Congratulations to our new Region I Champions for 2009-2010
The United FC’s U12 Girls Elite clinched the Region I Championship with a 1-0 win over Velocity Soccer Club of Maine. For full story click here...
For more information about the Region 1 Championship Tournament, CLICK HERE.
STATE CHAMPS, REGIONAL CHAMPS - IN A LEAGUE ALL THEIR OWN!
Chesterfield United FC U12 girls are the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Champions for 2010! The ’little team that could’ displayed the most heart, determination, sportsmanship, technique, fitness and competitive spirit than all teams their age in the region. Not only is winning a State Cup Championship a huge accomplishment but winning a Region 1 Championship is unheard of by a club from Richmond and the Central Virginia area.
’We could not be prouder of a group of players, coaches and families that have been dedicated to the mission of competiting at the highest level. This group has displayed all the attributes you look for in young players and everday kids and they deserve all the accolades that come their way.’ says Technical Director Kevin Darcy. ’The girls have taken the club and the United FC brand to the next level and have paved the way for future Chesterfield teams.’
For pictures from the Region 1 Championships go to http://www.unitedfcvirginia.com/index.html
For a recap of the Region 1 results go to http://tournaments.usyouthsoccer.org/events/2010-US-Youth-Soccer-Region-I-Championships/Schedule/U12%208v8-Girls/Division+1
Below is a recap of the Region 1 tournament, written by staff coach Eric Faison and Steve Carpenter:
The Chesterfield United 97G Elite team spent the July 4th weekend representing Virginia at the US Youth Soccer Regional Championship. The team went to West Virginia minus their head coach and 3 starters from the Virginia State Cup final who all had international trips preventing their attendance.
The team signed in on Thursday July 1st with the smallest possible roster of 8 girls. They attended the opening ceremony held at Marshall University Stadium and participated in the Parade of States where they marched in wearing Virginia’s assigned colors and stood with the other State Cup champions representing the Commonwealth.
Matches began early Friday morning with the team facing a full roster of 14 girls representing Pennsylvania East. The Pennsylvania East team tactics were well drilled and efficiently executed. The match was largely a one sided affair where the Pennsylvania team exploited the UFC vulnerabilities resulting from unsettled line-up. The UFC girls struggled to find their feet as they sorted out how best to work together even though players were in unfamiliar or unfavored positions. The UFC girls lost the opening match 4-0.
Saturday’s match-up was an cruel piece of scheduling pitting the short handed UFC girls against the Rhode Island State Champions in a mid afternoon match. The Rhode Island champs were coming off a victory in Friday’s match-up and had a full compliment of 14 girls. The Virginia girls engaged in an inspiring display of soccer playing against a quality opponent, in the intense July heat without the benefit of subs. The UFC team scored their first goal of the tournament in the first half when left winger Alexis Page put a deft touch on a rebound from a hard shot sent in from the mid-field stripe. The ball trickled over the goal line and set the tone early in the match. The UFC girls continued to press with quality chances heading into half time. The second goal came midway through the second half as left back Jillian Butler pushed into the attack and unloaded a impressive long range effort from just inside mid field. The shot cleared the keepers reach and dove under the ba
r to give UFC a convincing lead. On their heels, the Rhode Island girls would surrender another goal as Joanna ’JoJo’ Taylor took advantage of a crowded 18 yard box to sneak a direct kick in low and near post unseen by the keeper. The girls welcomed the final whistle and 3-0 result as temperatures were in the upper 90’s throughout the game.
Sunday’s match-up was a 9AM game against the tournament host West Virginia. Winless in their first 2 matches due to some unfortunate luck, the West Virginia team was looking to prove themselves against the UFC girls and drive the 4 team bracket into chaos for runner-up status. The Virginia girls new they must win to advance or tempt fate in 3rd or 4th tiebreakers to find their way to the semi finals. The match was hard fought and the Virginia girls were showing the wear from the scorcher the day before. The West Virginia team showed some impressive speed in the back running down and halting what appeared to be sure chances for the UFC girls. The UFC back line of Alyssa Faison, Dillyn Carpenter, and Jillian Butler proved just as stingy holding off every attempt to run at goal or center a cross for a quick one-timer. The game was a battle with the momentum favoring Virginia, but neither team was able to open the scoring in what was destine to be a 1 goal game. With 10 mi
nutes to go in the game, Alyssa Faison made a throw-in to an on-rushing center back, who hammered in a low cross square across the box directly at the feet of JoJo Taylor who redirected the ball 90 degrees, beating the keeper near post for her second goal of the tournament. The Virginia girls buckled down and held off the feverish attacks from West Virginia to win the game 1-0.
