Philadelphia, PA, October 26 – Maccabi USA and Open Men’s Soccer Coach, Preston Goldfarb, are pleased to announce the roster for the USA Open Men’s Soccer Team. The Team will represent the USA at the Maccabi Australia International Games (MAIGs) in Sydney, Australia from December 26 through January 2, 2011. The athletes, coach and manager come from six states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama, Texas and California. Seven of the athletes are competing at the collegiate level.
Coach Goldfarb is the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Birmingham Southern College (BSC), where he is in his 28thseason. He was the Head Coach for the USA Juniors Boys’ Soccer Team at the 18th World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009 and the Team finished the tournament with an undefeated record in pool play. Team Manager, Aly Goldfarb is also Goldfarb’s daughter and an alumnus of the 18th World Maccabiah Games as a Track & Field athlete with multiple medals. Aly will graduate from BSC this fall and was recently named the University’s Athlete of the Year for the 2009-10 season.
The Team Roster includes: Phillip Chermak of Weston, FL, an alumnus of the Inaugural MAIGs and 12th European Maccabi Games; Brian Cohen of Houston, TX; Nicholas Goldreich of Riverside, CA, a Junior at University of California – Riverside, playing goal keeper; Adam Green of Hatboro, PA, a Senior at California University of Pennsylvania where he plays defense; Craig Hersh of Pearland, TX, an Alumnus of the USA Juniors Boys’ Soccer Team at the 10th Pan Am Maccabi Games; Jason Hirsch of Dallas, TX, an Assistant Coach for the University of Texas at Dallas Men’s Soccer Team; Justin Kamine of Oldwick, NJ, a Junior at Lafayette University where he plays defense; Samuel Kaplan of Brunswick, NJ, a Junior at Amherst College where he plays defense; Zachary Lipshultzof Miami, FL, a Senior at Oberlin College where he plays goal keeper; Charles Paris of Venice, CA a Junior at Yale University where he plays forward; Michael Pourat of Encino, CA, an alumnus of USA Youth Men’s Soccer Team at the 11th Pan Am Maccabi Games; Noah Rothstein of Beverly Hills, CA; Jacob Sklar of San Francisco, CA; Steven Tenenzapf of Princeton Junction, NJ, an alumnus of the USA Youth Men’s Soccer Team at the 17th World Maccabiah Games; and Jeffery Zimering of Basking Ridge, NJ, an alumnus of the USA Open Men’s Futsal Team at the 18thWorld Maccabiah Games and the USA Youth Men’s Soccer Team at the 11th Pan Am Maccabi Games, and a Senior at Cornell University where he plays forward.
“We expect to win this tournament and I believe we have the type of players that can make that ‘expectation’ a reality. I am excited about this Team and the players we have chosen,” said Coach Goldfarb. “I also expect the Team to find a renewed enthusiasm for our sport, our fellow teammates and most importantly, a renewed enthusiasm for Judaism and that we will all understand better that ‘Judaism is more than a religion, it is a way of life.'”
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.