Super Y Finals: Maryland Rush U-15 Boys, Virginia Alliance U-13 Girls in semifinals
Maryland Rush’s U-15 Boys, one of two local teams to reach the semifinals of the 2012 Super Y Finals, fell in penalty kicks to Super Nova, 7-6.
Of the 11 local teams that traveled to Bradenton, Fla. for the 2012 Super Y League Finals, just two had qualified for the semifinals–Rush’s U-15 Boys and Virginia Alliance’s U-13 Girls.
Maryland Rush began the Super Y Finals with a 6-1 win over Westchester Flames. Rush got two goals and three assists from Donald Benamna, a goal and an assist from Kelly Marah, and goals from Komlan Kouhiko, Jesus Martinez and Lester Ortiz. Orlando Canales also had an assist.
Rush fell in its second game, 3-2 to Ottawa Fury, making a win essential in game three. Rush accomplished that, defeating Everton Florida 4-1 to finish atop of its bracket and reach the semifinals. Rush was to play Super Nova FC this afternoon for a place in tomorrow’s championship game.
Virginia Alliance’s U-13 Girls, meanwhile, finished 2-0-1 and won its bracket on goal differential to reach the semifinals. Virginia Alliance opened with a 4-1 win over New Jersey Stallions, as Alliance got two goals from Alyssa Serveiss, and a goal and two assists from Rayven Conner. Mailie Fujimoto added another goal, while Paige Emory and Breanna Mitchell had assists.
In Alliance’s second game, it tied Cleveland Internationals 1-1, as Mitchell had Alliance’s goal.
In the key game for Alliance, it pulled off a 3-0 win over VSI West Florida Flames, while Cleveland Internationals only managed a 1-0 win over New Jersey Stallions, giving it the critical goal differential needed to reach the semifinals. Virginia Alliance is to play Alliance Academy later today for a berth in tomorrow’s championship game.
In other local results from the weekend:
U-12 Boys
Cleveland Internationals 0, Real Maryland FC 1 (Group B)
Real Maryland 4, VSI West Florida Flames 2 (Group B)
Tampa Bay United 2, Real Maryland FC 0 (Group B)
Southern Soccer Academy vs. Real Maryland FC (Consolation game, Mon. Dec. 10, 4 p.m.)
Christian Sorto led Real Maryland with two goals and an assist in the win over VSI West Florida, while Marc Langon and Shany-Jo Kayo each had goals, and Jeremy Lemus had an assist.
U-13 Boys
Long Island Rough Riders 3, FASA 0 (Group D)
Real Maryland FC 2, VSI West Florida Flames 0 (Group D)
FASA 1, Real Maryland FC 0 (Group D)
VSI West Florida Flames 3, FASA 4 (Group D)
Long Island Rough Riders 0, Real Maryland FC 1 (Group D)
While Long Island, FASA and Real Maryland all finished 2-1-0 in Group D play, Long Island advanced to the semifinals on superior goal differential. Brook Addisu and Olumatoni Adewole scored for Real Maryland in the win over VSI West Florida. Nolan Marine had FASA’s lone goal in the win over Real Maryland.
From the Super Y Finals match report of Real Maryland’s match with Long Island:
Real Maryland entered Sunday’s game needing a win and additional help to make it through to the semifinal round while the Long Island Rough Riders needed just a draw to guarantee passage. Wes Delcid’s second half strike lifted Real Maryland to victory but it was not enough as it was the Rough Riders that progressed as group winners on goal differential.
With so much riding on the game, both teams came out very cautious and careful not to leave gaps in the midfield and defense. The game was physical and ten minutes in Long Island’s goalkeeper Alex Stein was called into action taking a big hit while saving a cross from the right side.
Real Maryland looked to utilize the speed of forward Toni Adewale frequently sending him forward with long balls through the defense. Long Island stood firm and closed down any forays into the final third.
Chances were few and far between and with just one minute until halftime Adewale left the field through injury leaving Real Maryland needing to find other options moving forward.
Five minutes into the second half Long Island had the first clear chance of the game as Matthew Sloan fired in a low, hard shot. Bridegum scooped up well to keep the game scoreless.
Neeing a victory, Real Maryland began pressing forward opening up the game on both ends.
Long Island’s Anthony Pinto found space in front of net after a scrable inside the box but skewed his shot just left of the post. At the other end, Wes Delcid fired just over the crossbar for Real Maryland.
