Clarkstown Eagles' Topscorers

Name	Goals scored	Games played
1. Christopher Katona	3	2
1. Kodai Iida	3	4
1. Martin Lukaschik	3	4
4. Leutrim Saiti	2	2
4. Dritan Sela	2	2
4. Maximiliano Garcia	2	3
7. Philip Costa	1	1
7. Franklin Castellanos	1	2
7. Emerson Lawrence	1	3
7. Marcus Hackett	1	3
7. Andres Berriel	1	4
7. Jonathan Yazo	1	4
7. Samuel Gehman	1	4

Escudero talks about the Eagles' drive to make the playoffs

Clarkstown Eagles left back Joaquin Escudero. Photo by Bobbie Deuel

With four games left in the regular season, Clarkstown Eagles sit one spot below the last playoff position in third place with a game in hand. Although Clarkstown has been having an up and down season, fullback Joaquin Escudero is assured that his side will push up to the last playoff position.

"I'm confident of making the playoffs," Escudero said. "The team has more chemistry, we have been playing with each other longer now and we know each other more, that should be enough for us to make the playoffs.

"If we match our opponents' intensity, we will be good enough to win these last four games of the regular season and we'll start from zero again in the playoffs. We have to be hungry every game, there's no space for any mistakes. We have to be focused every minute we're on the field and trust our teammates and the result will come."

"Our goal shouldn't be to make the playoffs, it should be to face Chattanooga in the final in a good intense game where we can hopefully win this championship."

The lowest point of the playoff contenders' season so far is a two-game winless run-- a 2-1 loss to Buxmont Torch and a 2-2 draw to Electric City Shock--in which they missed several goal scoring opportunities.

"We are one of the most talented teams in the NPSL but we have been unlucky of missing our chances and letting goals in when our opponents have two or three chances a game," Escudero said.

"Losing against Buxmont was hard and we expected to get a win against Electric City in Scranton but two unlucky calls from the refs and us not finishing our chances made us not get those six important points."

Clarkstown bounced back from the winless run with a 10-0 win over Greater Binghamton FC Thunder in their last game. Escuerdo noted that the victory over Binghamton boosted the club's inner strength.

"Binghamton's game was a big win that helped us get confident again and believe in ourselves," the 20-year-old said.

Joaquin Escudero on the ball against New Jersey Copa FC. Photo by Bobbie Deuel

The New Jersey club became the best scoring team in the Northeast Region after their 10-0 victory over GBFC, tallying 23 goals.

Kodai Ida, Martin Lukashik and Christopher Katona are the team's topscorer with three goals each. Katona has only been playing with the Eagles in their last two games and already lead the team in goals as he scored twice against Electric City and once against Binghamton.

Escudero expressed that the former Richard Stockton University star striker's goal scoring ability will be essential in Clarkstown's run to the playoffs.

"Katona is a great player and a great guy, playing with him makes things easier, his movements are really good and he's a great goalscorer," the Spaniard said. "He's the number nine we needed."

He later added: "Katona is going to help us by scoring goals and the rest of us are going to help by assisting him. I'm confident we're going to make the playoffs."

The defender also mentioned Dritan Sela, who scored two goals against Binghamton.

The Eagles' last four games are against New Jersey Copa FC, who sits in second place, Electric City (sixth), Hershey FC (seventh), and West Chester United Soccer Club (first).

Onisiforou is confident the Eagles will 'bounce back' from Torch's loss against Shock

Clarkstown Eagles will look to recover from their loss to Buxmont Torch in a road game against Electric City Shock on Friday at 7:00 p.m at Scranton University .

Although the Eagles outshot Buxmont 14-4, they lost to them 2-1 on Saturday. Clarkstown center back and former Cyprus pro player, Panayiotis Onisiforou, emphasized how important it is for his side to get a win against Shock to cover up Saturday's loss.

Clarkstown Eagles center back Panayiotis Onisiforou. Picture by Bill Linder

"We have to get on the right track against Electric City in order to kick on the season and have a strong run," Onisiforou said.

Prior to that he said: "It's always good to bounce back with a positive result after a defeat, we remain calm in our camp, we know what we need to do.

"The defeat to Torch was not a deserved one regarding the soccer that was played. We should've been up by four, five goals by the 20th minute mark but we failed to convert our chances. Credit to Torch, they kept playing and didn't give up. They found half a chance and a mistake from us to take the three points."

Despite missing four close goal scoring opportunities, the Eagles were the best scoring team in the Northeast Region before the game against Buxmont as they netted 3.33 goals per game,

Onisiforou is assured that Clarkstown will regain its scoring prowess.

"It's only a matter of time before we get back to our top form," he said. "I have all the faith in the boys and their abilities. We are human so we have our off days. What's important is we need to keep playing the way we are but just finish the chances we get."

