PHANTOMS TO FACE RHODE ISLND ON SATURDAY MAY 17th
Former Phantom Youth Player Named PDL Player of the Week
Hoping to build on the previous two games, a 1-1 tie against Long Island and a stunning 2-1 team effort win versus Cape Cod last Saturday, handing the Crusaders there first home lose in 4 years, the Phantoms will head back on the road to face Rhode Island on Saturday. The Phantoms will kick off May 17th at 7:00 p.m. against the Stingray at Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence.
The Phantoms will be facing their former USL Division 2 opponent and Manager Jim DeDeus said “like the previous two games, we expect the Stingrays to be a very difficult opponent and we need to be on top of our game, in hopes of a result. We have preformed very well this season, but we still have a lot of work to do in order to keep up with the top teams in the PDL.”
Former Phantom Youth player, Adrian Schippers, has been named PDL Player of the Week, for his two goals in the win against Cape Cod. Schippers also scored in the Home Opener vs. Long Island and now has three goals in the young season. DeDeus feels “Adrian, a recently converted defensive player, can only get better as the season goes on. Although Adrian has been dominant defender in the past, we feel that his potential as an attacking player is extremely high”
FORMER PHANTOM YOUTH PLAYER LEADS PHANTOMS PAST CAPE COD
Former Phantoms youth player and current Springfield College standout Adrian Schippers scored twice as the Phantoms knocked off the defending PDL Northeast Division champion Cape Cod Crusaders 2-1.
The Crusaders have won the last four PDL Northeast Division titles, but could not contain the Phantoms attack in the opening half. Despite giving up an early goal in the 11th minute the Phantoms stormed back 20 minutes later with two goals in the span of 2 minutes. The first goal was set up by a well struck cross by Patrick Gay, a new addition to the Phantoms from UNH, that Schippers was able to get to and head into the back of the net. The Phantoms pressure payed of less than 2 minutes later when Adrian Schippers intercepted a ball 40 yards from goal and beat the keeper, scoring his second goal of the evening. Tim Murray was outstanding in net once again for the Phantoms making 5 saves.
Head Coach Jim DeDeus said "The guys played tremendously tonight, it was a total team effort." The Phantoms next game is May 17, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. in Providence against the Rhode Island Stingrays.
PHANTOMS OPEN UP WITH TIE
The NH Phantoms opened up their 2008 season with a 1-1 tie V the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday night. The Phantoms goal was scored and assisted by former Phantoms youth team players as Adrian Schippers(Springfield College)scored and was assited by AJ DuBois(UNH). Long Island started strong and controlled possession early. Once the Phantoms settled down game became an up and down contest with lots of attacking play on show. In cold and wet conditions both teams played good soccer and the Phantoms showed lots of promise for the games ahead.
Saturday night was the first time the squad was all together due to NCAA restrictions and with practices and a better understanding of each others game the team should build on this start. GM Jim DeDeus was also impressed with Long Island, " they were as good as any team we faced last season in USL-2. Our defense was very solid on the night and Gabe Mercier, Matt Delaney and Joe Annese really shut them down. At the other end Adrian Schippers and AJ DuBois were a handful for their defense."
Additional players will be added to the squad this week as all the college players are released from their college obligations. The locals will face a serious test this weekend when they travel to Cape Cod to renew an old rivalry with the Cape Cod Crusaders. The game is Saturday May 10th. It will be Cape Cod's first league game of the season while the Phantoms are now 0-1-0 on the year. The Crusaders have twice won the PDL championship so this game will be a good guide to how the Phantoms can fare this year.
PHANTOMS READY FOR SEASON OPENER
13th Season Kicks of on Saturday
The NH Phantoms kick off their 13th season in United Soccer Leagues(USL) this Saturday May 3rd when they take on the Long Island Rough Riders at 7.30 p.m. at Clement Lemire Stadium at Manchester Memorial HS. The locals realigned to the Premier Development League(PDL) this off-season to better fit the club youth development policy. It allows the club the opportunity to tap into more local talent from the area colleges, as well as their own youth players. They can also sign 8 players over the age of 23 and as a result the roster will be a balance of youth and experience.
Some of the local talent includes former high school All-American AJ DuBois from UNH. Dubois is the third high school All-American and Gatorade player of the year from NH to play for the Phantom (others were Tom Wicker and James DeDeus both from Londonderry HS).
Other local players include Patrick White-Amherst, Enilson Moncao
-Nashua, Nick Todesca-Salem, Brendon Joseph-Bedford and Zack Simmons-Durham. There will be players from SNHU, UNH, Dartmouth as well as other colleges in the area. The roster will include numerous players who have played through the Phantoms youth system and as many as 11 such players could be involved on Saturday night.
Matt Delaney Liverpool; England, Kevin Woods Aberdeen; Scotland, Marc Djssouho Benin; Africa and Richard Kentish Jamaica will add a foreign flavor while experience will be provided by national team players, Phantoms veteran Romelle Burgess/Barbados and newcomer Henry Braunner/Phillipines.
NH Phantoms GM Jim DeDeus is excited with the roster, "this league allows us to blend youth and experience together with local players and others to provide a high energy type game. Our soccer should be fast and attacking and goals and skill will be a plenty."
DeDeus along with the familiar names of Suleyman Doenmez and Manny Brito make up the coaching staff.
The Rough Riders themselves realigned to this division in '07 and will also be playing their season opener.
