Schwan's USA CUP // Championship Summary

Championship Summary

Cup Flight Championship Game Summaries for the 2008 Schwan’s USA CUP, Saturday, July 19

Girls 13: BTFC Blue, Twin Cities 1, Tony Glavin Green, Cottleville, Missouri, 0.

In a game that stood at a 0-0 tie until the final 15 minutes, the Bangu Tsunami scored in the final minutes to post a 1-0 victory over Tony Glavin Green from Missouri. The winning goal came on a hard shot by Allyson Anderson off of a place kick from Mariel Skogman.

Tony Glavin out shot the BTFC 9-6 in the game but were unable to follow through with a goal.

BTFC had an early opportunity to score in the 16th minute when Emily Nelson broke past the Tony Glavin defenders but shot just wide of the net.

Tony Glavin just missed a goal in the first half when the ball was shot out of a scuffle in front of the net but the shot bounced off the top goal post.

Tony Glavin kept the pressure on the BTFC in the final minutes of the game, keeping the ball in the offensive zone. But BTFC was able to hang on for the win.

Girls 14: NSSA Strikers, North Suburbs, Minn. 4, Bangu Tsunami White, Woodbury, Minn. 2.

The NSSA Strikers scored the first goal of the game on a header by Nicole Parsons off a corner kick in the sixth minute. After that they never looked back. Taylor Brownrigg added a goal right before halftime and the Strikers took a 2-0 lead to the break.

Madeleine Peake scored the third goal for NSSA off a free kick outside of the penalty box and it started to look like they would run away with the game. But Bangu roared back with two goals in about three minutes; both scrambles in front of the net. The first goal was scored by Bailly Drayton and the second by Ellie Crowell.

Bangu Tsunami tried to make a comeback in the second half but a late goal by Taylor Brownrigg, her second of the game, shut the door and preserved the Strikers’ victory.

The Tsunami outshot the Strikers 14-8 but the Strikers capitalized on their opportunities.

This was a much closer game then the score indicated, as the game was back and forth all game.

Boys 14: Minneapolis United Wildcats 3, Commack SC United, Commack, New York, 0. (Forfeit)

After nine minutes of play, with the score 0-0, the game was suspended because of a tornado warning in Anoka County. After a two hour, 10 minute suspension, the Commack SC United, from New York, was forced to leave to catch a flight home. The forfeit win was awarded to the Minneapolis United Wildcats.

Boys 15: San Diego Nomads, Calif. 4, Phoenix Soccer Club, Winnipeg, Manitoba 0.

The San Diego Nomads, who had outscored their opponents 22-2 in their first five SCHWAN’S USA CUP games, jumped out to an early lead with Christopher Luu’s goal at the six minute mark. The Nomads continued to pressure the Phoenix goalie throughout the first half, knocking multiple shots off the goalposts and crossbar, though they could only convert on Luu’s goal.

San Diego’s Arturo Hoyos scored the Nomads second goal with an alert steal and quick goal in front of the Phoenix keeper. Edgar Mendez netted the Nomad’s most spectacular goal on a free kick goal from the corner, bending it around the Phoenix goalkeeper. Arturo added his second, and the Nomad’s final goal in the final minute.

The Phoenix Soccer Club was unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities throughout the game, though they maintained steady pressure on the Nomad’s defensemen and goalkeeper beginning early in the match. However, the speed and ball handling of the Nomads was simply too much to overcome.

Boys 16: KFUM, Norway 1, Texas Premier FC, Texas 0.

This match nearly didn’t happen. After a two-hour delay for a tornado warning at the National Sports Center, the Texas Premier had to leave the tournament to catch their flight home to Houston, and the forfeit win was awarded to KFUM, Norway.

But once at the airport, the team discovered their flight had been delayed, and might be cancelled. The team took a vote, and the players voted to return to the NSC and play the game. KFUM agreed to play, and the game was scheduled later in the evening.

After rebooking their tickets for the following morning, Texas re-rented vans, booked a hotel for an additional night, and the game that had been cancelled was back on.

“It was the team’s decision,” said coach Luis Labastida. “It was their competitive nature that drove them to come back.”

Norway had to make sacrifices too. The team had tickets to attend the Minnesota Twins game that night, but playing in the prestigious Cup Final took precedence.

After the delay and uncertainty of the game, the teams came out strong and ready to fight for first place. Half way through the first half, Texas goalie Fernando Pina came out for a save and dropped it. It seemed KFUM was going to score until a Texas player cleared the ball with a strong kick out of bounds.

Late in the first half KFUM’s Sveinung Moeller scored the first, and what would be the only, goal of the game off a penalty kick.

Texas immediately counter attacked, but hit the KFUM crossbar just before the half time whistle.

The second half showcased strong back and forth play showing just how much each team wanted this championship title. The intensity continued both verbally and physically until the end of the game. In the end, Texas couldn’t get one in and Norway’s KFUM took home the 16 Boys’ Cup Flight Championship.

Boys 17: Rockford Flying Kickers, Mich. 5, Hamilton Sparta, Ontario 3.

After scoring first, the Kickers fell behind before rallying from behind to win 5-3.

Sean Mancl scored the first goal, after a scramble in the front. The Sparta then scored three consecutive goals to go into halftime leading 3-1. Kemal Elmenouar put in the first two goals and Aldo Lombardi also added one of his own.

The Kickers then turned it around in the second half and never looked back. Caio Mendes scored two goals early, one at the seven minute mark and then again at the 16-minute mark.

Carlos Esquivel scored the game winning goal at the 36 minute mark, heading the ball past the goalkeeper off a crossed ball. Esquivel scored a second time at the 40-minute mark off of a penalty kick.

Girls 19: Eagan Big Dawgs, Eagan, Minn. 3, NSSA Zoom, Shoreview, Minn. 0.

The Eagan Big Dawgs kept the NSSA Zoom at bay on Saturday night’s championship game, winning 3-0.

The Zoom fought hard in the game but played without their regular goalkeeper, Taylor Randle, who was out with a foot injury. Defenseman Lydia Storm filled in and faced 11 shots from the Big Dawgs.

Jessica Price started the scoring for the Big Dawgs in the first ten minutes of the game after making a hard kick from within a scurry in front of the net.

Angela Olson scored her first goal, taking a hard shot which ended up being deflected in by Storm. Halfway through the second half, a quick shot by Olson deflected off the top goal post, a near-miss. She scored her second goal by deking it past goalkeeper Storm.

The Zoom nearly broke the shutout with a free kick from Kelsey Zachman in the 68th minute, but Eagan’s goalie, Samantha Sickbert made a diving save.

Boys 19: Rudbeckianska, Sweden, 3, Maplebrook Reds F.C., Maple Grove, Minn. 0.

Before either Maplegrove or Rudbeckianska took the field on Saturday afternoon, the U19 boys’ championship game was built up to be the best Cup level championship game of the day.

Maplebrook won the U19 Week Championship last year and the U17 championship two years ago. Rudbeckianska won the Weekend and Week championships in 2006, the 2007 Weekend championship and won this year’s Weekend championship: a total of four titles in five tries.

Rudbeckianska came out on top today, with a 3-0 victory.

David Engström started the scoring for Rudbeckianska with a direct free kick in the first half. That goal was soon followed by a rebound goal from 17-year-old forward Mauro Quinones.

The final goal came from Patrik Östlund, a direct shot in the final seconds of the game that had Maple Brook screaming for an offside call that never came.

Maple Brook battled throughout the game and kept up with Rudbeckianska, despite the final score.