Tryzub's Ukrainian Nationals win Eastern Pennsylvania Championship

by Eugene A. Luciw

HORSHAM, Pa. - On Saturday, May 14, Ukrainian American Sports Center Tryzub's Ukrainian Nationals won the U.S. Over-30 Cup Eastern Pennsylvania Championship with a thrilling 1-0 win over Lighthouse.

Neil Smart scored from 20 yards out with less than 5 minutes left in regulation time to seal the win for the Nats. Goalkeeper Jasyn Rostowsky was the other hero of the match, making numerous great acrobatic saves to keep last year's over-30 champion, Philadelphia-based Lighthouse, off the scoreboard.

The victory gave Tryzub its second Eastern Pennsylvania Championship; the Majors Division team had won the U.S. Open Cup Eastern Pennsylvania championship several weeks earlier. The over-30s play the Virginia/Maryland Champion on Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m., at home. A victory would launch them to the semi-finals of the Region I championship and direct contention for the U.S. national championship.

The victory over Lighthouse and the play of several veterans of prior national finals make Tryzub a serious contender for the national championship.

Other Ukrainian soccer news

So far, Tryzub's youth soccer program has been very successful, capturing various tournaments in the Philadelphia area and along the East Coast.

Tryzub has four teams at the top of their respective spring league divisions: under-9 boys - Ukrainian Dynamos; under-12 boys - Ukrainian Bulldogs; under-16 boys - Ukrainian Havoc; under-16 boys - Ukrainian Rebels.

The Ukrainian Nationals are also set to host the extremely popular Ukrainian Nationals Invitational Soccer Tournament at Tryzubivka over the course of Memorial Day weekend. On June 18-19, Tryzubivka will be the venue for the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S. and Canada Eastern conference (USCAK-East) championship tournament. Celebrations are scheduled in the guise of a Saturday club night mixer with the players (live dance music) and a festival of Ukrainian folk entertainment beginning at 2 p.m., following the championship game, which is scheduled for noon.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 22, 2005, No. 21, Vol. LXXIII

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