Youth Soccer News: San Diego Surf SC GU11 Academy Take SCDSL Title
The San Diego Surf Girls Academy I U11 team captured the 2013 Southern California Developmental Soccer League (SCDSL) Under 11 Girls Flight 1 South title over the November 16-17 weekend, finishing the season with a very impressive 12-1-1 record. The team closed out the season scoring 29 goals while allowing only five by the opposition and earned a total of 37 points in league play.
Two games were left going into the final weekend of league play, and two tough opponents remained on the schedule – Laguna Hills Eclipse 02/03 White and San Diego Soccer Club (SDSC) G2002 Academy. Going into Saturday’s game, the Surf team couldn’t afford to lose or tie any of the two remaining games because So Cal Blues Baker were right behind with only 1 point separating the two teams.
On Saturday, November 16, under muddy field conditions, the Surf team managed to pull off a 1-0 win over a very talented Laguna Hills White team. The game was back and forth without either team giving an inch. With 10 minutes left to play, Lexi Wright one-timed a perfectly crossed ball with a beautiful shot into the goalkeeper’s left corner. Surf then managed to hold off Blues over the final minutes for the win.
On Sunday afternoon, it was a classic San Diego match-up. There was excitement and tension in the air. SDSC Navy, having played great all year and sporting a 9-3-1 record, were coming into Surf territory trying to spoil Surf’s title chances. SDSC Navy came out strong the first 10 minutes on a surge that had Surf backed up on their heels.
“Once we managed to hold on during the first part of the game, I knew things would start going our way,” said Surf coach Gabe Arredondo.”We were a little nervous at the beginning of the game, and we weren’t making good decisions.”
After withstanding SDSC Navy’s first burst, Surf took over the game keeping possession and controlling field territory. Twenty minutes into the half Surf scored, and it was a thing of beauty. Samantha Duggan hit Daniela Chavira with a beautifully played ball from the back. Daniela took the ball and performed a couple of outstanding moves on the defender, shaking her enough for a pass down the middle to Alyza Eckhardt who then took the ball and hit Lexi Wright. Lexi then took on three defenders to finish with a monstrous goal in the keeper’s bottom left side corner. With the lead in the second half, Surf took control of the game and Lexi took a loose ball from outside of the box, beat one defender and placed the ball for another fantastic goal and a 2-0 final score.
Congratulations to the girls and coach Gabe Arredondo for a tremendous season.
