Playing in front of thousands of fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro before a New England Revolution game is a dream come true for any young soccer player in Greater Boston.
Peabody's Luke Finkelstein will have that opportunity — not once, but several times.
The 15-year-old sophomore has been selected to play for the newly created Revs U-16 team. He is one of three New England Aztec Club soccer players chosen for the team, along with goalie Ryan Simpson from North Andover and Revere's Doug Silveira.
Players from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire were selected for the first ever U-16 and U-18 Revolution boys teams. The Aztecs, which are based out of Beverly, were the only North of Boston club in the state to have players selected.
"Everybody will concentrate on playing for their high schools until November, when our Revs season begins and goes until the end of July," said Finkelstein, who plays both center or left midfielder. He started as a left middie to take full advantage of his left-footed kick, but when he joined the Aztecs he was moved to center mid.
"We'll have three practices a week and two games every weekend. Every other weekend we will travel out of state, and will also compete in three showcase tournaments."
Finkelstein attends the all-boys Belmont Hill School, only a half-hour ride from where his Revs team will practice in Foxboro.
"I'm really excited to be on the Revs team; all our expenses and gear are paid for. We even have the same jerseys as the Revolution wear," he said. "Some of our home games will be just before they play, so people can come to watch us first. Then we'll be able to watch the pro game afterward."
Finkelstein, who was the first Aztec youth player chosen for the national pool, has played with the Aztecs since his was on the U-11 squad. Last year as a U-15, he played up a level on the U-17 Sate Cup qualifying team.
"Playing with the older, bigger kids has really helped my game," said Finkelstein. "The kids on U-17 are mostly juniors in high school, and my Aztec coaches have always let me train up and play up in tournaments. We had a really good year, going through the Division 2 qualifying games and all the way to the state tournament."
Finkelstein was invited to the Revs' call-back tryouts last month, then got a call later that same night to say he was on the team and would meet the other players at Gillette Stadium.
He just returned from the SMU Cup in Colorado where the Revs entered the U-17 class, taking some of the younger members of their U-18 team and others from the U-16's.
"All the Major League Soccer youth teams were there, and it was really our first time playing together," said Finkelstein, who made the Belmont Hill varsity soccer team as a freshman. "We only had four training sessions, and didn't make it out of our group. But I can tell we have a very good team. The coaches will come to see us play for our high schools and keep tabs on us."
Finkelstein has gone to college camps before and said he'd like to play Division 1 college soccer. He used to play basketball, but switched to wrestling last winter and made varsity in the 102-pound class. He also runs track in the spring as a sprinter.
"At Belmont Hill you have to play a sport all three seasons. Track helps me get ready for soccer, but I found wrestling was even better," said Finkelstein. "All the workouts for wrestling got me in great shape. I'd love to do it again this winter if I have time with all the practices I'm going to have to attend for the Revs.
"I'm going to be very busy, but it is a great opportunity for me."