Twelve minutes from time Delcid took his opportunity with a screamer into the top corner. Collecting the ball at the top of the box, Delcid turned his defender, made space and fired leaving Stein helpless in net.
Feeding off of the momentum of Delcid’s goal, Real Maryland looked to extend the lead. It was a race against time for Real Maryland but in the end the whistle blew earning the side an impressive, yet melancholy, win. With FASA defeating VSI West Florida on an adjacent field 4-3, it left a log jam atop the group standings as Long Island, Real Maryland, and FASA each finished with six points after group play. Long Island’s goal difference advantage assured them a place in Monday’s semifinals despite dropping the contest.
“The other team was a good team,” said Rough Riders head coach David Stapleton. “We’re obviously happy to move on and squeak in. Not the way you want to do it. But we’ll take it.”
U-14 Boys
Orlando City Youth Soccer – Purple 0, Virginia Alliance 1 (Group B)
Virginia Alliance 0, Ottawa Fury 1 (Group B)
Virginia Alliance 2, Westchester Flames 0 (Group B)
Virginia Alliance 0, VSI West Florida Flames 1 (Consolation)
Virginia Alliance finished tied with Ottawa Fury atop Group B with a 2-1-0 record, but lost out on a semifinal berth on head-to-head and goal differential. Virginia Alliance got a goal from Aissa Ouldbrahim and an assist from Martin Foray in the win over Orlando City.
U-15 Boys
Kendall SC 1, Northern Virginia Royals 0 (Group B)
Alliance Academy 2, Real Maryland 1 (Group C)
Northern Virginia Royals 1, Black Watch SC 4 (Group B)
Real Maryland FC 1, Parsippany SC 1 (Group C)
Northern Virginia Royals 1, Super Nova FC 2 (Group B)
Real Maryland FC 1, MPS Knights 1 (Group C)
Real Maryland and Northern Virginia were to play in consolation matches this afternoon.
U-12 Girls
Northern Virginia Majestics 4, Long Island Rough Riders 1 (Group A)
VSI West Florida Flames 1, Northern Virginia Majestics 1 (Group A)
Kalamazoo Kingdom 4, Northern Virginia Majestics 1 (Group A)
Cleveland Internationals 3, Northern Virginia Majestics 4 (Consolation)
Amari Hopkins had a hat trick for the Majestics in the opening win over Long Island, while Hanna Randolph had two assists. Karina Grant added a goal, while Amber Diorio and Kristina Toms had assists. In the tie, the Majestics’ Madison Shepherd had the lone goal, while Taylor Narin had the assist.
Needing a win to get to the semifinals, the Majestics used their speed to give Kalamazoo fits on its back line, but Kalamazoo’s Madison Myers converted a penalty kick past a diving Charlotte Davis to give the Kingdom a 1-0 lead. The Majestics tied the match on a goal from Amy Pearson, whose floater from the left side skipped into the net past Kalamazoo goalkeeper Lauren Kozal. The Majestics continued to press, but could not convert opportunities into goals, and once Kalamazoo’s Samantha Williams scored, the Majestics had to open the game, leaving gaps in the midfield and leading to the Kingdom’s third and fourth goals.
U-15 Girls
Long Island Rough Riders 1, FASA 0 (Group A)
FASA 1, Cleveland Internationals 3 (Group A)
FASA 4, MPS Bulldogs/Renegades 1 (Group A)
TNT Dynamite Soccer Club 3, FASA 1 (Consolation)
FASA got a goal from Halle Parker in the 3-1 loss to Cleveland.
U-17 Girls
Toronto Lynx Jrs. 1, Northern Virginia Majestics 2
Northern Virginia Majestics 0, Kalamazoo Kingdom 3
Force Football Club Academy 5, Northern Virginia Majestics 2
Northern Virginia Majestics 1, TSF Academy 2
VSI West Florida Flames, Northern Virginia Majestics (Tues. Dec. 11, 11 a.m.)
The Majestics got goals in its opening win from Cherrah Barclay and Nicole Schweitzer, while Meghan Cox had both assists. In its match against Force Football Academy, the Majestics, after having one potential goal waved off for offside in the first half, got a 51st minute equalizer from Katie Voegtlin off a corner to tie the match. However, VSI regained the lead two minutes later and extended their lead before the Majestics’ Cox scored in the 80th minute to provide for the final margin.