Truzyb's men soccer team headed for regional semifinals

HORSHAM, Pa. - On Sunday, May 22, before a respectable home crowd at Tryzubivka, the Ukrainian Sport Center Tryzub's Ukrainian Nationals over-30 men's soccer team decisively defeated Badgernecks Red Star, the Maryland State champion, by a score of 5-2.

The victory vaulted the powerhouse team to the semifinals of the U.S. Region I (East Coast) championship. Winning the Region I title would qualify the Nats for a four-team playoff for the coveted U.S. over-30 national championship.

At approximately the five-minute mark, the guests from Maryland stole an errant pass and converted a two-on-one breakaway into the game's first goal.

Stirred to action, the Ukrainian Nationals went on the offensive and never looked back. Wolodymyr Kitsul drilled two successive crossing passes from Dino Thomazos into the back of the net with his left foot and then his head. Several minutes later Thomazos dribbled to the center of the field and blasted another one home from about 15 yards.

Some poor defensive play in the Nats' goal mouth resulted in an unexpected second Badgernecks goal and the teams went into half-time with a 3 to 2 score.

The Badgernecks started the second half with a thundering offensive onslaught, but the Ukrainian Nationals weathered the storm with a counter-attacking style that resulted in two more goals for the home team through great individual breakaway. The Ukrainian Nationals won by a score of 5-2.

The Ukrainian Nationals will next play in the Region I semifinal in Virginia, on Sunday, June 5, against Bier, the D.C.- Virginia State champion that beat Kearney, the New Jersey state champion, 1-0.

The Region I finals will be held on Sunday, June 26, at the United German-Hungarian Club located in Oakford, Pa.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 5, 2005, No. 23, Vol. LXXIII

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