Ukrainian Nationals win two Pennsylvania soccer championships (05/07/06)

Ukrainian Nationals win two Pennsylvania soccer championships

by Taras Kozak

HORSHAM, Pa. - The Ukrainian Nationals soccer team captured the Men's Amateur Eastern Pennsylvania Championship on Sunday, April 30, in a thriller over Phoenix SC that was won 7-6 on penalty kicks, after a torrid overtime period tied 4-4.

A week earlier the Ukrainian Nationals had won the final of the U.S. Open Cup Eastern Pennsylvania Championship.

Thus, Tryzub continues its undefeated season.

On April 30, both Phoenix and "the Nats" (as the Tryzub team is known) were perfect from the penalty spot after the first six shooters. Ukrainian Nationals' goalkeeper Jason Rostovkis made a great diving save to stop Pheonix's seventh shot. Defender Mike Clay, not normally known for his shooting prowess, hammered his penalty kick into the back of the net to break the deadlock and give Tryzub a well-deserved win.

Petro Boretskii scored two goals in the first half from direct kicks, and Juri Suskin added another to give the Ukrainian Nationals a 3-1 lead at halftime. Phoenix SC clawed back with two goals in the second half, the last with 10 minutes of play, to tie the game.

In overtime, Tryzub briefly went ahead as Leon Cleary headed in a goal on a cross from Mark Franek. Since the golden-goal rule is no longer in affect, the teams continued playing the 30-minute overtime period. Phoenix tied the match with 5 minutes left to set the stage for the Nats' exciting win on penalty kicks.

On April 23, the Ukrainian Nationals, powered by three goals from Cleary, beat the United German-Hungarians (UGH) 3-1 in the U.S. Open Cup Eastern Pennsylvania Championship. Cleary scored his first goal midway through the first half, overpowering a defender just outside the penalty area before going in alone on the goalkeeper and scoring.

Ten minutes later, player/coach Boretskii almost scored on a free kick from 25 yards out. The blast was barely deflected wide by the goalie. Tryzub had control throughout most of the first half but was unable to convert any chances to increase its lead. The half ended 1-0.

UGH scored immediately at the beginning of the second half to tie the score, before Cleary scored again in the 55th minute to regain the lead for Tryzub. UGH pressed for an equalizer the rest of the game, but Tryzub's defense, led by goalkeeper Rostovsky and Boretskii, held firm. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Cleary again beat UGH's goalie one-on-one to secure the win.

Next up for Tryzub is a visit to play the Maryland state champion, the Baltimore Colts, for the U.S. Amateur Cup on May 7. The following week, on May 14, they travel to Washington to meet the D.C./Virginia champions, the Aegean Hawks, in the U.S. Open Cup. If the Ukrainian Nationals defeat one or both of these opponents, they will return for a home stand in their pursuit of the Region 1 and U.S. championships.

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