As Under-16 Boys (2007-2008)

Recent Team Accomplishments

The Western United U-16 Boys are proud to announce their acceptance into the Region 1 Premier League. They are one of only two Massachusetts teams selected into this prestigious league and will be traveling throughout New England and the Mid Atlantic states to compete against the top teams in USYSA Region 1.
Massachusetts State Semi-Finalists, 2007
Massachusetts State Finalists, 2006
Oakwood Premier Invitational Tournament Champions, 2006
PDA (NJ) Tournament Champions, 2006
Massachusetts State Finalists, 2005
Massachusetts State Champions, 2004

Spring 2005 MAPLE Results

Won 4 - 1 versus Boston Blast (April 10th)
Won 3 - 0 versus Freedom FC (April 17th)
Won 2 - 0 versus Crusaders (May 19th makeup of April 24th match)
Won 4 - 1 versus Tri-Valley (May 1st)
Won 5 - 0 versus InterBandits (May 8th)
Lost 2 - 1 versus Greater Boston (May 15th)
Won 4 - 1 versus Pioneers (May 22nd)

Fall 2004 MAPLE Results

Won 5 - 1 versus Western United "Black" (Sept. 12th)
Lost 1 - 0 versus Inter SC (Sept. 19th)
Won 2 - 0 versus Freedom FC (Sept. 26th)
Lost 3 - 1 versus Pioneers (Oct. 3rd)
Won 1 - 0 versus Greater Boston (Oct. 17th)
Lost 3 - 1 versus Tri-Valley (Oct. 24th)
Won 4 - 1 versus Boston Blast (Oct. 31st)
Lost 2 - 1 versus Juventus Post Road (Nov. 7th)
Won 7 - 1 versus FC Puma (Nov. 14th)

Under-12 Boys Capture 2004 State Championship

In the U12 Championship Tournament the Western United Red team defeated the Jr. Pioneers 2 - 0 in semifinal action. The game featured the high-powered offense of the Pioneers versus the stingy defense of Western. The Pioneers had scored 21 goals in their 4 qualifying games and were riding a 10-game winning streak. But the Western defense, led by "Man-of-the-Match" center midfielder Mike Fisher and marking backs James Regnier, Dillon Zaengle, Sean O'Brien and John Daniels stifled the potent attack. Anything that got through was cleanly swept by Jake Bartnik or easily handled by MVP Casey Marini. Scoring for the Western team was Ian Waldron on an assist from Carl Gottschall and Dan Brady. This first goal came in the 3rd minute of the first half and was a great confidence-booster for the good guys. The second goal came with seven minutes left int he match on a Carl Gottschall breakaway. In the final match, the upstart Greater Boston Bolts, winner of their semifinal match versus favored Inter, surprised Western with a different system of play than they had seen thus far. The two crafty forwards continuously found space and each other and the defense was frustrated by their attack. In the early going, both teams had numerous chances, but the one that finally went in was the ugliest. About halfway into the first half, a ball sent over the top became a 50/50 ball between Carl Gottschall and the goalie. As he always does when the ball is in front of the net, Carl went in full speed and got to it just as the keeper went to clear it with his feel. The ball richocheted off Carl and traveled the 30 yards into the back of the net. In the second half both teams turned up the defensive marking and each was able to create chances from their well-played defense. As the final minute ticked down, a harmless ball was played into the 18 and as the good guys' sweeper went to play it, it took a UMass-field bounce and struck him on the elbow. The official called the hand ball and awarded a penalty kick with 2 seconds left. Fortunately, the Western team had one last desparate line of defense and "Man-of-the-Match" goalkeeper Casey Marini made the save. As the final whistle blew Casey was still carrying the ball that saved the cup and he ran into the field to be mobbed by his teammates. The Western squad did not give up a goal in any of the Championship matches. Time or space was not a luxury that any of the opponents had in these matches. Congratulations to the Western United Under-12 Boys "Red" Team on an undefeated spring and U12 Championship!

The Under-12 Boys "Red" Team, on the backs of their defense, advanced to the U12 Championships semifinal stage on 6/19 with a 1 - 0 victory over Tri-Valley. The opponents from out East had few chances as the "D" held strong and goalie Casey Marini was steady on the chances he faced. Cade Halkyard picked a great time for his first goal of the spring, as he picked up a loose ball off a cross from Ian Waldron for the game winner. The boys now face arch-rivals Junior Pioneers in a game to determine area bragging rights.

6/7: U12B Victory in Friendly

The U12 Boys avenged a Labor Day tournament loss to Connecticut-based FSB (Farmington Soccer Premiere). The team is generally considered the second best team in CT, behind only powerful Oakwood. This "friendly", however, belonged to Western, as they sent FSB hom with a 3 - 0 loss. Scoring for the black and red were Karl Gottschall (2) and Aaron Mentos, with assists from "Man of the Match" James Regnier and Ian Waldron. Casey Marini and John Daniels shared the shutout in net and the entire defense played extraordinarily against a team that has beaten them 4 - 1 in a tournament 8 months ago.

