Juventus is a Thunder Soccer Club (TSC) U12 boys team coached by Mr. Stefan Draganov. The team is committed to train and play hard year round with NCSL league play and local tournaments in the Spring and Fall. Our team is based in Howard County, Maryland and is comprised of players from Columbia, Ellicott City, Catonsville, and Baltimore. Juventus topped the Division 8 table in Spring 2011 and are placed in Division 6 for Fall 2011. In preparation for the Fall 2011 season, Juventus played in a pre-season Braddock Road Youth Club (BRYC) soccer tournament (see the team performance below). Those interested in knowing more about the team should contact the team manager, Mr. Mike Punsalan at punsalan1@verizon.net.
TSC Juventus Fall 2011 Accomplishments
- Game 1 (4-1 win): Goals - Coates (1), Lee (1), and Meyers (2) Assists - Chandra (1), Coates (1), Iluyomade (1)
- Game 2 (9-1 win) Goals - Bradford (1), Chandra (2), Coates (1), Lee (3), Meyers (1), Oppostin team own goal (1) Highlights: Keeper Villafane saved a penalty late in the game
- Game 3 (8-1 win) Goals - Chandra (1), Coates (3), Lee (2), Meyers (1), Opposing team own goal (1)
- Game 4 (3-0 win) Goals - Iluyomade (1), Meyers (2)
Highlights: Keeper Villafane saved a penalty that was given for a handball in the box. 1st shut out of the season for keeper Villafane. Congratulations !!
- Game 5 (1-1 draw) Goals - Coates (1) on a beautiful pass from Lee
Highlights: Keeper Villafane had numerous saves to preserve the draw
- Game 6 (4-2 win) Goals - Chandra (1), Lee (2), Ramsland (1)
Notes - defender Bradford injured and out for the rest of the season.
- Game 7 (1-0 win) Goals - Chandra (1) on a beautiful freekick from Meyers
Highlights - 2nd shut out of the season for keeper Villafane Notes - defender Bradford injured and out for the rest of the season
- Game 8 (4-2 win) Goals - Coates (1), Iluyomade (2), Opposing team own goal (1)
- Game 9 (2-3 loss)¡Goals - Chandra (2)
Highlights - first loss of the season. team showed strength in the second half but fell short when a third goal scored was dis-allowed.
BRYC tournament (no tournament standings kept)
- Game 1: Win (7-2) - Goals by Chandra (2), Coates (2), Lee (2), Meyers (1)
- Game 2: Loss (3-10) - Goals by Lee (3)
- Game 3: Loss (2-5) - Goals by Coates (1) and Meyers (1)
- Game 4: Win (10-2) - Goals by Chandra (3), Coates (2), Lee (4), Ramsland (1)
TSC Juventus Spring 2011 Accomplishments
- Freestate Capital Cup Tournament - Finalists
- Ten NCSL games played with two draws and eight wins (top of the NCSL D8 table)
Fall 2011 NCSL Season Summary
- Goals Scored: 33 - Tariq Lee (8), Vinay Chandra (7), Cameron Coates (7), Andrew Meyers (6), Tolu Ilyoumade (3), Nicholas Bradford (1), Samuel Ramsland (1), Opposing team own goals (3)
- Goals Conceded: 11
- Shutouts: Sergio Villafane (1)
- Penalties Saved: Sergio Villafane (2 out of 2)
- Injuries: Defender Nicholas Bradford suffered a season ending injury (toe fracture) four weeks into the season
On November 8, 2011, the Juventus team took to their home field at Hawthorn Park (Columbia, MD) to face the SYC Cyclones from Springfield, VA for the last game of the season at 1:30 PM. They climbed to the top of Division 6 table with seven wins and one tie; win or lose they were going to stay at the top.
Leading up to the game, they posted over 30 goals and beat some teams handily. Lopsided scores such as 9-1 became the norm. In the players’ minds, it was going to be business as usual - play the game, win it, and go to Serafino’s in Ellicott City. A team dinner was scheduled for 4:30 PM.
Juventus LOST the game, 2-3.
The Cyclones came prepared to play, prepared to win, and had a strategy. Put every player behind the ball and look for counter attacking opportunities.
The first goal happened within a few mintues of the opening whistle. The outside midfielder from the Cyclones dribbled the ball, beat the Juventus left back with quick moves, and netted a shot. Immediately, the same player scored another goal in a similar way.
Now the Juventus were down by two goals, conceded very early in the game.
They tried to get back in the game but the Cyclones struck again with a quality shot from about 20 yards in front of the goal.
