Two Academy Affiliate Teams Clinch National President’s Cup Championship

This past weekend, two Academy Affiliate teams competed in the Nationals for the USYS President’s Cup, presented by Chipolte, out in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. After four days of play, Sporting St. Louis Academy Bryant U13 girls and Sporting Iowa 2004 Academy 1 U15 girls remained in the running for the championship title on Sunday, July 14. Both teams came out victorious, each team battling it out in their exciting championship matches.

 

U13 Girls- Sporting St. Louis Academy Bryant

Sporting St Louis Academy Bryant U13 girls defeated a very strong Real Colorado Olympico team in PKs to claim the USYS U13 Girls 2019 National Presidents Cup champion title.

 

Earlier in the tournament, the Real Colorado team defeated Sporting STL 2-0 in group play, but the championship match was a much different game. After the earlier defeat, Coach Lindsey Bryant devised a game plan. That game plan combined with the player’s pure grit, determination and spirit proved to be the difference in the championship game.

 

After two halves and two overtime periods of grueling back and forth play from both teams the score in the championship game remained 0-0; the game would be determined by PKs. Sporting STL’s Grace White put the pressure on Colorado by taking the first PK and placing the ball in the side of the net. Colorado’s first player missed their first PK shot. Next up, Sporting STL’s Riley Henderson and Peyton Duffing each confidently make their PK as do the second and third Colorado players. Sporting STL’s Aly Bryant confidently places her shot into the back of the net to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of Sporting STL. The fourth Colorado player shoots and keeper Emily Sanabria dives to make the save to help Sporting STL claim their National President’s Cup Champion title.

 

During the course from State Champion to Regional Champion to National Champion, Sporting St Louis Academy Bryant won 12 games, lost 1 and tied none against teams from Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado. Sporting St Louis’ Calli Labarbera was awarded the golden boot for the competition.

 

The Sporting St Louis Academy Bryant’s National Presidents Cup championship is the first National Championship title for the Sporting St Louis soccer club.

U15 Girls- Sporting Iowa 2004 Academy 1  

Sporting Iowa 2004 Academy 1 bounced back from a loss the day before to defeat Beach FC (CA-S), 3-2, in a rematch of the previous day’s game.

 

Sporting Iowa took a lead into halftime as Sporting Iowa’s Avery Korsching found the back of the back of the net in the 14th minute. Beach FC battled back in the second half and leveled the score with a goal just five minutes into the second half. Sporting Iowa pulled ahead in the 60th minute with a goal from Brissa Para but Beach FC once again fought back to tie the match.

 

It looked like the game was destined for overtime until a great cross into the box from the left flank found Isabel Davis. Davis made no mistake and finished her first-time chance beyond the keeper to give Sporting Iowa the lead with only a minute to play. Beach FC once again had the opportunity to tie the game with a late foul in the box and they were given a penalty kick in the dying moment of the match. Sporting Iowa’s keeper, Braelyn Thomas, made a spectacular read as she dove to her right to make the save and to send Sporting Iowa home as the U15 Girls National Presidents Cup Champions.

Congrats to both Sporting St. Louis Academy Bryant U13 girls and Sporting Iowa 2004 Academy 1 U15 girls for being named National President’s Cup Champions! We are very proud of both of these teams and their accomplishments that help represent our Academy Affiliate family. Keep up the great work girls!

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To learn more about Academy Affiliates, please visit sportingkcyouth.com/academyaffiliates.

To learn more about Sporting KC Youth Soccer, please visit sportingkcyouth.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCES:
Sporting St. Louis: http://www.sportingstl.com/presidents-cup-national-champions/
Sporting Iowa: https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/champions-crowned-at-2019-us-youth-soccer-national-presidents-cup/