"If we keep playing the way we are, create the amount of chances we've been getting and work hard the team will get back on track."

Onisiforou alongside his defenders have the second best defense in the Keystone Conference, conceding 1.25 goals per game.

"As far as the stats go, we are a team, we defend as a team and score as a team," the 31-year-old said. "We all contribute to the game where it might be an assist for a right back or a center back scoring from a corner. Stats don't really concern me, they are more of a distraction."

Clarkstown sits in fifth place with a 2-2-0 record. Electric City sits one spot above them in fourth with a 2-1-1 record. Shock's only loss was a 4-0 deficit to first placed West Chester United Soccer Club.

Three key stats

• Clarkstown Eagles defeated Electric City Shock five times in their last six matches. 
• Shock's only loss so far this season was against first placed West Chester United Soccer Club. They drew to second placed New Jersey Copa FC 1-1, whom the Eagles lost to 1-0.
• The Eagles haven't lost two straight NPSL games since July 5th, 2014.

Players to watch

Clarkstown Eagles: Midfielder Kodai Iida-- Iida was the Eagles' man of the match in their last game against Torch, netting one goal.

Electric City Shock: Jarrod Smalley-- Smalley leads the team in scoring with two goals in four games. He scored the opener against second placed New Jersey Copa in a game that ended 1-1.

Position and record

Clarkstown Eagles: 5th, (2-2-0)
Electric City: 4th, (2-1-1)

Clarkstown suffers a controversial 2-1 loss to Torch

Game Report

Clarkstown Eagles fell to Buxmont Torch 2-1 through a controversial offside goal scored by Pedro Sousa in the 88th minute Saturday night at Pennridge High School.

The referees marked the Eagles offside 13 times in the game.

It started in the second minute when Anthony Ferrer's goal was ruled out after the assistant referee waived his flag for an offside.

Clarkstown missed a crucial scoring opportunity in the 13th minute. Andres Berriel was one-on-one with opposing keeper Matt Palmer after receiving a neat through ball from Kodai Iida. Palmer came off his line and blocked Berriel's shot.

The Eagles had another close look at goal when Martin Lukaschik was left alone in the box after exchanging a one-two with Jonathan Okafor. Lukaschik failed the control Okafor's pass properly as the ball was behind him and as a result hit a shot off target in the 27th minute.

Clarkstown netted the opener at last in the 33rd minute as Iida dragged a low shot from a tight angle on the left corner of the box past keeper Palmer after controlling an intelligent through ball from Ferrer.

Buxmont almost equalized the game with their first shot of the night seven minutes before halftime. Keeper Andrew Tartara was off his line. Will Woodfin steered a low shot in the keeperless net but fortunately for Clarkstown Joaquin Aldabe was there to clear the ball.

Torch did draw themselves leveled with their opponents 26 minutes inside the second half as Cody Gangaware finished Josh Coupar's free-kick to the bottom left corner of the net.

The visitors had another goal ruled offside when Okafor squared the ball to Iida, who tapped the ball in the net in the 84th minute. Iida's celebration was cut short after the assistant referee waived his flag.

Torch scored the winner four minutes later. Christopher Riordan and keeper Tartara both expected each other to intercept a long pass but the ball went past them to Sousa, who was in an offside position. Sousa dribbled down an empty defense before shooting the ball in an empty net.

Players' afterthoughts: Martin Lukaschik

Midfielder Martin Lukaschik was heartbroken by the loss. "I'm very disappointed, as disappointed as it gets," he said. "I played a lot of games but this is probably one of the worst games--the worst outcome of a game-- I've ever seen. We were so dominant and then losing this game is ridiculous."

"I don't even want to get into it," Lukaschik said when asked about the referees' decisions. "We scored about three offside goals that were disallowed and then the last one for them was 10 yards offside, there was no doubt about that. I'm very disappointed."

The midfielder is assured that Clarkstown will recover from this loss. "We're going to come back stronger," Lukaschik said. "We're going to work harder, we see that in the NPSL anything can happen apparently so we just got to be focused next week and whoever comes, I don't even care, I don't know who I'm playing, we're going to win for sure."

Three key notes

Not finishing came back to hunt the Eagles: Clarkstown missed four glorious scoring opportunities before Buxmont's winner in the 88th minute.

Still looking for a winning streak: the Eagles haven't had a winning streak in all competitions this season after five games.

First time scoring in a loss: the loss to Torch was Clarkstown's first loss this season in a game in which they scored.

