Dear Barbarians:
It has been just a week since our teams returned from the USFF Northeast Regional Tournament in Wildwood New Jersey and in case you were unaware 2 of our three teams that entered took silver and the third, a storied team of several veteran Barbarians lost in the semi-final to the team who were the eventual winners in the Open Men category.
All of the players performed well but just fell short in their final performances of the tournament. The U16B have several players who have participated in this regional tournament playing in venues from Massachusetts, New York, York PA, to Wildwood. They were very determined this year and played strong from start to finish. The undertaking for some could have been ominous since they began the year without a net minder and entered this tournament with their best striker at home injured and losing their leading goal scorer in the tournament injured in the semi-final and unable to go in the final.
The U16G had been building to a crescendo throughout the weekend allowing the second fewest goals in the age group while outscoring their opponents handily moving into the final without a loss or tie only to go down in the final in a shoot-out. It was a disappointing way to lose but you have to get there first in order to! We cannot overlook how we got to the shootout scoring the tying goal with under 40 seconds remaining in regulation and then going scoreless through 2 overtime periods. Some might say it was a test between two evenly matched teams but we will also look at it differently than that. By the way, our opponent had not given up a goal to anyone in the tournament until we scored in the first half and carried a one goal lead late into the match!
As soon as we know the dates for the National and the location we will let you know but currently we are certain we are traveling to the West Coast and will do as our Creed suggest, ‘face any foe at anytime, and will not fade nor fold’, having had the opportunity to perform in this tournament that we know leaves anyone who attends wanting more. It is simply the best that futsal has to offer and again our club has shone brightly! Thank each and every one of the players and families who have made it possible.
U16B; MICHAH GRIFFIN, RJ HEAPS, AUSTIN IDDON, JOSH KUCEMEROSKI, MATT PREZIOSO, TIM PUGH, MATT RYTEL, QUINN STEZOSKI, JAKE TAROSKY, AT, CHAD WRIGHT
U16G; JESSICA BOYTIM, HOPE CREAMER, TAYLOR CRUPIE, NIKKI GREZBYK, KATHLEEN KIMMICH, LEXIE KOLANO, MAGGIE MASTROGIACOMO, KRYSTYNA RYTEL, ABBEY TAROSKY, AMANDA THOMAS (AT)!
OM; BEN GALLINA, BRETT GWOSDEN, JEFFREY KELLY, BRENDAN KOPKO, CAMERON KRAUSE, SHANE RINGS, STEVE SIEBER, JEREMY THOMAS