Club Soccer News Spotlight: Carlsbad Lightning - The Winning Tradition Continues with GU13 Red 

Over the President's Day weekend, the Carlsbad Lightning's GU13s swept through the competition to win the Carlsbad Premier Cup, scoring an impressive 14 goals and conceding 0. The Premier Cup is held annually and is limited to teams that have qualified for National Cup held in April and May. 

Carlsbad Lightning GU13s Win Carlsbad Premier Cup

Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Red beat FC San Diego Gold 5-0 in the finals with a quality display of soccer.  According to the team's coach and Director of Coaching Michael Duggan, "The team's trademark passing game allowed Carlsbad Lightning to hold possession for the majority of the game."   

Carlsbad Lightning teams focus on passing and their trademark is often their ability to control the ball through well executed passes.  During the Carlsbad Premier Cup, the GU13's combined their hallmark passing with great finishing and goals were scored by Hayley Mayne (1), Rachel Ereso (1), Brenna Bardzilowski (1) and Sunny Dunphy (2)  Dunphy was MVP for the game. Throughout the weekend, the team demonstrated great forward play from Kaylin Waizinger, Delaney Lotwin, Dani Baldwin and top tournament scorer Miranda Martinez.

Coach Duggan also reported solid performances turned in by a strong group of midfielders, including Captain Kerry Kuhnert, Shelby Cormier and Captain Natallie Rocha. The back line was anchored by Emily Zimmer, Isabella Mirizzi, Captain Elysa Briens and Kallie Kampfl, with Keepers Sammy Burke and Emily Sanchez who went the whole weekend without having a single goal scored on either of them.  

Michael Duggan, Director of Coaching, Carlsbad Lightning

"I was pleased with the effort of my girls this weekend," said Duggan, "Soccer is the classic 'team sport' and when we share the ball like we did this weekend, we're a tough draw for anybody. We passed it well, kept it well, and our tempo which is something we've been working on, was good."

Coach Duggan continued, "I was also pleased with the effort from several guest players, Hannah Ward who scored a great goal in the 3-0 game against South Bay Force, and Nicole Che who gave us some quality minutes and shows huge promise.”   

Carlsbad Lighting has now won or been in the finals of 5 out of 6 Class A, Premier tournaments in the last 12 months, and have extended their overall team record from Aug last year to 22-3-1.  

"Top to bottom, this is a solid team of technically strong soccer players, that can all play" says Duggan.  "Graduating to Carlsbad Elite this coming year and playing in the Coast Soccer League will see us focus on fundamentals and proper player development again -- winning is the team's natural outcome but not the central goal." 

Carlsbad Lightning Girls U13s are ranked in the Top 8 in the Region, 16 in the Nation, and are attracting a lot of attention as they get ready for Nationals next week. 

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