SNN Staff
Posted: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 1:07 pm

Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Black Take La Jolla Labor Day Classic Championship

Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Black continued their pre-season success by winning the GU13 Bronze division at the fourth annual La Jolla Labor Day Classic Championship, held in San Diego on September 1-3. The team not only won the Championship title, but the girls went undefeated through the entire tournament with 10 goals for and only one against in bracket play.

Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Black with the 2012 La Jolla Labor Day Classic Trophy Top Row (L-R): Natalie Borla, Coach Natalie Elkind, Keelee Schlachter, Aurora Paget, Skylar Hughes, Sophia Melissinos, Claire Karaffa, Megan Belina, Kelsey Beekman Bottom Row (L-R):  Sarah Tew, Marlanna Bozicevich, Maiya Asperin, Lillian Hill, Jordyn Capra, Molly Kube, Kylie Brooks, Ashley Woods

Carlsbad opened the tournament on Saturday morning with a 6-1 win against Rebels Soccer Club of Bonita. The team followed that up in the afternoon with a 3-0 win against Pacific Youth Soccer League (PYSL) Blast Blue of Pacific Beach. Lightning closed out bracket play on Sunday against Riptide SC Black of Point Loma, scoring in the last minute to earn a 1-0 victory. The win propelled Carlsbad into the finals on Monday where they would once again face Riptide.

The girls from Point Loma had opened their tournament run with a 6-1 victory over PYSL on Saturday morning and followed that with a 4-1 win over Rebels in the afternoon. The only black spot was their last-minute loss to Carlsbad on Sunday, and the team was eager to avenge that in the championship match.

The championship match was a classic hard-fought battle by both teams. A first half penalty kick goal by Carlsbad put them on top at half time, and an additional goal scored early in the second half gave Lightning a 2-0 lead. However, Riptide were not about to give in without a fight and battled back with a second half PK late in the game to cut the lead in half. Both teams brought all they had to the Championship game, with amazing play by both teams. Battling hard for the decision, Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Black held on to take the championship with a final score of 2-1. 

Congratulations to Carlsbad Lightning GU13 Black, who went undefeated with a 4-0 record over the course of the weekend, scoring 12 goals and allowing only two.