ThisWeek Community Newspapers Upper Arlington
Page B2
June 23, 2011
2011 Midwest Regional Cup
Team Ohio F.C.
Green U-17 boys eye Midwest title By AARON BLANKENSHIP ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Rosters
The Team Ohio F.C. Green Under-17 boys soccer team surprised many, including coach Steve Dawson, by winning the State Cup tournament for the first time in four years. After beating the CUP Crew Juniors 3-2 in a semifinal on May 14, Team Ohio defeated the Blast F.C. 1-0 in the final on May 15 as forward Sam Darling scored and A.J. Tresoline earned the shutout in goal. The CUP Crew Juniors were the No. 1 seed in the tournament and the Blast F.C. won a Regional Cup title and finished fifth in the national tournament two years ago. Given its State Cup performance, Dawson said he wouldn’t be surprised if his team continued to earn upsets in the 2011 Midwest Regional Cup tournament, which will be held Saturday through Wednesday, June 25-29, in Fox Cities, Wis. “This team doesn’t have a lot of players who are big stars and I thought we’d be doing well to get to the semifinals in the State Cup,” Dawson said. “But we shocked CUP, which was stronger than us talent-wise, player for player, and we upset the Blast in the final against all odds, and our players have a lot of confidence right now. This team has come on like gangbusters at the right time and is on a roll. If we continue playing like this in the regional tournament, I think we can keep winning there.” This will be Team Ohio’s first Regional Cup appearance since going 1-1-1 in pool play as a U13 team in 2007. Team Ohio will open pool play June 25 against ShattuckSt. Mary’s from Minnesota before playing June 26 against Elm Grove (Wis.) Premier and June 27 against the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Crew Juniors. The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors are first in the U.S. Region 2 club soccer rankings ahead of Elm Grove Premier (10th) and Team Ohio (26th). “We feel like we have a great chance to do well, even though we may be the lowest-ranked team going there,” defender A.G. Basiakos said. “We’re not the most talented team, but we can win games if we play tough defensively and continue to outwork our opponents.” Dawson said Basiakos and Tresoline will need to lead his defense, while Darling is expected to spark his offense. Darling also scored two goals in Team Ohio’s State Cup semifinal win. “A.G. is our captain and strongest player in the back, and A.J. has been playing great in
TEAM OHIO F.C. GREEN U-17 BOYS Name, Position, School A.G. Basiakos, D, Hilliard Bradley Jerron Bennington, M, Springfield Greenon Nolan Burkholder, D, Lima Central Catholic Sam Darling, F, Hilliard Bradley Joseph Davison, D, Dublin Jerome Matthew Dicesare, M, DeSales Raymond Gans, M, Dublin Coffman Tanner Halm, M, Dublin Coffman Ryan Magee, F, Lima Shawnee Chris Martin, M, Hilliard Davidson Patrick Norris, F, Worthington Kilbourne Trevin Pitroff, M, Watterson Jon Trapp, D, Dayton Carroll A.J. Tresoline, G, DeSales TEAM OHIO F.C. JUVENTUS U-16 BOYS Name, Position, School Dan Allen, D, Dublin Jerome Jake Anderson, M, Olentangy Orange Alec Binger, M, Olentangy Orange Gunnar Bloecher, M, Olentangy Orange Joel Davis, F, Westerville South Ben Fitzpatrick, F, Hilliard Bradley Justin Garcia, D, Dublin Coffman Miklos Huber, M, Upper Arlington Tyler Kidwell, D, Dublin Jerome Tyler Malone, G, Hilliard Darby Andrew McKelvey, M, Watterson Kyle Moser, F, Dublin Jerome Alex Polko, D, St. Charles Trent Rantala, G, Dublin Coffman Mitch Wiseman, M, St. Charles Rylee Woods, F, Jamestown Greeneview TEAM OHIO F.C. BLAST U-18 BOYS Name, Position, School Nick Anderson, D, Olentangy Orange Colin Beemiller, G, Pickerington North Colton Bloecher, M, Olentangy Orange Joe Carter, M, Johnstown Joel Craig, M, Big Walnut Jarvis D’Souza, M, Olentangy Liberty A.J. Fleak, G, Big Walnut Walter Ford, D, Olentangy Orange Trevor Gates, D, Gahanna Angelo Pagani, D, DeSales Drew Pang, F, Dublin Coffman Max Rohda, D, Watterson Matt Stephens, M, Dublin Jerome Jesus Villarroel, F, Olentangy Orange