Statistics

Clarkstown Eagles
Shots: 14 (8)
Saves: 1
Fouls: 5
Corners: 8
Yellow cards: 2 (E. Lawrence, D. Correia)
Red card: 0
Offsides: 13


Buxmont Torch
Shots: 4 (2)
Saves: 7
Fouls: 13
Corners: 1
Yellow cards: 1 (M. Robinson)
Red card: 0
Offsides: 3

Position and record after the game

Clarkstown Eagles: 5th place (2-2-0)

Buxmont Torch: 3rd place (3-1-1)

Eagles aim for two straight wins against Torch

Clarkstown Eagles midfielder Josue Ortiz on the ball against Buxmont Torch on July 29th, 2016. Picture by Bill Linder

Defending Keystone Conference champions Clarkstown Eagles travel to Pennsylvania on Saturday to face Buxmont Torch at Pennridge High School at 6:00 p.m.

Buxmont sits in fourth place in the Keystone Conference on a 2-1-1 record. The Eagles are one spot above them in third place with a game in hand, owning a 2-0-1 record. 

Clarkstown is the best scoring team in the Northeast Conference, netting 3.33 goals per game. They scored five goals in a game twice this season, against Greater Binghamton FC Thunder and in their last game against Junior Lone Star FC.

The Eagles' head coach Oliver Papraniku is assured that if his players play up to their potential against Buxmont they will continue their scoring prowess.

"Our team looks to play the best possible soccer and if we do that the goals will come," Papraniku said.

A win on Saturday will grant Clarkstown their first win streak of the season as they defeated Junior Lone 5-2 in their last game.

Coach Papraniku is eager to get a second consecutive win.

"We take every game seriously and are totally focused on playing our game against a strong Buxmont squad," the Albanian said. 

Clarkstown entered the season with a rejuvenated roster--the "One Super Team"-- mixed of CSL sides' Cedar Stars Academy, NY Greek Americans and Lansdowne Bhoys’ players and GSSL team FC Motown’s players. 

Coach Papraniku noted that The One Super Team is still in the beginning process of their journey.

"We have only played three NPSL games and are just getting our squad together," he said. "So I look forward to the players continuing their progress as a cohesive unit."

Key stats

• Buxmont lost to Junior Lone 4-1 in their season opener when the Eagles downed Junior Lone 5-2 in their last game.
• Clarkstown defeated Torch three times in their last five NPSL meetings.
• Buxmont is on a two-game unbeaten run when the Eagles will be going after their first unbeaten run of the season.
• Buxmont had the same three scorers in their two wins this season: David Shafer, Philip Shafer and Pedro Sousa.

Players to watch

Clarkstown Eagles:

Midfielder Jonathan Yazo: Yazo leads the team in assists with two in three games and is the second topscorer with a goal.

Buxmont Torch:

Forward Philip Shafer: 6' 4'' striker Shafer netted Buxmont's opener in their two victories this season against Hersey FC and Greater Binghamton FC Thunder and leads the team in scoring with two goals.

Record and position

Clarkstown Eagles: 2-1-0, third in the Keystone Conference.
Buxmont Torch: 2-1-1, fourth in the Keystone Conference.

Last meeting

7-29-16: Clarkstown Eagles 3-0 Buxmont Torch at Ramapo College

Clarkstown jumps back on a winning note with a 5-2 win over Junior Lone

Midfielder Josue Ortiz on the ball during Clarkstown Eagles' 3-1 win over Junior Lone Star FC on Jul. 3rd, 2016.

Game Report

Clarkstown Eagles powered past Junior Lone Star FC 5-2 on a rainy Sunday afternoon home at Ramapo College.

Although Clarkstown walked out of the park victorious, they gave up the first gal of the encounter as Bill Walleekendeh netted for Junior Lone in the 11th minute. Emerson Lawrence equalized for the Eagles just two minutes later with a voluptuous strike from about 25 yards out.

Andres Berriel doubled the home team's lead in the 31st minute before Phillip Costa made it three with a one-touch finish in the box six minutes before the break. Samuel Gehman closed the first half in grand fashion for Clarkstown, curling a magnificent shot from a tight angle in the net.

Lone Star scored a second goal in the last minute before added time despite playing down a man after Anthony Allison picked up a red card at the hour mark. The Eagles ended their scoring display in added time through Martin Lukaschik.

Clarkstown hops from fourth to third place after this win. JLSFC on the other hand drops from fifth to sixth place.

The Keystone Conference champions dominated the opening minutes but Junior Lone stunned them with an 11th minute opener. Allison fired a low shot from outside the box, which keeper Andrew Tartara dove on his left to block. Tartara failed to hold on to the ball on the wet weather. Walleenedeh took full advantage of the keeper's rebound, pouncing the ball in the net.

Emerson drew the Eagles leveled in the 13th minute as he curled an exquisite shot from a Junior Lone clearance from about 25 yards out to the left upper 90. Clarkstown took the lead in the 28th minute when Jonathan Okafor dribbled diagonally in the box before hitting a neat pass to Berriel, who one-touched the ball in the net.