Spring 2004 MAPLE Results

Tied 0 - 0 versus STS Reds (April 18th) Despite being down to 11 healthy players, the U12 boys disappointedly walked away from the first match of the season with a 0 - 0 tie. The visiting Western team played exceptionally well despite the 2-hour ride, short numbers and an influx of new starters. With 3 minutes left in the match, Western had a chance to win on a PK, but the very strong Reds keeper guessed the correct side of the shot and knocked down Aaron Mentos' bullet and was able to snatch it off the line just as it was about to clear for the score. Men of the Match were John Daniels, Chris Lee and Cade Halkyard. All three were forced into starting roles and played spectacular full games. The team will be back at full strength next week against arch-rival Juventus of Worcester.
Tied 3 - 3 versus Juventus USA (April 25th) The U12 Boys had their backs against the wall with 15 minutes remaining and down by the score of 3 - 1. Their foe, last year's state finalist, Juventus USA, had taken advantage of their few chances and had seemingly put the game away. This special group of Western players never gave up the ship, however, and battled back for a 3 - 3 draw. Juventus sported a 1 - 0 lead going into the last minute of the first half, until midfielder C.J. Omasta skillfully and with his weak foot back-spinned a ball just past the heads of the enemy defenders and Carl Gottschall beautifully finished the breakaway with 5 seconds left. The second half was carried by the good guys in red, but again they were scored upon by defensive breakdowns and giveaways. Dramatically, Man-of-the-Match Jamey Mercer got the good guys back in the game on a feed from Aaron Mentos. With his back to the goal, Jamey flicked the ball over his right shoulder, then spun and half-volleyed a ball over the ODP Juventus goalie. With new life, the Western guys pushed for the equalizer, bareletting the Worcester side over midfield. Just three minutes remained when Ian Waldron's bending corner kick (earned by Carl Gottschal and Eric Charles) was headed by Mercer for his second of the game and the equalizer. Also earning Man-of-the-Match awards were Eric Charles and Sean O'Brien. Eric returned from injury to supply some great offensive pressure from his outside position. Sean, a new player signed from Tri-Valley, came off the bench to supply some great defense, especially in the last 9-minute run.
Won 1 - 0 versus SAC (April 28th; makeup of April 4th match) The boys overcame an unbelievably poor pitch to gain their first win of the season. The uneven and clump-ridden field made soccer as its supposed to be played a fantasy, but a CJ Omasta bomb from 40 yards out took a wild hop over the keepers head and was the only tally the Western guys would need. Wide, over, and missed hits were the rule of the day as Western dominated but failed to knock home any insurance goals int he 1 - 0 win. Men of the match were backs CJ Omasta, James Regnier and Iron-Man "Kuba" Bartnik. SAC forwards had few touches and limited shots dure to the tenacity of the back line. Casey Marini pitched a complete game for his second shutout.
Tied 1 - 1 versus Inter (May 2nd) The U12 boys tied division-leading Inter 1 - 1. Inter scored first on an early goal in the first half. Western, with the wind at their back, equalized in the second half on a Carl Gottschall breakaway. Playing well for the Black and Red were "Men of the Match" backs James Regnier and Iron-Man Kuba Bartnik. Goalie Casey Marini also came up big to share the MOTM honors.
Won 10 - 2 versus Galway Rovers (May 9th) It was one of those days when (almost) everything went right. The field was perfect, the temperature was comfrotable, the warm-up was clicking, even the pre-game cheer was loud and clear! You could tell it was going to be a Western day! The U12 boys carried the mood from start to finish against the Galway Rovers. Ten different players scored as the Black and Red broke away from a 4 - 2 lead into a blowout. "Men of the Match" Dan Brady and Eric Charles scored the first two goals of the game. Both players starting as outside midfielders were in the right place at the right time as they picked up deflected shots and smartly tucked them home. Also scoring goals were James Regnier, Jake Barnik (also 1 assist), Cade Halkyard (also 1 assist), Ian Waldron (also 3 assists), Jamey Mercer (also 1 assist), Dillon Zaengle, Aaron Mentos (also 1 assist) and Carl Gottschall (also 1 assist). Jake Denver had 2 assists to round out the scoring. Casey Marini and John Daniels shared goal duties in the big victory.
Won 5 - 1 versus FC Bruno (May 16th) The U12 boys handed the Rhode Island State Cup winners their most lopsided loss of the season. FC Bruno knew they were going to be in for a long day when Carl Gottschall hit the post 26 seconds into the first half. The pressure continued from there as the visitors were on their heels against the sizzling hot Western team. Eric Charles was the first to score, on a redirect from Carl and then Carl got his own on a beautiful set-up from playmaker Ian Waldron. The 2 - 0 halftime lead was not nearly enough for the offensively minded squad in red as two more goals in the first 4 minutes of the second half spelled doom for Bruno. The Gottschall scoring machine got one and Eric Charles the other. Ian and Aaron Mentos got the assists. The final goal was registered by Ian, a handsome reward for the hardworking forward. Men-of-the-Match were center midfielders Mike Fisher and Jake Denver. Both players' toughness, work-rate and distribution skills never let the vaunted Bruno attack get started. The whole team is playing well with no let-down, regardless of who is playing what position, but the two center middies are setting a pace for the team to keep up with. The victory clinched a division 1 spot next year and a bye into the quarterfinals for next month's State Championship tournament.
Won 4 - 0 versus Boston Blast (May 23rd) The boys continue to dominate quality oponents and are geared for the State Cup. Today it was the Boston Blast FC that found out how far these boys have come. Last fall, the Blast handled Western to the tune of 3 - 1, but this spring it was all Red and Black as the good guys thumped them 4 - 0. The score was not a good indicator of the game as Western carried play from start to finish, allowing the Boston team only 1 shot on goal. The scoring started early as Mon-of-the-Match Ian Waldron beat his mark and lofted a ball over the keeper's head to Jamey Mercer who snuck around his mark to tuck it home. Another 1 - 0 lead and only 1 minute gone! The rest of the half the Blast fought valiantly, but the play was being taken to them from all sides and angles. Finally, a corner was sent by Ian to Jake Bartnik and the big man put home his first header of the season. The loose Western side was happy with the half-time advantage, but wanted more. The second half was again controlled by Western with Jake Bartnik (another corner header) and Aaron Mentos notching goals. Both assists came from Ian Waldron, for a total of 4 on the day! The U12 boys finished undefeated in spring play and have a bye to the quarterfinals of the State Championship to be played June 19th and 20th. This "train" won't be held back!

