Special to the Times-Free Press
The City of Boston Department of Parks and Recreation hosted the 2024 Mayor’s Cup Soccer Tournament at Moakley Park over Veterans Day weekend, drawing over 60 teams from across the greater Boston area. Among the competitors were three teams from East Boston and nine from Charlestown. In their debut tournament appearance, the Boston Scores East Boston co-ed 3rd/4th grade team made an impressive run, culminating in a division championship victory on Sunday afternoon.
The 3rd/4th grade team from East Boston triumphed in a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win against the skilled TaborKids Soccer Academy. Tabor took an early lead in the first half, but East Boston quickly equalized. In the second half, Tabor regained the lead, pushing the score to 2-1, but East Boston responded within minutes to tie it up. With less than three minutes left in the game, 4th-grade striker Sergio Marin launched a powerful shot from nearly mid-field, securing his hat trick and clinching the win. The final whistle was met with jubilant celebrations as the team rushed the field.
The Boston Scores East Boston co-ed 3rd/4th grade team is comprised of student-athletes from East Boston enrolled in various local schools, including Donald McKay K-8, Bradley Elementary, Alighieri Montessori, Harvard-Kent Elementary, Brooke charter school, and Eliot Innovation K-8.
Boston Scores also showcased their skills in the 5th/6th grade division, where the older East Boston team remained undefeated through the semi-finals, winning an exhilarating match decided by penalty kicks. Although they fell short in the final against a team from Charlestown, their performance made a strong statement in their first Mayor’s Cup appearance, fueling excitement and high expectations for the future.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Boston Scores continues to enrich the Boston community. The organization relocated its headquarters to the Salesian Boys and Girls Club in spring 2024 and inaugurated a state-of-the-art training facility. Boston Scores offers free clinics and skills practices for students from Pre-K through 8th grade and runs middle and high school programming at the new Salesian Heights Soccer Field. Over 25 Boston Public Schools (BPS) elementary schools participate in the Boston Scores interscholastic soccer league and poetry enrichment programs, which include nearly all BPS elementary schools in East Boston.
3rd/4th Grade Boston Scores East Boston Mayor’s Cup Team Coaches:
Tommy Welch
Nick Free
Gustavo Rodriguez
Jean Michel Carlone
Alae Dinel
Grade 3/4 Co-Ed Roster: Jonah Rodriguez Kramer Esvin Gregorio Argueta Samuel Welch Catcher Free Elijah Cisneros Micah Rodriguez Kramer Luisa Membrano Areej Souiri Sergio Marin Christian Trujillo Za’Nyiah Walker Abdelghani Erraji Joanellys Luna Beau Emond