Skylah Dias - District 2 Massachusetts State Champs

The Division 2 12-and-under boys soccer state champions are Skylah Dias, Swansea; Noah Bell, Weymouth; Andrew Stevens, Marshfield; Kevin O’Shea, Quincy; John Aguiar, Somerset; Liam Lenihan, Rockland; Tyler Melo, Stoughton; Dario Mendez, Halifax; Evan Sheehan, Weymouth; Andy Stark, Weymouth; Owen O’Malley, Marshfield; Will Kiley, Marshfield; Cameryn Brenner, Plymouth; Nick Lacerda, Berkley; Kyle Cardoso, Berkley; Head Coach, Rod Mendez, Halifax; Assistant Coach, Martin Stevens, Marshfield Playing among the most talented youth soccer teams in the state, the Massachusetts Youth Soccer District 2 select 12-and-under squad, a group of 15 players predominantly from the South Shore, recently won the state title, defeating its counterpart from District 3. District 2, which includes Halifax, Kingston, and Plymouth among its many towns, went 4-1 in the playoffs, winning the championship, 1-0, in a tightly contested game that was finally decided in the penalty kick overtime session. John Aguiar, Tyler Melo, Andrew Stevens and Skylah Dias all scored on penalty kicks, while goalie Will Kiley made a terrific outstretched save with his left leg on the second shot he faced in the PK round. In a friendly, sweet revenge kind of a way, the win was extra special in that District 2 had lost to District 3 twice during the regular season, both games by 1-0 counts. “Absolutely it felt special, they’re a tough team,” District 2 head coach Rod Mendez, of Halfax, said of the District 3 opponent, whose players hail from such competitive soccer towns as Framingham, Natick, Needham, and Brookline. “It was a nail-biter going back and forth.” Mendez and assistant coach Martin Stevens of Marshfield were particularly proud of their team’s style of play, which Mendez says focuses on passing, possession, and pressure. “Other coaches, referees and parents from opposing teams would come up to us and say how our style of play was so attractive to watch in a game being played by 12-year olds,” Mendez said. In that light, Mendez said he values the assists made on each goal more than the goals themselves. “It’s all about team,” Mendez said. “I treasure the ability of those who can make the assists to make the scorer shine.” And shine the whole team did. District 2 posted a stunning 10-3 regular season record, before rolling in the postseason with a 4-1 mark to win the crown in the 90-degree heat at Citizens Bank Fields in Lancaster. From day one, it was smooth sailing for District 2. “Getting that kind of chemistry in that short period of time is magical,” said Mendez, who has coached both Halifax travel and club teams, the latter of which play to the equivalent high competition of AAU baseball. The coach said almost all of his players play both travel and club soccer. Added Dario Mendez, the son of the coach, who plays midfield, “I thought we passed and possessed the ball very well. I liked the first day of practice, meeting all the players, getting to know them. Everyone was nice to each other, and we worked together real well.” For winning the state title, the District 2 team was awarded tickets to a New England Revolution game at Gillette Stadium, where the scoreboard flashed a congratulatory message to the local youth championship team. http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20120904/News/309049876#309049876/?Start=1&_suid=140759638575504238831061769979

Skylah Dias - VW Junior Masters National Soccer Tournament

VW Junior Masters National Soccer Tournament. June 23 to June 25, Wallingford Pennsylvania hosted a National Soccer Championship Tournament fully sponsored by The Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Junior Masters Tournament is a competition that unites U-12 boy’s teams across the country for one common goal: to take home the trophy. GPS Massachusetts U12 boys represented Region 1.