Under-12 Boys Reach Finals of Jefferson Cup

The Under-12 Boys team, coached by Jim Mercer, returned to the Jefferson Cup this year hoping to improve on their semifinal appearance of 2003. this year's squad got off to a flying start with a 4 - 0 victory over the FC Bucks team from Eastern Pennsylvania. The boys turned a 1 - 0 halftime lead, on a goal by Jamie Mercer, into a 4 - 0 confidence-boosting decisive victory. Also scoring in the match were Dan Brady, Eli Wilson-Berkowitz and Dillon Zaengle. In the second game against the home Richmond Kickers from Virginia the good guys got out on an early 1 - 0 lead on a goal scored by Ian Waldron from Carl Gottschall. The lead was short-lived, as a Richmond player slammed a wind-aided 35-yard restart narrowly through the Western keeper's hands. Not to be denied, however, the black and red rode two second-half goals by Carl Gottschall to the 3 - 1 victory, clinching the group title and securing a spot in the semifinals for our boys. In the semifinal match against a well-seasoned South Carolina Knights the defense was center-stage. Despite the wind advantage, the Western defense held the Southern team to few chances. Any runs penetrating the defense were easily set aside by goalie, Casey Marini. Leading this defensive charge were Jake Bartnik, James Regnier, CJ Omasta, Jake Denver and John Daniels. The midfielders (Chris Lee, Dillon Zaengle, Aaron Mentos, Ian Waldron, Dan Brady) easily solved the 4 - 5 - 1 played by the Knights and also contributed two goals (Brady and Mentos). Forward Jamey Mercer set up both goals, one on a beautiful pass to Aaron Mentos entering the 18 and another on a header which was deflected by Eric Charles and was finished by Dan Brady. In the finals against Syracuse United it was an "up and down the field" type of game. Both teams had some early opportunities that goalies miraculously saved. About halfway through the first half a header off a Syracuse forward from a restart found the back of the net, putting them up 1 - 0. Two minutes later the Western team got the equalizer on a beautiful three-person combination pass that was originally set up by Eli Wilson-Berkowitz' unbelievable over-the-shoulder reception and entry pass to Carl Gottschall. Carl played a creative flick that sent Ian Waldron in along on the keeper, and he easily tucked it in the corner. For the next 50 minutes the game held true to form with the Western side getting the better opportunities but both teams running the field well. Unfortunately, with about 2 minutes remaining, the Knights sent the ball from the endline corner that swerved with the wind, finding the far upper 90. The Western side was in disbelief, but fought bravely in the waning minutes of the match. A great effort by all!

U12 Boys Win Premier Indoor Tournament

A mid-February indoor tournament at the Auburn Sportsplex brought together the top U12 boys teams in the state. The Western United boys featured the top 12 MAPLE teams from across the state. The turf field was almost the size of an outdoor full-size field (100 x 45 yards) with slightly smaller goals (7' high). Playing 8 v 8 the boys beat Puma FC and Inter Boston to win their group. After a one-sided loss to Juventus (who needed the victory to have a chance to advance), the Western side faced SAC in the final. The game quickly turned into a blow-out as five different players scored on the way to a 5 - 0 victory. Congratulations to the boys on a great day of play.

