FC Steel 08 Tournament Champions!
It was a slow weekend for FC Steel. Most teams opted to take the weekend off from EDP play and practice while a few other teams participated in a couple of different tournaments out near the Hershey area.
FC Steel is a youth soccer organization that is headquartered in Saucon Valley. Both FC Steel boys’ and girls’ teams are participating in the prestigious Eastern Development Program (EDP) this year. The EDP league is an ultra-competitive travel soccer league that arranges for high-level teams to compete against one another on a routine basis. The EDP league is a regional league meaning teams can expect to play other quality teams that are located in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Here is this week’s state of FC Steel…..
FC Steel Girls’
09 Girls Black
’09 Girls
- Coppa Classico Tournament
- Coaches: Anders Isaksson and Cora Snyder
This weekend FC Steel entered the Coppa Classico tournament. Steel’s first game on Saturday Steel battled CBAA Buckingham United. It was a well fought game that ended in a tie 3-3. Sophia Shutkufski, Gracie Huffer and Sophia Isaksson all caught the net. In the second game FC Steel challenged West Schuylkill FC Lightening. This time FC Steel pulled out the win with a 5-2 score. Athena Kolokas, Gracie Huffer, Addison Park, Sophia Shutkufski. and Giuliana Meyer all scored to secure the victory . A win in Sunday’s contest against undefeated PA Classics Academy was needed to advance into the championship. The score was 1-1 at half with Ella Daly scoring on a penalty kick. Both teams continued in a defensive struggle that ended in a 1-1 tie. Outstanding performances by Charlotte Paterson and Ella Daly locking it down on defense. Overall, there was outstanding soccer played by FC Steel. Congratulations girls!
FC Steel Boys’
FC Steel 06 Black displaying their championship trophies
’06 Black
- Lebanon Valley Soccer Club Tournament CHAMPIONS!
- Coaches: Brandon Chambers and Scott Cullen
FC Steel ’06 Black won their three preliminary games in the early stages of the 35th annual Lebanon Valley Soccer Club Blast. Steel outscored their opponents 10-2 along the way to qualifying for the tournament championship final against Lancaster United. Steel carried the play during most the game, but after regulation time expired the teams were deadlocked at 0-0. With the game coming down to penalty-kicks, FC Steel keeper Will Buck stepped up making two acrobatic saves and another Lancaster shot missed wide. FC Steel’s Chase “Bam-Bam” Sleboda, Noah Jellison and Abel “Bailey” Veltri all connected with their penalty kicks to give Steel the overtime victory.
FC Steel Boys Black were back in action.
’08 Boys
- Lebanon Valley Soccer Club Blast Tournament CHAMPIONS!
- Coach: Scott Cullen
The FC Steel 2008 Black boys team headed to Hershey, PA for the Columbus Day Soccer Blast tournament and came away with the championship. Wearing their pink socks and supporting breast cancer awareness, the Steel rolled through the three round robin games undefeated with scores of 8-1, 6-1 and 4-2. The championship game against Keystone FC Premier was a hard fought battle, with the game 0-0 entering the second half. However, Hayden Sampson scored in the 30th minute to get the Steel on the board. After an equalizer by Keystone, Stepan Goudsouzian and Cameron McIlvane both scored to capture the 3-1 win. The tournament was truly a team effort as the Steel had seven boys score goals and six register an assist. Sampson led the way with six goals for the tournament, followed by Goudsouzian with five. Others included McIlvane and Alex Verdi with three each, Lorenzo LoPiccolo with two, and Cody Reimer and Trevor King each with one. Sampson led the team in assists with four, followed by Goudsouzian with three, LoPiccolo with two, and McIlvane, Reimer and King each with one. Colton Dencler, Ethan Schoonover and Hamza Khalil were all key components of a smothering defense that helped set up the offensive side of the ball. Gavin Yartymyk played all 200 minutes in goal with 45 saves to secure the four wins. The Steel resume EDP league play next weekend with an away game in Montclair, NJ against the Match Fit Montclair United 2008 Boys Blue team.
FC Steel Throw-In:
FC STEEL is proud to announce the new Pennsylvania Futsal League. The league will be open to all boys and girls soccer teams U-10 through U-18. Games will be played at four locations throughout the Lehigh Valley: two in Allentown, The Swain School and Allentown YMCA; and two in Bethlehem, East Moravian Hills Church and Spring Garden Elementary School. Teams will play a 10 game schedule and will be allowed an eight-man roster. For more information or to sign up please visit www.pennfutsal.com.
Good luck Steel, the Source is with you!
