Youth Soccer News: Surf Girls Academy I Take Back-to-Back Cal South National Cup Titles
Winning a state-level championship is a challenge at any age, but to do it two years in a row takes a special team. San Diego Surf SC Surf Girls Academy I, coached by Seth Trembly, is just such a team. In a crowded field that opened with 47 teams, Surf took the competition by storm in Cal South National Cup, using a combination of solid defense and talented offense to go undefeated in the tournament.
It has been a great year for player development and also for tough games for the Surf Girls. As Trembly explained, “After you win the first championship, everyone knows who you are and every team plays the hardest to try to beat you. We came out of the gates very strong and determined and we finished our chances. Our greatest asset is the quality among our whole team.”
Surf did, indeed, come out strong, defeating Strikers FC 00 Casey 4-1 on Sunday, February 23, and Laguna United FC – Blue 5-0 on Saturday, March 8, in Lancaster. That sent Trembly’s team into the Round of 32 the following day, where they defeated fellow San Diego side DMCV Sharks Girls 00 White by a 2-1 score. Surf advanced to the Round of 16 game on Saturday, March 15, against Westside Breakers 00 White, taking a convincing 5-0 win. On Sunday Trembly’s side had perhaps their toughest challenge of the tournament, as they faced Legends FC in the Quarter Finals. The two teams matched each other through regulation and overtime to a 1-1 draw, but Surf prevailed on penalty kids, 4-2.
Competition moved to Rancho Capistrano for the final two rounds of play, with Surf taking on Laguna Hills Eclipse White on March 22. That game ended in a 4-0 victory for San Diego and set up the final on Sunday against Arsenal FC GU13 FC West. Surf came out firing in that game, determined to add another cup to their collection. By halftime the score was 5-1, and San Diego closed out the match with a resounding 7-3 victory.
“I am so proud of their accomplishment,” said Trembly of his team. “It is hard to win a tournament like National Cup, and especially back-to-back championships. I want to give all the credit to the players because soccer is a players’ game, not a coach’s game. My job is to be role model and a mentor at the right moments.”
Asked what it takes for a team to prepare to repeat as state champions, Trembly explained, “When preparing the players to succeed on the field it is important to get them in the right mindset. Players have to think as a unit to overcome challenges on the field. Nothing is going to go 100 percent right all the time. You have to be ok with mistakes.”
“We had our hard moments, but successful players have to be resilient,” he said. “It is about creating a positive environment to see challenges as something to overcome and not as problems that could derail the team.”
“Congratulations to the boys and girls that won National Cup this weekend,” said Surf Director Colin Chesters, who had the pleasure of watching both the Surf Girls Academy I and the Surf Boys Academy I U12 bring home trophies. “The two teams and coaches both had outstanding seasons that were very similar. They started off their seasons by winning Surf Cup, won their respective divisions of the Southern California Developmental Soccer League(SCDSL) league and did well in California Regional League (CRL). They used any setbacks as learning experiences as they went into National cup this past month.”
Next up for the team is a well-deserved rest and some recovery time before preparations begin for US Youth Soccer Far West Regionals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they hope to join a long list of Cal South teams that have brought home championships. After that, the next stop would be the US Youth National Championships in Germantown, Maryland.
“San Diego Surf SC is a fantastic club with a rich tradition of winning and playing great soccer,” said Trembly, who took over the team this year. “The girls are hungry to win this next title. Last year, they lost in overtime against Colorado Rush in the finals in Hawaii.”
Congratulations to San Diego Surf SC Girls Academy I and coach Seth Trembly.
San Diego Surf Girls Academy I Roster includes: Logan Wells, Maddie Mercado, Mia Fishel, Victoria Nielsen, Amber McCorkle, Ariana Claiborne, Jade Babecock-Chi, Emma Reeves, Reilly Paterson, Mackenzie Simpson, Sheila Kaiser, Sawyer Simo, Sofia Beyer, Elyse Waterhouse, Nicole Mossmer, Leyla McFarland, MacKenna Carmichael, Brooke Wilson, and Olivia Mahan.