Fall 2003 MAPLE Results

Won 5 - 0 versus Soccer City (Sept. 7) Leading the charge was "Man of the Match" Carl Gottschall with a hat trick (3 goals). Dan Brady and Eli Wilson-Berklowitz also scored, while Jamey Mercer (2), Cade Halkyard (1) and Aaron Mentos (1) chipped in with assists.
Lost 3 - 0 versus Boston Blast (Sept. 14) The Boston Blast outplayed the U12 Boys for the last 50 minutes of the match to earn the victory. The Western boys played brilliantly for the first 10 minutes, at one point connecting on 4 consecutive passes inside the attacking third that resulted in a missed lay-up. But the missed early chances gave the Boston team new life and they capitalized on a direct kick and a corner to pull away. Man of the match was Eli Wilson-Berkowitz, who created splendidly as an attacking midfielder. The boys hope to reorganize and come back strong next week against two-year rival Dragons FC.
Tied 1 - 1 versus Dragons FC (Sept. 21) Despite missing two starters to illness and injury the U12 Boys came from behind to tie a very good Dragons FC team. John Daniels, Jake Bartnik and Dillon Zaengle played well out of the back, only giving up a handful of shots. Man-of-the-Match was Mike Fisher, who scored the Western goal from 20 yards out on a perfect back pass from Eric Charles.
Won 3 - 1 versus Jr. Pioneers (Oct. 30; makeup from Sept. 28 rainout) Under the lights at Lusitano stadium the Under-12 boys defeated the Jr. Pioneers in a makeup match. The much-improved Jr. Pioneers scored first on a great countattack and some nifty combination passing down the middle. The Western United good guys tied it up shortly thereafter on an Aaron Mentos PK that was earned by Cade Halkyard. Cade's fearless pressure on the left side of the box left the Pioneers' defender with no option but to pull him down. Ten minutes later a ball served by Mike Fisher ended up on the foot of Dan Brady, who stung a screened shot past the giant of a keeper in goal for the Jr. Pioneers. In the second half it was "Marini Time". The outstanding Western goalie stopped a penalty shot, snagged a number of upper-corner shots and thwarted a handful of 1 v 1's. The score could have easily swung the Pioneers' way except for the outstanding hands of the Man-of-the-Match. Karl Gottschall finished a right-footed breakaway with 10 minutes left to seal the win. The Western Under-12 boys have climbed from 9th to 3rd place in the last 5 wqeeks and now face the second place Juventus team on Sunday. A special thanks to the Jr. Pioneers and the Lusitano Club for providing use of the stadium for the match. There was a great crowd present and a great atmosphere.
Won 2 - 0 versus Freedom FC (Oct. 5) "Man of the Match" Dan Brady converted two of Jamey Mercer's crosses as the Under-12 boys got their second win of the fall. The defensive effort was led by center back Jake Bartnik and wing backs James Regnier and Dillon Zaengle. Keeper Casey Marini had another outstanding game, making some incredible stops. Midfielder Chris Lee saved the game with a brilliant defensive effort late in the match on a scramble in front of the Western net.
Won 2 - 1 versus Tri-Valley (Oct. 19) On a cold and rainy day the U12 boys overcame a lackluster first half to leapfrog the Tri-Valley team in the standings. Casey Marini was outstanding in the goal, catching everything in the slick weather. Karl Gottsschall scored two goals on perfectly played-through balls from Eli Wilson-Berkowitz and the rest of the team defended their positions splendidly in a tight match. Man of the Match was center back Jake Bartnik, who seems to be everywhere on the field and had a huge role in the second shutout of the year.
Tied 0 - 0 versus InterBandits (Oct. 26) The U12 boys played defending State Champions InterBandits to a 0 - 0 tie. Although the soccer was a bit ugly on both sides, neither team could capitalize on their scoring chances and the game ended in a draw. Casey Marini played the full game in net and handled all balls with ease. Man-of-the-Match was again Mike Fisher, whose speed to the ball, ability to continuously handle transition and distribution skills set the center midfielder a head above the Boston-based team.
Won 2 - 1 versus Juventus (Nov. 2) Another big win for the Western Under-12 boys team with a victory over previously unbeaten Juventus of Worcester. The first half was a defensive battle with few chances for either squad. Neither team could get much going as the defense was tight and the connections were light. In the second half the game was much more wide open with chances for both teams. About half way through a quick combination inside the 18 by Aaron Mentos and Karl Gottschall sprung Karl loose across the 12 where he made an outstanding hook-around shot that beat his defender and surprised the opposing goalie. It then took all of 3 minutes for the Juventus side to respond as their vaunted #5 stole the ball from a Western defender and sent the other forward clear for an open shot on goal. With the score now at one apiece it was going to be a test of the #1 offense in the league (Juventus) versus the #1 defense (Western). Up and down the field the game ran with both teams creating chances for victory. Finally, with about 10 minutes left a Mike Fisher-to-Aaron Mentos-to-Jamey MErcer combination resulted in a cross that was deflected over the end line for a Western corner kick.Man-of-the-Match Jake Bartnik sent a perfect serve from the corner to the edge of the second 6 that the goalie had to play. Fortunately, his box deflected to a waiting Mike Fisher who one-timed a short hop to the back of the net. The final 10 minutes were defended well, especially by marking backs CJ Omasta and James Regnier. With 5 minutes left a mix up in the back resulted in a Juventus forward with the ball, no defender and just 10 yards separating him from a lone goalie. But GK Casey Marini made an unbelievable, one-handed save and pounced on the rebound. Few goalies at any age have the strength and reflexes to make that kind of stop on a 10-yard blast. Congratulations to the now-second-place U12 boys team!
Lost 3 - 1 versus Crusaders (Nov. 9)

Results of Farmington Invitational Tournament

Lost 3 - 1 versus Oakwood SC. Talented Oakwood controlled play for much of the game and their man-child up front scored the hat trick, sending the good guys down to a 3 - 1 loss. Man-of-the-match, John Daniels, looked good in goal and Aaron Mentos scored the lone Western goal.
Lost 4 - 0 versus Farmington SA. Failure to clear was the culprit in this match and led to easy goals by the opponent. The 4 - 0 score left the Western boys bewildered, since they played much better than the score indicated. Man-of-the-match was newcomer Cade Halkyard, who is starting to impress with his offensive gifts. Despite the lopsided scores, the team was glad to get the quality competition and is set to work on righting the ship before the MAPLE starts next Sunday.
Won 5 - 0 versus Avon Premier. The Western team connected all over the field on its way to the win. Scoring for the good guys was Jake Bartnik, James Regnier, Aaron Mentos and two by Cade Halkyard. Jamey Mercer and Eric Charles chipped in with two assists each as well. Man-of-the-match was Dillon Zaengle who has found a home at center back with his great touch and game sense. Casey Marini and John Daniels combined in goal for the shutout.

Results of Friendly with Montclair Soccer Club (NJ) on August 25th

In a rematch of last April's 1 - 1 tie at the Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia, the Western United squad finished well and benefitted from some awesome goaltending. Goals by Jake Denver, Jamey Mercer, Aaron Mentos, Carl Gottschall and Dan Brady brought the State Cup Semifinalist from New Jersey an unwelcome start to their Massachusetts tour. The friendly was played in Pittsfield, with the NJ team scheduled to test their mettle against 3 other MAPLE teams this week in their preseason training camp. Casey Marini and John Daniels played brilliantly in net in this well-played game. "Man of the Match" was Aaron Mentos, who assisted on Carl Gottschall's goal with a fantastic ball played from the hot spot. On Aaron's own finish he actually ripped a hole in the net as he first-timed a ball from the 8 that the netting couldn't stop. Stuff that legends are made of!

