The week in review...

After 3 games in 4 days combined with a tough travel schedule and less than cooperative weather, both teams enjoyed some down time this week. For most of the boys, this was a good thing since many traveled back from the CA on the red-eye Monday night.

We didn't get out of CA unscathed though. In Sunday's U18 game against Washington Premier, Clark Preston left the game after a collision with a WP player. When he got back home, he was diagnosed with a mild concussion. With a few days rest, he should be ready to get back to practice this weekend. In Monday's U18 game against Metro United, Jorge Nunez landed on the side of his foot after leaping for a header. A trip to hospital confirmed he broke a bone in his foot...

A few weeks in a cast and Jorge will definitely be ready to lace up his boots and get training again!!! Let's wish both boys speeding and full recoveries.

Next practice, Sunday December 14th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Framingham State College.

Go Bolts!!!

Winter Showcase: Game 3 U16 Bolts vs. Metro United

Metro United started the match with a slow possession game for the first few minutes. They earned a corner kick which was flicked to the middle of the goal area by a Metro player on the near post, and the ball was then headed past the Bolts ‘keeper.

The Bolts applied constant pressure in search of the tying goal, but it was not to be their day. They attacked the net, and various good chances were denied by each post, the crossbar, and fantastic saves by the Metro United goalkeeper.

Final score: 1-0 in favor of Metro United

Winter Showcase: Game 2 U16 Bolts vs. Washington Premier

The Bolts came out exceptionally strong, and took the lead 4 minutes into the game when some fantastic passing found Jon Stronach streaking down the left side. Jon took a couple of touches, then calmly tucked the ball under the goalkeeper.

The Bolts kept working, but Washington Premier started to up the pressure. In the second half, Washington continued to pressure, and were rewarded for their work with a goal 5 minutes from the end of the game.

Final score: 1-1

Winter Showcase: Game 1 U16 Bolts vs. LA Galaxy

With only a few training sessions together under their belts, the Bolts U16’s opened the Winter Showcase against the LA Galaxy Academy team. The Bolts jumped on them right at the opening whistle, and created immediate pressure. They scored a goal about 10 minutes in, but had it called back when the linesman signaled offside. Shortly after, the Bolts got a goal that counted when Andrés Burbank-Crump jumped on a loose ball and put it into the Galaxy net.

The Galaxy started to get into a rhythm of their own, and began putting together some heavy pressure of their own. They pounced on an errant pass and a Galaxy forward dribbled in alone toward the goal causing the Bolts goalkeeper to come sliding out at the Galaxy striker’s feet. The goalkeeper made the save, but the referee determined that he took too much of the player, and called for a penalty kick tying the game at 1-1. Both teams kept working for a second goal, and the Galaxy were the ones to get it when they pounced on a bouncing ball inside the 18 yard box and whacked it into the net.

As the Bolts started pushing for the equalizing goal, the Galaxy was able to catch them on a quick breakout for the third and final goal.

Final score: 3-1 in favor of the Galaxy.

Winter Showcase - U18's Game 3, Monday December 8, 2008

Game 3 vs. Metro United started with the boys still adjusting to the 8:00 AM start time. In the fifth minute, after failing to clear the ball from the back touchline, Metro United collected the ball about 20 yards out on the right flank, passed to an open forward in the box and the score was 1-0 in favor of Metro United. By now you should be able to get a sense that we like to play "catch up"...

Well it didn't take long to even things up. In the 10th minute, Charlie Rugg picked the ball from one of the Metro United defenders, pulled the goalie off his line and found the back of the net, putting an end to the 1-0 deficit. With the score evened up, the boys were looking for a way to keep Metro back on their heels. In the 19th minute, Charlie picked the goalie this time and now the score was 2-1 and it remained that way through the remainder of the first half.

Throughout the second half, we continued to press, generating at least 3 corner kicks. Metro almost evened the score but Brendan Caslin had James Smith's back and got his head on what should have been a goal to preserve our lead. With three minutes remaining in regulation time, Chris Pettiglio picked up an errant pass by a Metro defender, pulled the goalie out and the score was now 3-1 in our favor. Metro didn't threaten through the final 3 minutes of regulation or 2 minutes of stoppage time and we had our second win in as many days.

Congratulations to Sam Kelley who was awarded "Man of the match" honors for his outstanding play in the game.

