Bloomfield Youth Soccer Showed "Courage," "Dedication" in Loss to Top Ranked National Team

In a measuring stick game in Marlboro, New Jersey on Sunday Aug. 25, the U13 Bloomfield Soccer Arsenal met the Cedar Star Academy, the number 1 ranked team in the nation. Despite the 6 - 0 short side outcome, club president Barry Weiner says that the game was a defining moment for the club.

"We just had our U15 boys (Bloomfield United) come in second at the US Club Nationals in Colorado, now our U13 boys are stepping on the field against the number 1 team in the nation. It is games like this that are defining our club as a national level presence. This game taught us another lesson in how much hard work we need to commit to and what we all have to do together to achieve this level for the players. But it is our parents and players that are driving the ship now - this is the level they want to play at and this is where they are taking our club."

Weiner said coaches Emilio D'Andrea and Coach Oral Bullen had a difficult chore planning to play a team that has dominated the national rankings for the last two years. 

"You need courage to play teams like this and you need the dedication to get yourself into the opportunity. I think courage and dedication are great words to describe our coaches."

This has been an unprecedented year of achievement for the Bloomfield Soccer Club. 

Numerous teams have taken their group championships and the club is sending 11 teams to the 33rd annual Piscataway tournament, in early September. 

"These tournaments really get the Bloomfield Soccer message out. Our players are doing remarkable things and they are getting a lot of attention in the state, region, and now nationally," adds Weiner. "They are great ambassadors for our town." 

Two players, Jason Ricca and Michael Osco on the U13 Arsenal have older brothers who play on the U15 Bloomfield United. "How special for those families," he adds, "2 sons in the space of three weeks have the entire soccer nation watching their son's games and learning about Bloomfield, New Jersey."