Jean DePlacido
After a pair of thrilling playoff wins coach Mike Kersker and his Boston Aztec Breaker Reserves are in Dallas to play for the National Championship tonight. It is the first time a women's Aztec team has won an Eastern title and advanced to the Final Four. Back in 2005 the Aztec men's indoor team won a national championship and followed that up with regional wins the next two seasons.
Kersker says the word resilient best describes his team that has battled through injuries and adversities. After they beat the Aztec U-23 team in double overtime in the semifinal round of the Women's Premier Soccer League, they posted another double-OT victory over defending national champion Long Island Fury, 2-1 in the Eastern finals at Governor's Academy last Saturday night. For the second time in as many games the Breaker Reserves won in the 119th minute of play, just before going to a shootout.
"You're only as good as the players on the field," said Aztec program president Kersker, who grew up in Beverly and now lives in Marblehead. He is the athletic director at Waring School and was the Aztec general manager when the men's indoor team won it all five years ago. "We've had to deal with some adversity lately. Two weeks ago we lost one of our starting midfielders with a torn Achilles tendon, and in the last game one of our captains, Anna Caniglia (University of Nebraska), tore her ACL just before halftime.
"All the women on this team are extremely professional with tons of experience. They never stop battling, and when injuries happen people have stepped up. Everybody is very excited about going to the Final Four with the opportunity to come home with a national championship. This is an outstanding league, just a level below the WPS."
Kersker's team meets Midwest champion FC Milwaukee Nationals at 5 p.m. tonight at the University of Texas-Dallas with the winner advancing to tomorrow's championship game. Chioma Igwe scored the game winner against Long Island to send her team to Dallas where Kersker knows the women will have to battle stifling heat along with everything else.
"The other teams are from California and Florida," said Kersker, who was formerly men's head soccer coach at Salem State and Endicott College. "If we beat Milwaukee, we'll face the winner of the other semifinal in the single elimination format. I've really enjoyed coaching these young women. They've been pushed to new limits and showed great resolve."
There is a local brother-sister connection on the Breaker Reserves in Barrie and Jack Lindsay of Ipswich. Both are Waring School graduates. Barrie, who was league MVP both her junior and senior years at Waring School, is a defensive midfielder while Jack is the trainer.
"He's a terrific trainer," said Kersker. "He played at UVM and got his degree in training. He has been a phenomenal addition to the program, and it's great having him there to take care of any injury."
The team flew to Dallas yesterday morning, and if things go the way Kersker hopes they will play for the national championship tomorrow at 1 p.m.
• • •
The old saying it takes a village to raise a child could apply to Peabody West, where the whole community is behind the Williamsport Little Leaguers as they play in their fifth consecutive Massachusetts Final Four. The dynasty continues because previous players and coaches return to help out in any way they can.
Every night when manager Bob Sullivan has practice he was always able to count on somebody from last year's Williamsport World Series New England representative coming down to help out.
"It's been great," said Sullivan. "The entire community is behind this team, and that's a great feeling. Every time we've had practice three or four kids from last year's team are there, and former coaches have been terrific, too."
Having Austin Batchelor, Matt Hosman, Michael Petrosino, Matt Correale, J. J. Layton, and Anthony Cravotta to name just a few of last year's stars helping his players has been a big advantage, especially hitting against pitchers that throw heat along with a nasty curve.
"We've also had Tyler Noe (star of the 2008 team) pitching to the kids and Michael Mackay from two year's ago along with Jordan Manthorne, who played for Peabody Nationals last year. There have been so many of them, and I love having them help out. It's quite a crew, and you never know who will show up any night. Everybody has been great, and I can't stress enough what this kind of support means to us."
And while on the subject of Peabody West, catcher Bobby Caproni has made an impression on the umpires all through the tournament.
"They all love him," said Sullivan. "He talks to the home plate umpire the whole time he's behind the plate. He's a funny kid, kind of like Matt ("The Rat" Correale) was last year. You need somebody to keep everybody loose. He's our energizer bunny, and he's like that all the time - doesn't matter if it's practice or games. He's always having the time of his life."
• • •
Jean DePlacido is a part-time writer and columnist for The Salem News. Contact her at jmdeplacido@aol.com.
