Soccer tourney raises funds for good cause
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

John Pejoski

JACKSON - A police soccer tournament that sought to raise funds for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has led to a victory by the New Jersey Strikers.

The tournament, played recently at the Jackson Justice Complex, was sponsored by Jackson PBA No. 168 and the Jackson Police Department.

"The tournament raised between $2,000 and $3,000 at this year's event," TownshipCouncil Vice President Jason J. Gudaitis said as he presented a trophy to Jackson Police Officer John Pejoski at the July 21 council meeting. "The money raised will be given to the National Center for Missing and Ex-ploited Children to be used for their programs, such as the Amber Alert program, to help children across this great country."

The Strikers defeated the New York Police Department Finest in the title match. The Strikers are made up of members from law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey. The team plays in and out of state during the year.

The championship match at the Jack-son event ended in a 2-2 tie and was won by the Strikers 5-4 on penalty kicks.

The Strikers were the 2003 and 2004 North American soccer champions. They were the 2004 and 2006 second-place finishers at the Secret Service Futbol Indoor Tournament in Gaithersburg, Md.

"There were some pretty good games there," Pejoski said of the soccer action at the Justice Complex. "The other teams that came down were no slouches. There were the Philadelphia Police Department, New York's Finest, the Jackson Alumni and the New Jersey Strikers. "

The Jackson Alumni were former members of the Jackson Memorial High School soccer team.

"That was the National Division," Pejoski said. "The American Division consists of Jackson United, who are members of the Jackson police, fire department and soccer coaches all wrapped up into one team; the Enforcers; the Nassau County Police Department; and the FBI."

Each team played a round robin within its division, followed by playoffs and then the championship match which pitted the Strikers against the New York Police Department Finest.

"Our team was formed in 1998," Pejoski said. "At one point we had four officers from Jackson on the Strikers; Sgt. John Decker, Police Officer Chris Parise, Police Officer George Vidalis and myself. Kurt Peins from the Old Bridge Police Depart-ment is the captain now."

He said the members of the Strikers have played on championship teams at the high school or college level.

"For some reason we have this aura that we're a lot tougher than most of the other teams," Pejoski said. "They go at us pretty hard sometimes, but most of the time we prevail."

Pejoski said the New York Red Bulls sent their street team and donated game tickets and an autographed soccer ball that was raffled off for the benefit of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Frequently, the events that the Strikers enter benefit youth programs in a variety of locations, such as the North American Police Soccer Tournament. There is a partnership between that organization and the Police Athletic League, Pejoski said.

"This year it was in St. Louis," he said. "Next year it's in Seattle and last year it was in Portland. It was New York's turn to host in 2003. There are about five or six cities that usually host the games. Usually it's the same teams playing against each other. So, we get around."

Pejoski said that he is hoping to hold another charity soccer event in Jackson next year.