Youth Soccer News: Surf’s Up at ECNL San Diego
If being a good host means you let your guests go first and have the biggest portion, then San Diego Surf SC have not been the best example of hospitality at ECNL San Diego. If setting great examples of dominance and a strong desire to win are part of hosting, then this club is winning on and off the field.
From a 6-0 drubbing of FC Bucks U18 on Saturday, April 12, to a 6-2 win over De Anza Force U15, Surf SC teams have shown their strength in competition. In two days of play, Surf teams have a collective 7-2-1 record and show no signs of slowing down.
The San Diego juggernaut began early Saturday as the Surf SC U18, coached by Ada Greenwood, picked up goals from Abigail Callahan, Courtney Coate, Jessica Morales, Natalie Neshat, Alexandra Ocon and Pilar Torres as they swept the ECNL Northeast Conference Bucks off the pitch. Surf SC U16, led by Director of Girls Coaching Colin Chesters, then had to work for their victory, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 win against Maryland United on goals by Dana Dalton (2) and Alyssa Fiddes.
Chesters’ Surf SC U15 took the next game in the series, with Brazilian transplant Catarina Macario’s two goals leading a 3-1 win over Colorado Rush. Taylor Kornieck added the third. A 0-0 draw by Paul Dolinsky’s Surf SC U14 against Match Fit Academy and a 1-2 loss by Ryan Carruth’s Surf SC U17 to TSC Hurricane from Texas slowed the train but could not dampen the excitement.
Sunday saw Macario back in action, picking up two more goals and three assists to lead her team to a 6-2 win over De Anza Force U15. Arlie Jones (2), Yasmin Ahooja and Bianca Caetano-Ferrara picked up the other goals in the match. De Anza Force did get a measure of club revenge, however, when their U18 side defeated Surf SC U18 in a tight 2-1 match.
“Game showcases are always tough,” said coach Mark Spooner, who assisted with the Surf SC U15 team. “We pressured De Anza Force high and did not let them score. The team was very good and got in their faces and let their soccer do the talking when they got the ball.”
“It was a great team victory at ECNL today,” said Macario. “We played as a true team coming together on the field as a family, which made it easier to score. Since we lost to De Anza Force 5-2 in the semifinals in Virginia, we have worked even harder. Today’s win was great.”
After the come-from-behind win on Saturday, there were some observers who wondered if Surf SC U16 could find enough to take on Midwest Conference leaders Real Colorado, who came into the weekend with a 10-1-3 conference record and a +35 goal differential. For the home team, there was never any question as they picked up a goal in each half for the 2-0 victory.
“I felt we won the game fairly comfortably today,” said Chesters. “We had a tough battle yesterday and came from two behind to win 3-2, so that took its toll on us, but we still had enough in the tank today to beat a good Colorado team.”
Real Colorado Director of Coaching Lorne Donaldson agreed. “Surf was better than us today. We didn’t come out strong, we looked tired. They were the better team.”
Surf SC closed out the second day of competition with a pair of 2-0 victories, as Surf U14 defeated Mustang SC and Surf U17 beat Utah Avalanche. Both games showed the skill and finishing touches the club has become known for, including a spectacular individual effort by Marley Canales in the U17 match.
“We were a little bit bobbly in the first half,” admitted Carruth of his Surf U17 team. “Give credit to Avalanche, who made things difficult for us. In the second half the girls came out with a little more energy and got the ball moving a little bit quicker. I think the difference was a little more of a hunger in the players in the second half.”
“Marley Canales scored on a great individual piece of skill, dribbling through their whole back line for a wonderful goal,” Carruth continued. “Then it was a collective team effort in the last 30 minutes to close out the game. We got the second goal from Jessica Clegg, which helped things out. Overall a lot of great things came out of the girls today.”
While all of the Surf SC ECNL teams have had great success, the U17 (96/97) squad has been particularly impressive. Following is a short summary of the team’s highlights:
2010: Cal South State Champions, Region IV Champions, Surf Cup Finalists, Blues Cup Champions, Presidio Soccer League Champions
2011: Nike Manchester United Cup Semifinalists, Surf Cup Semifinalists, Blues Cup Finalists, Surf Thanksgiving Tournament Semifinalists
2012: Surf Cup Semifinalists, Blues Cup Semifinalists, ECNL National Championship – 13th
2013: ECNL National Championship – 11th, Surf Cup Champions, Surf College Cup Semifinalists
Surf SC will close out the ECNL San Diego event on Monday as Surf SC U14 take on San Juan Soccer Club, Surf SC U15 face Washington Premier, Surf SC U16 meet Santa Rosa United, Surf SC U17 go up against Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, and Surf SC U18 play MVLA.
Update
Surf SC closed out ECNL San Diego with an undefeated Day Three. While the Surf SC U15 and U16 teams played to 1-1 draws, the U14, U17 and U18 teams all had solid victories.
Monday April 14 Results:
Surf SC U14 3-0 De Anza Force U14
Surf SC U15 1-1 Washington Premier U15
Surf SC U16 1-1 Santa Rosa United U16
Surf SC U17 5-0 Ohio Elite Soccer Academy U17
Surf SC U18 3-1 MVLA U18
Updated 4.15.14 7:38 a.m. PT
