Chris Konopka

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Chris Konopka
Personal information
Full name Chris Konopka
Date of birth April 14, 1985 (1985-04-14) (age 23)
Place of birth    Toms River, NJ, United States
Height 6'5
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Bohemian FC
Youth clubs
1992-2002
2003-2006		 Jersey Shore Boca
Providence College
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2003
2004
2005-2006
2007
2008-		 Jersey Shore Boca
Jersey Falcons
Jersey Shore Boca
Kansas City Wizards
Bohemian FC		    
National team2
2007-2008 US U-23 National Team

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 22 May 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 22 May 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Chris Konopka (born April 14, 1985 in Toms River, New Jersey) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper with Bohemian FC in the FAI Premier Division.

Konopka grew up in Toms River, New Jersey[1] and played both basketball and soccer at Toms River High School East.[2]

He played collegiate soccer at Providence College of the Big East Conference from 2003 to 2006. After a standout career with the Friars, Konopka was considered a top goalkeeping prospect and had impressive trials in England after his senior year with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City.However, he was unable to sign in the United Kingdom after his trials when his attempted acquisition of a Polish passport through ancestry was not yet completed.

He was drafted in the third round, 29th overall, by the Kansas City Wizards in 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft and became the first player in the history of Providence College to be drafted by an MLS team. Konopka is a long-time veteran of the Jersey Shore Boca Soccer Club of New Jersey and came through the Boca youth program.

Konopka became a free agent at the end of the 2007 MLS season after the Wizards elected not exercise his contract option which allowed him to pursue other opportunities without any transfer fee compensation.

In December 2007, Konopka was named to the US U-23 National Team player pool by US U23 Head Coach Piotr Novak.

Konopka was invited into pre-season training camp with eircom League of Ireland Premier Division Club Bohemian FC in January 2008 and signed a one-year contract with the fabled Irish club in March 2008. He was given international clearance to join the "Gypsies" on 12th March 2008 - [1]

Contents

[edit] Club/National Team Competition

  • Bohemian FC - eircom League of Ireland (2008)
  • United States U23 National Team Player Pool (2007)
  • Kansas City Wizards-Major League Soccer (2007)
  • Major League Soccer Player Combine (2007)
  • Walsall FC-FA League One-21 day training (2007)
  • Charlton Athletic-FA Premiership-10 day training (2007)
  • Cardiff City-FA Championship-10 day training (2006)
  • Providence College-NCAA-Big East Conference (2003-2006)
  • Red Bull New York-Major League Soccer-summer training (2005-2006)
  • New England Revolution-Major League Soccer-summer training (2005)
  • USL Premiere Development League (2003-2004)
  • USASA U23 Jersey Shore Boca (2005-2006)
  • US Soccer Regional Team (2001-2004)
  • NJ State Team (1998-2004)
  • USL Super Y-League (1999-2000)
  • USYSA Jersey Shore Boca (1994-2006)

[edit] Providence College GK Highlights

  • Coached at Providence by Chaka Daley - Former MLS Player-New England Revolution
  • First player in PC history to be drafted by a MLS team (2007)
  • Named Team Co-Captain (2006)
  • First player in PC history to be invited to MLS Player Combine (2006)
  • Only second GK in PC history to receive All-Big East League Honors (Second Team-2006)
  • Finished third all-time in most career GK games played at PC (2003-2006)
  • Ended four year career with one of the lowest GAA averages in PC history (1.17)
  • Led PC to 13 overall wins during 2006 season - one win shy of most wins ever (14) set in 1984
  • Recorded consecutive season GAA of 0.94 goal per game (2006 & 2005)
  • Finished consecutive seasons among top Big East GK statistical leaders (2006 & 2005)
  • Led PC to 7-4-9 record & set new NCAA single season records of 9 ties & 12 OT games (2005)
  • Led PC to 9.5 game most improved W/L record from 2004 to 2005 (ranks tied for the 10th best in NCAA history)
  • Received Big East and ECAC GK of Week honors and BIG EAST Honor Roll honors (2005)
  • Finished 1st in Big East in saves per game and 10th in overall saves (2004)

[edit] Providence College/NCAA GK Records Held

  • Set NCAA single-season records of 9 ties and 12 overtime games (2005)
  • Most Big East regular season wins in PC history (7 in 2006)
  • Most career NCAA Tournament appearances in PC history (3 games in 2005-2006)
  • Most career Big East Tournament appearances in PC history (5 games in 2003, 2005, 2006)
  • Most career Big East Tournament wins in PC history (2)
  • Most career Big East Tournament shut-outs in PC history (2)
  • Most PC GK games played in a single season (20 in 2005)
  • Most PC GK minutes played in a single season (2020:38 in 2005)
  • First PC GK to record NCAA Tournament win (2005)
  • First PC GK to appear in NCAA Tournament 2nd round (2005)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Edelson, Steve. "Konopka right at home, in Ireland", Asbury Park Press, March 12, 2008. Accessed April 8, 2008. "Since stepping off a plane at Dublin Airport on Jan. 15 and signing a contract with storied Bohemian Football Club two weeks later, Chris Konopka has experienced a side of soccer he could barely have imagined growing up in Toms River."
  2. ^ Chris Konopka, Providence Friars. Accessed April 8, 2008.

[edit] External links

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