From Sea to Shining Sea
U17 Boys: Schulz Academy 3 South Coast Bayern 2
 Friday, November 16
TAMPA – The best team in the history of the Super Y-League verses a historic region of the United States. Schulz Academy knocked off the Super Y-League Southern California representatives South Coast Bayern 3-2 here at Land O’Lakes Recreation Center in Land O’Lakes, Florida, a huge step in the right direction for a team looking to break a record only they could forge.
Schulz Academy broke through near the 20 minute mark when a ball played in from the left flank found the head of Vincent DePollo. DePollo got a head on the cross and sent it back across the area where teammate Hugh Dickson dropped the jaws of every soccer fan in attendance with a one-time, waist-high volley rocket into the upper 90. The strike set the bar for the remaining 70 minutes. The two champions did not disappoint.
“The level of play here today is probably not spoken about as much as it should be,” said Valparaiso Assistant Coach Rick King following the match. “A number of guys on the field today could make a big impact for a lot of programs and word is beginning to get out. I have run into representatives from Ohio State and Michigan State today. The kids are here, uncommitted and very talented. I am looking for a few guys for the ’08 season and the talent level of the U16 boy’s match I watched between United ’96 and Schulz Academy was just unbeatable.”
South Coast Bayern, accustomed to playing top teams from the West Coast did not shy from the level of play. They continued to attack from everywhere inside midfield, sending long diagonal balls in search of the back post that troubled Schulz Academy goalkeeper Manuel Perdomo.
Perdomo weathered the storm and Schulz looked steady in the face of what could be considered their toughest match of group play until one of Bayern’s diagonal balls found the feet of respected midfielder Alex Loeffelman.
Loeffelman brought the ball in without missing a stride, sidestepped Perdomo coming off his line, and finished as calm as could be. And just like that the score was even again.
The momentum of Bayern’s goal lingered for a few moments and the Westerners held an advantage for a short period before Schulz’s Jamel Johnson struck back just as abruptly as Loeffelman had a few minutes earlier. On the play Johnson, playing the role of a target forward, posted up his defender and chipped a no-look shot over the head of Josh Lavallee for a 2-1 Schulz lead.
Just before the half Schulz struck a huge blow to the confidence of their worthy opponents. Again it was Dickson who was in the right place at the right time, a rebound off a Schulz corner kick found his foot and the midfielder finished hard to the back post for a 3-1 halftime advantage, his second goal of the contest.
The halftime break and subsequent changes interrupted two halves of great soccer, but very little strategy came into play when Bayern’s Ruben Gonzalez attacked the center of Schulz backline. The nimble striker beat a defender of four before chipping a ball to the back post over the head of Perdomo. The goal made it 3-2 Schulz Academy with tons of time remaining.
Enter Shawn Barry.
Schulz’s leader on the backline stepped up his game to another level in the second half and battled Bayern’s endless second half attack to the end. Bayern pressed more and more nearing the final whistle. They even had the equalizer on their foot with Perdomo out of net only to watch their safe roller headed into the back of the net get run down from behind and knocked wide just before it crossed the goal line.
“We have had tough games to open the Super Y-League finals in the past,” said Schulz Academy Head Coach Josef Schulz. “Two years ago we played one of the best teams in the country, the Washington Crossfire, in the opening game and won 2-0 only to overlook our next match and fall 4-1. The Super Y-League North American Finals are not a place to let your guard down because you will get beaten. We qualified then and we are in the driver’s seat with this win but we will not let up.”
“Shawn Barry is one of the best defenders in the country at his level,” added Schulz. “Key players like Shawn step up in key situations and win games for you. Today was no different.”
|
|
