Goal Keepers:

There are good players around; there will be opportunities during the season. “Why not? We’ll always be looking for talent, developing and promoting other players that are what the league is all about”.

To learn more about the Jersey Express Soccer please contact the Sales Huddle Corporate Office. For more information, contact the Sales Huddle public relations contact at: sales@jerseyexpresssoccer.org

Newark, N.J. -- What are the chances that as a fan you will be the starting keeper for your favorite team, Only one mile away from NJIT in Newark NJ to Harrison Red Bull Arena.

Ryan Meara, Jersey Express Keeper for the past two seasons shines again as the new Red Bull starting Keeper. Meara was drafted in the second round at the MLS Super Draft and was the only rookie to start in his MLS debut. He started all four games for the Red Bulls this season. As the Express Keeper, Meara’s record was impressive. He led the Express into the sweet sixteen in 2010. In addition, he was nominated as the PDL Goal Keeper of the year. In 2011, Meara, at the age of 20, was the team Captain and led the team to the PDL Final 8. Meara recorded his two seasons with the Express; 19 wins and 18 shutouts with the 0.7 goals against average.

Monday, May 9, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- What are the chances of Premier Development League management success breeding Premier Development League player success? Every likelihood, if the twist to the story involves the Jersey Express.

About 18 months ago, when goalkeeper Ryan Meara was persuaded to join the Express roster, little did he fathom his destiny in the PDL’s halls of success. Moreover, he was hardly aware that the wooing skills of General Manager, Gali Maimon were part of the managerial arsenal that shot Maimon to the PDL Executive of the Year award in 2008.

That reckoned to be worthwhile in the swaying that eventually led Meara to being named the PDL 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year.

“It was around Christmas, Gali called me up and he was so convincing about everything it was hard to say ‘no’ to him," Meara said. "You could just sense his enthusiasm, and it was something that you’d want to be part of when someone showed such care in relating it would be a good environment.”

The call from Maimon actually lured Meara from the Express’ Mid Atlantic Division rivals the Long Island Rough Riders, giving him an opportunity to play closer to his hometown of Yonkers, N.Y. and matching the distance he travels every day during the school year as member of the Class of 2012 at Fordham University, where Meara is a Marketing major. 

In addition to being named the PDL Goalkeeper of the Year last season, the 6-foot-4 goalkeeper was also named to the PDL All-League Team from a player pool of 2000-plus. He shared that honor with teammate, midfielder Frank Alesci, making their selections a distinction for the Express as being one of only two teams in the 67-club league to have multiple inclusions in the 11-man team. He is setting these awards atop others he won for being named to the collegiate All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team and the First Team All-Region for the past three years.

Though having superlative feats, Meara was almost surprised, but still gracious over the awards.

“To tell you the truth I wasn’t really expecting them," Meara said. "It was nice to get recognized. It just makes you feel that the time you put in paid off."

Meara is also quick to pay tribute to his Express teammates, rather than keep all the glory for himself.

"We had a great defense with a lot of experienced guys," Meara added. "Their experience wore off onto me and definitely helped me a lot, gave me a lot of confidence.”

Meara got into soccer at an early age, after the beautiful game won out against another of his sports preferences: basketball – a quite logical preference given his towering height. As a youngster in Yonkers he played with the area’s junior team, and soon realized soccer had his craving.

His choice was supported by those closest to him.

“My coach, there, hooked me up with some good people and it turned up pretty good for all of us, including my family who have always got my back and I couldn’t be more thankful for that,” Meara said.

It’s that background that compels him to excel in a club that, incidentally, carries the motto ‘Unity is Strength’. The Express are his second family, Meara said, noting the enviable amity in the club is hugely responsible for his team’s successes.

“It’s just a great environment with everyone from the owner Joe [Branco] to [coaches] George [Vichiakov] and Lucio [Russo] and Gali," Meara said. "We know how to have fun and when it’s time to work we put in the hard work that is necessary and it shows out.”

While with the Long Island outfit, Meara shared duties in goal, but he longed to for his own space on the stage as a soloist.

“I only played in half the games ‘cause there was another outstanding goalie there and I was only 18," Meara said. "So, it was a learning experience more or less for me.” 

Reflecting on his season including an astonishing run of shutouts in all but one road game, Meara recalled the tough loss in Canada during the 2010 playoffs that stopped his club in the conference semifinals. He takes motivation from that, and wants to help his team go all the way this season.

“This summer I would like to win something with Express," Meara said. "I probably would have traded that individual award for winning the championship.” 

And, from there, he wants to grow in the sport.

“I have one more season left with Fordham and I’ll like to finish off strong and hopefully win something there too, and then get to play somewhere after school and at the next level," he added. "That would be awesome, to go as far as I can … give it a shot … that’s my dream really.”

In the goal, the lanky lad has the advantage, high and wide, to thwart strikes from a set-piece or in the run of play. He, however, knows the differing degrees of danger from a free-kick, a corner and a penalty, but singles out the latter as his least favorite moment in a game.

“Just because the chances of making a save is slim," Meara said. "But I don’t mind facing penalties. It is what determines what you’re capable of, and if you make a good save on it, you are a hero.”

At the start of every game, Meara has a guarded mantra he repeats to himself. “Just be confident,” is his dominant theme. To fortify his assuredness for the 90 minutes, he couples that with a little ‘credo call’ from his coaches.

“They would just say, probably, ‘do what you know best‘," Meara said, "and if we play our game and do what we do best we’ll be successful in most cases”.

Surrounded by the assorted cultures within his club and the wider PDL, the Jersey goalkeeper has been able to expand the horizons of his personal fraternity.

“I got to meet some great people from all over the world," Meara said "All different types of backgrounds and I think that is what makes soccer more than any sport so great because it’s enjoyed by so many.

"I feel that soccer has opened a lot of doors for me. It’s just a great experience for me so far." 

For a keeper who champions his “presence in box” as his greatest gameday asset, Meara has a keen eye detecting the ‘goings-on’ in front of him that gives him a knack to predict, even when looking at the upcoming season.

“I’d just say, you know, we had some success last year and we’ll be on other team’s radars now," Meara said. "So, it’s just to build from last year’s success and continue to work even harder. Just to take it game by game and try to go out into every game expecting to win and put the work in and I think we’ll be successful."

To learn more about the Jersey Express Soccer please contact the Sales Huddle Corporate Office. For more information, contact the Sales Huddle public relations contact at: sales@jerseyexpresssoccer.org

There are good players around; there will be opportunities during the season. “Why not? We’ll always be looking for talent, developing and promoting other players that are what the league is all about”.

NEWARK, NJ - Former Brooklyn Knights General Manager, Gali Maimon was named the new General Manager of the Newark Ironbound Express today.

Maimon, the 2008 Premier Development League Executive of the Year, spent three years with the Knights. Over that period the Knights went 26-12-10 in the regular season, qualifying for playoffs in three consecutive seasons. The Knights record in playoffs the past three seasons was 1-2-3.

His new team, Ironbound was 8-2-6 in 2008, their inaugural year. They lost their first-ever playoff match, 4-2 to the Reading Rage that season after nipping at the heels of the Knights throughout the regular season. Brooklyn won the PDL’s Northeast Division that season with a record of 10-2-4. Newark finished second with an 8-2-6 mark.

In head-to-head competition the past two years, Brooklyn holds a 2-1-1 advantage over the Express.

Greek American-Atlas Head Coach Lucio Russo also was named Assistant Coach to Newark’s head man, George Vichniakov, who is in his third year.

Garry Tim was named the Media Director for the Express.