Under-14 Girls
FC Stars of Massachusetts v San Juan
Spirits 94 Blue, 0:2
Goal Scorers: SAN - Alyssa Jara (26:00), SAN - Kyla Booker (18:00)
CYSA Teams Achieve Success at
National Championships
CYSA is pleased
and proud to announce that the American River Youth Soccer League’s
San Juan Spirits 94 Blue has been crowned the US Youth Soccer Under-14
Girls’ National Champion. The US Youth Soccer National Championship
Series concluded the 2007/2008 season’s event with the final week of
play taking place in Little Rock, Arkansas from July 22nd
through 27th.
With two wins
and a tie ending their preliminary games during the final week of
competition, a rematch of the earlier preliminary game that had ended
in a tie loomed on the horizon. The winner-take-all finale against
their Massachusetts opponent lived up to its billing and proved to be
the definitive moment in an impressive championship series for the
CYSA team which did not give up a goal all week.
Coached by
Peter Prieto, the San Juan squad is comprised of 16 young athletes who
have seen their soccer dreams come to fruition. Kyla Booker, Sonia
Correa, Courtney Dedrick, Viviana Diaz, Emily Duff, Amanda Harrigan,
Sarah Jansen, Alyssa Jara, Chelsea Ladd, Madeline Lummis, Mandi
McBroom, Katelyn Rowland, Sofia Assvedra, Elaini Vargas, Haley
Washburn, and Mireya Wathen-Mayorga started the quest in March, taking
the team through 18 games in the National Championship Series (which
includes all State Cup games and Far West Regional games as well as
those at Nationals.) In State Cup the team amassed an impressive eight
game winning streak which they carried with them into Far West
Regionals where the team remained unbeaten. A 0-0 tie in their second
preliminary game at Regionals was the only deviation from the team’s
winning ways. Scoring three 1-0 wins in the quarter, semi and final
matches secured the team a berth at the National Championships where
they wrapped up the NCS in impressive style and captured the ultimate
prize. Teammates Katelyn Rowland and Alyssa Jara were singled out for
their individual performances as Rowland was awarded the Golden Glove
Award for her outstanding performance at the goalkeeper position and
Jara was the recipient of the Golden Boot Award for recognition of her
goal-scoring prowess. Their National Championship Series record shows
the Spirits 94 Blue racked up a total of 47 goals while holding their
opponents to a combined total of six goals.
Diablo Valley
Black Pearl 90 also distinguished themselves in Little Rock by being
awarded the US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award for demonstrating
exemplary sportsmanship. After posting an impressive 7 wins and no
losses record in State Cup, the Black Pearl bolstered their undefeated
record at Regionals with five wins and one tie. Including their games
at Nationals they scored 42 goals along the way and gave up only 13.
Although they were unable to capture a win in three hard-fought
preliminary games at Nationals, the team of Anthony Ahedo, Garrett
Biel, Jose Cabeza, Jose Chaires, Harjan Cheema, Jaysen Dyal, Alejandro
Lopez, Omar Ortiz, Juan Perez, Ryan Quigley, Adrian Rincon, Andrew
Shapiro, Edwin Velasquez, George Valente, Edgar Villagrana, Scott
White, and coach John Badger, proved that despite their disappointment
this team should be proud of their achievements and the positive way
in which they conducted themselves during the competition. Being
selected for such high recognition is a great testament to a team that
respects its opponents, honors the game, and brings players of
character to the pitch.
The CYSA Board of Directors and Cup Staff congratulate
both teams on their well-deserved achievements!

