96 Boys Elite are coached by Collin Philips, team members include: Ben Amon, Alex Bourland, Nathaniel Edwards, Austin Foster, Colton Frankel, Anson Girone, Tucker Heffron, William Holland, Jake Kreider, Joshua Masten, Quintyn Q McKaughan, Jon Milligan, Jeffrey Ronaldo Owens, Coleman Richards, Zikeem Smith, Ian Tabor, Thomas Osborne and Nick Wright
Coach Collin reports, we finished the Premier League in eighth place, so we were ranked second in the state coming back from the Premier League. We played Discoveries 96 at home on the tenth of December. We were able to secure our passage to State with a fine 3-0 performance. With that victory we would have to face last year’s third place finisher Columbia Boys 96 Elite for the second consecutive year.
From the start we were able to possess the ball and keep possession, while looking for openings to penetrate to get the game’s opening goal. But, Columbia was able to thwart all of our attacks with well timed interceptions and counter with driven balls up to their attackers. It remained goalless for the entire first half with momentum shifting to either team from time to time.
The second half saw us take the lead within the first five minutes with a well struck ball after a beautiful reception and skillful turn to leave the defender by Nick Wright. He was able to catch the goal keeper off his line and took the shot from about 25 yards out to score in the upper left side of the goal. We continued to dominate possession for the next 5 to 10 minutes, but were not able to secure another goal. As the game always goes, we had conceded a corner and failed to pick up one of the players at the top of the 6 yard box. On the ensuing kick he was able to redirect the ball in the upper right hand corner of our goal. The tempo of the game increased as time elapsed. Both teams started to push for the games winning goal. Just as we were being shut out by Columbia’s defense, our defense of Alex Bourland, Joshua Masten, Jacob Kreider and Nathaniel Edwards, anchored by the fine goal keeping of Thomas Osborne, was not letting anything through. As time elapsed to the final 12 minutes of regulation, we were awarded a corner from the right side of their goal. Coleman Richards stepped up and was able to whip the ball in over the defender and oncoming keeper, it crossed the goal line before a defender could control and clear. By that time it was too late and the linesman had already awarded us the goal. Columbia applied tremendous pressure for the next 10 minutes, but we were able to hold on for a 2-1 victory. Thus, granting us entry into the finals against Coast FA 96 Elite, who was able to defeat last year’s State Cup champion Cesa 96 Elite in a penalty kick shootout. At this point, we also regained a spot in the East Regional Premiere league in the fall of 2012.
On Sunday at 9am we squared off against Coast FA 96 Elite, unlike the day before we were able to score in the opening 4 minutes of the game, off of a corner with a shot from the back post by Josh Masten. Coast pushed for an equalizer but we were able to hold out for another 25 minutes or so, until again we conceded another goal off of a corner. We finished the half all tied at one a piece and was rearing to come out in the second half.
The boys came out in the second half much more aggressively and focused than ever, they were first to every ball on both offense and defense. It did not take them long to capitalize on the superior possession of the ball which they enjoyed. When all was said and done, they were able to add three more goals to the one in the first half and conceded no more for a resounding 4-1 victory. Hence, claiming the state cup for the boys 96 age group and qualifying for Regional’s in June up in Greenville at Cesa facilities. The three second half goals were scored by Anson Girone, Tucker Heffron and Jeffrey Owens in that order. After being runners up in the spring, it was great to see them go a step further and claim the championship in the fall.
