The U-19 Hammerheads made their fourth appearance at Nationals in attempt to bring home the McGuire Cup the oldest and most coveted trophy in youth soccer. FC Delco has won the U-19 McGuire Cup three times in the past ten years including two years by current Hammerhead Coach Alan Mezger. Congratulations to Coach Mezger and the Hammerheads on a great job and representing your Club well.
Here is a day by day journal of their trip to Kansas.
Sat. July 24 National Final
The Columbus Crew took a 1-0 lead on a 37th minute strike off a head ball from a re-start and made it hold to win the U-19 National Championship in Kansas on Saturday night. The Hammerheads looked dangerous at times but could not find the back of the net. The boys had great opportunities in the 82nd minute and then in injury time but never could tally the equalizer.
Friday July 23 3rd Game
The Hammerheads finished their round robin games today by playing a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew. Alec Weiss exploded down the wing dribbling behind the Crew defense in the 15th minute laying a soft pass across the goal area for an easy goal by Dan Dilullo who finished the chance calmly. The Crew evened the game up off of a long throw in the 35th minute. With the 96 degree weather and both teams looking forward to the final tomorrow evening, few offensive chances were created the rest of the way, the few chances produced were dealt with by the strong play of goalkeeper Micah Collins. Mike Whitaker also turned in an excellent defensive effort for the Hammerheads.
Thursday July 22 2nd Game
The FC DELCO U-19 Hammerheads exorcised an old ghost from national past defeating Andromeda from Texas 1-0 this morning. The victory has clinched a birth into the national title game to be aired live on Fox Soccer Channel at 9pm Eastern time. DELCO jumped out to an early lead with Chris Harmon calmly converting on a Matt Sanner pass in the 3rd minute of the game. Near misses by Harmon and Travis Cantrell prevented DELCO from exploding out of the gate early as FC DELCO was in great form in the first half. In the 40th minute Wayne Maminski rocketed a ball goal bound that somehow hit the crossbar and stayed out, it was a disputed call as some felt the ball had crossed the line, but FC DELCO remained rock solid on defense and kept the lead 1-0 at the half on stellar play from Brian Forgue, David Dubow and a commanding performance by Bob Rosato in net as he organized his defense preventing really any shots on net. The second half continued to see FC DELCO get their chances as Chis Harmon rang to bullets of the goal post and Travis Cantrell failed to convert a breakaway. In the end, another strong defensive effort especially in the midfield from Jordan LeBlanc made the one goal stand up. FC DELCO will play the Columbus Crew tomorrow even though they have secured a spot in the final.
Wednesday July 21 1st Game
The Hammerheads opened up their quest for the 75th anniversary of the James P McGuire Cup with a 1-0 victory over the Region IV Champs from Oregon. FC DELCO threatened early off a Kyle Soroka direct that rebounded off a defender to Tom Kalpokas foot who ripped the rebound just over the bar. Fifteen minutes later, Wayne Maminski laid a beautiful cross to the far post which Matt Sanner and Alec Weiss came inches from directing into the empty net. FC Delco broke the deadlock when Sanner beautifully sent a pass behind the opposing defense to a wide open Jeff Pio who calmly deposited the ball to the side of the keeper for a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute. DELCO’s defense led by Brian Forgue, Alex Ockford, Greg Cochrane, and Kyle Soroka did the rest from there as keeper Bob Rosato had little to do to earn the clean sheet. Chances by Matt Sanner and a post by Sean Peckham prevented a more comfortable ending to a hard fought game.
