VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (Tuesday, July 27, 2010) - Today the FC DELCO U15 Girls Lightning capped off a great season with a 2-1 National Championship victory over the Virginia Soccer Association (VSA) at the US Club Soccer National Finals in Virginia Beach, VA. This was the second time the Lightning faced off against VSA and the game could not have been more different.
Their first meeting resulted in a 1-1 draw with temperatures topping out at a whopping 107 degrees and a heat index of 123. VSA is one of the top teams in the country at the U15 age group and play a direct and physical style game and the game became very physical in nature. The Lightning went up in the 50th minute with a goal by Natalia Pinkney off a scramble in front of the VSA goal. VSA then began to press heavily holding a very high line and FC DELCO defending deep. VSA broke through late in the second half off with a goal of a corner kick. Although FC DELCO had opportunities on the counter, the game ended in a draw.
The National Final game pitted the two teams again with VSA carrying a lot of confidence. The Lighting took the field with their own confidence knowing that they intended to play a bit differently themselves. From the opening tap, FC DELCO challenged for every ball, tackled with a purpose and exploited the VSA back line with their pace. Julianna Bradley opened the scoring for FC DELCO in the 13th minute. Kristina O’Sullivan played a ball into the box which Natalia Pinkney shot passed the onrushing VSA goalkeeper. As the ball was the headed into the open net, Bradley then provided the exclamation point by blasting it into the net. Late in the first half the Lightning had an opportunity to go up by 2 when Kristen Gatti was able to get behind the VSA defense, however the VSA keeper made a tremendous save.
Cydney Staton had an opportunity in the second half to again put some daylight between FC DELCO and VSA when Erin O’Malley chipped a ball over the back line at midfield to an on rushing Staton. Staton dribble 30 yards passing a VSA defender before scoring the goal of the tournament. The shot was from just inside the corner of the 18 and found the far upper ninety in the 67th minute. Staton was clearly all VSA’s back line could handle and two minutes later she nearly duplicated her previous goal with an effort that just went over the crossbar. With VSA pressing and trying to get back in the game, FC DELCO had several quality counter opportunities. VSA knew they were living dangerously - especially so late in the game.
VSA was able to get a consolation goal deep into stoppage time off a corner. However, the whistle sounded on the tap giving the Lightning their first National title. Congrats to Coach Rooney and the girls on their victory!! GK Madison Hileman was a huge factor in both games with VSA and the game with Sparta United. She was awarded the championship game ball.
Here is a journal of the Lightning’s play for the USCS National Title.
Game 3 July 26
Today the FC DELCO U15 Girls Lighting fired their way into the US Club Soccer National Finals with 5-nil victory over FC Portland at the Hampton Road Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, VA. With the oppressive 100+ degree heat finally broken the Lighting wasted no time getting started when in the 2nd minute, Juliana Bradley scored an opportunistic goals off an assist from Nicole Moonan. In the 11th minute DELCO’s Parvel scored off an end line hustle play with another assist from Moonan. Kristina O’Sullivan scored the 3rd goal in the 16th minute this time with an assist from Parvel. DELCO’s final goal of the 1st half came in the 29th minute from Cydney Stanton (unassisted). FC Portland came out strong in the second half trying to get a bite in the game. However, the Lightning weathered the early pressure and ultimately added a 5th and final goal in the 64th minute when Kayla Cunningham scored a beautiful goal from distance catching the Portland keeper off her line. The championship game is tomorrow morning at 9:00a against the Virginia Heat.
Game 2 July 25
Day two at the US Club Soccer National Championships saw the U15 Lightning girls play to a 1-1 tie with VSA Heat from Virginia. The game was again played in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees that caused the games to be shortened by 10 minutes. Both teams had limited chances in a first half that ended tied 0-0. In the 50th minute Natalia Pinkney gave the Lightning the lead with a goal off a scramble in front of the VSA goal. VSA applied intense pressure and were able to garner the equalizer in the 66th minute when a rebound of a corner kick was slotted in. After a furious finish that saw both teams with chances, the game ended 1-1. The Lightning can advance to the National Championship final with a win tomorrow morning against FC Portland Marine (OR).
Game 1 July 24
The U15 Lightning girls took their first step towards the US Club Soccer National Championship with a 1-0 defeat of Sparta United Premier ‘95 (UT). In a hard fought game played in temperatures hovering around 100 degrees the Lightning prevailed on a goal by Kristen Gatti in the 54th minute. The game was back and forth throughout and the win was protected by several key saves by GK Madison Hileman and a timely headed clearance off the goal line by Erin O’Malley in the 71st minute. Next up for the Lightning is a game against VSA Heat (VA) at 12:30 pm Sunday.
