Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational crowns 2022 champions

DALLAS, Texas – The 2022 Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational concluded on Friday at Toyota Stadium with a quartet of title matches. Champions were crowned in the Girls’ 15-Under, 16-Under, 17-Under, and the 18/19-Under divisions to wrap up the second edition of the Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational.

Following the girls’ finals, the semi-finals of the 19U Gordon Jago Super Group were played at Toyota Stadium, setting the stage for Sunday’s Super Group final between the youth national teams of El Salvador and Panama.

2022 Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational

The first match of the day featured FC Dallas ECNL squaring off against Solar SC ECNL for the 15-Under Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational title. It was a big day for FC Dallas’ forward Holly Storer. Within the first 15 minutes, Storer was already on the scoresheet twice, with a pair of goals in the 9th and 15th minute. Nearing stoppage time, Storer bagged her hat-trick with a strike from the edge of the box to make the match 3-0. The final whistle blew and FC Dallas U15 ECNL hoisted the first “Boot and Ball” championship trophy of 2022.

The 16-Under Girls’ Invitational final kicked off next at Toyota Stadium with familiar foes Solar SC U16 ECNL and FC Dallas U16 ECNL facing off. In the 16th minute, Solar’s Brooklyn Miller scored a stunning opening goal. Teammate Audrey Bryant swung a ball into the box, finding the open Miller, who connected on a brilliant, volleyed finish into the right side of the net. Miller’s goal would be the lone goal of the game, as the match ended 1-0 in favor of Solar SC, who was crowned 16-Under champions.

At 12:30, the Under 17 girls’ final kicked off with local sides DKSC ECNL and Solar SC ECNL taking the Toyota Stadium pitch. In the 8th minute, Solar got on the board first. After Charlie Codd was fouled in the box, Solar’s Avery Boulom stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly tucked away the first goal of the match. DKSC would answer back in the 16th minute thanks to a clinical finish by Leah Diaz, who swiveled around a couple defenders at the edge of the box and smashed the ball past the keeper to level the match at 1-1. In the 67th minute, Solar’s Lauren Omholt was the recipient of a long cross into the box and was able to guide the ball into the net, breaking the tie and leading Solar to the 17-Under Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational title. The local powerhouse has won five “Boot and Ball” championships at the last two Dallas Cups.

The 18/19-Under girls’ final between FC Dallas U19 ECNL and DKSC 03/04 ECNL kicked off at 3:00pm and put a cap on the 2022 Dallas Cup Girls’ Invitational. FC Dallas’ forward Piper Hemperly scored the lone goal of the match in the 11th minute, ripping a shot from outside the box that sailed into the top corner of the net. Going into the match, FC Dallas’ stout defense was a headline and their impressive run continued as they stifled the DKSC attack. FC Dallas held onto a 1-0 lead, securing their fifth consecutive clean sheet and the girls’ 18/19-Under title. FC Dallas’ Kaydence Ramirez was the recipient of the Toyota MVP award after the match.

2022 Dallas Cup – 19U Gordon Jago Super Group Semifinals

Following the girls’ finals, the first of two 19U Gordon Jago Super Group semifinal matches kicked off between the U20 Panama National Team and Mexico’s CF Monterrey. Rafael Mosquera tacked on the first goal of the match for the Panamanian side with a crafty, far-post finish in the 9th minute. In the 22nd minute, Omar Alba scored a wondergoal from well outside the box to put Los Canaleros up 2-0. The Mexican side was far from out of the match though.

On the stroke of halftime, Victor Lopez pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to make the score 2-1 at the break. In the 72nd minute, Rayados’ Edgar Castro scored the equalizing goal, and the game was eventually sent into two ten-minute extra time periods to determine which side would advance to the final. In the 102nd minute, Ricardo Gorday made a dazzling solo effort and scored the go-ahead goal to send the U20 Panama National Team to Sunday’s Gordon Jago Super Group final.

Shortly after 8:00pm, the second Gordon Jago Super Group semi-final match between Mexico’s Tigres and the U20 El Salvador kicked off. The match was scoreless going into the half, but in the 57th minute, Alexander Umana put the first goal on the board for the Salvadorian side. Fifteen minutes later, Diego Barahona padded the lead for La Selecta, beating the Tigres keeper at the near post with a long-range strike. The U20 El Salvador side maintained the lead until the final whistle and punched their ticket to the Gordon Jago Super Group final on Sunday.

The Gordon Jago Super Group championship will be played at Toyota Stadium on Sunday, April 17 at 4:00pm CT. Tickets are on sale now at dallascup.org.

On Saturday, the 2022 Dallas Cup Under 13 through Under 16 Boys championships will be played. On Sunday, the actions continues with the Under 17 through Under 19 boys’ finals, and the Gordon Jago Super Group final. All games will be streamed live from Toyota Stadium on ESPN3.