All in all it was a successful weekend for the 18's who picked up 7 points, beat two teams who were almost halfway through their 2008-2009 Academy seasons, and garnered the attention of a number of college coaches.

Up next for the 2010's and a few 2011's is the Disney Showcase, December 26th - 30th. After that, the 16's and 18's will be focused on the remainder of the Academy season. The next Academy games are Valentine's Day weekend vs. the Baltimore Bays and Red Bull. After that, we'll play one to two games every weekend until July.

Go Bolts!!!

Winter Showcase - U18's Game 2, Sunday December 7, 2008

Start slow, finish strong... That was the theme for game 2 against Washington Premier. The first half was a little slow and when the whistle blew at half-time the score was 0-0. The second half started slowly and went downhill in the 10th minute when Washington Premier capitalized on an errant pass putting us down 1-0. Less than 2 minutes later as we were pressing up to try and even the score, a fluke rebound of the Washington Premier goalie ended up 10 yards into our half of the field. A Washington Premier striker was in behind our defense and 5 seconds later the score was 2-0 in favor of Washington.

That woke us up and fast... In the 19th minute Josh Danesh connected on low cross from David Robinson and brought us within a goal. It took less than a minute for Josh to repeat that performance, this time on a pass from Charlie Rugg. With the score tied 2-2, Washington Premier was completely back on their heels.

13 minutes later, Gideon Gyasi picked up a rebound right in front of the Washington goal and gave us the lead, 3-2. This completely took the life out of Washington. They seemed to spend the remainder of the game just trying to not give up another goal and hoping for another mistake on our part. Unfortunately that strategy didn't work at all!!! In the 42nd minute Gideon put the icing on the cake dribbling by two defenders after receiving a pass from Will Donovan.

Two minutes of stoppage time didn't help Washington either and the game ended with the score Bolts 4, Washington Premier 2. Game 3 is slated for 8:00 AM, Monday, December 8th against Metro United.

Winter Showcase - U18's Game 1, Friday December 5, 2008

Under sunny skies, cool temperatures, a stiff wind, and less than ideal field conditions the Bolts 2008 - 2009 Development Academy season got underway. Game 1 for 18's was against the LA Galaxy from the SoCal division. LA Galaxy came into the match with a 3-3 conference record and a 5-7 overall record for their 2008-2009 season, while the 18's arrived with a 0-0 record, a handful of team practices, a single scrimmage win against Seacoast United, and having traveled 8 - 14 hours the previous day.

The boys were fired up and ready to play!! Was it the Southern Cal venue or pit stop at In and Out burgers that most made on journey from LAX to Lancaster???

Coach Stewart and Coach Margoulis had a starting 4-5-1 formation with Charlie Rugg as the lone striker. The midfield consisted of Kaeghan Kelly and Gideon Gyasi at outside mids, Chris Pettiglio, Sam Kelley, and Josh Danesh holding down center mid, Sean Fitzgerald and Tim James at outside back, Will Donovan and Brendan Caslin at center back, and James Smith in goal.

Play was fast right from the opening whistle and we did not look like a team that had only played together for a couple of weeks!!! We pressed their defense, made some brilliant runs down the outside of the field, and kept the Galaxy out of the offensive third of the field.

LA struck first though. In the 33rd minute, a missed pass resulted in a 3 on 2 break and the Galaxy found the back of the net. We pressed back and in the 41st minute Charlie Rugg beat two defenders, drove the ball from 20 yards out and hit the right post, for the second time. Chris Pettiglio just missed the rebound but John Miller was right there, collected the rebound, and evened the score. The first half ended with the teams tied 1-1.

We started the second half a little flat and for the first 12 - 15 minutes LA had the run of play. The boys "woke up" and really started pressing the play. We had a number of chances but the Galaxy goalie was up to challenge every time. In the 70th minute James Smith went 50/50 with a Galaxy player for a ball in the box. James and the Galaxy player collided, James won the challenge but the refs awarded the Galaxy a PK. LA had a 2-1 lead with 20 minutes left in the game. The 18s fought hard for the next 18 minutes but we unable to find the back of the net. In the 89th minute Will Donovan made one of his patented runs through the midfield and into the box. He found Charlie Rugg wide open to the goalie's right. A perfect pass and a perfect finish and the game was even again. There were 2 minutes of stoppage time and when the dust settled, the score remained tied 2-2.

Next game, Sunday, December 7th at 1:00 PM (PST) vs. Washington Premier.

