After winning the both the fall and spring PSPL League, South Sound FC GU -13 Black finished off a stellar year of soccer by winning the inaugural US Club State Cup 2-1 over a tough Marauders 11. The girls displayed some creative soccer, wonderful team spirit and great sportsmanship against a great opponent.
The girls clinched the # 1 seed a week ago winning 3 out of 4 games on a grueling weekend of soccer at the RAC. The team started championship weekend this Saturday night in Auburn with a gutsy, hard- fought, tightly marked win over a Cascade team that brought their “A” game. Two well-struck, downright beautiful goals by Sara and Sally in the last 10 minutes of the game earned the victory for South Sound. The game ended at just after 9pm with the championship beckoning the very next day. The opponent was the physical, determined Maple Valley Marauders.
The Marauders struck first with a well-placed shot off of a goalmouth scramble just minutes into the match. The quick tally seemed to waken the team from their doldrums. They controlled the tempo of play for the next 20 minutes, led by the relentless efforts of Sarah and Faith at forwards, but could not get the equalizer. Laura ranged well out of her box several times to stop potential scoring attempts and launched some booming, field changing punts. Just when it seemed the half would end with the team down 1-0, Faith slammed home a close in shot off of a nice indirect kick by Nicole and assist by Sally. The first half would end tied 1-1. Keahna played inspired defense in the first half and had key put -backs near midfield. Hannah and Mary worked well together- using the sideline to move the ball out of danger and the entire team marked up well after the first few minutes of the half.
At the start of the second half PSS’s midfield began to take control. Maddie led several spirited charges downfield and Nicole seemed to put herself in the right spot to gather every loose ball. Savannah played a tough, physical game winning balls at midfield and hustling back on every defensive challenge. Meg and Jennifer played hard every minute and Mary and Sally were solid on the wings. The match wore on with Black having the edge in possession and opportunity-but no tie- breaker. Just when it seemed that neither team would find the net, Puget Sound Slammers scored off of a tense, nerve- wracking scramble right in front of the Marauder keeper. After several near misses, including one by a Marauders defender, Faith finally tapped in her second score of the game and the eventual game winner. Goooooooaaaaaaaaalllll!!!!!!
That was not the end of the excitement though as Marauders pressed on with a vengeance. The defense, with outstanding play by Meghan, Anna. Keahna and Hannah thwarted one opportunity after another. The team survived several hectic free kicks; re-kicks of free kicks and celebrating parents of the Marauders who thought the equalizer had been struck. Alas, it was the net behind the field that rippled and gave them false hope. Anna had two key clearing kicks that helped to melt away the last frantic moments. I don’t know what was louder at the end, the sigh of relief from the parents or the joy of celebration from the girls. With this victory the team qualified for the prestigious Mustang Stampede tournament in California and finished a year where they only lost twice. Congratulations Puget Sound Slammers GU-13, well deserved US SOCCER CUP STATE CHAMPIONS.
