USL Press Release

Friday, December 11, 2009

TAMPA, FLORIDA – United Soccer Leagues announced today the U16 Girls All-Tournament Team following the North American Finals held Friday, November 20 through Monday, November 23 at Land O’Lakes Recreation Center in Land O’Lakes, Florida. Coastal WFC of British Columbia, Canada won the U16 Girls Championship by defeating Quickstrike SC, 5-4 in a six-round penalty-kick shootout at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa, Florida. That match was on Tuesday, November 22.

Coastal WFC landed three players on the All-Tournament Team in defender Chiara Quadri and forwards Nicole Wade and Amanda Giacomazza. Quadri led a defensive unit that allowed just 0.60 goals per match at the North American Finals. She also came forward into the attack to net Coastal’s only goal in the final, which finished 1-1 after regulation and overtime. Giacomazza was the hero in Coastal’s 1-0 win over Alpharetta United in the semifinal, finding the back of the net in the second half.

Quickstirke SC had the only player to earn four votes in forward Kristina Maksuti. She finished the tournament with three goals and an assist. Quickstrike goalkeeper Monica Dahlgren earned a nod from Coastal Head Coach Ciaran McMahon in the final to join the All-Tournament ranks. Defender Nicole Smith was one of only four players to earn three votes at the North American Finals. The others were forwards Shelby Beck (Surrey WFC) and Dominique Evans (Majestics) and defender Taryn Hatcher (South Jersey).

Name	SYL Club	Position
Monica Dahlgren	Quickstrike	GK
Chiara Quadri	Coastal WFC	D
Nicole Smith	Quickstrike	D
Hannah Blondin	BW Rhode Island	D
Kim Brown	West Coast Caps	D
Megan Borger	FSA	D
Taryn Hatcher	South Jersey	D
Bianca Calderone	MPS Renegades	D
Margaret McCune	Freedom	M
Chelsey Lal	Surrey WFC	M
Taylor Tokarz	Alpharetta	M
Abby Lindblad	Ottawa Fury	M
Deja Walker	Freedom	M
Lauren Hughes	Ottawa Fury	M
Dominique Evans	Majestics	F
Lindsay Anderson	Alpharetta	F
Shelby Beck	Surrey WFC	F
Kristina Maksuti	Quickstrike	F
Amanda Giacomazza	Coastal WFC	F
Nicole Wade	Coastal WFC	F
Aja Choy-Halo	West Coast Caps	F

Coastal, who came into the North American Finals as a long shot after completing a 5-3-4 regular season in the Northwest Division, downed Alpharetta United, 1-0 in the semifinal on Monday, November 21.

Prior to that loss, Alpharetta was 2-0-1 in group play. They outlasted BW Rhode Island, 2-1 on opening day before drawing the West Coast Capitals, 0-0 on Saturday, November 21. Needing a win to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament, Alpharetta got a goal from Taylor Taokarz to beat South Jersey, 1-0 on Sunday, November 22.

In the second semifinal, Quickstrike spoiled an all-Canadian/Northwest final by outscoring Northwest Division Champion, Surrey WFC, 5-4. Midfielder Chelsey Lal tallied a goal and an assist in that match for Surrey. Also on the scoreboard that day for Surrey was Alex Stasiuk (1G), Tessa Loewen (1G, 1A) and Paige Friesen (1G). Shelby Beck had a goal and two assists through the first three games of the competition.