felt could compete at the top level, and this team has lost only one game since December,” Dawson said. “It’s a strange team because we’ve had a lot of injuries and our practices haven’t been fantastic, but it keeps winning games.” In pool play, Team Ohio Blast will face CUP Crew Juniors from Cincinnati on June 25, the Michigan Wolves on June 26 and the KCFC Rangers from Kansas on June 27. In the U.S. Region 2 club soccer rankings, the KCFC Rangers are eighth, the Michigan Wolves are 15th and the CUP Crew Juniors are 35th. “We got an OK draw, but all of our pool play games are going to be tough,” Dawson said. “We’re a streaky team in that sometimes we score a lot and other times we win games 1-0. This team has some of the best high school players in the area and we haven’t been dominated by anyone, so I think we’ll be competitive in every game in this tournament.” •The Team Ohio F.C. Juventus U-16 boys team, which lost to the CUP Crew Juniors 3-1 in a State Cup final on May 15, received a wildcard to advance to the Regional Cup tournament for the third consecutive year. Team Ohio went 2-0-1 and won its pool in the Regional Cup two years ago, before losing to St. Louis SG Academy 2-0 in a semifinal. Last year in the Regional Cup, Team Ohio went 1-2 in pool play. “This team has been disjointed up to this point in the season, but we have a lot of talented players such as Tyler Kidwell, Rylee Woods, Alex Polko, Gunnar Bloecher and Alec Binger,” Dawson said. “This team underachieved this year, but we can win at regional if we play together like we have in the past. This is a chance to rectify not playing up to potential in the State Cup.” In pool play, Team Ohio will face the Lemont (Ill.) Raiders on June 25, WAZA West Black from Michigan on June 26 and KCFC United from Kansas on June 27. In the U.S. Region 2 club soccer rankings, Team Ohio is fifth behind the Lemont Raiders (No. 1) and ahead of WAZA West Black (14th) and KCFC United (21st). “Our experience (in past Regional Cup tournaments) should help because playing at a higher level gets you prepared for this kind of game speed,” goalkeeper Trent Rantala said. “The key for us is to keep possession and link passes to get an attack going.”
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Coach Chris King talks with his Ohio Premier Eagles U-18 squad during practice on June 17.
Ohio Premier
Eagles U-18 girls team emphasizing defense By AARON BLANKENSHIP ThisWeek Community Newspapers
As the Ohio Premier Eagles Under-18 girls soccer team conducted drills in its indoor facility June 17, coach Chris King halted practice three times to emphasize the importance of taking away passing lanes in the center of the field. Moments later, King was shouting words of praise and encouragement as his players clogged those seams and deflected the ball to the perimeter again and again. At the conclusion of practice, King said his team will need to continue playing defense with that same level of enthusiasm to be a true contender in the Midwest Regional Cup tournament, which will be held Saturday through Wednesday, June 25-29, in Fox Cities, Wis. “This is stuff that we’ve gone through hundreds of times at this stage of their careers, but doing the basic things right in a tournagoal,” Dawson said. “Sam’s one ment like this is what makes the of the fastest players in the state. difference,” King said. “All of the Overall, this is one of the least teams that we’ll see there will be highly skilled, but the teams that heralded teams on paper. But defend well and pay attention to you never know what can hapsmall details are the ones that will pen because we aren’t supposed be successful.” to be going there in the first The Ohio Premier Eagles lost place.” to Ohio Elite 3-2 in a State Cup •Players from past Team Ohio final on May 15, but qualified for F.C. and Blast F.C. boys teams the Regional Cup on a wildcard have merged this season to beas a representative of the Midwest come the Team Ohio F.C. Blast Regional League. U-18 boys team. Last year, the Ohio Premier EaMost of Team Ohio Blast’s gles also qualified for the Regional players have competed in the Cup as a wildcard and went 3-0 Regional Cup. The players from in pool play to advance to a rethe Blast participated in the event gional semifinal, where they deat the U-13, U-14 and U-15 levfeated Mockingbird Premier from els, and the players from Team Kentucky 3-0. The Ohio Premier Ohio F.C. won the State Cup as Eagles then lost