But the…
By Dylan Butler
Having already set a state record by sending five boys’ teams to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s Open Cup, Blau-Weiss Gottschee youth soccer coordinator Ben Boehm said he would have been happy if just two of his teams had won.
But the Gottschee teams doubled Boehm’s hopes, winning a record four state cup crowns in one of the greatest days in the Ridgewood-based club’s illustrious history Saturday at Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview, L.I.
Gottschee captured the boys’ U-10, U-11, U-12 and U-15 state cup titles Saturday, while the U-16 team dropped a 3-0 decision to New Rochelle Sunday at Soccer Park.
All four teams will advance to the Region I tournament on Rhode Island June 30 to July 5 for a chance to compete in the national finals.
“It really shows the dedication of the coaches and the kids,” Boehm said. “What I’m most proud of with these teams is what they do with the ball. They feel more comfortable on the ball every year, they’re improving, they can handle the ball under pressure, their skill level improves and that’s the name of the game.”
Gottschee’s U-10 team got things started, defeating Rye Phoenix, 3-1. Goals by Joshua Lino, Fadil Taljevic and John Villantoy put Gottschee in front, 3-0, at the half in the first game of the state cup Saturday morning.
Coached by Miguel Brunengo, whose brother was a standout at McClancy last year, Gottschee’s U-11 team defeated the Bayport Titans, 4-2, to not only win the state cup but also earn an all-expense-paid trip to France to compete in September’s Danone’s Nations Cup — an international youth competition pattered after the World Cup.
The tournament, sponsored by Dannon Yogurt, kicks off in Paris Sept. 5.
“We said from the beginning that was our goal, to at least make it to the finals and have the shot to make it to France, and God-willing we did it,” Brunengo said. “For some of these kids they never left New York. It’s great. They deserve all the credit.”
Damian Bziykiewic put Gottschee Celest ahead seven minutes in, and after Bayport tied the game at 1, Steve Gallego unleashed a rocket from 25 yards out and Santiago Rosero put Gottschee ahead, 3-1, at the half.
Andrew Lomanto added an insurance goal in the second half before Bayport added a late goal.
It was the third time the two teams played. After a 1-1 tie in the Oceanside Labor Day tournament in September, Gottschee Celest prevailed, 5-1, in an indoor match.
“They really wanted it,” Brunengo said. “I could see it in the beginning of the game in their eyes that they really wanted to win and they wanted to be state champs.”
The Gottschee U-12 team trailed the Dix Hills Rugrats, 2-0, late in the second half, but following a goal by Anthony Flores, Leo Fernandes was taken down in the box and Idris Mashriqi converted the penalty to send the game into overtime.
In the second overtime, Fernandes won it for Gottschee, heading in Rocco Romeo’s cross from eight yards out.
The U-15 state cup match between Gottschee and FC Westchester looked like it was going to go to penalty kicks before Oscar Leis scored the golden goal winner with a beautifully placed shot from the top right of the box with two minutes left in the second overtime.
“Everyone was tired and I just saw the ball come to me and I knew it was my one and only chance and I just took advantage,” said Leis, an Ozone Park native who also plays for the Archbishop Molloy varsity team. “I just lifted up my head, saw a couple of FC Westchester players and saw the goalie on the right side so I just flicked it to the left.”
It was the fourth straight state cup title match for the team and a second straight championship-clinching overtime win over FC Westchester.
“We couldn’t finish a few but we played well,” said Gottschee’s U-15 manager, Mark Brode. “They put their heart and soul into it and they worked hard and played well.”
Gottschee’s quest to go 5-for-5 was stopped in the rain Sunday morning by the New Rochelle Raiders, 3-0.
Coached by former St. John’s standout David Price, New Rochelle scored all three of its goals in the second half, including two late, to capture the U-16 title.
Alfie Runco scored the first goal and later missed a penalty shot, and Ryan Williams and Michael Brinks added late insurance goals for New Rochelle.
“I don’t think (Gottschee will) be too upset with four (state titles),” said Price, who also coached the Albertson Red Storm Clash to the boys’ U-17 championship. “It’s something we built up to and the kids were excited before the game, and their attitude was great and we were very confident heading into the game that we’d get success and we did.”
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
