February 16, 2010 – The U17G White led the way for Kendall SC’s girls teams, winning five of six games en route to claiming the championship at the Score at the Shore tournament in Tampa with an impressive win over the NY East and Region 1 champion. Close on their heels were the U14G White and U15G White, both of who reached the semifinals. The U14B White and U18B Blue also advanced to the quarterfinal rounds.
The Score at the Shore tournament presents a huge physical challenge for any team that reaches the championship game, requiring six matches in a span of three days. Kendall SC’s U17G White were up for the task, achieving first the goal of advancing past group play and then winning three matches in the elimination round to walk away with the title. After cruising to victories over Missouri’s #8 ranked WC Arsenal Academy-Fuchs (2-0) and Hobe Sound Strikers (5-0), they almost saw their objective slip away when they lost their third match 0-2 to Indiana’s state champion FC Pride, putting them into a three-way tie for first place, but still managed to advance on goal differential.
Kendall SC responded to the wakeup call with a tough 1-0 win over Pennsylvania East semifinalist CRUSA/FC Bucks Rage in the quarterfinal earning them a matchup against Florida rival and fellow State Cup quarterfinalist HC United Red. Another hard fought 1-0 win put them in the final against Syosset Sting 92 Elite, the 3rd-ranked team in the country. The Kendall SC girls were not intimidated by the lofty ranking and took it to them early producing their fifth shutout of the tournament and a 2-0. This great achievement did not pass unnoticed by Coach Thomas Chestnutt, who congratulated the team after the victory.
The two other Kendall SC girls teams playing in the tournament also performed admirably, each reaching the semifinal round in its respective age bracket. The U14G White clinched its group in the preliminary round after defeating Naples Sharks 4-3 and Jacksonville Fury 2-0 in the first two matches. With the pass in hand, they dropped the third match by a score of 1-2 to New York’s Rye Celtics. In the quarterfinal they deadlocked 2-2 against Region A rival Team Boca White and clinched the win on penalty kicks, but they were not able to duplicate the feat in the semifinal, losing on penalties to Coral Gables Storm after ending regulation tied 2-2.
After tying their first game 1-1 with Island Coast SA Black and defeating Indiana’s FC Pride Elite 1-0, the U15G White clinched first place in its preliminary round group with a convincing 3-0 win over Clearwater Chargers. In the quarterfinal they outlasted St. Louis’ WC Arsenal Academy 2-0, but the undermanned team wore down and fell in the semifinal 0-6 to the stronger Florida state finalist Brandon FC Flames Blue.
The U14B White needed a win in their final preliminary round game to advance to the quarterfinals and they would be facing a familiar foe. Kendall SC had started off with a 3-0 win over Chicago Fire Juniors, but lost 1-2 to Pennsylvania East’s 4th-ranked YMS Pressure, putting them in a must win situation against Palm Harbor Nighthawks Elite, who they had faced in the Naples tournament final a few weeks earlier. This time around Kendall SC would emerge victorious with a 2-0 shutout to earn first place in the group. Unfortunately, the luck of the draw had the two teams facing each other again in the quarterfinals and Palm Harbor exacted revenge, winning on penalty kicks after the game finished in a 1-1 tie.
Also reaching the quarterfinals was the U18B Blue. The team advanced as one of the wildcards on the heels of a 3-2 victory over FC America Omni and ties with Michigan Football Club (2-2) and Illinois’ FC United Select (0-0), but was stopped short in their quest by Royal Palm Beach Strikers.
