Philadelphia's Ukrainian Nationals continue history of victories
by Eugene A. Luciw
HORSHAM, Pa. - First fielded in 1950, Tryzub's amateur soccer team rapidly became the premier professional soccer franchise in the United States.
In 1959 the club acquired the American Soccer League's Philadelphia Nationals, aptly renamed it the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals and proceeded to win the U.S. Open Cup Championship the very following year. No one will ever forget the fever-pitched deafening thunder of the Ukrainian American community's cheers as "nasha druzhyna" (our team) reached the heights of success.
Some highlights of Tryzub's history include:
Tryzub was the first soccer team in the United States to have home games televised and played in the first indoor regulation soccer game in Convention Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Soccer teams from around the world visited Philadelphia to play "our team": Manchester United, England; Dundee, Scotland; Stuttgart, West Germany. In 1967 the Ukrainian Nationals represented the United States in international competition before 102,000 fans in El Salvador.
After a number of additional professional years in the German American League of New York, Tryzub focused its efforts on amateur soccer and the development of a youth program. In 1983 the club purchased 38 acres of farmland in Horsham, Pa., and transformed them into a premier amateur soccer venue with Class A fields, lighting, a clubhouse and picnic grove.
Twenty youth teams, boys' and girls', in age brackets between "under 10" and "under 17" years of age, play under the Ukrainian Nationals' flag. Over half of these teams are in the top three in their respective divisions. An exceptionally dedicated crew of coaches and parents under the leadership of Taras Kozak (president), Danylo Nysch, John Nimczuk, Sefan Kunderewych, Orest Lessiuk, Alex Hrauer, Walter Maruschak, Fernando Rubio and Pam Zingle have made Tryzub a most desirable place for children to play soccer and to sharpen their skills.
The first Ukrainian Nationals Invitational Tournament, held over Memorial Day weekend 2002, was a resounding success, attracting over 52 teams to Tryzub's fields. A Memorial Day Weekend tournament is planned for this year as well.
In 1988, 1996 and 2000, Tryzub held three memorable Ukrainian Olympiads and youth jamborees, at which thousands of fans gathered to see the best in Ukrainian sports and cultural programming. The year 2002 also held witness to the 26th annual golf tournament and yet another series of tennis tournaments, soccer camps (Philadelphia Kixx and Charge camps) and tennis camps. Tryzub's swim team competed in the USCAK national championships.
But, the pride of Tryzub still is its Majors Division soccer team, the Ukrainian Nationals, currently coached and managed by Petro Boretsky and Mykola Jurchak. The team annually captures its league championship and perennially wins the Eastern Pennsylvania Championship. In the year 2000 the team won the Region I Championship and progressed to the final four of the U.S. Amateur Cup.
Indoor Soccer League Championship
During the winter 2003 season, the top men's amateur soccer teams of the Delaware Valley competed in an expanded indoor tournament. The Ukrainian Nationals handily captured first place in its division with 19 total points (6 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss) and a goals-scored advantage of 40 vs. 24. Tryzub's play was characterized not only by the typically stingy defense of fullback Ihor Shachtyn and goaltender Jasyn Rostowskyj, but also by a methodical unrelenting offensive attack, spearheaded by Boretsky.
In the tournament championship game, the Ukrainian Nationals met their archrivals, the United German-Hungarians. In an incredibly close and intensely interesting game, the Ukrainians captured a 3-2 victory. Boretsky scored the winning goal with a masterful deflection of a corner-kick from the right wing.
After the game. the league awarded the team its well-deserved trophy and announced Shachtyn as its most valuable player - a tremendous accomplishment for a defenseman. Rostowskyj won the trophy for the best goaltender in league play. Thus, Tryzub captured a triple crown.
Eastern PA Open Cup Championship
On March 23 at Tryzubivka, the Ukrainian Nationals squared off against perennial rival, Vereinigte Erzgebirge (V/E). The bright sunlight gleamed from the beautiful gold cup that would go to the winner - the highly coveted Eastern Pennsylvania U.S. Amateur Soccer Association Open Cup was at stake.
The game was incredibly close, with each team missing several chances through a 0-0 halftime score and until the 38-minute mark of the second half. Tryzub was called for a foul in the box and V/E's striker did not miss the penalty kick. However, the 1-0 score awakened a sleeping giant. Two quick strikes by Tryzub's wingers, Walter Kitzul and its newly acquired mid-fielder, Virgis Anusauskus, put the team in the lead with only three minutes left to play.
Celebration, however, was premature; the game was not destined to finish with so little drama. V/E pushed a loose ball into the net, but within seconds a lightning bolt off the foot of Tryzub's defensive sweeper, Ihor Shatyn, found the lower left-hand corner of the net on a free kick from beyond the 18 and around V/E's wall. The clock ticked to zero. Tryzub won 3-2, and the cup was placed into the celebrating Ukrainian Nationals' hands.
In a brief post-game interview, Ukrainian Nationals' Player-Coach Boretsky said: "The difference this year is that we are committed to a winning program; we not only want to win but know that we can do it."
Manager Jurchak added: "This has been one of the most exciting teams that it has been my pleasure to manage; we will be there for the Regional and National Cups. Just look at this game and it tells our story."
Tryzub is heavily favored to appear at the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association's Region I Amateur and Open Cup Championships to be held at Tryzubivka for the third year in a row on Father's Day, June 15.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 13, 2003, No. 15, Vol. LXXI
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