USL Feature

Friday, November 13, 2009

GROUP A
Washington Freedom
The Freedom controlled the Mid Atlantic Division finishing with a 6-1-2 record during the regular season. Washington enjoyed the third-best defense in the division, allowing 0.66 goals per match. Coached by Kris Ward, Nicci Wright and Clyde Watson, the team scored five goals more than any other club in the division, averaging 2.4 goals per game.

Surrey WFC
Surrey WFC remains unbeaten in Super Y-League play heading into the North American Finals at 9-0-3. Coached by Shaun Mason and Regan Mostat, the team scored over three goals per game while allowing just seven all season, the second-best total in the Northwest Division. The team’s leading scorer was Alex Stasiuk, who netted seven goals and four assists this season.

Northern Virginia Majestics
After a 1-2 start, the U16 Majestics finished the season with a seven game unbeaten streak to earn a spot in the Finals. “We are a very well balanced team, capable of scoring in bunches,” said Majestics Head Coach Dave Spofford. “We will be an underdog at the finals this year in a very strong bracket. It will be a great challenge for the girls.”

MPS Renegades
Renegades finished third in the New England Division with a 6-5-1 record. Coached by Lee Billiard and Emma Delves, the team had two strong performances against New England Division champion, Ottawa Fury, losing twice by a single goal (1-0 and 2-1). The Renegades top-scorer was Caroline Brustowicz, who found the back of the net four times this season.

GROUP B
Ottawa Fury
The Fury were looking to return to the SYL Finals in Tampa, FL, for the second consecutive year after going as a U15 group in 2008. Things started very brightly for the squad and coach Jimmy Zito, with the team going 4-0-0 in their first fixtures including two comprehensive wins over Black Watch SC. The only stumble all regular season long would come to second-placed BW Rhode Island in a 3-1 away loss - a game which saw a Jenny Thompson goal canceled out by three BW strikes. Without missing a step after defeat, the Fury would soldier on and go 6-0-1 in their final seven matches of the season, racking up 11 goals for while conceding only four times.

Coastal WFC
Coached by Mark McQueen (CSA A License, Head Coach of Semiahmoo Soccer Club) and assisted by Ciaran McMahon the U16 girls went the season with a record of 5-3-4, recording 18 goals for and 13 goals against. The U16 Girls finished in third place in their division.

Quickstrike
Quickstrike’s ‘93 girls, coached by Hall of Famer George Vizvary, accomplished much in the past two years. In both seasons, the girls finished atop the Mid Atlantic Region of the Super Y-League and advanced to the semifinals in the 2008 finals. In winter of 2008, the girls were crowned NEWSS Cup Champions. The spring 2009 season brought a championship of Region I Colonial League and NY State Cup semi finalists. In the summer the team brought home the National Championship of the US Club National Cup tournament played in Virginia Beach. The team has nine players who have been State and/or Regional ODP players.

GROUP C
Alpharetta United
Alpharetta won Group A of the South Atlantic Division with a 7-2-1 record, scoring 2.20 times per game while allowing just 0.80. Against the Group B representative, Northern Virginia Majestics, Alpharetta won 2-0 on Sunday, June 28th. Coached by Allan Davie, the team had a six-game unbeaten streak cut off in their last match of the season via a 2-1 loss to Triangle FC. Kayla Croom was the team’s top scorer, she netted six goals this season.

BW Rhode Island
Black Watch’s U16 girls are looking forward to their return to the SYL North American Finals after participating in the event as U13’s. Through the addition of several new players, the team is expecting to be very competitive. At full strength, BW Rhode Island can compete well with the top teams in North America. They were the only team to beat or tie the top-seeded Ottawa Fury, beating them 1-0 at home and drawing, 0-0 in Ottawa. Black Watch and the Fury led the region in number of goals scored in the season with 32. They were finalists at the Score Showcase in July in Greensboro, NC, losing in the finals on penalty kicks. The team has worked hard to put themselves in a position to compete with the top teams and did a great job coming together to play some quality soccer this season.

West Coast Capitals
The Capitals U16 girls have reaped the reward of four years of determination and a strong team desire to reach the finals of this tournament. Their dedication in working together in order to achieve one of their dreams this season has been exceptional and is the main reason this group of players has been successful. The core of this team has been together since their first SYL season, four seasons ago. Their willingness to improve both individually and as a team, along with an immense sense of team pride has been the extra factor for the squad.

South Jersey Banshees
The Banshees completed a 5-3-1 season in the Mid Atlantic Division, well-enough for a third place finish in the division and a berth in the North American Finals. Coached by Joe Banks, the girls scored 12 goals this season, led by Shea Levi, who didn’t score this season, but set up three teammates for goals. Shelby Lyon scored two goals this season and assisted on two more to help the Banshees average 1.30 goals per game.