enthusiasm and sportsmanship during this past season.
Some teams of recognition who captured their Fall 2001 season section championships are:
- The girls Under-14 Jets, (9-1), win their division 3-D section.
- The girls Under-12.6 Falcons, (8-1-1), win their division 2-C section.
- The boys Under-11 Strikers, (7-1-2), win their division 2-C section.
Other strong showings included:
- The boys Under-14 Hawks, (5-4-1), lost a heartbreaking squeeker to the section winner on the deciding last game of the season to come in 2nd place in the division 3-F section.
- The girls Under-13 Rockets, (6-3-1), came in 2nd place overall in their 8 team, division 3-A split section.
- The placement of the boys Under-11 Cyclones, currently listed behind leader Acton-Boxborough by 3 points in their division 3-A split section, (at 4-2-1), to be determined when the last 2 games of the season eventually get posted.
