2023 Boys Soccer Showcase Recap

Bay State Games • Jul 25, 2023

The Boys Soccer Showcase took place July 6 - 9 at Game On in Fitchburg

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Thursday, July 6

Game 1: Central v Northeast

Central 2-1

The opening game of the Bay State Games Boys Soccer Showcase saw Central and Northeast face off in what would turn out to be a closely contested game. The first half saw both teams net a goal a piece. Northeast scored on a beautiful header by forward Dillon Reilly (Lynnfield, Lynnfield HS) assisted by Jared Halpern (Marblehead, Marblehead HS). Central evened the scoring with a tremendous rebound off a free kick from Prince Sonpon Jr (Worcester, South High Community School). Entering the second half tied 1-1, Central would open the scoring with a goal by Kingston McGee (Sutton, Sutton HS) assisted by William Baltas (Worcester, St. John’s HS). Central would not let go of the lead and the first match of the showcase ended 2-1 Central over Northeast.

Game 2: Coastal v Southeast

Coastal 3-0

Coastal came ready to play for their first game, with a commanding 3-0 win over Southeast. Keith Gillette (Tiverton, Tiverton HS) netted a powerful strike assisted by Benjamin Novo (Westport, Westport HS) to seal the deal for Coastal in the second half.

Game 3: West v Metro

West 5-2

In a display of dominance, West overpowered Metro 5-2. West got on board first with a sensational strike from forward Brayden Marta (Ludlow, Suffield Academy). Followed by a hat trick of goals from Mateo Balbino (Ludlow, Ludlow HS). Down 4-0, Metro was able to get on the board with a tremendous effort from Oscar Martinez (Boston, East Boston HS) who scored both Metro goals to bring them within two. West then scored to make it 5-2 to capitalize on a dominant win in their first match.

Game 4: Northeast v Southeast

Northeast 5-1

Northeast bounced back from an earlier loss with force defeating Southeast comfortably 5-1. Dillon Reilly (Lynnfield, Lynnfield HS) continued his scoring ways netting two of the five Northeast goals.

Game 5: West v Coastal

West 3-0

West continued their dominance with a solid 3-0 win over Coastal. Brayden Marta (Ludlow, Suffield Academy) etched another goal to his name with a beautiful strike. Followed by a goal from midfielder Benjamin Goodman (Longmeadow, Longmeadow HS). West then closed the game out with another goal.

Friday, July 7
Game 6: West v Central

West 4-0

West controlled again with a 4-0 defeat over Central. Forward Cole Bamford (Ludlow, Ludlow HS) netted the first two West goals. Shortly followed by a goal from Joe Presnal (East Longmeadow, East Longmeadow HS). West then ended the game with a late goal to seal a controlled win over Central.

Game 7: Northeast v Coastal

Northeast 3-0

Northeast resumed their winning ways with a 3-0 win over Coastal. Netting a goal early, followed up with two more goals from midfielder Kaya Jackson (Salem, St. Mary’s HS).

Game 8: Metro v Central

2-2

In a closely contested game, Central got on the board first with a goal from Davin Grace (Worcester, Doherty Memorial HS). Metro bounced back with a solid strike from Oscar Martinez (Boston, East Boston HS) his third goal of the showcase. Omar Abulail (Auburn, Auburn HS) then socred to give Central a 2-1 lead. Metro was able to score a late goal to tie the game before the last whistle.

Game 9: West v Southeast

West 6-1

West continued their winning streak with a comfortable 6-1 win over Southeast. Cole Bamford (Ludlow, Ludlow HS) netted another goal to add to his tally, while Christiano Marta (Ludlow, Suffield Academy) scored his first goal of the showcase.

Game 10: Metro v Northeast

Metro 5-0

Metro put on a show to capture their first win of the showcase. Running away early with two goals, one from David Paiva (Malden, Malden HS). Followed by two more, one from midfielder Dieff Bonhomme (Everett, Everett HS) netted his first goal of the showcase to give Metro a 4-0 lead. David Marquez (Boston, Brighton HS) rounded out the scoring giving Metro a 5-0 lead and a win.

Saturday, July 8

Game 11: Metro v Coastal

Metro 2-1

Metro opened Saturday with another win. Stevin Mejia (Revere, Revere HS) opened the scoring with his first goal of the showcase. Followed up by Brayan Medina (Revere, Revere HS) to give Metro a 2-0 lead. Coastal did get on the board with a goal late in the game but fell short.

Game 12: Central v Southeast

Central 7-2

Central dominated in their first game on Saturday, with a 7-2 win over Southeast.

Game 13: West v Northeast

West 1-0

West Finished their win streak with a 1-0 win over Northeast, ending pool play with a 5-0 record and the favorite for the Gold Medal.