Down by three goals at half-time, Juventus Coach Draganov made adjustments by switching the formation from 3-3-1 to 2-3-2. With an additional player to support the attack, the Juventus kept the possession and were relentless in their attack.
Several combination plays led to two goals and a third goal disallowed by the official even though the ball appeared to have crossed the line before the Cyclones keeper caught it. With time running out, the Juventus players tried hard to tie the score.
That was not meant to be. They had to end the season with their first loss.
The Juventus players are well trained by Coach Draganov. They have good foot skills and technical prowess over the ball to build attacks from the back. The players also have good speed. That has helped them tremendously in scoring 33 goals this season.
The loss to a mid-table (4-4-1) team with a fast, solid defense in the season closer, however, provided a timely reminder and motivation to the team to continue their skills development in the coming winter training season.
One single loss in a series of nine games does not diminish what the Juventus achieved in the season. They trained three times a week (one speed and agility session and two technical/tactical sessions) during the season; some players did not miss a single training session. At this young age, their dedication to the team and the sport is commendable.
While every player contributed to this winning season (7-1-1), most valuable player awards went to striker/midfielder Lee, winger Meyers, and keeper Villafane based on player voting. Congratulations to the awardees and the whole team.
And the team?
Keeper: Sergio Villafane; Defenders: William Augustin, Nicholas Bradford, Camden Fisher, Tolu Ilyuomade, Ben Punsalan; Midfielders: Vinay Chandra, Cameron Coates, Christopher Goodwin, Andrew Meyers, Samuel Ramsland; Stikers/Midfielders: Cameron Coates, Tariq Lee; Coach: Stefan Draganov; Manager: Michael Punsalan
TSC U11 Spring 2011 Season Summary
Goals: Cameron Coates (9), Samuel Ramsland (7), Vinay Chandra (5), John Ruzzi (5), Drew Meyers (3), Shalin Mahadevia (2), William Augustin (1), Nicholas Bradford (1), Christopher Goodwin (1), Rodrigo Sandoval (1)
Assists*: Samuel Ramsland (4), Vinay Chandra (3), Nicholas Bradford (3), Cameron Coates (3), Christopher Goodwin (3), Shalin Mahadevia (3), John Ruzzi (2), Drew Meyers (1), John Ruzzi (1), Alexander Prokic (1), Rodrigo Sandoval (1)
TSC U11 Red Devils (new name Juventus), playing in Division 8 of NCSL, are unbeaten in their first season (Spring 2011) with Coach Stefan Draganov. The team won eight and tied two games with ten different players scoring a total of 35 goals. This is a testimony to the strength of this team and the effort put in by each and every player.
Defenders (Augustin, Bradford, Fisher, and Punsalan) delivered a stellar performance with good one v one defending; many of the 11 goals yielded by the team were due to a change in formation from 3-3-1 to 2-3-2 that resulted in some quick counter attacks by the opposing teams. The defense guarded the goal in earnest and protected the team’s lead when the games were close.
Midfielders (Chandra, Goodwin, Mahadevia, Meyers, and Ramsland) delivered a knock-out performance by keeping possession of the ball, switching the point of attack, and finding gaps in the defense.
Central strikers (Coates, Ruzzi, and Sandoval) punished the opponents with good finishing. Most of the goals were assisted by the midfielders with nice interplays and ball movement. Goals were also scored from corner kicks (Bradford) and free kicks (Bradford).
The game against FPYC Pirates showed the team’s character. Down by two goals until the last 15 minutes, the team made a remarkable comeback by scoring two goals to tie the game. Similarly, in the game against GRFL Revolution, the team performed well despite being down by a goal well into the second half to secure a 4-2 win.
The last game against DCST Metrostars was a treat to the fans watching from the sidelines. The players looked like they wanted to earn their post-season pool party. They knocked the ball around with great confidence and scored six goals with four of the six goals coming from clever passing. Keeper Prokic had an outstanding last game of the season with a shutout that came from tipping and diving saves.
Prokic elected to move onto a new team for the Fall 2011 season. Juventus wishes him good luck with his new team.
Midfielder Cameron Bergreen was injured in the early part of the season. Juventus wishes him a speedy recovery and hopes to see him on the pitch soon.
Coach Draganov gave a 1-month break to the players. They will come back in late July for a pre-season camp with Draganov School of Soccer in preparation for the next season.
* I used FIFA definition for an assist which is a pass that precedes the goal (e.g., through ball that a striker runs onto and scores). If the scoring player receives a pass, dribbles the ball, and works hard to beat defenders, the goal is given to the scorer as “unassisted”.
