TIM DIBISCEGLIE SIGNS WITH SEMI-PRO SOCCER TEAM
Jersey United Alumnus signs with Electric City Shock
SCRANTON, P.A. – The Electric City Shock have signed defensive midfielder and University of Scranton Royals’ product Tim DiBisceglie (GSB’13) for the 2015 National Premier Soccer League season.
DiBisceglie, a proud Jersey United alumnus, who just completed his second season for the Scranton Royals, was recently tested for the full ninety minutes by Electric City in a friendly versus the Trenton Rebels. Although the Shock came out on the short end of a 1:2 score, Tim looked strong and scored the Shock’s only goal off a running header. Within an hour of the whistle, DiBisceglie was offered a contract by Electric City’s manager, James Bell.
“Playing in the NPSL has been one of my career goals,” DiBisceglie said after signing the post-match paperwork. “When I made my goals about four years ago, one was to play college soccer for a great team and coaches. The next step was to sign with the NPSL or USL before I turned twenty-one. I’m excited to have been able to do both. Ever since I got a taste of Division One in Scotland with Kilmarnock, I have been dead set on playing at that level again after I graduate from Scranton. That’s my next goal.”
DiBisceglie said he was looking forward to playing for Electric City.
“To be living in Scranton, to play for the Royals, and now to represent the city at the semi-pro level is awesome," he said. "I am grateful for all of the support I’ve gotten from my family, friends and coaches. I have worked hard to reach this point and I am excited to play a high-level of soccer with the Shock this summer.”
Electric City is one of sixty-five teams across America competing in the National Premier Soccer League. The NPSL has been instrumental in the rise of many professional soccer players in the United States. NPSL alumnus Chris Wondolowski now plays Major League Soccer and recently played in the 2014 World Cup vs Portugal and Belgium. More locally, Morristown High School’s Connor Lade played in the NPSL while in college before signing to his current team, the New York Red Bulls.
As a member of the National Premier Soccer League, the Electric City Shock will play a ten-game, May through July schedule within the fourth tier of the US Soccer Pyramid. Each soccer country has its own ‘pyramid’. The American pyramid was created to elevate elite soccer players to their highest professional potential. Tiers One through Tier Three are considered professional. The New York Red Bulls are in Tier One and the New York Cosmos are in Tier Two.
The Fourth Tier, where the Shock plays, was recently reclassified as ‘semi-professional’ so that college players can play alongside pros while keeping their college eligibility status through the NCAA. Tiers Five and Six are classified amateur. DiBisceglie had played the last two seasons in Tier Six with the NJ Wildcats.
DiBisceglie, a starter for the Scranton Royals since his first game as a freshman, currently leads his college team offensively with twenty-one shots on goal over the past two years. On the defensive side, the education major led the Royals in 2014 with a 0.22 goals against average by allowing only one goal in 412 field minutes during all eight of the Royals’ Landmark Conference matches.
The rising junior is attending the University of Scranton on scholarship, and is looking towards the challenge of playing for both the Royals and the Shock. Fortunately DiBisceglie is no stranger to playing with multiple teams.
“It takes a lot of focus to juggle the academics and soccer in college,” DiBisceglie said. “Being part of two teams while in school just ups the challenge. I was able to do it before, so I’m sure, by having that experience, I will be able to do it again.”
While in high school, Tim trained at Gill St Bernard’s HS while he was on trial overseas with Kilmarnock FC of the Scottish Premier League. During that summer of 2011, his trip to Scotland was highlighted by a match in England, when he played sixty-five minutes for the Scottish club in a friendly at Everton FC. Everton did not score against DiBisceglie. Upon his return to American soil, the 6’2” center-mid captained the GSB Knights to the NJ State Championship match only a few months later. No worse for the wear, DiBisceglie helped lead Gill St. Bernard’s to three state finals, and was named all-state, all-county, all-area and all-conference as he became the 8th all-time scorer at GSB.
“I’m very happy right now,” DiBisceglie concluded. “From Mine Hill to Gill, and from Jersey United to Electric City, it’s been so much fun so far. I’m just trying to learn at every level and improve my game. I want to shut opponents out and help my team put points on the board. I just can’t wait to start this next stage of my career with the Electric City Shock.”