This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

11/16/2016 11:00 PM

Guilford U-12 Boys’ Soccer Squad Sees Success On and Off Field


Pictured from the Soccer Club of Guilford’s U-12 boys’ green team are (back row) Greg DePetris, Dennis Garcia, Devin Putnam, Ethan Sullivan, Joshua Chen, Grady Holabird, Shadi AbuGhazaleh, Joe Malatesta; (middle row) Kyle Chen, Riley Johnson, Sergio Garcia-Perez, Anthony Malatesta, Isak Hopfner, Zachary Pawelek; (front row) Sean Filley, Braden DePetris, William Goetsch, William Rice, Jonathan Leite, and Sami AbuGhazaleh.Photo and information courtesy of Dennis Garcia

The Soccer Club of Guilford’s U-12 boys’ green team had an exciting year by finishing with an overall record of 12-4-1, while recording a number of local and state-wide achievements. The team, comprised of local boys born in 2005, has tried to reinforce the importance of its ties to the community, as well as the pride involved with representing the town of Guilford.

This community focus was evident during the team’s appearance at Reese Stadium in New Haven, where Guilford joined the Yale men’s soccer squad before its game against the University of Connecticut, and later played against the Bridgeport Premier team during the halftime festivities.

While notching its 12 victories, the boys completed their season as the undefeated winners of the South Central Division, second-place finishers at the annual MIST tournament, and finalists in the Connecticut State Cup, where they lost a hard-fought championship game to Tolland on Oct. 5.

Guilford was coached by Shadi AbuGhazaleh, Greg DePetris, Dennis Garcia, and Joe Malatesta. The team’s players were Sami AbuGhazaleh, Joshua Chen, Kyle Chen, Braden DePetris, Sean Filley, Sergio Garcia-Perez, William Goetsch, Grady Holbird, Isak Hopfner, Riley Johnson, Jonathan Leite, Anthony Malatesta, Zachary Pawelek, Devin Putnam, William Rice, and Ethan Sullivan.