The SCU/MP 96 Girls Elite are SCYSA Challenge Cup State Cup Champions for the third year in a row! The girls previously defeated SC United Columbia 3-1 in the 2010 Spring U13 SCYSA State Cup Final, the same team in the 2011 Spring U14 State Cup Final 1-0, and this year beat them again 2-1 in the 2011 Fall U15 SCYSA State Cup Final.
The team went down in the match due to a slip at the back within 10 minutes, but responded only a minute later as Jesse Dooley was played in from her outside mid position for a great strike into the side netting. Before the half had ended Miranda Weslake found the net again with a solid striker after beating 3 opponents at the top of the box. The team continued to create scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity and on several occasions with just the keeper to beat. The decisive third goal was not to happen. Thus, the Columbia team threw caution to the wind in the last ten minutes going close on a few occasions while also leaving themselves exposed with only two at the back. Although a highly exciting and physically intense game neither team found the net again and the SCU/MP 96 Girls Elite earned another trip to the Region 3 Championships this June in Greenville, SC.
The teams travels this fall also saw them become the clubs first ever Region 3 Premier League East Champions with a 6-2-1 record, defeating in state rivals SC United 96 Elite Columbia 1-0 and CESA 96 Premier 3-0. In the cup the team defeated CESA 96 Challenge 4-0 in the first round and SC United 96 Palmetto 4-0 in the Semifinal to reach the Championship match. Director of Coaching Kian Brownlee said of the experience, “I have truly enjoyed coaching this great group of players the past three years. They have a great passion for the game, passion for learning, and love for each other. The team unity that they have today even with players traveling from as far away as Augusta, GA, Savannah, GA, and Beaufort, SC, the amount of success that they have been able to achieve while being a hunted team, and the way that they play is to be attributed to their great character and belief in each other. I look forward to their continued success and the team representing our club at some of the highest quality events youth soccer has to offer. They put together one of the most attractive soccer games I have seen in some time in the semifinal yesterday and found a way to battle through and win a physical and emotional contest in the Championship. I am proud to have been a part of this experience with them.”
The team is coached by Director of Coaching Kian Brownlee, assisted by staff coaches Lindsey Landgrebe and Drew Harrison. Team members include: Xavia Lemott, Jesse Dooley, Katie Leen, Kitta Smith, Amelia Clower, Emma Gallagher, Lynsey Campbell, Raymara Barreto, Abby Hunt, Erin Moriarty, Miranda Weslake, Caroline Smith, Heather Blaszak, Caroline Carter, Grace Bishop, Julia Barrington, Gracie Weil, and Morgan Young.
