Match Fit, other NJ clubs dominate EDP Cup Girls Showcase
Full Results | College Coaches
New Jersey clubs dominated the 2015 Girls EDP Cup, as 10 teams from nine clubs representing the host state secured division titles.
Match Fit Academy, TSF Academy, Hamilton Elite FC, Freehold SL, STA Morris United, New Jersey Rush, Scotch Plains Fanwood SA, NJ Stallions Academy and Rage FC Premier each had teams capture championships at the event, one of the more competitive showcase events on the East Coast.
Five Pennsylvania – East sides earned titles as well, along with two New York – East teams.
+Read: EDP Cup: New Jersey clubs earn 11 Boys Showcase division titles
Match Fit Academy was the only club to take multiple championships on the girls side, winning the U-16 Royal Bracket and U-17 Gold Bracket.
The Match Fit North East NPL U-16 side swept the Royal Bracket, beating Winslow TWP Bandits (NJ) 3-1, Greater Flemington Premier Strikers (NJ) 4-0 and Wayne SC Madrid (NJ) 3-0 in Bracket 2 play, advancing to the Final where they beat Princeton SA Premier 98/99 Magic (NJ) 1-0.
Match Fit NJX Academy Juventus U-17 went 2-0-2 in the Gold Bracket, earning points in all four match-ups. They opened the event by grinding out 1-1 and 0-0 draws against Cherry Hill FC Phantoms (NJ), East Meadow SC Stingrays (NY-E) on Saturday, June 13.
On Sunday morning, Juventus earned a 2-0 win over Medford Strikers SC Shock (NJ) to advance through Bracket 2. After just a couple hours to recover, they beat out SDFC Liberty (NJ) in the Final, coming out on top of a six-round penalty kick shootout.
Emily Osborn, Theresa Osborne, Madison Kellermueller and Michaela Borneo were among the team’s key contributors defensively, conceding just two goals in four games at the tournament in Hammonton, NJ. Hannah Lee and Marissa Gammer helped jump-start the attack in their run to the Gold Bracket Final.
With the thrilling PK win over a familiar opponent in SDFC, Juventus claimed the EDP Cup title within the same week of taking first place in the EDP League 2nd Division Central.
“For us it was about sticking to what the girls are good at which is playing a style of build-up play,” said Match Fit coach Matt Woolston. “We played two very good games against tough opponents on Saturday, and we put ourselves in a difficult spot going into that Sunday morning game, but the girls were determined and stepped up to the challenge. We have gone back-and-forth with SDFC Liberty for 6 years, and the Final was another great match between our teams.”
See below for a full list of champions from the 2015 EDP Cup Girls Showcase Brackets.
