Soccer Boys Under-14 Team's Successful Spring Season

he Malden Youth Soccer’s Boys Under-14 team that was coached by Debo Onifade, Jose Palma, and Jack Faulstich (BU14-4) lost only one match this Spring. They scored thirty seven goals in nine games, and came in second in the Middlesex Youth Soccer League’s Division 5A to qualify for the MYSL Commissioner’s Cup tournament.

BU14-4 played in a 4-2-3-1 formation with three very fast offensive-minded and skillful midfielders (Blair Muluhtum, Aymane Kaddoum, and Yousef Lahkik) behind quick-footed striker Diego Maldonado. Their “goal poacher” was Adam Himer. Matheus Rosario’s adept passing and dribbling helped keep the team calm on the ball. Hardworking midfielder Moez Bensalem scored the all-important winning goal against Lowell that effectively confirmed their qualification for the Commissioner’s Cup. Such an attacking-minded team requires a high defensive line and reliable defenders, like Juan Barrios, Manan Bajaj, Samuel Fosdick, Derick Phan, and Cole Watson. The rock solid pair of Kevins (Palma and Ventura) kept the ball out of the middle. After playing in goal for the first few games, Joseph Faulstich became a very hardworking and effective defender; playing alongside Phan during most second halves, he helped close out their games. Kevin Ochoa played goalkeeper for rest of the season, helping the team keep the goals scored against them to eleven. Coach Onifade remarked, “our star player in most of our league matches was our left winger, Muluhtum.”

While during the regular season they took many risks and generally attacked with almost every member of the team, Onifade, Palma, and Faulstich led them into tournament play with a more conservative game plan. As a result, the team conceded no goals through three games, but also was unable to score after the first game when they beat Lowell 3-0 (they drew Tewksbury and Burlington, 0-0). Said Onifade, “ all our players were fantastic in this tournament and I am very proud of them. Our star player during the Commissioner’s Cup was our goalie, Kevin Ochoa,” who made many tough saves. The BU14-4 teammates ended their rewarding season as runners-up in BU14 Division V.

Registration for the Fall season is still open: http://maldenyouthsoccer.org, (339) 224-4115.