Upper West Side Middle School Wins 2 Citywide Soccer Championships

By West Side Rag

Both the citywide middle school boys and girls soccer champions hail from the Upper West Side. And from the same school, no less!

The MS54 Booker T. Washington Middle School boys and girls soccer teams both won their respective city championships this past fall season. For the girls, it was their fourth city championship in a row, while, it was the first NYC championship for the boy’s team.

The Monarchs, the girls soccer team, is coached by Amanda Mersits and Sofia Curran Munn. The team consisted of several 8th graders, a large group of returning 7th graders and a few strong 6th graders. Under the leadership of the coaches, they continued to play like a strong team, with sharp passing, hustle on every ball, and constant support of each other.

Their team’s playoff journey began with victories over two other Upper West Side schools: Center School and Anderson School. They beat Hunter Middle School in the semi-finals and then went on to defeat Simon Baruch Junior High School in the NYC championship game on November 6.

The Raiders, the boys soccer team, is coached by Frank DiPasquale and Daniel Fagen. Their playoff journey also began with victories over other Upper West Side Schools: Manhattan School for Children, Heschel School, and Mott Hall II, and also over Hunter Middle School.

The team went on to win the Manhattan Championship against Simon Baruch Junior High School. In the NYC semi-finals, the Raiders advanced on sudden death penalty kicks against Scholar’s Academy, the Bronx Champion. The Raiders then defeated the Brooklyn Champion, Liberty Avenue Middle School, on November 17th to win the NYC championship. Their victory over the perennial champion Hunter followed by the 0-0 nail biter that went to overtime penalty kicks against Scholar’s Academy were the highlights of their amazing playoff run.

Both soccer teams enjoyed a three-floor ticker-tape style parade on the Monday after their victories during homeroom period to celebrate their accomplishments.

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