NH PHANTOMS '08 ROSTER STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE
11 former Super Y players make up master roster
E. Hampstead, (April 24th 2008); The NH Phantoms 2008 roster will be finalized in the upcoming week and to date there have been some impressive signings(pending league approval). The team, which will be competing this year in the USL Premier Development League, have signed two national team players in Romelle Burgess (Barbados) and Henry Brauner (Phillipines). Burgess returns to the club to add some experience to an overall young group.
11 players who have played for the NH Phantoms youth teams in the Super Y league are a part of the squad at present and is a sign that the clubs investment in youth development if starting to pay off. The clubs decision to realign to the PDL league fits in well with the clubs overall aim of providing an opportunity for New Hampshire's best players to play at the top level in the US. It will also result in some familiar teams from days gone by returning to the schedule. Vermont Voltage, Cape Cod Crusaders, Rhode Island Stingrays, Long Island Rough Riders and Ottawa Fury are just some of the opponents for the '08 season. Full Schedule click here;
Schedule
Players from local colleges such as Dartmouth, UNH, SNHU as well as other colleges in the region will make up the bulk of the roster. The goalkeepers of note are Zack Simmons (UMass-Amherst-Final Four) and local boy, Tim Murray (Providence). Other names to watch out for include defender Matt Delaney (SNHU), midfielder AJ Dubois (UNH) and Derek Stenquist (Dartmouth). The full roster will be released next week when all signings have been approved by the USL office.
The NH Phantoms kick off their season on Saturday May 3rd at Manchester Memorial HS when they host the Long Island Rough Riders at 7.30pm.
Women's Soccer Returns to New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Phantoms are please to announce the return of the Lady
Phantoms to play, bringing women's soccer back to New Hampshire. After a year
hiatus, the Lady Phantoms look to show the strength of women's soccer in New
England. This season will be a series of exhibition matches as the Lady Phantoms
prepare for a full return to the USL Women's League next season.
The Lady Phantoms roster is composed of players from throughout New England,
including current and former college players. The players are looking forward to
starting the same success as the Men's team following the NH Phantoms last major
change when the Phantoms made the USL Semifinals and Finals in back to back
season in 1997-1998. With a foundation of talented veterans and a core of young
guns the Lady Phantoms look to make a strong showing in their preparation for a
return to the USL next year.
New Hampshire Phantoms General Manager Jim Dedeus says " I am exited to see this
year unfold for both the men's and women's team, after watching the vast amount
of young talent we have, the future looks very promising for the Phantoms
Franchise."
Super-20 Boys and Girls Tryouts Announced
The New Hampshire Phantoms have announced the tryout dates for both the U20 Boys USL and the U20 Girls USL teams. The Super-20 Girls team will host open tryouts on Friday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Phanzone Sportscenter in Hampstead, NH. The Super-20 Boys team will host open tryouts on Friday, April 18th at 8:30 p.m. at the Phanzone Sportscenter in Hampstead, NH. The Super-20 League is the USL U-20 version of Super-Y League.
Super-20 Girls Registration
Super-20 Boys Registration
Additional PDL Tryout Announced
Due to the overwelming interest in the New Hampshire Phantoms PDL team, The New Hampshire Phantoms have announced an additional tryout date for their PDL team's upcoming season. The Tryout date will be February 22, 2008, from 9-11 p.m. The tryout will be held at the Phanzone sports Center, 142 State Route 111, in Hampstead, NH. Tryouts are open to all amateur status players and each will receive a NH Phantoms T-shirt.* Tryout fee is $30.
We will continue to accept on-line registrations for the tryouts. If you have not registered, please do so by going to www.nhphantoms.com. If you have not already forwarded to us your Player Profile, please send it to nhphantomsusl@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you then. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Phantoms at 603-329-4422.
Lady Phantoms Team Tryout Date Announced
The New Hampshire Phantoms, the Granite State's longest active minor league franchise, announces it will be hosting tryouts for the Lady Phantoms team which will train together and compete in exhibition matches versus United Soccer Leagues W-League teams for the 2008 season. The women have participated in the W-League for nine seasons beginning in 1998 and anticipate a full return to the league in 2009.
*Tryouts for the 2008 team will be held on Friday, February 15, 2007, from 9-11 PM, at the PhanZone Sports Center, 142 State Route 111, in Hampstead, NH. The tryouts are open to all amateur status players and each participant will receive a NH Phantoms T-shirt. *
*Tryout fee is $30 and applicants may register on line at www.nhphantoms.com . Applicants should also forward a Soccer Player Profile to nhphantomsusl@gmail.com. The Player Profile should include players' contact information, including: name, address, home and cell phone, date of birth, email address, club history, high school/college/W-League experience, and soccer awards/accomplishments.*
For those players currently attending colleges or universities out of state and who are interested but not available for this tryout, please send a letter/email stating such, as well as your first availability status.
It is anticipated that a series of 10-12 exhibition matches will be slated for the Lady Phantoms versus W-League franchises Vermont Lady Voltage, Boston Renegades, Western Mass Lady Pioneers, Ottawa Fury, and other high level women's teams such as the Mass. Stingers. Players have the ability to compete in these matches throughout the summer months while maintaining their collegiate eligibility.
Second PDL Team Tryout Date Announced
The New Hampshire Phantoms have announced the second tryout date for their PDL teams upcoming season. The tryout will be held on Monday, January 21, 2008 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) at 11 a.m.
We will continue to accept on-line registrations for the tryouts. If you have not registered, please do so by going to www.nhphantoms.com. If you have not already forwarded to us your Player Profile, please send it to nhphantomsusl@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you then. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Phantoms at 603-329-4422.
