Former Providence Keeper Signs With Irish Club

Konopka Inked One-Year Pact With Bohemians FC

March 6, 2008

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Former Providence College goalkeeper and Jersey Shore Boca standout Chris Konopka will continue his professional soccer career in Europe this season after the former Kansas City keeper inked a one-year deal with Irish soccer club Bohemians FC.

Konopka spent 2007 with the Wizards of Major League Soccer who elected not to exercise his contract extension at the end of last season, making him a free agent.

The Bohemians also nicknamed the “Gypsies” are one of the oldest soccer clubs in Europe. The Dublin based outfit competes in the Premiere Division of the Eircom League of Ireland and finished in third place during their 2007 campaign with an overall league record of 16-7-10 and are one of the teams being tipped as potential title challengers this season.

Former Providence goalkeeper Chris Konopka signed with Bohemians FC.

“I am very excited and extremely honored to become part of such a fabled club like Bohs,” Konopka said. “The whole organization has treated me first class ever since I arrived in Dublin. I’m going to work hard every day and contribute in whatever way I can to help Bohs take home a league championship this season and to help us advance far into all the Cups and European competitions that we will play in. I think the team will be very competitive this year. All the guys have a great attitude.”

Konopka, who was added to the United States U23 National Team Player Pool by US Olympic Team Coach Peter Novak this past December, was invited to join the Bohs preseason camp on Jan. 17 by new manager Pat Fenlon and has impressed the Bohs skipper and his backroom staff including new full-time goalkeeping man Dermot O’Neill since his arrival.

“Pat, Dermot, Liam [O’Brien] and Dave [Henderson] are probably the most technical group of coaches I have ever had the opportunity to work with,” Konopka said. “They really know their stuff and can bring the best out in a player. It’s like having the national team coaching staff teaching you on a daily basis. I’ve picked-up so much in my short time here under their guidance. The entire pre-season has been top notch and I’m looking forward to working with them for the rest of the year. The whole environment is tremendous. I am positive that being here playing in Europe as a member of Bohs will help advance my professional development.”

At the collegiate level, the New Jersey native starred for four years (2003-06) between the pipes at Providence College for coach Chaka Daley and finished third all-time in the most games ever played by a Friar goalkeeper.

While at PC, Konopka allowed only 57 goals for a 1.17 career goals-against average, made 199 career saves, had a career save percentage of 77.7 percent and became the first goalkeeper in Providence history to post a win in the NCAA Division I Tournament.

In his senior year, Konopka garnered All-Big East Second Team accolades becoming only the second keeper in Friar history to receive All-League honors.

He capped his college career by becoming the first player from Providence College to be drafted by a Major League Soccer team when the Wizards selected him in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft.

A long-time Jersey Shore Boca Soccer Club veteran, Konopka was a member of Boca’s youth system, SYL, U20 and U23 teams throughout his career as well as a member of Boca’s PDL team in 2003.

Konopka and the Bohemians open their 2008 regular league season away at Galway United on Friday, March 7.

Click here for a previous article on Chris Konopka.

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