Coach Ben Tatham’s Team Chicago-Vitoria played in the top division at the Campton United Midwest Cup this past weekend. The bracket the girls played in was filled with top teams and a great finish would have been to win one of the three games:

Trevian – a U11 team currently undefeated in IWSL U12AB and the top U11 team in the area. The girls battled hard and earned a 0-0 tie. This was a significant result given the dominance Trevians has had over all area teams.

Alliance Michigan – currently ranked in top 5 in Michigan and a dominant tournament team. Another tough battle but the girls rose to the occasion and earned a 1-0 victory.

Rockford Raptors – beat Vitoria twice in the Puma Cup including 2-0 in the championship. Vitoria scored early and held on for 1-0 victory and got some revenge in the process.

Vitoria had to wait around Sunday to see how Trevian and Alliance finished as it was possible that the determination for who represented the bracket could come down to PKs. Alliance MI scored late to tie the game and Vitoria advanced over Trevian.

The Championship was against Kickers United and again a great match ended in a 0-0 tie that then went through 2 OTs and finally to PKs. Vitoria fell short in PKs, but while disappointed, the girls have much to celebrate. Getting through one of the toughest brackets and into the Championship is huge, but doing it with one sub the whole tournament versus teams that could send in four or more subs at a time is to be noted. Also, Vitoria did not let one goal in for the whole tournament.

Great effort and great fortitude in dramatic games!

Team Chicago-Lightning tasted success at the Midwest Cup hosted by Campton United over the Memorial Day weekend. Playing in the U9 Premiership division, Lightning opened the tournament against Chicago Magic. Despite dominating possession the first half, the team found themselves behind 1-0 at the half. However, as would become a theme over the weekend, Lightning stormed back in the second half with 4 goals after a blast from Alex Das opened the floodgates, finishing with a 4-1 victory.

Game 2 was against the host Campton United. Again Lightning fell behind at the half, this time 2-0, and again they dominated the second half. This time they could only muster 2 goals, the second on a brilliant run by Sam Nichols, and finished with a 2-2 tie. Needing a victory in the third game to advance to the finals, Lightning faced off against a physical NSA Blackhawk team. This time Lightning opened the scoring when Ryan Mauder tapped in a rebound off a shot by Alex Stadnyk that caromed off the crossbar. Moments after NSA tied the score at 1, Stadnyk took care of things on his own with a perfectly placed shot in the upper corner. A second half goal off a corner kick by Luke Macaluso completed the scoring and sealed a 3-1 victory.

The final match-up was against an undefeated Addison United squad that had not surrendered any goals in the tournament. Play was even in the first half, but the bounces went Addison’s way as they netted 2 goals off loose balls in the box, while Lightning only found the crossbar again on a shot by Nik Juarez. Lightning owned the second half once more, dominating possession, and finding the back of the net midway through the period when Ryan Mauder burst through the defense and cut the lead to 2-1. Despite constant pressure and a number of close calls, the tying goal did not come and with only minutes left and Lightning pressing everyone forward, Addison countered on a breakaway to complete a 3-1

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro beat FC United 4-0 to finish its round-robin group with a perfect 3-0-0 record and a 10-1 goal-difference, advancing to the IYSA State Cup Semi-Final against Campton United Saturday 5/31 at Noon at the Naperville Polo Grounds.

Needing at least a tie to win the group, Cruzeiro was in complete control from the opening minute. Most of the first half was played in the FC United half, and several chances went begging before Jamie Goralski ran onto a Sarah Avery throw-in, beat two defenders, and calmly wrong-footed the FC United GK for the eventual game-winner.

Needing at least two goals to turn its fortunes around, FC United came out with much greater intensity at the beginning of the second half. The Cruzeiro defense was a little rattled, but a brilliant 40-yard through-ball from Jordan King found a streaking Jamie Goralski in behind the FC United defense, and she scored her second goal to put the game out of reach.

Halfway through the second half Alyssa Bombacino turned on her defender at the top of the 18 and buried a shot behind the GK after a great passing sequence from Erin Sweda and Jordan King. And a few minutes later Jamie Goralski put on a dribbling clinic as she picked up the ball just inside her own half, nutmegged her defender, beat 2 more defenders before striking a good shot which the GK could only parry into the path of Alyssa Bombacino who easily tucked her second goal away for the final 4-0 score.

Bailee Witt earned her second shutout in a row in IYSA State Cup play.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia traveled to Libertyville in the hopes of advancing to the IYSA State Cup Final Four weekend. The first half saw both teams struggling to deal with the field conditions but as the half progressed Bahia started creating chances. Paige Miller made a great run down the right side and served a ball to the back post where Jeff (Jennifer) Pochyly just missed getting on the end of it. Later in the half Sophia Majher’s dribbled two players, but her attempt on goal was denied when it hit the cross bar.

In the second half Libertyville would get on the score board first, but Bahia responded within minutes. Paige Miller took a direct kick and hit a great shot over the goal keeper to tie it 1-1. The last ten minutes were very intense with Bahia needing to win the game to advance. Unfortunately, with all their efforts they could not get the game winner. Congratulations to Bahia on playing some great soccer and finishing with 11 goals for and only 1 against. Great job girls!

Team Chicago is excited to announce the hiring of Herb Schuler for the 2014-15 season. Herb is a USSF B-licensed coach who comes to us from his current position as the Youth Development Coordinator at Chicago Fire Juniors West.

Herb played collegiately at Central Methodist University and had a stint as a player with the Illinois Piasa in the PASL Pro Division after college. Herb also served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (DI), Illinois Wesleyan (DIII), Concordia University Chicago (DIII), and William Woods University (NAIA).

In addition to serving as the Youth Development Coordinator at the Chicago Fire Juniors West, Herb has also served as an Elite Staff Coach at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the country.

Herb’s primary role will be coaching and overseeing the U12, U13, and U14 boys’ teams for the 2014-15 season. We are very excited about this development, and look forward to having Herb run tryouts for the boys next week.

Herb is married to Nikki Schuler who coaches the U10 Team Chicago-Huskies.