News
A Beadling Soccer Club Heads Up
For immediate release
April 5, 1999
Beadling Boys Best Europe's Elite Again
Two spring vacations ago, the Beadling Soccer Club's Under 14 year-old boys team traveled to France and pulled off an unimaginable feat at the prestigious Loriol-du-Comtat International Football Tournament in Avignon. They Won. Plus, after their stunning 1-0 championship Premier Division victory over Maastricht, a youth team from the Dutch professional club, the team was doubly honored with the "Best Defense" trophy for not allowing a single goal in 5 games.
This same team, now an Under-16 year-old squad with back-to-back state championships and a U.S. Regional final appearance under their belt, is returning to France this Thursday after having defeated Europe's elite once again by winning the premier 15th Annual Tournoi International Minimes de Football in Le Portel, France. Entrance tot he tournament and plans for the trip were coordinated by the French Soccer Network, who accept a limited number of premier teams from the USA each year. Players from many of the European teams are apprentice-pros groomed to compete for future positions in premier professional leagues.
Beadling's stingy defense, anchored by goalkeeper Matt Wesmiller, sweeper Ducky Evans and marking backs Jim Gottermeyer, Jonathan Diamond, James Stidel and Matt Mehler, allowed only one goal facing teams from France, England and Denmark. Beadling's prolific offense was sparked by game winning goals by Co-captains Andrew Dealy, Matt Paradise and Derek MacKenzie as well as key scores by Anthony DelGreco, Joe Zewe and Mike Jackson. Beadling won the tournament's championship game 1-0 over USC Boulogne, a French Regional Champion, on a penalty kick by Andrew Dealy.
The Beadling Under-16 Boys team features star players from many top high school programs including State AAA Championship Finalist Peters Township (Mike Jackson); WPIAL AAA Champion Mount Lebanon (Jonathan Diamond, Ducky Evans and Matt Wesmiller); Coty League Champion Allderdice (Andrew Dealy); Section 3 AAA Champion North Allegheny (James Steidel and Matt Levin); Section 6 AAA Champion Upper Saint Clair (Steve Worthy); Section 4 AAA Runner-up Plum (Robbie Magilson and Matt Paradise); Section 5 AAA Runner-up Baldwin (Anthony DelGreco and Mike DelGreco); Section 3 AA Champion Shadyside Academy (Will Durkee); Section 6 AA Champion East Allegheny (Matt Mehler and Joe Zewe). Additionally, Beadling hails outstanding players from Bethel Park High (Jim Gottermeyer), Chartiers Valley High (Derek MacKenzie) and Butler High (Erinn Otterson).
The Beadling U-16 boys are coached by 1998 PA West Coach of the Year and former Pittsburgh Spirit star Dave MacKenzie and PIAA Finalist Peters Township High School Coach Bobby Dyer and his brother Mike Dyer. The team will return from their soccer adventure Thursday, April 8th (United Airlines Flight 1204 at 7:11 PM).
Some history: The Beadling Soccer Club is in its 101st year of excellence, boasting over 50 State Cup Championship teams, more than four times any other Western PA club. The club placed a record eleven teams (6 boys and 5 girls) in last summer's United States Youth Soccer Association Snickers Regional Championships.