Finals Preview: U14 Boys I
Group B: FC Westchester, Surrey WFC, Cal Odyssey and Blackwatch SC
USL News Release
Monday, September 15
TAMPA – The four teams set for the international Group B fight in the 10th Annual Super Y-League North American Finals U14 boys tournament is the 11-2-0 Mid Atlantic Group A side, FC Westchester, the 8-5-3 Surrey WFC side from British Columbia, Canada, the 10-0-0 Northern California Champions Cal Odyssey and the 12-0-0 New England Division Champs, Blackwatch SC.
FC Westchester
One of the few groups in the U14 boys’ tournament without a returning team from last season’s U13 battle, the first club in Group B is FC Westchester. In the 20 team Mid Atlantic Division, FC Westchester had the most dominate team in Group A, which consisted of the Westchester Flames, Long Island Rough Riders, New York Rough Riders, and Brooklyn Knights. Against those clubs, FC Westchester went 7-2-0. In the five out-of-group matches this summer, FC Westchester went 4-0-0 against their Group C opponents. Their two losses on the season were a 2-0 loss to the Westchester Flames on Wednesday, July 2 and a 2-1 loss to the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday, June 14. The team has outscored their opponents 48-10 this season.
Surrey WFC
The second team in the U14 boys Group B pairing is Surrey WFC. This side ended the Northwest season in third place behind Mountain WFC and the Abbotsford Mariners. Those clubs will be placed in Group C and Group D of the U14 boys’ competition. Should this Surrey WFC team advance to the knockout phase of the competition, they may have to face one of those two clubs again after falling to both teams during the regular season. In those four matches Surrey was outscored 9-4 including a 2-2 draw with Abbotsford on Sunday, May 25. The team’s strength is their balance, as they were the third best offensive and defensive team in the Northwest through their first 16 matches.
Cal Odyssey
Third on the list is the Cal Odyssey, the only team advancing out of the Northern California Division. The side, who netted 45 goals during the 2007 season, solidified their defense during the offseason and is headed to the North American Finals as a result. In 12 matches last season at the U13 level this same team allowed 11 goals. In 2008, the side allowed just one. Their potent offense didn’t slow too much as a result of their defense first policy. They found the back of the net 36 times this season. Cal’s toughest two-game stretch this season came in a pair of 1-0 wins over Bayside Soccer Academy and San Ramon Soccer Club on Sunday, June 29 and Tuesday, July 8.
Black Watch SC
Black Watch SC also advanced to the North American Finals based on the play of their brick wall defense. This New England Champion allowed just two more goals than the Cal Odyssey in the opposite corner of the nation – they also played four more matches than the Californians. Either way, when these two teams meet during group play at the North American Finals – it should be a low scoring affair. Black Watch pitched shutouts in 11 of their 14 matches including their two draws on the season: 0-0 with MPS Boston on Sunday, July 27 and three days later to Nordic on Wednesday, July 30.
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