7 Elite Academy 17U Boys Wins National Presidents Cup Championship
Westfield, IN – 7/15/18
Utah Youth Soccer Association is Excited to Announce that 17U Boys team 7 Elite Academy out of St. George has brought home a National Presidents Cup Championship.
7 Elite Academy finished up pool play 2-1-0 and made their way into the finals. With 11 goals for and 7 goals against each game was relatively high scoring. The one loss 7 Elite suffered in pool play was a game against Brownsville Galaxy, who they would end up later defeating in the final, had 7 Elite giving up a two-goal lead.
Game 1 Recap:
Brownsville Galaxy (Texas) : L 2-3
Brownsville Galaxy (TX-S) came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat 7 Elite Academy 01 South (UT), 3-2, in a 17U Boys matchup. Elite Academy scored first in the 14th minute when the ball was crossed in and Sawyer Heaton went in for the sliding finish. The Utah side kept the ball in its offensive half and increased its lead as Oscar Quintero finished an indirect free kick from inside the 18-yard box. Brownsville Galaxy came out of halftime with determination to get in the game, getting on the board when Jonathan Mendoza touched the ball past a defender to cut him off and passed the ball for Mark Boswell to score a 52nd-minute goal. Three minutes later, Mendoza earned one of his own, scoring a penalty kick to tie up the match. With the entire Brownsville Galaxy team working together, the South Texas side stole the lead as Albert Maradiaga buried a goal from inside the 18-yard box.
Game 2 Recap:
Mainland United South Jersey Football Club (New Jersey) : W 3-2
In its second tight, momentum-swinging game of the week, 7 Elite Academy 01 South (UT) picked up a 3-2 win against Mainland United South Jersey Futbol Club (NJ). Elite Academy went ahead in the 13th minute on a Kirk Brown goal, and Ben Simister doubled the advantage early in the second half. The New Jersey side fought back, beginning with a strike from Hunter Paone in the 70th minute. Julian Cruz quickly followed that up with a goal of his own to pull Mainland level. It appeared the teams were heading for a draw, but Simister netted a game-winner in the 89th minute to give the Utah side the 3-2 victory.
Game 3 Recap:
Chicago Rush Select (Illinois) : W 6-2
The 17U Boys group turned out to be a close race, but 7 Elite Academy 01 South (UT) and Brownsville Galaxy (TX-S) came out on top to be in the final match. 7 Elite Academy’s 6-2 win over Chicago Rush 2001 Select (IL) and a 1-1 tie for Brownsville Galaxy against Mainland United South Jersey Futbol Club (NJ) helped both teams to earn a spot in the final. Together, Ben Simister, Sawyer Heaton and Oscar Quintero have contributed seven of Elite Academy’s 11 goals. On Thursday, the Brownsville Galaxy came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Elite Academy 3-2, so it could be a game of redemption for the Utah side.
Final Recap:
Brownsville Galaxy (Texas) : W 2-0
After giving up a lead in their opening day matchup, 7 Elite Academy 01 South (UT) earned some redemption by defeating Brownsville Galaxy (TX-S), 2-0, to win the 17U Boys title. Following a scoreless first half, Elite broke through in the 55th minute thanks to a corner kick. The initial attempt hit the post, but Ben Simister hit home a bouncing ball to give the Utah side the lead. Simister doubled the lead in similar fashion 10 minutes later, as an Elite shot hit the crossbar before Simister smashed a follow-up attempt inside the near post. On Thursday, the Galaxy managed to battle back from a 2-0 deficit to Elite, but Sunday provided a different story. The Utah side managed to hold on to its two-goal advantage in the final and earned the shutout victory.
Tournament Golden Boot:
Ben Simister – 5 Goals
Other Top Scorers:
Sawyer Heaton – 2 Goals
Oscar Quintero – 2 Goals
Congrats Boys! Utah is so proud of what you have accomplished this season!