Team History As Under-11 Boys (2002-2003)

K.C. Andre Cup/Under-11 Championship

Lost 2 - 1 versus Juventus (semifinals) It took only three minutes into sudden-death overtime for the arch-rivals to put the game winner home. Western United led much of the game on a Scott Fornier-to-Carl Gottschall breakaway. But the determined Juventus team took it to the good guys most of the game before equalizing the score and then pulling ahead in overtime. Man-of-the-Match was Mike Fisher who had the awesome responsibility of keeping the ever-dangerous Juventus #7 off the board. Despite the loss, the U11 boys had a spectacular year. Winner their division in the fall season, winning the Columbus Day Tournament, winning the Under-12 championship indoors, winning their group and advancing to the semifinals at the prestigious Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia, finishing second in the powerful Blue Division of the spring MAPLE and winning their group of 4 in the K.C. Andre Cup and advancing to the semifinals. Just as important were the wonderful friendships formed, the life lessons learned and the fun times together. Their goal this year was to give themselves a chance...to be playing on the final day of the season. They achieved that goal with dedication and hard work. Next year the goal is a MAPLE championship. Who believes? (we believe); Who believes? (We believe); How are we going to do it? (Together). 1..2..3..Western! GREAT STUFF, FELLAS!
Won 5 - 3 versus Boston Lightning (quarterfinals) In one of the strangest games of the year the Western U11 boys sprinted out to a 3 - 1 lead in the quarterfinal match of the K.C. Andre Cup against the Boston Lightning, yet had to score 2 goals in the final 5 minutes to secure advancing to the semifinals. The scoring started after Carl Gottschall finished an Eli Wilson-Berkowitz crossbar rebound. Moments later the Boston team evened it up on a miscommunication in the Western backfield. Following that, the good guys came back with a wonderful spurt of their own on finishes by Eric Charles and Dan Brady. Feeling the game was in hand, the Western side was lax on their marking and intensity and the Lightning scored two counter goals and the teams headed into halftime locked at 3 - 3. The Lightning had a dangerous barrage early into period 2 but then the WU confidence kicked in. Straight-up, smart, man-to-man defense locked the Boston team in their end and the pressure gave many chances to the WU forwards. Finally, with 5 minutes left, another great effort by Man-of-the-Match Eric Charles resulted in a Jake Bartnik corner kick. With the swerve that the Western faithful have become accustomed to, Jake got it into the goal for the winner. Two minutes later, Eric Charles scored his second goal of the match to end the Lightning season. Now on to the semifinals against Juventus!
Tied 0 - 0 versus South Shore Select Despite outshooting the Selects 25-5, the Under-11 Western side had to settle for a tie. A hot keeper and mucky conditions played their part in the game. But in the end the guys were unable to put one in for the first time all year. Man-of-the-Match C.J. Omasta played well from his outside back position.
Won 2 - 0 versus South Shore United Blazers Co-Men-of-the-Match Eli Wilson-Berkowitz and Mike Fisher combined on a nifty wall pass to account for the second goal and the defense held up for its second shutout of the day. Western United's first goal was scored after Dan Brady picked up a rebound off a Mike Fisher rocket of a shot. Casey Marini played well in both cup matches, coming up big when needed.
Won 5 - 1 versus FC Freedom In a must-win situation, the U11 boys found themselves in an unusual pressure situation, needing a win to advance. On a mud-soacked field the Good Guys surrendered an early goal. The dream season looked like it was coming to an early end. But despite the 1 - 0 deficit the Western United side dug in and got the equalizer on a scramble off a Jake Bartnik corner kick just a few minutes later. Eric Charles pursued the play to the finish and poked it home. About 5 minutes later Eli Wilson-Berkowitz volleyed home an Aaron Mentos cross to take the 2 - 1 lead. The score stayed this way for the remainder of the first half and well into the second half, with both sides getting outstanding chances. Keeper Casey Marini and the WU defense held strong. finally with 9 minutes remaining, Eli scored his second goal on a great display of dribbling skills inside the 18. With the pressure now squarely on the Freedom, Western was able to tally two more in the last 5 minutes. Jamey Mercer scored on a 25-yard chip over the out-of-position keeper that almost plopped in the muck before squiggling over the line. The final goal was scored by Scott Fornier on a well-placed penalty shot. The PK was earned by Jamie Thomson on a great move to "gain the 18". "Man of the Match" was wing back George Gay. The reserve was pressed into an important role when one of the starting backs came down sick before the game. George did an outstanding job on marking one of the two excellent Freedom forwards. It's on to the single elimination quarterfinals of the Andre Cup against Boston Lightning. The Western United boys were first place in their group.

Friendly versus Hartford Premier (CT)

In a tale of two halves the Under-11 boys were outplayed in the first half by an outstanding Hartford Premier team. The Connecticut side had many dangerous opportunities and came away with a 3 - 0 halftime lead which could have been greater, if not for the play of Western keeper Casey Marini. In the second half the Western team was up for the challenge and combined some better defensive marking with an increase in toughness and work rate to carry play to Hartford. Finally, in the 65th minute (playing two 40-minute halves) "Man of the Match" Dan Brady was able to connect from his outside midfield position when he picked up a well-placed cross by Jake Fields. Dan Brady, Eli Wilson-Berkowitz, Aaron Mentos and Jake Denver played especially well in the second half, defending and attacking from the midfield. Final score 3 - 1.

Spring 2003 MAPLE Results

Won 5 - 1 versus Lusitano (April 13th). The Under-11 Boys came ready to play and soundly defeated local rivals Lusitano 5 - 1. The Western side came out flying with first-half goals by C.J. Omasta (from wing back!) and Eric Charles. The Lusitano attack was sporadic but two dangerous breakaways were extinguished by great weak-side help from James Regnier. Textbook third defender stuff! The Lusitanos scored with a few minutes left in the first half on a dipping far-post shot to keep the halftime score close. But in the second half it was all Western United with tallies from Eli Wilson-Berkowitz and "Man of the Match" Karl Gottschall (2 goals). Goalie Casey Marini only touched the ball with his hands once during the game, but his phenomenal decision-making and his ability to come out and play with his feet helped the defense easily clear the defensive third on any breakdowns. Playing in the tough "Blue Group" this spring, the Western side, under Coach Jim Mercer, has laid their claim to the top spot in the age group. Best of luck the rest of the way!