to the Michigan both a U-13 and U-16 team. Hawks 2-1 in double overtime in The Team Ohio Blast trailed the final. the Metro F.C. Rapids 1-0 with Before the Ohio Premier and 20 minutes remaining in its State Eagles S.C. clubs merged, Ohio Cup final on May 15, before Premier qualified for the RegionColton Bloecher, Walter Ford al Cup as a U-14 squad and the and Max Rohda scored to rally Eagles S.C. advanced to the Rethe team to victory. gional Cup as a U-15 team. “We combined players from ablankenship@thisweeknews.com “Last year, a lot of us were stuck on being friends with only our old both clubs into one team that we www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Rosters OHIO PREMIER EAGLES U-18 GIRLS Name, Position, School Macy Cobb, D, Central Crossing Meredith DeLong, M, Bexley Michelle DeVilbiss, D, Olentangy Liberty Olivia Evans, D, Dublin Coffman Aubrey Fisher, M, Olentangy Liberty Ashley Gruenbaum, D, Fairbanks Maura Hulme, D, DeSales Gena Inbusch, F, Upper Arlington Bridget Lynch, M, Watterson Ashley Miltko, F, Westerville North Michela Paradiso, F, Upper Arlington Jesse Sabers, F, Dublin Jerome Kenzie Schlemitz, M, Dublin Coffman Megan Scoliere, M, Dublin Scioto Jade Seabrook, M, St. Paris Graham Abbey Smith, G, Olentangy Chelsy Swackhamer, F, Tipp City Bethel Sara Vaughan, M, Upper Arlington
teammates, but now we’re all good friends and everyone is clicking together,” forward Michela Paradiso said. “We know what it feels like to be so close to winning regional, so we’ve been motivated to put in the extra time in practice to try to make ourselves good enough to win it this year.” The Ohio Premier Eagles will open pool play on June 25 against KCFC Intensity from Kansas before playing Eden Prairie from Minnesota on June 26 and DASC Black from South Dakota on June 27. KCFC Intensity is first in the U.S. Region 2 club soccer rankings, ahead of Ohio Premier (sixth) and Eden Prairie (12th). “Those first two games are going to be really tough,” midfielder Megan Scoliere said. “Both of those teams are really talented, so we’re going to need to work harder than them to beat them. That’s why we’re pushing ourselves so hard every day in practice.” •The Ohio Premier Eagles U16 girls team will compete in the Regional Cup for the third consecutive year after winning its fourth State Cup title. The Ohio Premier Eagles beat the Blast F.C. 1-0 in a State Cup final on May 15. Lindsay Agnew scored the only goal off an assist
Paige Weber, F, Hilliard Davidson Morgan Wilcoxon, F, Bellefontaine OHIO PREMIER EAGLES U-16 GIRLS Name, Position, School Lindsay Agnew, D, Dublin Jerome Emily Byorth, F, Watterson Gabby Byorth, D, Watterson Makenzie Costner, D, Dublin Jerome Emily Geyer, M, Watterson Nicole Hopkins, D, Centerville Anna Rosa James-Buhigas, G, Scioto Elise Jones, M, Dublin Scioto Haley Lehmkuhl, D, Dublin Coffman Brooke Maletic, F, Springfield Catholic Central Katie Mazurek, D, Dublin Jerome Alexis Milesky, F, Jonathan Alder Kaitlin Miller, M, Dublin Jerome Hannah O'Shaughnessy, F, Liberty Chiara Paradiso, M, Upper Arlington Bailey Wilson, M, Dublin Coffman
by Kaitlin Miller. Last year, the Ohio Premier Eagles went 2-1 in pool play in the Regional Cup. In 2009, Ohio Premier advanced to a Regional Cup final but lost to the Eclipse Select from Illinois 10 on penalty kicks. “This is a great team that is full of players who are highly sought after by college coaches,” King said. “Gabby Byorth has made the U-17 national team camp, and we have a lot of players who have done well at the regional level.” In pool play, the Ohio Premier Eagles will face the Kansas City (Kan.) Fusion on June 25, the Michigan Football Club on June 26 and the Illinois State Cup champion on June 27. The Ohio Premier Eagles are third in the U.S. Region 2 club soccer rankings, ahead of the Michigan Football Club (sixth). “We’re as talented as any team in the country, but the girls need to bring a physical aspect to their game in this tournament or the other teams will try to bully them around,” King said. “We need to find that balance between playing a high-level quality of soccer and also standing up to the teams that are physical. If we do that and stay healthy, this team could go a See EAGLES, page B4
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