Championship team

Youth Soccer News: The Road to #1 with the DMCV Sharks GU15 Elite Team

Oregon, Europe, Arizona, Atlanta, and Lancaster, CA. This was the passport of travel for the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks Girls U15 Elite team in 2011. It was an incredible ride for a group of dedicated 14 and 15 year old girls presently ranked No. 1 in the nation. Even more so, as the team moved midyear from CV Manchester to DMCV Sharks.

The journey began in Oregon at the Manchester United Premier Cup US Finals over Memorial Day weekend. This is a prestigious tournament for GU14 teams hosted by Nike, with only 20 teams chosen from around the country. DMCV Sharks were one of six teams from Southern California, and the girls were up to the challenge.

After intense competition, the girls reached the finals against an equally talented Arsenal FC team. The match went scoreless through regulation and overtime, coming down to penalty kicks. After seven rounds, the Sharks finally prevailed to become the champions. Their win qualified the girls for a trip to Sweden as the United States’ representative in the Youth World Cup in July.

The Gothia Cup was a week-long experience that all 16 team members would never forget, enjoying different foods, cultures and international competition. The girls reached the quarterfinals against a tough Swedish team, but lost in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 in regulation. “The Swedish team came out with eight coaches and they were all business,” said head coach Felicia Kappes. “It was fantastic. They were very professional.”

After the tournament, Kappes said, "To compete in such a prestigious tournament with the best teams in the country was truly an honor. The atmosphere, facilities and level of play were incredible. This team has never been more deserving of a Championship.”

“We have been competing at a very high level for some time,” Kappes continued, “but have never been rewarded with the grand prize. I told them their time would come. What a wonderful time to win it all. Now we are off to Sweden on an all expense paid trip to represent the United States, it doesn't get any better than that. I am so proud of each and every one of them; they worked extremely hard for this day!"

Back in the U.S. after Gothia Cup, the summer and fall soccer season found the girls back in top form and playing with a new club. After several seasons working with CV Manchester, Coach Kappes was given the opportunity to start a new college program with DMCV Sharks and the girls chose to follow her. “Billy Garton and Jeff Illingworth (DOCs at CV Manchester) were very supportive of my decision,” said Kappes. “They knew that it was a professional move for me.”

Over the season the team played in the finals of the West Coast Futbol Classic, completed an undefeated season playing up in the Presidio GU19 Premiere 1 league and had an incredible showing in the Far West Regional League.

The winner of the Far West Regional League, the team with the most points after the three games, would earn a berth into the 2012 Far West Regionals in Phoenix, AZ. The Sharks tied for first place on points with Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club (MVLA), then ranked #1 in the Nation; however MVLA would win on goal differential.

Next stop for the Sharks was the Surf Thanksgiving Tournament in San Diego. The finals at the San Diego Polo Fields were a rematch of the previous weekend’s MVLA and DMCV contest. It was the sixth game in three days for both teams, and one to remember. The Sharks scored early and never let the pressure down on this quick MVLA team, winning 2-0 to avenge themselves. For the tournament, the Sharks scored 15 goals and gave up only 3.

The last stop on this journey was Atlanta, Ga., for the NCAA Final Four for D1 college soccer. The team traveled to Kennesaw State University to play three games in the College Showcase for college coaches. Two early morning games gave the girls a taste of winter soccer with frost on the ground at 8:00 a.m. against a North Carolina team and playing under the lights for a 7:15 a.m. match against an Ohio team. The Sharks played well against all three teams, with three wins and only one goal scored against them. The college games were impressive as the top four soccer teams battled for the NCAA Championship. Congratulations to Stanford.

On Christmas Day, the team woke to find their dedication and soccer skill had been rewarded. When the Gotsoccer.com National Rankings came out, Del Mar Sharks Elite was ranked No. 1 in the Nation. Coach Kappes beamed at hearing this news. “The one thing that sticks out in my head,” Kappes said, “is that the girls competed at a very high and consistent level of play for six months that culminated with an incredible run the last four weeks.

“Not only did we compete,” Kappes continued, “we seemed to get stronger as we went along, definitely the case in the last four weeks. They were rewarded with a couple of Championships and a new ranking!  All their hard work through out the year paid off and they bonded on an even deeper level on and off the field because of all their wonderful experiences together.”

This special Sharks team will enjoy this ranking as they play high school soccer at their respective schools. They look forward to reuniting and continuing to build on their 2011 experiences and growth as young ladies and soccer players in 2012. “I just want them to know our goal is to strive and maintain this top ranking against our very talented competition,” said Kappes. “We always want to have goals to shoot for as we work hard on and off the field. I believe if anyone can, it is this special group of girls."

Related Articles: Del Mar Sharks on SoccerNation