Boca U20 Players Finish 2005 College Season
November 25, 2005
With only two weeks remaining in the 2005 NCAA men’s soccer season, members of the Jersey Shore Boca U20 team have all completed their college competition for the year with several making a major impact for their respective college squads during the regular season, conference tournaments and into the NCAA Championships.
Boca U20 Players Finish 2005 College Season
Konopka, McGrath and Curry-Edwards out of NCAA College Cup
TOMS RIVER, NJ (November 25, 2005) – With only two weeks remaining in the 2005 NCAA men’s soccer season, members of the Jersey Shore Boca U20 team have all completed their college competition for the year with several making a major impact for their respective college squads during the regular season, conference tournaments and into the NCAA Championships.
Junior goalkeeper Chris Konopka (Toms River, NJ) and Providence College finished their historic season Tuesday night when they fell at the hands of second-ranked North Carolina 2-0 in the Second Round of the NCAA Division I Tournament in Chapel Hill, NC. With the score tied 0-0 after the first 45 minutes, the Tar Heels struck for 2 early goals during the second half and held-off Providence for the win. Konopka made 2 saves on the night.
The Friars, who advanced to the NCAA Second Round for the first time ever with a 1-0 overtime win at No. 13 Hofstra last Friday, completed one of the best campaigns in school history ending with a 7-4-9 record. Providence which set new single season NCAA and Big-East records with 9 ties and 12 overtime games, amassed the seventh best turnaround in NCAA soccer history after going winless (0-16-0) a year ago.
Konopka, a 2003 Toms River East graduate, played every minute between the pipes for Providence this year setting new records for the most games (20) and most minutes (2010:38) played by a Friar goalkeeper in a single season. He allowed only 21 goals for a 0.94 GAA one of the lowest in Providence history, made 89 saves and recorded 6 shut-outs, the most for a Friar team since 1990.
Sophomore midfielder Justin McGrath (Brick, NJ) and Seton Hall (13-4-3) saw their 2005 season come to a close in the NCAA Tournament Second Round following a 1-0 loss at Penn State also on Tuesday night. The Nittany Lions scored the game-winner with just over 12 minutes remaining and held off the Pirates who advanced out of the First Round for the first time since 2001 with a 2-1 win over Hartwick College last Friday.
McGrath, a 2004 Monsignor Donovan graduate, played in all 20 games for the Pirates this year while starting 19. He scored 6 goals, including 3 game winners while handing out four assists and finished 4th on the Pirates in scoring with 16 points.
Jon Curry-Edwards (Spring Lake Heights, NJ) a 2004 St. Rose graduate and member of the nationally ranked Old Dominion University (15-4-2) men’s soccer team fell in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament 2-0 to Wake Forest University Tuesday night.
The sophomore goalkeeper has been primarily used in a back-up roll behind senior All-American candidate John Connolly, appearing in one game this year.
Several other members of the Boca U20 team also made a significant impact this college season including:
Andrew Hawtin (Toms River, NJ) a junior defender at Syracuse University started in all 19 games for the Orangemen (7-8-4) and helped lead them into the first round of the Big East Conference Tournament before loosing to Notre Dame in penalty kicks. Hawtin, a 2003 Toms River East graduate and transfer from Ocean County College finished the season with one assist, that coming against Providence on Sept. 23.
Jason Mancuso (Toms River) a junior midfielder at Central Connecticut State University (8-6-3) played in 16 games while starting 8 this season. The 2003 Toms River North graduate and Ocean County College transfer tallied two assists on the year.
Connor Bryant (Tinton Falls) a junior defender at Bryant University played in 17 games while starting 10 for the Bulldogs (8-6-4).
Jim McMichael (Pompton Plains) a junior midfielder at Kings College tallied 1 goal and 1 assist while playing in all 17 games for the Monarchs (6-10-1) this season.
Casey Zambor (Jackson – Monsignor Donovan) a junior defender at Lynchburg College netted 2 goals and tallied 3 assists placing him fourth on the team in scoring this year while starting in 16 of 17 games for the Hornets (8-9-0).
Andrew Perez (Brick – Brick Memorial) a sophomore forward at LaSalle University played in 18 out of 19 games for the Explorers (6-9-4) scoring one goal and adding 1 assist.
Danny Haydu (Toms River – Toms River East) a sophomore defender at Monmouth University helped the Hawks (10-4-6) this year with 1 goal and 1 assist on the season while playing in three games.
Andy Fraggos (Marlboro) a sophomore defender at Towson University (MD) tallied two assists in 9 games for the Tigers (10-6-3).
Daniel Brackley (Hamilton) a freshman midfielder at Carnegie Mellon University started 16 and played in all 17 games for the Tartans (13-3-1) helping them advance to the First Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament while tallying a team high 6 assists.
Mark Schmiegel (Toms River – Toms River North) a freshman midfielder at Bucknell University started all 18 games for the Bison (8-6-4) and tallied 1 goal and 3 assists placing him second on the team in scoring.
Mark Pertuniak (Hightstown) a freshman midfielder at American University played in 12 games for the Eagles (7-9-1).
Chris McGreevy (Rochester Hills, MI), and Versh Tivzenda (Marietta, GA) both sophomore midfielders at Stevens Institute of Technology (16-4-2), helped the Ducks advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to Trinity University 3-1. McGreevy has amassed 15 goals and 7 assists for the year while Tivzenda contributed a goal and assist each.
Andrew Finger (Mullica Hill) a freshman midfielder at Neumann College started in all 18 games for the Knights (7-10-1) and tallied one goal and two assists. Finger, who started out in the midfield, was moved to the sweeper position half-way through the season due to an injury.
This past summer, the Boca U20 team advanced to the semi-finals of the USASA U20 Regional Championship as well as the semi-finals of the MSSL Cup Championship.
Jersey Shore Boca had 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 participated 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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