Va. State Cup: Under-16 Girls preview
By Jimmy LaRoue
Here’s the breakdown of the Under-16 Girls bracket of the Virginia State Cup semifinals and finals, set for this weekend at the River City Sportsplex in Richmond.
Teams (seed)
• McLean MPS 96 Force Green (unseeded)
• Beach FC 96G Red (#4)
• FASA Elite Impact 96 (#3)
• PWSI Courage 96 Red (#2)
Schedule
Semifinal: Oct. 27, 10 a.m. – McLean MPS 96 Force Green vs. #4 Beach FC 96G Red, River City Sportsplex Field 8
Semifinal: Oct. 27, 12 p.m. – #2 PWSI Courage 96 Red vs. #3 FASA Elite Impact 96, River City Sportsplex Field 8
Final: Oct. 28, 10 a.m. – McLean MPS 96 Force Green/Beach FC 96G Red winner vs. PWSI Courage 96 Red/FASA Elite Impact 96 winner, River City Sportsplex #8
Soccerwire.com prediction: Three of the four teams have competed against each other on a regular basis, with only Beach FC 96G Red not playing in the Washington Area Girls Soccer League U-15 Division 1 last fall. This season, FASA Elite Impact and PWSI Courage 96 Red play in the VCCL North U-16 Girls Division, with FASA atop at 6-0-0 and PWSI, having played one more match, is 6-0-1. The two teams most recently faced off in VCCL action on Oct. 21, with FASA pulling out a 2-1 win, but the teams’ matchups have been close over the past year, with an Oct. 23, 2011 1-1 tie and an Sept. 11, 2011 1-0 win for PWSI Courage. FASA also has an Oct. 7, 3-0 win over Beach FC Red during the 37th Annual WAGS Rael Vodicka Memorial Tournament as a confidence booster should the two teams see each other in the final, and FASA also has a 4-0 win to its credit over McLean MPS Force Green on Oct. 16, 2011. FASA finished undefeated in the tournament, while Beach FC’s only loss game to FASA. Last season FASA lost in PKs in the State Cup semis, while PWSI Courage 96 Red defeated Beach FC 96G Red to reach the final before losing in PKs to VSA Heat Blue 96G. FASA has won its last 13 matches played dating back to Sept. 2, outscoring opponents 42-5; its last loss came against VSA Heat Blue 96G on Sept. 1. McLean, meanwhile, (on the surface) shocked top-seed, Virginia #1 and defending champions VSA Heat Blue 96G in a 1-0 win, though given McLean’s dual rostering of ECNL players on this team, it’s not nearly as much a shock and could give it a distinct advantage. While it’s difficult to pick a winner, on recent results we’d give a ever-so slight edge to FASA Impact Elite 96.
Team: McLean MPS 96 Force Green
Club: McLean Youth Soccer
Head coach: Clyde Watson
Home league: WAGS U-17 Division 2 (3-2-1, fall 2012)
Under-15 State Cup Finish:
GotSoccer State Rank: 17
Goals in 2012 Cup: 10 goals, 1 against
How they got here:
Sept. 15, 2012: McLean MPS 96 Force Green 2, VAFC U-16 Green 1 (PKs)
Sept. 29, 2012: McLean MPS 96 Force Green 1, #1 VSA Heat 96G 0
Oct. 13, 2012: McLean MPS 96 Force Green 7, #8 SOCA Storm 0
Team: #4 Beach FC 96G Red
Club: Beach FC
Head coach: Mike Gyori
Home league: VCCL South (4-2-1, fall 2012)
Under-15 State Cup Finish: Semifinalist
GotSoccer State Rank: 5
Goals in 2012 Cup: 5 goals, 2 against
How they got here:
Sept. 29, 2012: #4 Beach FC 96G Red 2, Loudoun 96G Red 0
Oct. 13, 2012: #4 Beach FC 96G Red 3, #5 Arlington Athletica Red 2 (PKs)
Team: #2 PWSI Courage 96G Red
Club: Prince William Soccer, Inc.
Head coach: Ken Krieger
Home league: VCCL North (6-1-0, fall 2012)
Under-15 State Cup Finish: Finalist
GotSoccer State Rank: 2
Goals in 2012 Cup: 11 goals, 0 against
How they got here:
Sept. 29, 2012: #2 PWSI Courage 96 Red 9, Virginia Legacy SC Phoenix U-16G 0
Oct. 13, 2012: #2 PWSI Courage 96 Red 2, FC Richmond Mystx 96 0
Team: #3 FASA Elite Impact 96
Club: Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association
Head coach: Pete Cinalli
Home league: VCCL South (6-0-0, fall 2012)
Under-15 State Cup Finish: Semifinalist
GotSoccer State Rank: 4
Goals in 2012 Cup: 6 goals, 0 against
How they got here:
Sept. 29, 2012: #3 FASA Elite Impact 96 4, Roanoke Star Elite U-16 Girls Elite 0
Oct. 13, 2012: #3 FASA Elite Impact 2, #6 Richmond Kickers Elite 0