Game 14: Central v Coastal

Central 2-0

Central racked up another win on Saturday with a sold 2-0 win over Coastal. Jovuan Mensah (Worcester, Burncoat HS) opened the scoring with a beautiful strike. Central rounded out the scoring with a blast from William Baltas (Worcester, St. John’s HS).

Game 15: Metro v Southeast

Metro 7-2

Metro lit up the scoreboard with a commanding 7-2 win over Southeast. Five different players scored for Metro: Bryan Toro (Revere, Revere HS) and David Paiva (Malden, Malden HS) both netted two goals. David Marquez (Boston, Brighton HS), Oscar Martinez (Boston, East Boston HS), and Stevin Mejia (Malden, Malden HS) each had a goal apiece, adding to their own individual goal tallies respectively. Southeast was able to net two goals, one from Logan Macomber (Swansea Joseph Case HS) and one from Christian Geerdes (Fair Haven, Fair Haven HS).

Sunday, July 9
Game 16: Northeast v Metro (Bronze Medal Match)

Northeast 1-0

The Bronze medal match was slated to be a fantastic match, however, it was forfeited by Metro due to travel issues. Northeast ended the showcase with a 2-3 overall record, while Metro ended with a 3-1-1 record.

Game 17: West v Central (Gold Medal Match)

West 3-2

The Gold medal match saw powerhouse West face off against Central in what would be an exhilarating and heated match. West opened the scoring within the first minute of the match with a blast from Cole Bamford (Ludlow, Ludlow HS). West then went up 2-0 with help from a penalty kick, expertly taken by Mateo Balbino (Ludlow, Ludlow HS). Swiftly followed by another goal to give them a commanding 3-0 lead. Central was able to crawl back within one with a strike from Jovuan Mensah (Worcester, Burncoat HS) and Kingston Mcgee (Sutton, Sutton HS). West ended the showcase with a dominant 5-0 record. Central ended with a 3-1-1 record.

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Bay State Games Partners with Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association

By Bay State Games • 02 Apr, 2024

WOBURN – Bay State Games is excited to announce a new partnership with Mass Youth Soccer. Bay State Games Boys and Girls Soccer has a long history of showcasing some of the best high school players in Massachusetts in an event well attended by college coaches from dozens of New England area schools. Many high school coaches across the state have supported Bay State Games by volunteering to serve as team coaches or providing their players with information on the competition. The partnership will help ensure that all high school players and coaches across Massachusetts are aware of the valuable opportunities available through the Bay State Games soccer competition and the outstanding programs provided by Mass Youth Soccer including District. This also allows Bay State Games and Mass Youth Soccer to coordinate their event schedules to avoid conflicts and allow players to be part of both the events. "We are pleased to collaborate with the Mass Youth Soccer Association and coordinate our tournament schedules," said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. "We hope that this collaboration will allow Massachusetts soccer athletes to participate in and reap the benefits of competing in both the Bay State Games Soccer Showcase and Mass Youth Soccer’s Districts Program." “Mass Youth Soccer is excited to collaborate with the Bay State Games and provide opportunities for athletes across the state to participate in exciting soccer programs and events through calendar alignment and shared communication,” said Rob Holliday, Executive Director, Mass Youth Soccer. “We hope to expand the partnership with Bay State Games in future years!” Registration for the 2024 Bay State Games Boys and Girls Soccer Showcase competition is now open. The showcase tournament will take place July 11-13 at Game On in Fitchburg. Athletes can register to try out for one of six regional teams based on where they live and/or go to high school. For additional details on the competition and a link to registration, go to www.baystategames.org/girls-soccer or www.baystategames.org/boys-soccer . For additional information on the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, go to https://mayouthsoccer.org/ .

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By Bay State Games • 01 Apr, 2024

Woburn, Mass. – Bay State Games has been selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program for the month of April. The Stop & Shop Community Bag Program, which launched in May 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. Bay State Games was selected as the February beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the Stop & Shop located at 2 Elm Street in Woburn . Bay State Games will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at this location during February, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag. “Bay State Games is honored to be selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community bag program,” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “Funds raised through this program will help support the recreation, education and personal development programs annually produced by the Bay State Games that impact thousands of participants of all ages and abilities.” Bay State Games is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned State Games of the Commonwealth. Bay State Games operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts and surrounding New England states citizens of all ages and abilities through athletic competitions and scholarship programs. Learn more about Bay State Games by visiting www.baystategames.org For more information on the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program, visit stopandshop.2givelocal.com .

