Immense talent on display at PA Classics Winter Showcase Girls Weekend
The PA Classics Winter College Showcase, a small but elite level event held in Eastern Pennsylvania played its Girls Weekend from Dec. 13-14. Many of the premier teams from around Pennsylvania East competed in the event along with other top competition from Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan and Canada. Nine reigning State Cup champions and two Regional champion teams attended the event which accepted only 128 teams across the U-15-U-19 age groups.
Even with some teams missing key players on one of the final tournament weekends before the holiday break, there was no shortage of high quality soccer showcased by some of the region’s most coveted college prospects.
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A few highlights from the PA Classics Winter Showcase Girls Weekend…
U-15 Championship Division
Region I Championship finalist FC Pennsylvania Strikers swept Bracket A of the top U15 Division without conceding a goal, beating Hershey Elite FC 99 (PA-E), Ellicott City Black (MD) and FC Europa Hotspurs 99/00 (PA-E) by a combined score of 9-0.
The Arundel Soccer Association Premier 99’s represented Maryland well by outscoring three Pennsylvania East squads by a total of 12-1 to take Bracket B with a 3-0-0 record. Arundel SA cruised through the bracket which featured host PA Classics Academy 99, FC Pocono Elite 99-00 and Rage SC 99 Athletica thanks to a balanced scoring attack and stifling back line.
Arundel, coming off a second straight Bethesda Tournament championship, was led by a back line featuring Ashtyn Bethel, Angela Puhl, Madison Pisone, Maddie Jenner and goalkeeper Maddie Wheeler. Harleigh White led the attack with four goals and Caitlin Milley added two.
Midfielder Catherine Hoffman, a member of the Region I ODP Player Pool and one of the Potomac region’s top college prospects at her position, paced a balanced Arundel offense which had six goal scorers in just three games.
“She’s a very strong player and she’s excelled as a fantastic leader on and off the field,” said Arundel SA coach Bob Thomas of his team captain.
U-16 Championship Division
HMMS Eagle FC 98 United finished first on tiebreaker over Pennsylvania East/Region I champion and National Championship finalist Yardley Makefield Premier 98 Xplosion in Bracket A. HMMS began the weekend with a 3-0 shutout of Yankee United FC Revolution 98, lost 2-0 to Council Rock United/FC Bucks Storm on Saturday then rallied to beat Yardley Makefield, one of the premier teams in the nation 3-1 on Sunday to capture the Bracket A title.
Harleysville FC Ready 98, the 2014 Pennsylvania East State Cup finalist, used a dominant defense to win Bracket B, going 2-0-1 and not allowing a goal all weekend. HFC beat HBC Impact (NY-E) 3-0 on Friday, host PA Classics Academy 98 by a score of 1-0 on Saturday and played to a scoreless draw against Syracuse Angry Monkeys (NY-W) for their third clean sheet on Sunday.
U-17 Championship Division
In a group featuring Delaware State Cup champion Rush 97, Pennsylvania East State Cup finalist Montgomery United SC Black and nationally renowned Football of Philadelphia 97/98 Black, FC Revolution Falcons managed to run the table and win Bracket A. FC Revolution edged Delaware Rush 2-1 on Friday, overpowered Montgomery United 5-1 on Saturday and capped off the event with a hard fought 1-0 win over The Football of Philadelphia on Sunday.
U-19 Championship Division
Pennsylvania East powerhouse Rage SC Blackhawks, coming off EDP Cup, MSSL Summer Showcase and PA Classics Mid-Atlantic Cup championships added another tournament title to their 2014 collection by sweeping Bracket A of the top U19 division at the PA Classics Winter Showcase.
Rage SC scored nine goals and conceded just one, beating FC Europa Storm 96/97 3-0, PDA United 96/97 3-1 and PA Classics Academy 3-0. First Team High School All-American and La Salle commit Bria Bittiger had a goal and an assist in each of the team’s first two games. William & Mary commit Sarah Segan had a hat trick in her only appearance of the weekend on Sunday against PA Classics and Hannah Larkin and Lauren Binn led the team’s dominant back line.
“I was extremely happy all around with the team and the performance they gave over the weekend,” said Rage SC coach Eric Puls. “For us its about how we play, the style of play and how we compete rather than the results.”