Costa extended Clarkstown's lead to two goals as he tapped Lucaschik's corner in the net from the goal area after the ball took a slight deflection of a Junior Lone defender.

The Eagles went two goals ahead two minutes before halftime when Gehman curved a shot from the right wing to the far post from Lukaschik's pass. Clarkstown led their guard down in the last minute of the regular 90, allowing Kouassi N'Guessan to rise and head Vlandy Slueue's free kick away from keeper Marco Luna.

However the home team did finish the match with a three-goal lead as Lukaschik controlled substitute Jonathan Yazo's pass before whipping a pacy low shot to the bottom right corner at the stroke of the game.

Man of the Match:

Martin Lukaschik (midfielder): 1 goal, 1 assist.

Players' afterthoughts: Emerson Lawrence

Clarkstown fell to New Jersey Copa FC 1-0 in their previous game on Wednesday. Midfielder Emerson Lawrence was pleased that his side bounced back from this loss with a win.

"It feels great to go back to winning ways," Lawrence said. "I know last week we had an unfortunate loss but, you know, that's football. Coming back here and getting back to winning ways, getting a W, is a great thing for our team. We're looking forward to getting more Ws and finishing the season strong."

The Eagles had to come back from a goal down to win the game. A goal in which keeper Andrew Tartara spilled the ball due the wet weather. Emerson shared that their resiliency led them to the victory.

"I guess with the weather, it was kind of unfortunate circumstances but we made the best of it, we didn't get down on each other," the midfielder said. "We were resilient to fight back and get that first goal, luckily I got that first goal to put us back in a good position."

Lawrence's goal was an alluring upper-90 strike from outside the box. "I don't really remember much from before it [my goal]," Lawrence said laughing. "I think it was a clearance on the left side of the 18, got one bounce down and I thought I was going to pass it square but I was like 'Might as well hit it,' took a chance and upper 90. I'm happy with it."

Three key notes

Best scoring team in the Northeast Conference: Clarkstown's five-goal display boosted them to the best goal per game ratio in their conference, scoring 3.33 goals per game with nine different scorers.

Everybody plays: head coach Oliver Papraniku made six substitutes--keeper Andrew Tartara was subbed out for Marco Luna in the 65th minute.

First corner kick goal: Costa's goal from Lukaschik's corner was the Eagles first goal of a corner kick this season.

Statistics

Clarkstown Eagles:
Shots (on target): 16 (8)
Saves: 4
Fouls: 7
Corners: 8
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
Offsides: 2


Junior Lone Star FC:
Shots (on target): 11 (6)
Saves: 3
Fouls: 8
Corners: 2
Yellow cards: 1 (Anthony Allison)
Red cards: 1 (Anthony Allison)
Offsides: 3

Eagles look to recover from Copa's loss against Junior Lone

 Midfielder Josue Ortiz in Clarkstown Eagles' last game against Junior Lone Star FC last season on Jul. 3rd, 2016. 

Clarkstown Eagles will fight to bounce back to winning ways on Sunday when they host Junior Lone Star FC at Ramapo College at 3:00 p.m.

The Eagles lost their last game 1-0 to New Jersey Copa FC on Wednesday. 2016 All-NPSL defender Christopher Riordan expressed that Wednesday's deficit won't affect his side negatively against Lone Star.

"I don't think we're going to get too carried away about the loss," Riordan said. "I thought we were a bit unlucky not to score. But full credit to Copa, they fought hard and defended well.

"It's still early in the season and I think each game we're going to improve and find our rhythm. This is a new group of players so I think the chemistry within the team will improve each game and then the results will come."

Riordan shared what Clarkstown took from the loss against Copa

"I think we learned a few things from that game," he said. "We have to be more decisive finishing our chances in the final third.We have to be a little tighter in the defense also. And finally, we have to fight and work hard in every game because we realize that talent is not enough to win games."

The Eagles currently sit in fourth place in the Keystone Conference with a 1-0-1 record, right above Junior Lone, who resides in fifth place with the same record.  

Clarkstown only defeated JLFC once their past four meetings in the regular season, which was a 3-1 victory the last time they faced them on Jul. 3rd, 2016.

Midfielder Josue Ortiz on the ball during Clarkstown Eagles 3-1 win over Junior Lone Star FC on Jul. 3rd, 2017.

The Eagles topped the Keystone Conference for the past two seasons when Lone Star finished last year's campaign in third place.

Riordan wishes that the club will have another lucrative season this year.

"Hopefully we can have another successful season like last year," the defender said. "It's not going to be easy though. As I mentioned earlier it's going to take a lot of hard work. We have a lot of talent on the team this year, so now we have to show it week in and week out on the field."