Hard work pays off for Solomon
Team Blue beat Team White 10-3 in the boys game at the 2019 Niagara Region Soccer Showcase presented by the Niagara College Knights soccer program. Photo by Ryan McCullough/Niagara Knights.
Michael Solomon isn’t afraid of a little hard work.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Saint Paul spends countless hours on the pitch working on his game.
Solomon was named player of the game for Team White in a 10-3 loss to Team Blue Tuesday at the 2019 Niagara Region Soccer Showcase presented by the Niagara College Knights soccer program.
Solomon was clearly one of his squad’s top offensive players, something he chalked up to his work ethic.
“It’s a lot of work. I put in a lot of hours by myself in the gym that sometimes goes unnoticed,” he said. “A lot of guys ask how you do this or that and its just work honestly.
“I go myself to the park. I go to any of the turf fields and try and run and shoot balls, passing, first touch. Everything.”
Solomon appreciated the award.
“It’s nice to get recognized in front of your peers and the guys you play against all year,” he said. “It was awesome. I liked the energy out here. The music was great and it was nice.”
Solomon, who plays for Club Italia, didn’t look at the game as just a friendly.
“I came in serious as always. You never know who’s watching but we’re still having fun out there,” he said.
As his high school career is now over, Solomon admits he’s starting to look to the future.
“I’m getting older but it would be nice to play,” he said. “I played in the States when I was younger and I traveled all over Ontario when I was younger.”
Solomon, who said he played at the travel level since he began playing, has always been a strong offensive performer, but acknowledged he needs to work on his defence.
Making up Team Blue were: Maxwell Witcomb, Holy Cross; Jake Richard, Port Colborne; Nolan Bosetti, Notre Dame; Owen Patitucci, Notre Dame; Cam MacPherson, Grimsby; Jonah Devereaux, Lakeshore Catholic; Nick Andreola, A.N. Myer; Maxwell Grant, Governor Simcoe; Andres Pelaez, St. Francis; Mario Borojevic, Westlane; Liam Mitchell, St. Catharines Collegiate; Sebastian Agudo, Notre Dame; Devin Marques, Greater Fort Erie.
Making up Team White were: Jacob Marshall, Westlane; Patryk Solomin, Holy Cross; Tyler Glasbergen, Smithville Christian; Brandon Wallace, E.L.Crossley; Altin Ibrahimi, Holy Cross; Elijah Wanless, St. Francis; Michael Solomon, Saint Paul; Noah Wilson, Saint Michael, Wyatt Habinski, Greater Fort Erie; Hartley Slater, Greater Fort Erie; Michael DiMaurizio, Denis Morris; Marco Primerano, A.N. Myer; Connor Carroll, Holy Cross.
STATS PACK
Blue 10 White 3
BPSN Players of the Game: Nick Andreola from Team Blue and Michael Solomon from Team White.
For Team Blue: Andreola; Devin Marques 3; Max Grant 2; Liam Mitchell 2; Sebastian Agudo; Andres Pelaez.
For Team Blue: Solomon; Marco Primerano; Elijah Wanless.
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