A LOOK BACK:
U23s: Matt Bouraee’s (Manasquan, NJ) header in the 88th minute salvaged a 1-1 tie for New York Red Bulls Academy U23 against the visiting Boston Tea Men in a rain-soaked National Premier Soccer League matchup Wednesday night, June 9 at Lubetkin Field on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology.
The Red Bulls started the game well and created chance after chance but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Tea Men scored just after halftime against the run of play. The Red Bulls continued to dominate and after a series of forays, the Red Bulls finally drew even, as Sacir Hot (Fair Lawn, NJ), with close to 20 players crowded into Boston’s defensive third, headed the ball forward to Bouraee, who nodded the ball home.
“It’s pretty disappointing to get just the one point,” said Red Bulls coach Rob Elliott. “Give full credit to (Boston) for making it difficult for us to get that goal, but we wasted a lot of time without scoring and then got punished for it when they scored. We can’t afford to wait for the other team to score before we get it going.”
On Saturday, June 13, the Red Bulls won the opening game of a doubleheader weekend, posting a 3-1 win over New Hampshire Mountaineers in National Premier Soccer League action. Bouraee put the Red Bulls one up with a great strike from just inside the box. Conor Lade (Convent Station, NJ) made it 2-0 just before half time with a 30-yard shot. The Red Bulls controlled the game in the second half and made it 3-0 when Frank Tweneboe (Pennsauken, NJ) was slipped in by Mario Rios (Morristown, NJ). Rios was the provider for all three Red Bulls goals. The Mountaineers pulled one back just before the final whistle.
Lineup: Parkinson, Garcia (Freeman), Vazquez, Hot (McLarney), Lade, Morris, Brode, Amaya (Holder), Tardy (Welker), Bouraee (Tweneboe), Gabrielle (Rios).
The Red Bulls U23s gained maximum points from the doubleheader weekend with a 5-0 victory over Boston Tea Men on Sunday, June 14. The Red Bulls dominated the first half and goals from Bouraee, Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, NY), Rob McLarney (Londonderry, NH), and Steven Amaya (Oakland Gardens, NY) put the Red Bulls 4-0 up at halftime. In the second half Tweneboe made it 5-0 on the hour mark. Michael O'Keefe (Christchhurch, New Zealand) made some keys saves on his Red Bulls debut to earn a well deserved shut out.
“To come away with six points from the weekend was our goal. We achieved our goal and also put two very good performances to go with it,” said U23 head coach Rob Elliott. “It was a real team effort both days. Having started with different line ups both days the players who came were excellent. Bouraee and Twenboe had two goals over the weekend and Mario Rios recorded five assists. It was a very pleasing weekend overall.”
Lineup: O'Keefe, Garcia (Freeman), Vazquez, Morris, Lade, Holder (Brode), McLarney, Amaya, Dacres (Tardy), Bouraee (Tweneboe), Rios.
U18s: The Red Bulls U18s did not play last week as the side prepares for the USDL playoffs.
U16s: The Red Bulls U16s did not play last week.
U14 Pre-Academy: The Red Bulls U-14 Pre-Academy team beat U14 FC Westchester, 3-0, on Sunday, June 14 in Northeast Pre-Academy League play. The Red Bulls scored two goals in the first half. U17 National Team Residency midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, NJ) scored a 25-yard free kick early in the half and Nick Innocenzi (Franklin Lakes, NJ) scored his twelfth goal of the season to put the Red Bulls up 3-0. Rikou Nakamoto (Waldwick, NJ) scored his second goal of the season on a 25-yard free kick in the second half to give the Red Bulls a 3-0 win. Evan Louro (South River, NJ) earned the shutout in goal. The Red Bulls are 8-1-3 in their last 12 games while outscoring the opposition, 30-8.
U14 1996: The U14 1996 Red Bulls did not play last week.
A LOOK AHEAD:
Tuesday June 15
U23 Red Bulls NPSL @ Long Island Academy, 6:00 pm (National Premier Soccer League)
Saturday June 19
U23 Red Bulls NPSL @ NYAC, 12:00pm (National Premier Soccer League)
U14 Pre-Academy Red Bulls v U14 FC Westchester, 11:00 am @ NJIT (Northeast Pre-Academy League)
Sunday June 20
U23 Red Bulls NPSL @ Morris Colonials, 7:00 pm (National Premier Soccer League)
