South Jersey Soccer:
Barons Head To National Finals Against Western Mass.

Wednesday, September 8, 1999

By Peter C. Boggs
South Jersey Barons Press Officer

The South Jersey Barons have made it to the D3 Pro League national finals, and will now hope to continue their mastery of a familiar foe, the Western Massachusetts Pioneers. Game time for the championship match will be 7:30 PM, Saturday, at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

South Jersey, owners of the best record and top overall point total of the D3 Pro League's 26 teams during the regular season, advanced to the finals by virtue of a 3-2 shoot-out win over the Charlotte Eagles in the semifinals. That game saw Charlotte take a 2-0 lead five minutes into the second half only to have the Barons score in the 65th minute, then tie it in dramatic fashion with only 10 seconds remaining in regulation. After a scoreless 15 minutes of sudden death overtime, the Barons outscored Charlotte 3-1 in the shoot-out tiebreaker to advance to the finals.

Western Mass. won its semifinal game decisively, handing the Chico Rooks, champions of the Western Conference, a 4-1 loss. The Pioneers strolled to a 3-0 lead with 29 minutes remaining, allowing a token goal with only 3:50 left in the match.

South Jersey and Western Mass. have met twice this season - and four times in the history of the two clubs - with the Barons taking all four contests. This season's games have both been highly entertaining affairs.The Barons came from behind on June 11 to win 2-1 in Ludlow on a goal by midfielder Majik Agu with two minutes remaining. The return match, played at Carey Stadium in Ocean City on July 31 featured eight goals, South Jersey winning 5-3 with four second half scores. Barons leading scorer Matt Miles had two goals, including the final tally which removed all doubt with only five minutes left in the end to end contest.

South Jersey defeated Western Mass. 3-0 at Carey Stadium (on June 13) and 4-1 in Massachusetts (on July 3) in the the two contests played in 1998, the first year in existence for the Pioneers.

The Barons have proven to be a potent scoring team, leading the league with 63 goals during the regular season. They have been stingy on the defensive side of the ball too, allowing only 21 goals during the regular season, for a league leading goal differential of 42. The Barons have been extremely well balanced, with 19 different players figuring in the scoring over-all this season.

Leading the way has been forward/midfielder Miles with 22 goals and 11 assists in all games (League and U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games) for 55 total points. Forward Joe Nick has been dangerous around the goal with 14 goals and four assists over-all, while midfielder Matt Brooks has contributed eight goals and eight assists.

Paul Royal has been consistent and occasionally brilliant in goal - allowing only 21 goals in 1649 minutes of play over-all, for a goals against average of 1.14. He has backed a solid defensive corps of veterans in James Harvey, David Holmes, Paul Zgalich and Dan Christian. The backs have now had two full seasons of play together as a unit.

Western Mass. has scored 76 goals in the 29 games played to date, including their three play-off games and Open Cup Qualification games. They are lead by Rob JachymÕs 28 goals and nine assists. Paul Wright is the other main threat, with 18 goals and five assists tallied to date. Goalkeeper John Voight has played most of the minutes in goal, making 110 saves and allowing 34 goals in 27 games.

Directions to Lusitano Stadium: Fans wishing to travel to the United Soccer Leagues D3 Pro League Final can get to Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow by taking the Mass. Turnpike (Interstate 90) East from Springfield to Exit 7. Turn left onto Center Street; bear left onto Sewall Street, then take a left onto Winsor Street. Stay on Winsor Street through intersection to Stadium on the right.

Tickets to the game are $10.00 for adults and $6.00 for students. For more information, fans can call the Western Mass. Pioneers at (413) 583-4814.

