Youth Soccer News: Carlsbad U14 Wins West Coast Tournament

Carlsbad Lightning Elite 97-98 prove their mettle in tough West Coast Futbol Classic competition.

Carlsbad EliteWest Coast Futbol Classic Champions

On the weekend of August 20-21, 2011, the Carlsbad Elite 97-98 Boys traveled up the coast to Mission Viejo for the seventh annual West Coast Futbol Classic. After a shaky start and a 2-0 loss to Manchester Aceadmy in their first game the team reeled off 4 straight wins to take home the trophy as the U14 Flight 2 Champions. The elite boys defeated Exiles SC 4-3 and San Diego United 3-2 to reach the semifinals where they faced a tough Crusaders (CSC) team. A successful penalty kick by team MVP and leading scorer Abel Chavez made the final score 1-0 and put the boys through to the late Sunday night final.

In their fifth match in two days, the Elite boys faced a strong FC Golden State Black team who had yet to lose during the tournament. Carlsbad was quick to strike, possessing the ball and attacking with confidence. In the 20th minute, Carlsbad broke through with a goal from Kai Negaard and then another from the opposite winger Jake McMahon to make it 2-0 at the half. 

Carlsbad Elite Boys 97-98

"The boys were confident at half and knew they had what it took to claim the championship,” said first-year coach David Rath. “I told them that I could almost smell the trophy, but we still had to work hard for 30-plus minutes. Realizing we had squandered some leads earlier in the weekend, we talked about 'game management.’” In the end, the Carlsbad elite boys frustrated the team from Arcadia, Ca. and walked off the field victorious with their first trophy under Coach Rath.

Added Coach Rath, "I was very impressed with the determination and heart the boy's played with. Although tournament standouts Abel Muñoz and center-back Tyler Chan were definitely anchors in the offense and defense, respectively, this championship was the result of a total team effort."

The Carlsbad Elite Boys Under-14 team plays next in the 33rd Annual NHB Cup and will compete in the 2011 Coast Soccer League Premier Division this fall.

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