Select Teams Program

Men's Select Team Program

Head Coach: Jim Antonakas

Telephone: 617-593-4467
Email:

For more information or to register for the try-outs for the Mass Men's Select, please contact Jim Antonakas at the address above.

Massachusetts Men's Select Soccer Team Wins 2005 USSF Region 1 Championship

After an everlasting spell, under the hot sun in Binghamton, NY the Mass Select Men's Team wins the USF Regional Championship against NY 3-0.

Head Coach Alex Tsalagas with assistants Mike Petridis, Jim Antonakas, and Nick Botos crafted plan to train Boston based elite amateur players to perform at the highest possible level has finally transformed itself into reality.

While Massachusetts has always had success with players being selected for the USASA Men�s National Team and the Olympic Team, it has never won a Regional Title in the last fifty years.

During the Memorial Day weekend, while the heat was toasting their feet, 18 Massachusetts players did not stop their journey to victory. "We are leaving Binghamton with the cup coach," said team captain Luigi Mirisola who was selected along with Steve Gould, Fortios "Pele" Katangaza and Chris Charnecky to represent the USASA National Team.

"We chose the 3-5-2 System in order to pack the midfield and force opponents to put the ball at the wings." said coach Tsalagas. The team was ready mentally. Saturday night, captains Luigi Mirisola and Steve Gould a meeting for two hours to talk tactics for the Sunday�s game. Effort, consistency, and ball possession were the ingredients structuring a compact Massachusetts squad.

During the final match, NY quickly puts pressure on the ball by trapping the Massachusetts players. Massachusetts holds against the pressure. At the 20th minute, Fortios Pele Katangaza breaks through and blasts the shot from the outside left to the net giving MASS a 1-0 lead. At the 38th minute Mass earns the second goal. Second half starts and NY players are running like wild horses. The Massachusetts defense stays composed and dwarfs all NY�s opportunities with everything they can muster (guts, grits, and ghastly pains). At the 80th, Matt Dehnam breaks to the right drops the shoulder and gets to the inside of the 18 yard line where he is taken down. Ali Caba converts. Massachusetts 3 NY 0. Massachusetts has accomplished its mission: USSF REGION I CHAMPIONS.

At the end of the match, Fortios �Pele� Katangaza is selected as the MVP of the tournament. USASA national Coach Kostin states �I still can�t believe how you guys played your four games in two days with the same straight, intensity and passion; I can�t imagine what inspired you?" Midfielder Chris Sharp, who has suffered severe muscle spasms, responds "The 270,000 families back in Massachusetts, sir!!!