SIX OF EIGHT KENDALL SC TEAMS ADVANCE IN STATE CUP
Three Teams Play this Weekend in Second Round

April 7, 2008 – Six of the eight Kendall SC teams that entered the 2008 FYSA State Cup advanced to at least the second round with the U14B White, U16B White and U15G White advancing directly to the Round of 16. The three other teams U13B White, U17B White and U18B White will be playing in the Second Round on April 12-13 in Weston and Plantation.

The U14B White won their group with wins over Clay County (3-0), and Gulf Coast United (2-1), while the U16B White also went undefeated to place first in their group, scoring 0-0 ties versus Lakeland SC and Strictly Soccer and a 1-0 win over IUS Elite that propelled them to the top.

With the possible exception of the U15 Boys, the U15G White faced the sternest test in the first round, having to play state powers Clearwater Chargers and Ponte Vedra Storm and a very competitive Plantation Eagles squad. After securing their ticket to the Round of 16 with hard-fought victories over Plantation (1-0) and Clearwater (2-1), the girls finally met their match losing 2-4 to Ponte Vedra.

The U13B White went undefeated in two matches but it still wasn’t enough to skip the second round as they lost the tie-breaker in penalty kicks. In their first match they bested Melbourne Beach Tsunami 2-0 and followed that up with a 1-1 against New Tampa Comets, who ended up advancing in first place. They will play Weston Premier at 9 am on Saturday, April 12 at Vista Park in Weston and Three Lions at 3 pm, to try to earn a spot in the Round of 16. The first two teams in the group will advance.

The U17B White also drew a tough group in the first round. After splitting their first two matches against Team Boca (2-0) and RSL Florida (0-1), they emerged victorious 2-1 in a must-win game against Orlando FC to secure second place in the group. Next up on Saturday, April 12 at 4pm they face Parkland Predators at Pine Island Park in Plantation and Gainesville Soccer Alliance on Sunday at 11am.

The shorthanded U18B White team had an up and down weekend, but managed enough to secure a spot in the second round. The key was their first match win against Gulf Coast United (3-0). From then on it got tougher with 1-3 and 1-2 losses to Players Club Rio and First Coast Kyx respectively. In Round #2 hey will play Orange County HABU on Saturday, April 12 at 8 am, and Team Boca at 9 am on Sunday, April 13. Both games are at Pine Island Park in Plantation.

The highly-ranked U15B White were heartbroken when they were not able to advance past the first round. Facing two other top-ten opponents in a group that lived up to the "group of death" label, they finished the weekend without a loss, but on the outside looking in. They set themselves a big hurdle when they tied Central Pasco United to start the weekend. Faced with having to notch a win against either of the group’s tougher opponents, who had already tied each other, Kendall SC battled to a scoreless tie against SAA-Real Madrid, and a 1-1 draw versus IUS Black in a game in which one of the opponents was sure to go home.

The U16B Blue, who were the only other team to not advance past the first round failed to make it on goal differential. After losing to Arsenal G.O.U. 0-2, they needed a win against West Pasco, but were only able to come away with a 2-2 tie.

Good luck to all the Kendall SC teams in the Second Round and Round of 16.