Won 5 - 1 versus R.I.S.C. (April 19th, makeup of week 2). In their longest road trip of the spring, the U11 boys shook off some early car-lag to easily defeat RISC 5 - 1. Leading the way was again trio of Eric Charles, Karl Gottschall and Eli Wilson-Berkowitz. The three accounted for 4 of the goals in both games played so far this season. The 5th goal in today's match came on a swerving corner kick from Jake Bartnik that the keeper couldn't handle. "Man of the Match" was midfielder Chris O'Connor. Chris played some outstanding and inspired defense, as well as running the field from his flank position. His all-out hustle was a great step forward for this otherwise quiet and skilled player and was rewarded by much recognition and loud cheering from the Western faithful.

Won 4 - 2 versus Dragons FC (April 27th). A total team effort was needed to overcome a much iimproved Dragons FC team. After sprinting out to a 2 - 0 lead in the opening minutes, the confident Western U-11 team made a couple of defensive errors to allow the visitors back in the game. At halftime, with a 2 - 2 tie, the Western side made some tactical changes intended to win more of the midfield battles. Finally, with 10 minutes remaining a Jake Bartnik shot was miraculously saved by the Dragons keeper, but Dan Brady chested, then volleyed, a ball back on net, which the keeper again deflected. "Man of the Match", Eric Charles, scrambled to the loose ball, headed it back across the goalmouth, where Karl Gottschall finished the play. The game-winner was in the net! The Dragons tried to get the equalizer, but the defense, with the help of defensive midfielder, Shane Waltsak, Mike Fisher and Chris O'Conner, thwarted any attempt before it got serious. James Regnier, with the help of all the 2nd defenders, did a fantastic job marking the visitor's superstar, who wore number 17.

Tied 2 - 2 versus Cape Cod Crusaders (May 4th). The U11's battled the Crusaders to a well-fought 2 - 2 tie on a beautiful day on a beautiful Berkshire Industries stadium pitch. Western opened the scoring on a splendid effort by Aaron Mentos. He won a Jake Bartnik clear on the 18 and dipped a 1/2-volley over the keeper's head. The big and fast Crusaders carried play for a good part of the half, however, and came right back to equalize the score. In the second half, Western started and pressured much of the early going and Eric Charles finished an Eli Wilson-Berkowitz cross. But again, the Crusaders took advantage of Western turnovers and blooped a 30-yarder over the keeper's head to tie it up. Both sides had many chances in the waning minutes and both goalies had to come up big to preserve the tie. "Man-of-the-Match" Casey Marini (keeper) stopped a breakaway and a bullet from 20 yards out to hold the point for Western.

Won 7 - 1 versus Galway Rovers (May 11th). "Man of the Match" Aaron Mentos scored in the first minute of the game to open the flood gates to a 7 - 1 victory. By the 4th minute Eric Charles and Karl Gottschall had also added goals and the U11s were on their way to a comfortable win at home in the Berkshire Industries stadium. All 18 players put on a show for their moms on Mother's Day with some great defending, outstanding combination play, deft shooting, and solid goalkeeping. Next week's match against Inter SC will determine the champion of the Blue Division of the U-11s.

Tied 2 - 2 versus Juventus (makeup: May 14th). "Man of the Match" Jake Bartnik had 2 assists to help the U11 boys gain the tie. The hard-working Worcester team opened the scoring in the first half on a great individual move. Aaron Mentos came right back in picking up Jake Bartnik's cross and dipping a beautiful shot over the keeper's head and under the crossbar. The second half scoring was also opened by the opponent when their hustle resulted in a misclear that was nicely finished by a left-footed swerve. But Jake Bartnik expertly sent a short through ball to leading scorer Karl Gottschall who slammed the layup home. The winner of Saturday's game with Inter SC will determine the division championship.

Lost 3 - 0 versus Inter SC (May 18th). Inter handed the U11's their only loss of the year in what was the championship game of the top Blue Division. Inter scored late in the first half on a Western mix-up to take a 1 - 0 lead. The visitors were all over the Red-and-Black early and Western was lucky to have been down by only a goal at the half. The second half was a different story, as the Western boys controlled play and had Inter locked in their end. With time winding down and Western taking chances pushing forward for the equalizer, the skilled Inter forwards were able to convert two additional counters. "Men of the Match" were reserves Jamey Mercer, Jamie Thompson, Chris O'Connor, Shane Waltzak, George Gay, Scott Fornier and Jake Fields. The "super seven" were cool, calm and collected in their important roles in the match. With the temperatures rising during the game, the field big and a back-and-forth game, these fellows played a lot of minutes and acquitted themselves very well.

Indoor Summary as Under-11 Boys

The Under-11 Boys had a wonderful indoor season this winter, resulting in a championship at the Coliseum in West Springfield. Besides training every Monday night since the beginning of December the team competed at Allsport Soccer Arena for session two and at both Allsport and the Coliseum for session 3. In the second session, the team split into two squads with members having cross-over games on each team. One squad played Under-12 on the small field and one played Under-13 on the big field. In both cases the team finished in first place (undefeated) during the regular season, only to lose close games inthe Finals to older, more physical teams. For the third session one team entered the Under-13 age bracket at Allsport and another played Under-12 at the Coliseum. Again, players from both teams had crossover matches. At Allsport the boys finished third to two Under-13 "A"-Division Pioneer Valley teams. Giving up a great size advantage, the games with these teams were close, hard-fought, and great learning tools. At the Coliseum the group had an easier go of it, setting up a rematch of last year's finals with the Agawam Flames. With all 18 players in attendance, the Western team had 8 goals scored by seven different players and dominated in an 8 - 3 victory. Congratulations to the Champs on an awesome indoor season.

