Four San Diego Surf Teams Reach Finals of Delta Crossfire Challenge
Four San Diego Surf SC teams reached the finals of the Delta Crossfire Challenge this past weekend in Redmond, Washington. Two Surf teams were crowned youth soccer champions, while the remaining two teams fell just short of championship glory in their competitive final matches.
Youth Soccer News: This past weekend, four San Diego Surf SC teams participated in the Delta Crossfire Challenge, which took place at the 60 Acre Soccer Complex in Redmond, Washington. The Surf 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 EGSL teams all made the long journey to the Pacific Northwest as each team found themselves making it to the finals.
“Seattle was a great experience for all our teams,” said Craig Barclay, Surf SC Girls Assistant Director of Coaching. “Not only did we have new challenges playing new teams but the girls also enjoyed the experience of playing in a new environment. As always the standard of the Crossfire event was very high and all the girls had to work hard for one another and focus when the pressure was on.”
“Off the field the girls had a great time bonding as a team while visiting Pikes Place Market, hiking to a waterfall, watching Seattle Reign and even meeting Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe! Overall we are very proud in the professional manner in which the girls represented Surf and they fully deserved to become finalists and champions,” said Barclay.
Coach Danny Tonks’ Surf SC 2003 EGSL finished on top of their group, and advanced to the final with a convincing 6-0 semifinal win over Washington Premier. This set up a second meeting (0-0 draw in group play) between Surf EGSL and affiliate club Greater Seattle Surf.
Surf EGSL took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Kaidyn DiCintio found Olivia Jandreski for a header off a set piece. Surf EGSL added a second goal in the closing minutes of play for the 2-0 victory in the Super Group final. Surf EGSL did not concede a goal through the tournament along with tallying a total of 14 goals.
The Surf SC 2004 EGSL also won their group and advanced to the semifinals to face Eastside FC. Surf 04 punched their ticket to the final with a 1-0 victory over the Washington club. In the final, Coach Gary Condliffe’s team played Mustang that was delayed thirty minutes due to lightning. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and would have to be settled with penalty kicks.
24 penalty kicks were needed to break the deadlock between the teams as Mustang were eventually crowned champions. Surf 2004 EGSL finishing runner-ups after Mustang converted their seventh penalty kick.
There was a second Surf SC team playing in the 2004 age group. Craig Barclay’s 2005 EGSL team played up in age, and competed in the Gold Group at the Crossfire Challenge.
The girls finished with 2 wins and 1 loss in group play, which was good enough to claim second in the group. This would set up a semifinal with the Oceanside Breakers 2004 team. While the physical Oceanside team held a 2-1 lead into the second half, Surf SC continued to battle to the end, and would come out on top 5-2. In the final, Nicole Anderson scored twice, and Elly Van Den Einde added a third goal as the girls defeated the host Crossfire Premier 3-0.
The 2006 EGSL team easily ran through bracket play by outscoring their opponents 11-0 and finishing with 3 wins. Surf SC met Mustang Elite in the semifinal and again posted another convincing 3-0 win.
The girls matched up with a familiar Southern California opponent in the final, Surf affiliate – Anaheim Surf SC. The game would mark the only goal the Surf 2006 EGSL team would give up during the tournament, and Surf SC finished as runner-up after a 1-0 defeat.
Source/Photo Credit: San Diego Surf