South Jersey Barons 1999 Statistics - Through September 4, 1999
(League Games Include Playoffs)

Scorers:

Matt Miles (League Games: 21 Goals, 10 Assists, 52 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 3 Points; 55 Total Points)

Joe Nick (League Games: 9 Goals, 3 Assists, 21 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 5 Goals, 1 Assist, 11 Points; 32 Total Points)

Matt Brooks (League Games: 8 Goals, 8 Assists, 24 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 24 Total Points)

Majik Agu (League Games: 7 Goals, 4 Assists, 18 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; 19 Total Points)

Craig Wicken (League Games: 4 Goals, 4 Assists, 12 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 12 Total Points)

James Harvey (League Games: 4 Goals, 2 Assists, 10 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 10 Total Points)

Eric Chijioke (League Games: 2 Goals, 3 Assists, 7 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 1 Goal, 0 Assist, 2 Points; 9 Total Points)

Mark Southern (League Games: 1 Goal, 5 Assists, 7 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; 8 Total Points)

Paul Zgalich (League Games: 3 Goals, 1 Assist, 7 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 7 Total Points)

Pat Hickey (League Games: 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 5 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; 6 Total Points)

Dan Mannella: (League Games: 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 5 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 5 Total Points)

David Holmes: (League games: 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 5 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 5 total Points)

Rob DiMeo (League games: 0 Goals, 4 Assists, 4 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 4 total Points)

Mike Hayes (League Games: 1 Goal, 0 Assists, 2 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; 3 Total Points)

Alvaro Fiquerola (League Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 3 Points; 3 Total Points)

Darren Watts (League Games: 1 Goal, 0 Assists, 2 Points; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 2 Total Points)

Mike Cellini: (League Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 1 Total Point)

Dan Christian: (League Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 1 Total Point)

Paul Royal: (League Games: 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points; 1 Total Point)

Goalkeeping:

Paul Royal (League Games: 1585 Minutes, 71 Saves, 21 Goals Allowed, Goals Against Average: 1.19; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 64 Minutes, 4 Saves, 0 Goals Allowed, Goals Against Average: 0.00; Over-all Goals Against Average: 1.14)

Jeremy Kirchner (League Games: 165 Minutes, 7 Saves, 2 Goals Allowed, Goals Against Average: 1.09; U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 296 Minutes, 14 Saves, 7 Goals Allowed, Goals Against Average: 2.13; Over-all Goals Against Average: 1.75)

Team Record:

League Games: 17 - 2
U.S. Open Cup Qualification Games: 2 - 2
Over-all Record: 19 - 4

Results:
April 24, Barons 0 - New Jersey Stallions 3 (U.S. Open Cup Qualifier)
May 1, Barons 4 - North Jersey Imperials 0 (U.S. Open Cup Qualifier)
May 8, Barons 0 - at New Jersey Stallions 2 ( U.S. Open Cup Qualifier)
May 15, Barons 2 - Reading Rage 3 (OT) (League Game)
May 22, Barons 4 - New Hampshire Phantoms 2 (League Game)
May 23, Barons 4 - at Reading Rage 2 (U.S. Open Cup Qualifier)
May 29, Barons 2 - at Westchester Flames 1 (League Game)
June 5, Barons 4 - Delaware Wizards 0 (League Game)
June 6, Barons 2 - at Central Jersey Riptide 1 (Shoot-out) (League Game)
June 11, Barons 2 - at Western Mass. Pioneers 1 (League Game)
June 12, Barons 1 - at New Hampshire Phantoms 2 (League Game)
June 19, Barons 2 - Westchester Flames 1 (League Game)
June 20, Barons 3 - at Delaware Wizards 2 (League Game)
July 3, Barons 4 - New Jersey Stallions 0 (League Game)
July10, Barons 3 - Central Jersey Riptide 1 (League Game)
July 17, Barons 2 - at Eastern Shore Sharks 0 (League Game)
July 24, Barons 5 - at North Jersey Imperials 1 (League Game)
July 31, Barons 5 - Western Massachusetts Pioneers 3 (League Game)
August 6, Barons 2 - at Reading Rage 0 (League Game)
August 7, Barons 11 - Eastern Shore Sharks 0 (League Game)
August 14, Barons 7 - North Jersey Imperials 2 (League game)
August 15, Barons 3 - at New Jersey Stallions 1 (League game)
September 4, Barons 3 - at Charlotte Eagles 2 (Shoot-out) (D3 Pro League Semifinals)