7 Youth Soccer Teams Headed to Tournament

[Editor's note: The following was submitted by Malden Youth Soccer.]

Seven of 19 Malden Youth Soccer travel teams are going to the Middlesex Youth Soccer League's Commissioner's Cup tournament. All MYS teams had successful seasons: Some were very competitive on the road to the Cup; all developed teamwork, improved individual skills and had plenty of fun. However, two U-12 teams ("under 12") won enough games during the season to win their divisions, thus earning the right to compete for the Commissioner's Cup this weekend. One U12 team, two U14 teams and both of Malden's U16 teams ranked high enough in their divisions to move on to the tournament.

The Boys U12-2 team, coached by Mario Antonio Riquelme Iturriaga, Kim Brookes, and Esad Sinanovic, clinched the Division 4A title early and almost finished the season undefeated. The team's level of play dropped precipitously in the last two games of the season, and they ultimately finished 9-1-0 with a 3-1 loss to Lowell this weekend.

"The defeat has reinvigorated the boys' competitive spirit. We'll do well at the Cup," said Brookes.

On the way to winning their division, Coach Robert Navas' Boys U12-3 team won every game of the season except for a tie with Division 5A's second place Somerville team. In 10 games, the boys scored 44 goals against their opponents, only allowing an average of one goal per game.

With only 11 girls on the roster (U12 teams play eight-on-eight), Coach Jose Zayas's Girls U12-1 team battled towns with many more subs and still came up with a 7-1-2 season. Division 2B is a very competitive division: the Malden girls did very well to win the championship.

Both of Malden's BU14 teams made it through to the Commissioner's Cup. Coaches Rick Caceda and Hugo Ruperti's boys U14-1 team fought through ten matches in the six-team Division 2A. With a record of 4-3-3, BU14-1 came in second place to a powerful Everett team. In the last game of the season, Malden gave Everett their only loss. BU14-1's second place in Division 2A earned them a spot in the tournament for the Cup. Fourth place, with a record of 7-1-2, was good enough to put the other boys U14 team (in Division 3), coached by Roberto Quesada-Diaz and Jean Crevecoeur, into the tournament.

The Girls U16 team, comprised of girls from Malden and Everett and coached by Mark Griffin and Rick Caceda, is in fourth place in Division 2. For U16 teams, the Commissioner's Cup tournament is part of play-offs for a spot in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions. The girls beat number one seeded Westford this weekend and now move into the finals for Division 2.

The Boys U16 team is seeded second in the Division 2 play-offs, with a record thus far of 5-0-2, just behind Billerica. Coached by Foster Morales and Lenny David, BU16 is comprised of both Malden and Melrose players. The team is the only one to have handed Billerica a loss and so stands a good chance of making it through the Middlesex Commissioner's Cup and on to the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions.

Good luck to all seven of these Malden teams as they pursue the Commissioner's Cup!