3/18: Under-11 Boys Results (Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia)

The Under-11 Boys were invited to one of the most prestigious premier tournaments in the country: the Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia. On the weekend of March 14-16 the boys and their families flew, drove and travelled by train to this event. Grouped with Midtown United from Virginia and the Montclair Marauders from New Jersey, the Western boys had their work cut out for them. Only the top team would move on out of the group of 3 to the semifinals. The Midtown United side plays in the Capital League, one of the best premier leagues in the country. Our guys came out a bit tentative, trying to make the adjustment from indoors to the outdoor game. Midtown was led by a tremendous flat back four defense and carried play for most of the game. Western's chances were few but the midfield game and the defense held strong to earn a 0 - 0 tie. In the second game, the Western team stated connecting with more of an outdoor-type game, scoring a goal in the first half by center George Gay. The Western defense continued to hold strong in front of goalie Casey Marini. Unfortunately, with 50 seconds left in the game, an outside midfielder from the New Jersey U-11 state semifinalists lofted a shot just under the crossbar to capture a 1 - 1 tie with our disbelieving squad. That night the team sat by the phone waiting for the results of the game between the other two opponents in the group, knowing that Western needed them to tie 1 - 1 in order to force a 3-way tie for first. At 9:30 pm a whoop went up when the 1 - 1 tie was reported and the boys learned that the group champion would be determined by shootout the next morning at 7:30 am. Not too much sleep was accomplished that night as the boys anxiously awaited the next day's showdown. The shootout came and started in great fashion when goalie Casey Marini made a diving save on the opponent's first shot. Western shooters Aaron Mentos, Mike Fisher and, in a clutch tying shot, Jakub Bartnik, evened the score after the first five shooters. It came down to sudden death p.k.'s! The New Jersey shooter missed wide and Dan Brady, with great confidence, tucked the game winner away and was mobbed by his fellow players. In the semifinal match, which started moments after the shootout, a team from Ohio, the Eagles SC Blue, were back on their heels most of the first half to the Western attack. The Ohio team had easily won their group and were a bit surprised at the skill level of the Western side. But again, with only a few minutes left in the first half, an outside midfielder floated a shot over the goalie's head and gave them a 1 - 0 halftime lead. Also, in these waning minutes of the first half, Western lost their starting goalie and leading scorer. The second half was owned by the Ohio team. The state championship finalists from Ohio put incredible pressure on our defense and once they scored a second tally early in the second half, the emotional letdown among the Western boys was evident. Our boys could not get back in the match and suffered a 5 - 1 loss. But the experience of playing in a tournament like this will not soon be forgotten and the players really showed the Western game with their skill and determination. Well done, fellas!

Under-11 Boys Results (Columbus Day Tournament in Mansfield)

The Western United Under-11 Boys captured the Under-12 Boys Division of the Mansfield Cup over the Columbus Day weekend. Playing in their first tournament of the year, the boys brought home the first-place trophy. Opening round victories against three U-12 boys teams: the Sharon Blaze, Newton Wildcats and Foxboro Warriors. In the finals, the Western boys had a rematch with the Newtown Wildcats. In the hard-fought final, coached by guest coach Todd Waltzak (who also coaches with the Western United Under-10 girls developmental teams), the Western squad came away with a 1 - 0 win as goalie Casey Marini made a diving save against a breakaway as the clock expired. A recap of the action:

Game 1: Won 7 - 1 versus Sharon Blaze. Karl Gottschall scored a hat trick in the first half to earn "Man of the Match" and lead the Western squad to an easy victory.
Game 2: Won 4 - 1 versus Newton Wildcats. Western scored 4 goals in the first half to defeat the Newtown side. Three of the goals came off rebounds and missed plays in the rainy and muddy conditions. "Man of the Match" was Jamie Thomson, who scored his first Western United goal on a heads-up play inside the box.
Game 3: Won 3 - 1 versus Foxboro. The Western opponent in this match needed to win to advance to the finals and therefore showed up ready to play. Another early goal by Carl Gottschall put Western up 1 - 0, but Foxboro came right back and scored the equalizer. The game was up and down the field with both teams getting many chances. Dan Brady put Western back on top before half with a booming left-footed strike that left the keeper frozen. The Warriors were relentless in the second half trying to break one of their talented forwards free. But the defense of Western United bent, but did not break. Finally, Jamey Mercer hit the shot of his young career... a 20-yard dipping ball that hit the bottom of the crossbar and skipped in the net to put the game away with 3 minutes left. "Man of the Match" was back James Regnier, who had a terrific tournament working out of the back. ("We're going to the...ship"
Finals: Won 1 - 0 versus Newton. In a rematch from game 2, Newton was determined to avenge their only loss in the Cup and they nearly got away with it. Another goal by tournament MVP, Carl Gottschall, in the first 10 minutes of the match put WU up early. But the defense of Western was tested as the score remained the same for the rest of the match. In the waning seconds of the second half, a Newton forward broke in alone and "Man of the Match", keeper Casey Marini, just managed to make a diving, stretching, one-handed, tip on the ball, causing the opponent's shot to go inches wide. Guest coach Todd Waltsak was all smiles as he presented the trophies to the victorious U-11 team.

Under-11 Boys Results (Fall MAPLE Season 2002)

Won 2 - 1 versus Tri-Valley (Sept. 8) The U-11 Boys started the season off on the right foot with a 2 - 1 win at Tri-Valley United. The Western boys controlled play from start to finish, outshooting their opponent 16 - 4. Only a Tri-Valley goal with 3 minutes remaining spoiled an otherwise perfect day for the Western squad. Man of the Match for the team was Jake Denver who played impressively from the stopper and center-midfield positions.

