Albion White U16 Boys

Albion boys make a strong showing at USYSA U16 National Championships

It is very rare for a team to make it to the U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championships – even more rare to do it twice in a row. But that is exactly what the boys of Albion White U16 did in July, 2011.

Just a year before the team had battled its way to a 1-1-2 record and an opportunity to face Baltimore Bays Chelsea in the U15 finals.

Earlier in the tournament Albion had handed the boys from Baltimore their only defeat and were looking to repeat the effort. Unfortunately it was not to be, and Baltimore came out on top 2-1 in overtime.

At that point, the Albion boys set themselves a goal: a return to the National Championships as U16. “Let’s win everything in sight,” said goalkeeper Garret Franklin, looking ahead. And that is exactly what the team would go on to do.

Over the next 12 months Albion went on to become National League Champions, Disney Cup Champions, CalSouth National State Cup Champions, Far West Regional Semifinalists, and USA Cup Champions. On top of that, they also managed to throw in a trip to England along the way to play Tottenham Hotspur U16 Academy Team.

It all came together on Wednesday, July 27, when they stepped on the pitch to face Concorde Fire Elite from Georgia. Albion defeated Concorde 1-0 and went on to defeat Beadling SC from Pennsylvania by a 2-0 score before losing 1-0 to Eastside FC 93 Red out of Washington. On the strength of points and goals, Albion moved into the finals against the same Concorde team they had opened against.

The match began with both teams working to execute their game plans - Concorde trying to find their big #6, Cameron Moseley, at or near the 18 line while Albion was moving the ball side-to-side looking for space wide for the midfield to get the ball behind the Concorde defense.

At about the 20-minute mark of the game, Concorde scored on a defensive miscue on Albion's part. Concorde's Moseley took advantage of the opportunity and put one into the far right side of the goal.

The game became a true battle, with Albion missing several chances to equalize. At the 54-minute mark a Concorde player received a double yellow for continuous fouling and dangerous play – an automatic red. Then at the 56-minute mark an Albion player received a red card for dangerous play, equalizing the two sides.

Finally around the 70^th minute, with Albion surging, Dontae Walker capitalized on all the passing work the team had put in behind him. He received a pass on the 6, juked the defender with a hard left fake, cut the ball back to his own right and buried the goal.

With ten minutes left in the game it looked like Albion might have to undergo another overtime final, but it was not to be.

Three minutes later an Albion player was called for a foul in the box while attempting to clear a Concorde shot on goal. Although Albion questioned the call, they were unsuccessful in changing the referee’s mind and Concorde was awarded a penalty kick, which they buried for a 2-1 lead.

Albion battled gamely for the remaining seven minutes of play, but they were unable to cash in any of the chances they created. The game ended with Concorde avenging their opening loss and taking the USYSA U16 National Championship.

Although they were disappointed, the Albion boys were not disheartened. They had trained, sweated, worked, competed, overcome many obstacles, and stayed together as a TEAM.

They had done everything they needed to do and more to be ready for the championship game. Moreover, they knew they had done it twice already, so they could do it a third time.

That's something this group of very fine young men will have to think about as they set new and higher goals for the next 362 days.  Then it will be a full year.

They know that everything they do – everything, from what they eat and what they drink to how they train, how hard they sprint, how many crunches they do, every training session, every passing drill, every game, every off day, every play and every moment of every game – will have an effect on their goals. THAT is their lesson from their experience at the USYSA National Championship.

Now the one question left is: Will the third time be the charm?

Congratulations to Albion White U16: Patrick Barba, Ian Bergman, Jordan Bingham, Eli Bunton, Noah Bunton, Dominic Chavez, Garrett Franklin, Noah Gins, Tony Kirouac, Ariel Lassiter, Shane Mahvi, Raul Martinez, Ricardo Martinez, Jose Merlo, Joseph Saad, Oscar Ortega, Dylan Shackelford, Dontae Walker, and Colin Webb.