Two soccer teams headed to nationals

Three teams representing Massachusetts Youth Soccer, including one coached by Dover-Sherborn Regional High girls' soccer coach Francis Okaroh, a former New England Revolution star, have emerged as regional champions. Two of them -- Okaroh's FC Greater Boston Bolts Boys U15 team and the Stars of Massachusetts Girls U19 squad -- will be heading to Orlando, Fla., this month for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

The nationals, to be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex July 26-31, will feature the top 48 boys' and girls' teams from across the country in the Under 14 to Under 19 age groups. The third regional champion was the FC Greater Boston Bolts U13 team. It is just the second time since the formation of Massachusetts Youth Soccer that two teams have qualified for the nationals and the first time that three Bay State teams have been regional champs.

Right midfielder Nicholas Addeo of Sudbury, left midfielder Arthur Harris of Framingham, defender-midfielder Zack Kumin of Needham, and central defender Dan Lee of Natick are members of the Bolts U15 team. Defenders Janna Breitenwischer of Stow and Lauren Vecchione of Sudbury played with the Stars of Massachusetts U19s. The latter squad, coached by Jason Dewhurst, swept their five games, all via shutouts, at the Region 1 championships in Virginia Beach, Va., on the July Fourth weekend.

Breitenwischer, a former Nashoba Regional High star, was an all-conference rookie team pick last fall at Fairfield University after leading that team in scoring with four goals and three assists. Dewhurst described her as ''a great defender with a great attitude." He said that Vecchione, a Providence College player, was one of the most improved players on the Stars team. Vecchione received four letters in soccer and skiing at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High.

Okaroh, who has coached the U15 group since the players were in the U13 bracket, described his team as ''hungry and eager to get to the next level." The Bolts, who will practice four times a week in preparation for the nationals, were 4-0-1 at the regionals.

''Most of our players could play several positions," said Okaroh, who came to the United States from Nigeria and was a second-team All-American at Boston University in 1986. ''We have a system where once a player is in the game, he stays in the lineup for the entire half if possible, so they have to be versatile."

Okaroh coached three Greater Boston Bolts teams this spring and summer, including the Girls U15 and the Boys U14 teams. His daughter, Joy Okaroh, played left forward and left midfield for the U15 team. His son, Andrew Okaroh, played for the Bolts U16 team. Okaroh is also an instructor at the Elite Soccer Camp on the Bentley College campus and will run his own soccer camp July 31 through Aug. 5 and Aug. 7 through 12 at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire.

The 2004 season was one to remember for Okaroh as Dover-Sherborn finished with a 10-8-3 record that included two victories in the MIAA Division 3 South Sectionals. It was the first time D-S had qualified for tournament play in nearly a decade.

''Francis was a perfectionist as a player," recalled BU coach Neil Roberts. ''He was never afraid to speak his mind, and he had the ability to make those around him better players. I had a feeling back then that his passion for the game would eventually lead him into coaching."

Okaroh played professionally in Belgium and returned to the United States in 1996, when he joined the new MLS pro soccer league and the Revolution at sweeper back. He was traded to the Chicago Fire and was a defensive captain on their 1998 title team. He retired from the MLS four years ago after being team captain of the Miami franchise, and he has been a successful youth and high school coach since then.

The Bolts U13 regional championship team, which is a year shy of national competition, included Dylan Cowley and Christopher Pratt of Wellesley, Ryan Hagen and David Robinson of Needham, and Joey Hattis of Newton.