With their second win and the inability of Rhode Island to upset the A-bracket leading Pennsylvania team, the Virginia girls would have to forego many of the July 4th traditions in preparation for their semi-final match against the B-bracket winning team from New York East. The Pennsylvania East squad was pitted against the Maine representatives who claimed second in their bracket. The semi-finals were set for Monday July 5th with forecasts of a sunny 95 degrees. UFC would take the field for the 9AM showdown with the New York East team.
The Monday semi-final match got a late start as the Pennsylvania - Maine match ran into overtime tied 1-1 and was eventually settled in Maine’s favor on PKs. The late start added 30 minutes to the start time allowing temperatures to climb into the 90’s with oppressive humidity by the start of the match. The New York East team had a full compliment of 14 girls and a game plan to run at the shorthanded Virginia squad. The pressure was intense for the first 10 minutes as the UFC team tried to absorb with a ’bend but don’t break’ mentality. Eventually the pressure eased and the Virginia girls made some advances into the NY end, without results. The first goal of the game came as a UFC goal kick was intercepted, put back on goal, and deflected by a scrambling defense. The deflection spilled front and center on the 18 and was hammered home past keeper Ananda Jones who had kept 2 clean sheets up to that point. The UFC team went in at half time down by 1 goal in the growing he
at. The UFC girls began the second half with energy and spirit despite the tough conditions. Early in the half, a UFC corner kick sailed unchecked over the crowd to the far post where Caitlyn Will waited to chest it in for the equalizer. The goal deflated the New York side who tried to regroup. The match became a see-saw affair where both teams pressed, but were unable to break down the other side in the attacking third. Susanna Friedrichs was an unstoppable force with seemingly endless energy and not an ounce of quit as she ran down opposing players, halting attacks just like she did throughout group play. The match finish regulation time tied 1-1. The worn Virginia side now faced two daunting 10 minute overtime periods in the heat of late morning. The first session started much like the beginning of the game. The UFC girls weathered one attack after another to kill off the first period. The girls switched ends and traded attacking blows until the 7th minute of th
e second overtime when the UFC girls won a corner kick. The New York team scrambled to cover the ball deflecting it out over the end line for another corner from the opposing flag. The ball was expertly placed by Dillyn Carpenter into the crowd just beyond the keeper. The ball rattled away from goal right the feet of JoJo Taylor who finish with authority from 10 yards out in the 79th minute. The UFC team managed to kill off the remaining 60 seconds preventing any further chances, earning a spot in the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Finals.
The United FC 97 girls arrived at the field Tuesday morning, July 6th for the formal sign-in process required for all State Cup and Regional Championship finals. They took to the field for pre-game warm-up with a humid fog hanging in the air. The morning brought cooler temps than previous days and the clear, sunny sky promised to burn off the haze by game time. The final was staffed with a full compliment of officials, match assessors, officiating assessors, and field marshals. The player’s sideline was crowded with teams, coaches, the various officials, event photographers, and credentialed spectators. Word had spread about the team of 11 players who only brought 8 girls to face the test of the Region 1 Championship. Some of those on the sideline of the U12 match chose to watch this game over some of the more compelling senior matches, just to see if they the 8 girl squad could pull off ’The Miracle on Grass’. The opposite sideline held the parents of the Maine team
and UFC parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters who had proven to be a boisterous and supportive group throughout the tournament despite the small numbers. Among the parent supporters was Renee Page sporting a custom designed, airbrushed T-shirt she had commissioned. The shirts proved popular and parents purchased for themselves and their daughters to commemorate the feat. On the white shirt in blue lettering was the message ’8 is all it takes’. Whether the shirts were just keepsakes to honor making it to the finals or if they were to be prophetic would soon be discovered.
The call for captains had keeper Ananda Jones, midfielder Joanna Taylor, and center back Dillyn Carpenter stepping to be greeted by the home team captains from Velocity Soccer Club from southern Maine. The toss was won by the Maine squad who chose to defend the western goal. Both teams would face sun in the eyes thanks to the 8AM match time and the Maine team chose to endure it early. With ends chosen, the girls of both teams participated in a formal walk-out where they were met with applause from all in attendance. After the formalities, the players took the field in their appointed positions to begin the match. The Virginia and Maine teams had a similar story. Both lost their opening match and finished second in bracket play. Both had to be beat the winner of the other bracket to advance. Both did so in overtime the day before. Both teams were on a 4 game winning streak with momentum on their side. Now, both teams stood ready to play what promised to be an evenly
matched final for the Region 1 Championship.
