Albion Soccer Club BU16

Soccer News:  Albion BU16 Return to the USYS National Championships

San Diego's Albion's Soccer U16 Team is at the National Championship, Again.

Last year, this team played for the USYSA BU15 National Championship, losing the game in a double OT thriller to Baltimore Bays. When that game was over, and just before receiving the second place trophy, the team came together in a quiet moment of determination and committed to doing whatever is needed to get back to the National Championship. Over the course of the next nine months, the team won the National League, putting them in the position to fight for the championship again as U16s.

Pool play against other regional champions began Wednesday at 8:00 AM in Phoenix Arizona at the Reach 11 Sports Complex north of Scottsdale near the JW Marriott resort.

Corcorde Elite (from Atlanta, Georgia) had won the National "Red" League and were eager to face the National League Champs in what would prove to be a de facto National League championship. Temperatures on the field in the mid 90's obligated the referees to call two required water breaks during the game. At the half the score was even.

Both teams created chances to score early - Albion using a more creative possession game to get in behind the Concorde defense while Concorde relied more on the long ball to their 6'4" 200lb forward.

The first half highlight was keeper Colin Webb's amazing save on a deep shot on goal by Concorde from about 45 yards out. The booming shot almost sailed in just below the crossbar, but Webb reacted perfectly and timed his jump to nudge the ball over the crossbar.

In the second half, the Albion midfield did a much better job pressuring Concorde's midfield, which limited their attack substantially. Concorde's stats, while even with Albion in the first half, were dramatically amiss in the second half. Albion's fitness and determination bore fruit with a well earned goal at the 53rd minute by Raul Martinez.  

The game ended with a flurry of volleys by Concorde, but the Albion defense held. The game finished with a mad scramble in the Albion box. Webb trapped the ball against the ground with one hand 2ft from the goal line.

Concorde kicked the ball out of his hand. The ball ricocheted, and then another Concorde player took a point-blank shot. Joseph Saad cleared the would-be tying goal for a Concorde corner kick.

The final play was the corner kick that Patrick Barba cleared nicely ending the game 1:0.

Thursday morning, Albion played CESA 94 Premier from Greenville, South Carolina. Albion had met CESA 94 Elite during the 2010-2011 National League, handing them a solid defeat 3:0 last Fall in Gillette, North Carolina.

The question before the game was whether or not Albion would be able exert its will against this newly crowned Region III champion.

Albion dominated possession from the start of the game. The team easily moved the ball around the field, leading to an early goal by Ariel Lassiter.

As the game progressed, Coach Noah Gins established a defensive scheme, which neutralized the CESA attack. Albion sustained their possession while on offense, but often settled for long shots on goal from 30-40 yards, as opposed to progressing the ball behind the CESA defense.

However, CESA was unable to effectively adjust to Albion's passing game and stingy defense.

The game was in Albion's control from the start, and CESA finally succumbed in the final minute giving up a final goal off of a hard driven shot by Dominic Chavez closing the game out 2:0.

Albion's quest for a return to the Championship game continues Friday at 8am when they meet their rivals, Eastside FC 94 Red, the current Region IV Champions.

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