| Albion BU15 |
| By: Carey Schumacher |
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| Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 9:21 am |
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Albion Boys Fight Their Way to the National Championship Game
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| Albion BU15 competed in the National Championship |
The Boys Under 15 National Championship game was played under the lights at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas on Saturday July 24th, 2010.
The Albion SC team of 15 and 16 year old boys, mostly from San Diego, tied two games and won a third to qualify for the finals against the Baltimore Bays. In order to secure their spot, they had to also win a penalty kick shoot-out against Michigan's Vardar club because of an identical goal differential after the first 3 games. It was a dramatic comeback won by goalkeeper Garrett Franklin's 4 saves. To reach the National Championship tournament, Albion BU15 White won the National League championship earlier this year after traveling to play matches in North Carolina and Las Vegas.
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Oscar Ortega (Albion SC) won the tournament's
Golden Boot Award
Photos courtesy of John Shackelford |
Ari Lassiter (Albion SC) played exceptionally well
Photo Courtesy of John Shackelford |
Albion SC, coached by Noah Gins, prepared to battle Baltimore Bays Chelsea, coached by Brandon Quaranta, for the title of National Champion. One day prior, Albion had defeated Baltimore 2-0 during group play. Albion then triumphed over Michigan's Vardar in a 7-round penalty shootout to earn their spot in the championship game, where they would once again play Baltimore, who had already secured their spot in the final game.
After hours of delay caused by seemingly relentless thunderstorms, the championship game began. Baltimore opened up scoring in the 3rd minute with a well-executed cross and tap-in goal. Shane Mahvi equalized in the 13th minute after a failed corner kick that left Baltimore vulnerable to a powerful Albion counter attack. The score remained tied 1-1 at the end of regulation play.
Gins implored his boys to dig deep during the ensuing overtime, telling them it would be worth it "no matter what happens."
Overtime began, and Baltimore's Christian Porras scored what would become the championship goal during the opening minutes. Albion never stopped fighting, and appeared to have the equalizer when a corner was fired into the Baltimore box and headed towards the goal, only to be stopped by Bays keeper Matthew Sanchez, who launched himself into the air and across the box to stop the almost-certain goal. Neither team allowed their spirit to falter. Neither team stopped fighting. The battle continued, both teams bloodied and bruised, until the final whistle blew with Baltimore Bays Chelsea on top of the 2-1 score.
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