Bolton Wanderers under-9 boys strong in West Niagara to begin season

The Bolton Wanderers under-9 boys' team made it to the finals of the West Niagara Invitational Tournament earlier this month. Submitted Photo The Bolton Wanderers under-9 boys' team began their 2008 outdoor season with a very strong showing the West Niagara Invitational Tournament the weekend of May 3, finishing second in a pool of 16 clubs.

The journey to the finals began with a convincing 7-0 win over the Aurora Stingers T2, on two goals each by Matteo Marini and Daniel Korkis, and singles from Agostino Greco, Sam Siskos and Michael Fillipo.

Game two proved equally impressive, with 6-0 win over Niagara Falls Titans B, on a pair of goals each by Marini and Korkis, and one apiece from Greco and Keagan Prophete.

In the third outing, the team braved difficult field and weather conditions to earn a 2-2 tie with the Burlington Stingers on goals by Fillipo and Prophete.

In the quarter finals, the Wanderers faced Niagara Falls Titans C and went on to a convincing 8-0 victory. Prophete had three goals, with Marini, Korkis, Siksos, Matthew Rigato and Greco each scoring one.

The semi-final game pitted Bolton against Niagara Falls Titans A. Outstanding defense and goaltending was displayed by both sides with the Wanderers eventually scoring a couple of late second-half goals from set plays finished by Rigato and Michael Carnevale. The 2-0 win would earn Bolton a place in the tournament final.

In one of the most entertaining games of the tournament, the Wanderers faced Ajax Madrid for the U9 Boys championship. Bolton nearly took an early lead when defender Rigato rang the crossbar off a freekick. Late in the first half, Fillipo put Bolton up 1-0. Ajax fought back to tie the game early in the second half, and with less than five minutes to play in the game, Ajax was awarded a penalty kick which was successfully converted edging them past Bolton 2-1.

Congratulations go to the team and its staff on outstanding effort. The Bolton Wanderers U9 boys are Matthew Amato, Michael Carnevale, Michael Fillipo, Agostino Greco, Daniel Korkis, Matteo Marini, Keagan Prophete, Matthew Rigato, Xavier Romeo, Joshua Scarafile, Sam Siskos, Davis Stambolich, Christian Dalessandro (G) and Ryan Defoa (absent), and they are coached by Joseph Pianelli, Mark Pianelli and George Greco. The team is supported by its sponsors: The Kleinburg Family Health Centre, Wild Wing, Bolton Family Foot Care, JASS, and Dolcini of Kleinburg.