High School Accolades...

Now that the high school season is officially over, the 18's have a number of players who were recognized for their outstanding play during their high school seasons.

Charlie Rugg lead the group with NSCAA All-American, Adidas NSCAA Massachusetts Player of the Year, All-New England, and All-State honors. Charlie has also committed to Boston College for next year.

Josh Danesh was selected as a MBIL All-Star, All-League, League MVP, Leading goal scorer, and NEPSAC Class D All-Star. Josh is also committed to Northeastern University.

Owen Fox, Will Donovan, and Brendan Caslin were also selected as All-State players this year. Owen, Will, Brendan, John Miller, and Gareth Dudney were also selected to the EMass All-Star team. These guys will be playing in EMass All-Star game on Friday, November 28th at Canton High School. John and Gareth will be playing at 8:30, and Owen, Will, and Brendan will be playing at 10:30 AM. We know at least 5 guys who won't be "over-eating" on Thanksgiving...

Will Donovan and Owen Fox were selected as 1st Team All-Stars in the Catholic Conference. Cody Heusmann and Brendan Caslin were selected as 1st Team All-Stars in the Dual County League. John Miller and Gareth Dudney were selected as 1st Team All-Stars in the Cape Ann League.

Nick Vozzella was received ISL Honors for his play this year.

Two of our U18's - Will Donovan and Scott Prozeller have been selected to participate in U18 Men's National Team Training Camp in December. They will be competing for spots for an tournament in Austrailia in January 2009.

Scott Prozeller and Owen Fox have committed to Harvard University next year adding more Bolts players to a competitive Ivy League program.

This year there were also four high school juniors that were elected as team captains - Cody Heusmann for Westford Academy, Brendan Caslin for Lincoln-Sudbury, Will Donovan and Connor Askins for Catholic Memorial.

Congratulations on a great High School season to all the boys!!!

Seacoast scrimmage

Sunday morning under bright skies and bone chilling temps, both DAP teams scrimmaged Seacoast at the Seacoast training facility in Epping, NH. The boys played three 30 minute "periods". This was a great opportunity to get in some game action before heading out to Lancaster, CA for the Winter Showcase.

There were 3 goals scored and 1 goal given up by the 18's - Josh Danesh scored on "rocket" from 25 yards out. Leon Brown scored the second goal of the morning and Charlie Rugg finished off the scoring, picking up a rebound off a Scott Prozeller shot.

Since all the boys are coming off their high school seasons, game fitness was there and all those "bad habits" usually acquired after 3 months of high school soccer were no where to be found...

Everyone is looking forward to the CA and the upcoming season!!

Go Bolts!!!

Casino night

A big round of thanks to everyone that supported our first fundraising effort. The evening was a great success!!! Nike®, Gatorade®, Wegotsoccer, Ignite Sports, Train Boston, and most importantly the players, coaches and parents selling tickets, bidding on raffle items, and gambling "bolts bucks" at the tables made the night a big hit!!!

Thanks to all!

One down, one to go...

On a cold night in Weymouth, Masco Regional and John Miller we looking forward to their semifinal match against Nauset High School. Rumor had it that Nauset liked to pack it in and play for PK's. Masco would have none of that, beating Nauset 2-0 to advance to the D2 Finals on Saturday, November 22nd at 1:30 PM in Lowell.

Good luck to John and all his teammates!!!

And then there was one...

Heading into the weekend of November 15 and 16, we had 2 coaches and 4 players still competing in post season action. When the dust settled on Sunday night, only one team was victorious - Masconoment Regional High School and John Miller. Masco still has to face two more teams before they can claim the D2 State Title this year!!

Coach Ainscough's Northeastern University team (http://www.gonu.com/msoccer/) lost in the CAA finals to George Mason, 1-0 in Wilmington, NC. Coach Koolman's Franklin Pierce team lost to second seed Dowling College, 3-1 in the NCAA Division II East regional semifinals. The Rivers School and Charlie Rugg fell 3-1 in the Class B NEPSAC finals on Sunday to a tough South Kent School team just one day after sending Groton Academy packing, 3-0 in the semis. Needham High School and David Robinson fell short against Brockton on Sunday in the D1 South Sectional Finals. St. John's Prep and Owen Fox were on a post-season run that no one expected but found themselves up against Framingham in the D1 North Sectional Finals. Unfortunately, Framingham put an end to SJP's post-season run 2-0.