Won 7 - 0 versus Northeast (Sept. 15) Six different players scored in the 7 - 0 victory over Northeast Futbol Club, making the team record 2 - 0 for the season. Casey Marini, Shane Waltsak, Jamey Mercer and Jake Denver combined defensively for the shutout. The "Man of the Match" was Eli Wilson-Berkowitz, who continuously set up his teammates for scoring chances and scored twice himself in the impressive victory.

Won 2 - 1 versus Nashoba United (Sept. 22) The Under-11 Boys remained in first place with a 2 - 1 win versus Nashoba United. In running their record to 3 - 0 the Western squad missed numerous chances, but shut out their opponent for 57 of the 60 minutes. Man of the match was sweeper Jakub Bartnik. With Jake the Snake in the game as the last man back, the team has yet to concede a goal.

Won 6 - 1 versus Northeast (Sept. 29) The boys started slow today but finished strong in gaining their 4th win of the season. In a match that will not count in the official standings, the Western squad could only muster a 1 - 0 halftime lead against an improved Northeast F.C. team. The goals came fast and furious after the break, however, as the Western side registered 3 goals in the first 7 minutes of the second half. Six different players scored in the lopsided win. "Man of the Match" was Jamey Mercer, who set up the first goal with a cross from the wing that was one-timed by Dan Brady off the post and finished by attacking midfielder Karl Gottschall. Jamey also scored his first MAPLE goal in the second half, which was set up beautifully by an Eric Charles cross.

Won 7 - 0 versus Juventus (Oct. 6; 1 pm) In the first game of the double-header, the Western side had an easy time of it with Juventus of Worcester. Seven different players scored in an unselfish effort. "Man of the Match" was Mike Fisher. The starting center midfielder has been coming into his own with some outstanding play of late. Against Juventus he scored on a 25-yard rocket that never rose higher than the keeper's knees. A collective "wow!" could be heard from both the field and the sidelines.

Won 4 - 0 versus Nashoba United (Oct. 6; 4 pm) In the second match of the day, Nashoba United returned for a rematch of their 2 - 1 defeat earlier in the season. While the Western squad came out sluggish in the first half (due, in part, to the wonderful barbeque supplied by the parents between games), they did go into halftime with a 2 - 0 lead. Both goals came on some great individual play between Eric Charles, Mike Fisher and Carl Gottschall. The second half was extremely well-played by the boys. Two more goals were in order and the 4 - 0 win made for a long ride home for the visitors. "Man of the Match" was Dan Brady. Having switched to a 4-4-2 lineup for the second half, the team was able to isolate Dan on the flanks and he had attack after attack from his wing midfield position. He scored the fourth and final goal of the day on a great overlapping run, a fake cross that had the defender flying past him and a right-footed bullett into the upper-90, far post. The most spectacular of the 12 goals scored on the day.

Won 8 - 0 versus Griffins S.C. (Oct. 20) The U-11 boys tuned up for their showdown next week against the Dragons FC with an 8 - 0 thrashing of Griffins FC. The Red and Black team was flying from the get go with 6 first-half goals. In the second half, while playing a possession-only game with 9 players on the Western side, the guys actually strung together a streak of 17 consecutive passes without a loss of possession. "Man of the Match" was Jake Fields who scored his first MAPLE goal and played well all over the field.

Won 6 - 3 versus Dragons F.C. (Oct. 27) The U-11 boys capped an undefeated season in fine fashion with a 6 - 3 win over previously unbeaten Dragons FC. The visitors opened with a 1 - 0 lead just 3 minutes into the game and the Western squad looked like they might be in trouble on their home turf. But being behind for the first time this season proved no hurdle for our brilliant 10- and 11-year olds. They marched down the field with some beautiful combination passing and evened up the score just 2 minutes later. Karl Gottschall, who scored in every game this season (Including tournaments), netted a hat trick, including an evil header off of a Jake Bartnik corner kick. The 4 - 1 halftime lead proved too difficult to overcome for the shell-shocked opponent, who had given up only one goal all season up to this point. The second half was played to a 2 - 2 tie, but Western United was the only team to walk away undefeated and boasting a division championship. "Man of the Match" was marking back James Regnier. The Dragons sported the best individual player that the U-11s have seen all fall: #17, their attacking midfielder. He scored the first goal for the Dragons and was clearly a player to be concerned about. After this first goal, James was switched from his normal outside back position and asked to mark the superstar. James did an outstanding job of denying him opportunities and playing away from him quickly. James even scored a 25-yard blast for the 4th goal of the match. Even though #17 had another goal and assist in the second half, nothing came easy for him with James playing him tough, but clean. Congratulations to the undefeated division champion Under-11 boys!

Spring 2002 MAPLE Season (Playing as Under-10s/Under-9s)

Lost 4 - 1 versus Crusaders (April 7th) Playing their first-ever match in the MAPLE, the younger Under-11 boys faced the division leader and played them very tight, trailing only 2 - 1 with nine minutes remaining. Pushing forward for the equalizer, the team surrendered two late goals for the final result. Congratulations to all the players and Coach Jim Mercer on their inaugural MAPLE match and their excellent showing!

Lost 6 - 0 versus Nashoba United (April 14th)

Lost 6 - 0 versus Atomics (April 21st)

WON 2 - 1 versus Juventus (April 28th)

Lost 7 - 1 versus Greater Boston (May 5th)

Lost 4 - 0 versus FC Puma (May 12th)

Won 3 - 2 versus Fuller Hamlets (May 19th)

Lost 8 - 0 versus Inter SC (May 19th)

Final Record for Spring MAPLE Season: 2 - 6 - 0 (7th place)