SNN Staff
Posted: Friday, July 20, 2012 3:52 pm

Youth Soccer News: CV Manchester Academy BU11 Win Pegasus Cup

The Manchester Academy Elite upcoming BU-11 team took the Boys U10 Flight 1 championship at the 15th annual San Diego Pegasus Cup tournament in June.

After finishing as finalists in the 2011 competition, the team, under the direction of Head Coach and Manchester’s Co-Director of Coaching Jeff Illingworth, was ready for redemption. Showing skill and determination, the boys went undefeated through the three days of competition, scoring eight goals and allowing none in group play.

Head Coach Jeff Illingworth with Academy Elite BU-11 team at Pegasus Cup.  Front row (L-R):  Saul Serpas, Luis Mario Islas, Jorge Kuri, Jeffrey Hansen, Bryan Delgado, Andrew Espinoza, Jose Rios, Azareel Pineda, Liam Koeneke.  Back row (L-R):  Mallel Rios, Diego Gonzalez, Daniel Tavares, Marcos Calderon, Elias Waisbord, Daniel Delgado, Erik Figueroa, George Cole. Photo Courtesy of Manchester SC

Manchester opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Chula Vista Pumas Premier on Saturday morning, June 23. It was a hint of things to come for the boys from the Academy, and a warning to the rest of Flight B. On Sunday the team continued their march to the top with a 4-0 win over Carlsbad Lightning Red to earn a trip to the semifinal round.

In the semifinals on Sunday afternoon Manchester met the number two team from Flight A, San Diego SC (SDSC) Navy Quinn. SDSC had earned their spot in the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Aztecs Juarez and a 2-2 draw with West Coast FC, the Flight A winners. Manchester battled back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring the equalizer in the final five minutes of the game. The hard-fought match went all the way to the penalty kick phase before Manchester prevailed 2-1 to move on to the finals against West Coast FC.

After opening the tournament with their 2-2 draw with SDFC, West Coast FC had gone on to defeat Aztecs Juarez 5-0 to move on to the semifinals. There they faced Chula Vista Pumas Premier, the number two team in Flight B. the boys from West Coast handily defeated the Pumas 3-0 to punch their ticket to the championship round.

On Monday morning, June 25, Manchester and West Coast faced off to determine the Pegasus Cup Boys U10 champions. When it was over, Manchester Academy Elite had taken a 3-1 victory and earned the right to raise the trophy.

“The last thing I told the players before they took the field in the final was to enjoy it,” said Illingworth, who has guided the team through many successes.  “It was a fantastic match, well played on both sides, and I’m extremely proud of how this young team played with not only the skill I know they are capable of but with heart and passion as well.”

Related Articles: Manchester SC on SoccerNation