RVC Lightning joins Region 1 Premier League

The Rockville Centre Lightning B-U15 soccer team, last season’s winner of the Northeast Regional Premier (NERP) Red division, has been accepted to play in the prestigious Region 1 Premier League. Developed as a venue that allows only the best teams in the country to compete, the Premier League is comprised of 16 teams from the 15-state Region 1 territory. It serves as a qualifier for the National Championship and is difficult to get into. Since the Rockville Centre Soccer Club's inception, no other boys team has reached this level of play.

The Lightning will open its season this Saturday, March 13 at Skelos Field, squaring off against two former N.Y. State Champions, Dix Hills Thunder at 11 a.m. and Manhattan Ajax at 2 p.m. These teams are currently ranked numbers 5 and 18, respectively, in the country. These will be the only home Premier League games for the Lightning this season and are a great opportunity for soccer enthusiasts to see some top flight soccer.  

The Lightning hopes to get off to a fast start after recently returning from the “Score at the Shore College Showcase” in Tampa, Fla. where they finished with a 3-1-1 record. The Lightning are trained by Tim Bradbury and managed by Tony Tita and Jim Mercadante. Most members of the team have played together since the third grade, and their managers say their years of hard work and a consistent training strategy has been paying big dividends. Lightning players are Patrick Codispoti, Dane Flaherty, Gerard Mahoney, Kyle Morrissey, John Murphy, John Platt, Mark Romanowski, Steven Tita, Brian Westerman, Kevin Mercadante, Eric Bergersen, Vito Cassisi, Matt Donnelly, Dylan Delloiacono, Cadeem and Kareem Harris and Jonathan Hortach. Those interested can follow the Lightning’s schedule and results at www.Region1.com.