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By Bay State Games • 15 Mar, 2024

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By Bay State Games • 05 Mar, 2024

WOBURN, MA – Registration for the 42nd annual Bay State Summer Games is now open. The 2024 Summer Games will include thirty sports with competitions from May 11 – July 27 at venues throughout eastern and central Massachusetts including Game On in Fitchburg, Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, and North Star Ice Sports in Westborough. Bay State Games participants range in age from 5 to over age 75 and represent more than 300 Massachusetts communities as well as surrounding New England States in some sports. From grassroots participants to accomplished amateur athletes, the Bay State Games provide opportunities for the athlete in all of us. Seven high school showcase sports will take place for a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Athletes currently in grade 8-11 who live or go to school in Massachusetts are eligible to attend regional tryouts during the month of June. These tryouts will determine teams representing the various regions of the Commonwealth that will compete against each other in July. Check each sport page for specific eligibility requirements. The Summer Games include a wide variety of individual sports including swimming, track & field, figure skating, pickleball, wrestling, weightlifting, badminton, and more. These sports are open to a wide range of ages and skill levels from youth participants to masters-aged athletes. Adaptive sport divisions in archery, swimming, and track & field are offered, as well. Bay State Games also organizes tournaments for pre-existing teams in rugby, and 6v6 field hockey. Returning in 2024, Table Tennis will take place on June 1 at PingPod in Boston after a 5-year hiatus from the Summer Games sport lineup. New venues include Babson College , which will host the Girls Basketball Showcase, and NorthStar Ice Sports , which will host Figure Skating and the Girls Ice Hockey Showcase. Game On in Fitchburg will serve as a hub venue for eight sports. Bay State Games expects 1,500 athletes and their families to attend competitions at Game On during the second week of July. Bay State Games is pleased to announce a new partnership with Marathon Sports to provide athletes, officials, and volunteers with a special, traditional Bay State Games gift. Details will be released later in March. “We are excited to present the 2024 version of the Bay State Summer Games where Massachusetts amateur athletes of all ages and abilities can have their ‘Time to Shine,’” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “This year will feature the addition of table tennis and ultimate as well as several new host venues including Babson College in Wellesley, Howard Park and Maplewood Park in Malden and NorthStar Ice Sports in Westborough. We look forward to welcoming athletes from across the Commonwealth as we celebrate the 42nd year of the Bay State Summer Games.” An additional feature in 2024 is that in over a dozen sports, athletes who win a gold, silver, or bronze medal at the 2024 Bay State Games will qualify to participate in the 2024 State Games of America in San Diego, California . The State Games of America features more than 8,000 athletes from over 25 different state games programs nationwide. To see the list of qualifying sports, please visit www.stategamesofamerica.com. In addition to sports programming, Bay State Games offer college scholarships, a sportsmanship initiative, college internship opportunities, and a High School Ambassador program. For more information on all sports in the 2024 Summer Games, links to online registration, and information on other programs, go to www.baystategames.org. For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

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By Bay State Games • 20 Nov, 2023

WOBURN (November 20, 2023) – The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2023 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants. These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of these high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship. “Since its inception in 1989, the Future Leaders Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding high school students that excel in the classroom, in the community and on the field of play,” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “We are proud that this program has provided nearly $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of these well deserving student-athletes that represent all regions of Massachusetts and over 25 different sports.” This year’s six scholarship recipients are:

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By Bay State Games • 12 Sep, 2023

WOBURN, MA – Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games is one of the many nonprofit organizations who were accepted into the 2024 Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program. As an Official Charity, Bay State Games is offering runners the opportunity to participate as an official entrant in the 2024 Boston Marathon®. The 128th running of the 128th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America will take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Bay State Games Charity Team gives runners the opportunity to compete in one of the world's most famous marathons and achieve their athletic goals while raising funds that go directly toward Bay State Games programming. These funds are essential to allow the Bay State Games to continue its mission of producing quality recreational, health, and educational programming for Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. “For over 40 years, Bay State Games has impacted hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts athletes of all ages and abilities through its recreation, education, and personal development programs,” said Bay State Games Executive Director, Kevin Cummings. “Being selected to become a member of the Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program will not only raise important funds that will support Bay State Games initiatives but will also provide our athletic minded constituents with an opportunity to participate in the most prestigious marathon in the world.” Team members will receive several amenities including a team singlet and Bay State Games clothing, as well as training and fundraising support. Applicants must be a minimum of age 18 and capable of running a marathon in less than six hours. Runners interested in running the marathon and raising money to support important programming, which benefits thousands of participants annually, can apply on the Bay State Games website . Bay State Games will review applications and select team members on a rolling basis. For more information on fundraising and how to join our team, go to www.baystategames.org/marathon-charity-program . For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.