Sitch men capture soccer title (08/12/01)

Sitch men capture soccer title

by Dr. Orest Popovych

NEWARK, N.J. - In the recently completed 2000-2001 season, the men's soccer team of the Ukrainian American Sports and Educational Association Chornomorska Sitch of Newark, N.J., won the championship of the semipro Elite Division of the Garden State Soccer League.

Competing in a double round-robin tournament against eight other teams, the Sitch booters, playing under the name of Union Ukrainians SC, posted 10 victories, four ties and two losses, for a final total of 34 points. Shore Hurricane finished in second place with 30 points.

Although Sitch has participated in the Elite Division since 1983, finishing typically in second through fourth place, this was the first time it won the championship. Key factors in the team's success were the excellent job done by coach Dusan Sokolak and manager Jerry Twardowsky, as well as the influx of recently arrived players from Ukraine.

The roster of the victorious team comprises: Alexander Babushkin, Gabriel Beno, Miroslav Buchko, Ihor Cheshko, Rastislav Dlabal, Ihor Drobnak, Eugene Gulievicz, Michal Hojcska, Marco Hordinsky, Slavomir Klimczak, Norbert Kocan, Michael Mesheriakov, K. Mikolasensky, Yevgeniy Miladinov, Jan Miller, Danny Protas, Rafal Punda, Jozef Repasky, Artur Sedykov, Greg Serheev, Andrey Shmulyarenko, Vladimir Silin, Michal Sokirka, Roman Stefourak, Stefan Vavrek, Ilya Yermolenko and Vladislav Yerovinkin.

The champions were introduced and honored by the Sitch management at a special reception at the club's home on July 8. At the same event, the honorary president of Chornomorska Sitch, Myron Stebelsky, was awarded a plaque for his 30-plus years of devoted service as president of Sitch and co-director of the Sitch Sports School. Mr. Stebelsky had resigned late last year as president of Sitch due to health reasons.

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