B15 FC Greater Boston Bolts and G19 Stars of Massachusetts win National Championship
On July 31st at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, the FC Greater Boston Bolts U15 Boys and the U19 girls Stars of Massachusetts were crowned US Youth Soccer National Champions. This marks the first time in Massachusetts' history two Mass Youth Soccer teams have won National Championship titles in the same year. The last National Championship title occurred in 1994 when the G19 Greater Boston girls, coached by current Mass Youth Soccer Executive Director John Burrill, accomplished the feat.
Both teams took similar routes in winning the championship final. The heat and humidity all week had the players near exhaustion by the end of every game. The B15 Bolts final started at 11:30am and the G19 Stars started their at 12:15pm - just about the hottest time of the day.
The Bolts jumped out to a 3-1 lead over a North Carolina team, CASL Elite, that came back to tie the game at 3-3 at the end of regulation. The Bolts scored two goals in the second OT period and North Carolina came back to score one goal. The Bolts prevailed in overtime, winning 5-4 in a physical and hard fought game between two highly skilled teams. The Bolts' Michael Bustamante won the Golden Boot award as the game's MVP. The Bolts are coached by Francis Okaroh.
The Stars fell behind 1-0 to a very talented Dallas Texas team but tied it before halftime. Texas scored early in the second half but the Stars tied the game 2-2 with 30 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, the Stars scored in the first OT period but the Texas team scored early in the second OT period. The Stars had to play the last 22 minutes of overtime a player down due to a player receiving her second caution. The game ended tied at 3-3. In Kicks from the Penalty Mark, the Stars prevailed 4-3. The Stars' Brett Maron won the game's most valuable goalkeeper award. The Stars are coached by Jason Dewhurst.
Region 1 had seven teams playing in the finals but the two Massachusetts teams were the only two Region 1 teams that won a National Championship.
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FC Greater Boston Bolts Boys U15 Roster
Nicholas Addeo Sudbury
Mike Burke Carlisle
Michael Bustamante Chelsea
Matthew Darling Charlton
Chris Gilbert North Andover
Arthur Harris Framingham
Jay Hayward Acton
Nick Howard Chestnut Hill
Zack Kumin Needham
Dan Lee Natick
Aaron Maund Dorchester
Ryan Miller Concord
Michael Perkins Charlton
Gabriel Reich Brookline
Theo Terris Concord
Amrhein-Trnka Brookline
Ian Wheeler Walpole
Shaenon Williams Dorchester
Coach-Francis Okaroh
Stars of Massachusetts Girls U19 Roster
Katherine Arias Alexandria, VA
Kimberly Bonilla Dumfries, VA
Janna Brietenwisher Stow
Amanda Brodeur Auburn
Lynn Randi Bruso E. Douglas
Katie Campbell Pepperell
Alexandra Caram Lexington
Talia DiPanfilo Pembroke
J'aime Gilbert N. Andover
Nicole Lonero Andover
Brett Maron Billerica
Dianna Mastromauro Melrose
Tricia Spada Dedham
Lauren Vecchione Sudbury
Nadia Villarroel Belmont
Susan Weber Islip, NY
Coach-Jason Dewhurst