The match began with a midfield stalemate. Neither team could make significant advances into the other’s end. It was apparent to UFC coaches, Eric Faison and Steve Carpenter, the pace of the match was one that favored the weary Virginia team which had faced oppressive heat and nothing but ’must win’ matches since day two. The game quickly became a back-and-forth affair made up of a collection of half chances consisting of soft shots from distance easily held by the two excellent keepers. There was some promising one-on-one play from both sides and some threatening crosses all cleared strong by both defenses with no real attempts on goal. The majority of the possession and quality of chances favored the Virginians which was a refreshing change from the previous matches. At the 15 minute mark, official time was called and the teams crowded the touch line for the mandatory 60 second water break. With a quick drink of water and some tactical instruction, the players took t
he field to resume play. It was clear after the break the 4 days of play in the West Virginia heat without the benefit of subs had forged the UFC players into a force to be reckoned with. Possession, pressure, and chances now began to amass for the Virginia girls leaving the Maine squad consistently facing their own goal or struggling to stifle quality attacks. The mounting pressure eventually force the Maine side to surrender a corner kick. Having advanced to the finals on two corner kick goals, there was a flush of optimism among the UFC coaches and supporters. The optimism was to be realized in the 26th minute as a well placed kick and expertly timed run allowed Susanna Friedrichs to direct the kick on goal at the near post in advance of the charging keeper coming to claim the ball. This was the third straight goal from corner kicks for the UFC side. It gave them the lead and some breathing room they hadn’t enjoyed for what seemed and eternity in this tournament.
With the advantage of a goal, the UFC side hardened their defensive stance to kill off the remainder of the half.
The second half of the match had the Virginia girls facing into the sun. Without talent in reserve, the UFC team took the field positioned to absorb the post-halftime thrust from the Maine squad. The game plan was to protect the fragile one goal lead and try to exploit the anxious Maine side on a counter-attack or in a one-on-one situation which held such promise in the first half. The strength of the Maine keeper, Alexis Nason, was realized as she and UFC keeper, Ananda Jones, traded long range assaults on each other’s box after collecting loose balls within their area. The Maine choice of ends began to pay dividends as the long punts reached heights making glare a factor in fielding cleanly for the UFC back line. The result was a steady assault on the Virginia defense by Maine striker Elizabeth Lane. The excursions into the Virginia end were repeatedly beaten back as the defense did all they could to maintain the 1 goal advantage. One-on-one chances and long punts cr
eated sporadic opportunities for the United girls, but sustaining pressure against the Maine side, feeling the pinch of a dwindling clock, proved difficult. The UFC coaches adjusted player positions on the fly to counter the strength-for-strength substitutions of the Maine squad. The Virginia girls scrambled hold off attacks and create opportunities while smartly consuming clock on stoppages in play. The last serious chance for UFC came in the 58th minute when a free kick from mid-field was sent into the 18 yard box where Joanna Taylor’s side volley was smothered by the Maine keeper who absorbed the full force of the attempt. In a gutsy display which reminds those watching what these matches mean to the players, the Maine keeper played through the pain and refused to stop the game for treatment in the hopes of creating chances in the final two minutes. When the final whistle blew, there was a 1-0 decision for the UFC girls, in a game in which there were no losers.
The United FC 97 Elite girls representing Virginia claimed the Region 1 Champion Title and earned possession of the Region 1 Perpetual Trophy for 1 year. In addition, the UFC girls were awarded the US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award for the U12 girls division. The recipient of the Fair Play Award is determined by an award of points by match officials on a graded scale, following each match. It is awarded the team which demonstrates respect for self and others, promote safety and skill development, good sportsmanship in competition, appreciation of opponents, and respect for officials. The UFC girls have demonstrated the quality of Virginia soccer, UFC training, and have shown incredible resiliency, determination, and character in their quest for the Virginia State Cup and the Region 1 Championship. The girls have show they are not only great soccer players and a great soccer team, but are also great ambassadors for soccer and for United FC.
The girls playing in the Region 1 Championship series showed incredible spirit, determination, fortitude, and endurance. They played 5 games in 5 days against teams strong enough to win their state competitions. They bounced back from an opening day loss to win out the tournament. They played from behind in the semi final match with a never say die attitude. The girls focused on the game happy to be part of each match. They played for themselves and for each other. In the end, the title and trophy were an added bonus. In all, the girls played 320 minutes of soccer through the tournament. It was and astounding accomplishment for the smallest of the small sided teams.