Local boys play in National Soccer Tournament

Somerset resident Nico Ferrara and Swansea resident Skylah Dias recently played in a national soccer tournament for boys who are ages 12 years old and under. From June 23 to June 25, Wallingford Pennsylvania hosted a National Soccer Championship Tournament fully sponsored by Volkswagen. It is called the Junior Masters Tournament. The Volkswagen Junior Masters Tournament is a world-wide youth soccer competition for boys age 12 and younger. The tournament got its start in Germany, the home of Volkswagen, in 1999 — the year most of the 2012 participants were born. The tournament has established itself, into a "mini world cup tournament" for only 12-year-old boys who participate at a higher level of soccer. Recently, local youths had the opportunity to represent their Massachusetts Soccer Academy clubs called, "MPS — Massachusetts Premier Soccer," and Boston Massachusetts in a National Tournament. The MPS Premier Team Program aged 13-19 and the MPS Elite Team Program aged 10-12 is designed for serious and talented soccer players, focusing on the technical, tactical, physical and psychological development of individual players on a pathway towards achieving excellence in the game. MPS strives to produce players who can compete at the highest level of college soccer, the MLS, the USA national team and ultimately the highest level of soccer competition throughout the world. At MPS, player development is the number one priority. The winning tradition MPS has established is based on each player improving significantly over the time they are with the club. The success of MPS programs is testament to the pursuit of excellence and the club's ability to take players to a higher level of understanding of the game. After having 10 regional championship tournaments from "March to June of 2012," regional championship winners advance to the Nationals. MPS was the northeast champions after beating the U12 New Hampshire State Champions in June. Volkswagen had an opening dinner ceremony at the Airport Marriott in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on Monday night July 23. The boys had a night to remember listening to a former professional soccer player, national player and former Olympian commence the night followed by a question and answer period. On Tuesday, MPS played against Texas and New Jersey, then on Wednesday advancing into the semi-finals championship game in their selected bracket against Colorado. Colorado then beating MPS, and advancing into the Final Championship game later that afternoon. This setting up the championship game, Colorado verses Chicago, and Colorado loosing in penalty kicks 1-0. On Wednesday evening, the boys ended their three day National Exposure at the 2012 MLS All-Star game in Philadelphia. Americas best played against the European champions Chelsea. The boys were acknowledged prior to the start of the game with highlights of the past few days on the large telepromptor. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120801/PUB05/208010485

Off to Nationals - July 2012 VW Masters Won Regional Tournament

AMONG THE COUNTRY'S BEST: Two local soccer players are heading to A national tournament. Nico Ferrara (left — from Somerset) and Skylah Dias (right — from Swansea) this past weekend played in a "JV Masters Regional Tournament" that took place at Bryant University. The JV Masters was sponsored by Volkswagen and is an international tournament. The top team from each of the 10 participating regional tournaments will advance to the 2012 Volkswagen Junior Masters National Championship held simultaneously with the MLS AT&T All-Star game in Philadelphia on July 25. Ferrara and Dias were selected from their MPS Premier Club Team, for the MPS's All-Star Team. MPS won all three qualifying games, between Saturday and Sunday preparing them for a final match. They won 12-3 in the finals, beating the U12 New Hampshire state champions. Ferrara walked away with three critical goals for the weekend and played with complete intensity, while Dias was a defensive powerhouse, shutting down the New Hampshire state champion's attackers. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120620/PUB05/206200441&cid=sitesearch

Locals are selected to Elite Soccer Team

Two local youth soccer players, Skylah Dias from Swansea, and Nico Ferrara from Somerset, have been selected for The MPS Premier Academy is a program designed for serious and talented soccer players, focusing on the technical, tactical, physical and psychological development of individual players on a pathway towards achieving excellence in the game.. MPS strives to produce players who can compete at the highest level of College Soccer, the MLS, the USA national team and ultimately the highest level of soccer competition throughout the world. They both were selected to an all star team that will participate in a "VW Junior Masters World Event." This event is fully sponsored by Volkswagen. MPS have been selected to host the New England Regional event for the VW Jr. Masters that will take place Fathers Day weekend, at Bryant University. The winners of this U12 Regional event will advance to the Nationals in July in Philadelphia. There is a 32 team limit at this event which will follow a similar qualifying structure as the FIFA world cup. In addition, Dias was selected for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Division 1 District Select Team, representing the Southeastern Massachusetts. Ferrara was too young to qualify, but was selected for the team. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120606/PUB05/206060457/-1/rss35