Fall Successes for Travel teams (Updated)

November 29, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
Filed under: News, Travel Soccer Club

Fall success stories reported for Travel teams…..

Impact Blue Takes Top Division Title

Arlington Impact Blue (U-14 Boys), coached by Luis Gendive, took first place in ODSL Division 1 this weekend by beating CYA Cesena 97 by 5-0. The defense, headed up by goalie John D., only gave up two goals over the 8 game season. The team has placed in the top three in ODSL Division I for its entire ten season career.

Arlington Impact Blue kicked off the season by taking first place in the August Cup Premier Division at the Maryland Soccerplex.

Members of the team are: Hamza B., Nicolas D., John D., Geronimo K. P., Ryan L., Alexander M., Braian N. C., Saquib M. N., Adam N., Gus N., Lucas O., Pablo O., Michael P., Evan S., Caleb W., Brandon W., & Alec W.

The team was assisted by volunteer coaches George Shirley and Othmane Benkhallouk.

More recently, extra practice paid off as the team won the Hunt Country Classic U-14 Boys division. (The U-12 Girls Red team also won)

Impact Blue didn’t give up a single goal throughout the four games of the tournament and scored 15.

U11 United White Claims Championship Victory in the Liberty Flight at the Bethesda Tournament

Coached by Glen Grey and Steve Olivarez in the tournament.

Through much “high adventure” over the two days of the tournament – three wins in three games over two days, the path to victory included a win over a team that had beat us in Fall NCSL season play. Then a championship game in which United White fought from a two-goal deficit to tie the game and send it to overtime, through two scoreless overtime periods, culminating in a dramatic and heart-stopping shoot-out at sundown in the rain as the light was fading – the boys have a memorable victory.

The other unique twist about our news is that, because of field availability, United White played three games on Sunday. Hitting the field at 7:15 AM and not ending until nearly 5:00 PM. By that time, all but two of some 70+ teams involved in the tournament had headed home, 8 of the 9 fields had been dismantled and even one goal from our field was dismantled. It was getting dark, and raining.

The experience is one that they can all be proud of, remember, and should easily motivate and carry them over into the Spring season with a renewed love of sport, sportsmanship and soccer. A great accomplishment for the ASA Club and fitting closure to a successful Fall 2011 season for the United White team. United White was complimented by opposing coaches and tournament staff for high level of sportsmanship.

U11 Comets-Red Team

The U11 Arlington Comets-Red girl’s team won the Chesapeake Division of the prestigious Bethesda Thanksgiving Tournament, which was held in Poolesville, MD, the weekend of November 12-13. In pool play, the Comets defeated LDC United Eclipse (3-1), MSC Academy Green (6-0), and SAC/HC United Premier Blue (3-2) to advance to the Championship, where they beat the Severna Park Lasers, who previously had not lost a game all season. The Comets win was a total team effort, with outstanding offensive and defensive efforts by all players. Comets-Red players include Ana C., Mckenna C., Isabel D., Gretchen H., Samantha H., Savannah L., Lacey M., Maeve M., Maggie M., Macy M., Petie N., Carly R., Emily S., and Cadyn W. The team was coached by Jerry Ellison.

U14 Boys Impact Red Win Top Division of 2011 Bethesda Tournament

The U14 Boys Impact Red won the top division of the Bethesda Tournament the weekend of 11/19-20. The boys played in the Potomac bracket and won all 4 of their games to win the championship. The first game was against a team from NY called Manhattan SC Cruziero. The Impact Red won the game 2-1. Next up was a German Club team from Eastern PA named Vereinigung Erzgebirga SC. The boys won that game 6-0. The semi-final game was a rematch of the opening game in the PDA tournament last may against one of the best teams in Region 1, Lehigh Valley United from PA. The game was hard fought, but the Impact Red prevailed 1-0.

In the final, the Impact met a familiar local foe in Chantilly United. The first half was a good back and forth battle and neither team could break the other down. In the second half, the Impact started to find their rhythm and created multiple scoring chances. Chantilly’s goalie has historically been tough to beat and he was again very good keeping the game tied. The match went into overtime and the rule was a golden goal would end the game. In the first overtime, Joey F. got in the box unmarked with the ball. He was about to finish when he was taken down form behind. Joey calmly finished the penalty kick to clinch the win for Impact 1-0. This is the Impact’s second tournament win for the fall 2011 season.

Tags: fall season, Travel

2011 Food Drive bags a record donation amount for AFAC!

November 29, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
Filed under: News, Teen Soccer, TOPSoccer, Travel Soccer Club

ASA’s 2011 Food Drive is now history, and in it’s second year the drive bagged 78% more food than last year’s effort!

The food drive, benefiting AFAC, sought donations of food starting a little more than a month ago. ASA teams were asked to compete with each other, and the team that donated the most food by weight wins a pizza party from Joe’s Pizza & Pasta. The total donation this year came in at 3,441 pounds! By comparison, last year’s total was 1,929 pounds.

Many teams took part this year. The top five were:

5 – U10 Girls Samba Blue, with 223 pounds

4 – U14 Boys Impact Red, with 280 pounds

3 – ASA Staff, with 295 pounds

2 -U11 Girls Comets (all 3 teams in the group? Not sure) with 369 pounds

…and the winner is:

1 -U10 Boys Rangers Red, with 498 pounds!

Other participating teams included NWAL Lions / Driscoll, Aces / Conley, AK Stingers, Revs / Kelly, NWAL / Hamilton, NWAL Lions / Gray, Lightning Hoppers, AK Cosmos, AO Dragonflies, Storm Blue, Storm (white or red?), Civitans Stingers, Rangers White, Aces / Conley, Samba White, United Black, Eagles Blue, Aces / Mara, Tornados / Brewer, Aces / Love, Impact White, Civitans Bengals, NWAL Emson, Aces / Lent & O’Hara, Big Pink / Mingus

A huge THANK YOU to all of those who donated such a great amount of food to AFAC. It is wonderful to be able to work together to help enrich the lives of so many.

Tags: AFAC, donations, Food drive, pizza party, thanksgiving