Weston started Pool play against GSA 95 Phoenix Red from Georgia in an early morning game, and proved that they were up to a cold wake up call while the Phoenix could not rise out of the ashes.  Weston took the game 4-1 with strong all round play.  As the day warmed up so did the competition as the Fury faced AFC Gold 95 from Georgia. This was an extremely close game and critical. With both teams winning their initial game in pool play, the winner of the game would be in the driving seat for the automatic spot in the semi-finals.  Weston started strong and was able to move up to a 3-1 lead early in the second half, but with about 10 minutes left AFC Gold pulled one back and Weston held on to a nail biter to win their second game. The final game of pool play was against the defending Atlanta Cup Champions the Memphis Falcons from Tennessee. Memphis got surprised in their first game and lost to AFC Gold, but having won their second game and Weston defeating AFC they still had a chance to qualify. They were cornered and the only way for them to get out was through a tough Weston team that wanted to punch their ticket for the Semi’s.  Weston scored early in the first half and thought that they may waltz to an easy victory, but Memphis had other plans. Memphis bolted down the hatches and where able to keep the Weston offense at bay, and their efforts were rewarded half way through the second half when Memphis tied the game at 1-1 and turned up the heat on the Weston defense.  Again strong team work, good defense and great goal keeping from both teams resulted in the final being 1-1, with Weston moving to the Semi’s and the defending champs going home.

 

In the Semi-finals Weston faced an old foe, FC Tampa who where Florida Region C Champs the last two years.  Weston started strong and where able to convert an early opportunity to go up 1-0, but the well would run dry as a strong FC Tampa defense coupled with several missed opportunities kept Weston from adding to the score sheet. Though Weston dominated the stat sheet with many more scoring opportunities than their opponents, Tampa pressured at the end and exceptional goal keeping kept the door closed and finished out the game with an empty net, a 1-0 victory and a ticket to the final.

 

In the final Weston would play Carolina Olympics, a very tough team from North Carolina who were a seasoned tournament team having won the Jefferson Cup one of the premier tournaments in the country.  This one turned out to be like a chess game with Weston opening the game with strong play up the middle (Knight G1 to F3), but to every advance Carolina had an answer closing down the lanes and then developing their own counter attack (Bishop C8 to G4).  After attack and counter attack the game ended regulation time 0-0, and with five games behind them in two days it was ten minutes of extra time away from PK’s.  As both teams closed in on the end game, final attacks were prepared, and toward the end of the first 5 minutes of extra time Carolina traversed across the field building play upon play, positioning themselves within striking distance of the Weston goal, but a quick steal of the ball and a strong counter attack with seconds left in the first half Weston was able to convert one pass Carolina (Check!) 1-0 with 5 minutes to play.  The Weston defense was called upon to do what it had done for the 3 previous games and secure the net with a slim one goal lead (Castle: King to G1, Rook to F1).  Carolina tried some desperate moves to tie the game, but Weston held them off to the final whistle, CHECKMATE!!!!

 

All in all this was a great experience for the team, coaches and parents.  It was nice to have such success on the first outing outside of Florida, and the boys represented both the club and city with great pride.  It was nice to have spectators and officials comment on the quality of play and team work, we even had an official travel an hour and a half to see us play in the final on Monday morning as she was so impressed with the team.  This was also a great reality check, it showed that we could compete at the Regional level, but also that there were regional teams out there who could compete with us and push us to our limits.  The players learned about character as they had never been tested like this before, and they proved to have resolve and determination to get the job done.  We take our hats off to the competition as they have taught us a lot, but at the end of it all we have to remember it is just a game and these are just kids.  We have been fortunate to have such a wonderful experience, but we can not forget that a couple of states over Hurricane Katrina has destroyed normal life for many, our thoughts and prayers are with them in their time of need.

 

The Fury U11 Boys Premier Team is: Goalkeeper: Gabriel Gongora. Defense: Gabriel Pedraza, Javier Clavijo, Alex Jaroscak, Garek Maingot. Midfield: Jonathan Nunes, Ismael Longo, Renzo Edery, Rhys Williams. Forwards: Nikki Pappacena, Ricardo Castro and Rinaldi Alphonse. 

Coach: Henry Pedraza. Asst. Coach Gary Maingot.