Back row: Coach Paul Clarke, Tarekgn O’Neill, Luca Duclos-Orsello, Ben Lopez, Diego Garcia, Tyler Whitney-Ellis, Coach Julio Veliz. Front row: Jeremy Rodriguez, Oliver Clarke, Alexis Figuerroa, Diego Nolasco, Owen Sheehy.

The Somerville Youth Soccer BU12-1 team completed their Spring 2014 season on a high note, finishing third best in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC). The boys-under-12 team earned their MTOC ticket with a 9-1-0 regular season record and first place finish in the 2014 MYSL Commissioners Cup.

The team won their first 3 MTOC playoff games against other league champions before losing a close semifinal game (2-1) to a strong Ludlow team. The third place finish is motivation for the upcoming fall season; the team is determined to become the first Somerville boys team to win an MTOC state championship.

On a related note, teammate Ben Lopez has been chosen to play for the Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP). ODP has only four geographical regions across the US. Ben was the only player from Massachusetts to be selected for the Region 1 ODP team. ODP is charged with finding and developing the best youth soccer players in the country who will then compete with other top athletes to earn a potential roster spot on the US National Team and represent our country in future Olympic and World Cup matches.

Ben attends the Argenziano School and is excited about his ODP opportunity. Says Coach Paul Clarke, “Ben is hard working athlete. He has great skill, great strength, and a tremendous soccer IQ.   All of these attributes will serve him well. Ben’s future is bright.”